NEW ALBANY, Ohio, Sept. 4 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Abercrombie & Fitch
(NYSE: ANF) today reported net sales of $405.5 million for the four-week
period ended August 30, 2008, a 5% decrease over net sales of $425.4 million
for the four-week period ended September 1, 2007. August comparable store
sales decreased 11%. Total Company direct-to-consumer net sales decreased 8%
to $18.9 million for the four-week period ended August 30, 2008, compared to
the four-week period ended September 1, 2007.
Year-to-date, the Company reported a net sales increase of 4% to $2.051
billion from $1.972 billion last year. Comparable store sales decreased 5%
for the year-to-date period. Year-to-date, the Company reported that direct-
to-consumer net sales increased 25% to $137.3 million.
The Company operated 352 Abercrombie & Fitch stores, 209 abercrombie
stores, 486 Hollister Co. stores, 25 RUEHL stores and 10 Gilly Hicks stores in
the United States at the end of fiscal August. The Company operates three
Abercrombie & Fitch stores, one abercrombie store, three Hollister Co. stores
in Canada, and one Abercrombie & Fitch store in London, England. The Company
operates e-commerce websites at http://www.abercrombie.com,
http://www.abercrombiekids.com, and http://www.hollisterco.com and
http://www.RUEHL.com
To hear the Abercrombie & Fitch pre-recorded August sales message, please
dial (800) 395-0662, or internationally, dial (402) 220-1262.
SAFE HARBOR STATEMENT UNDER THE PRIVATE SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM ACT
OF 1995
A&F cautions that any forward-looking statements (as such term is defined
in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995) contained in this
Press Release or made by management of A&F involve risks and uncertainties and
are subject to change based on various important factors, many of which may be
beyond the Company's control. Words such as "estimate," "project," "plan,"
"believe," "expect," "anticipate," "intend," and similar expressions may
identify forward-looking statements. The following factors, in addition to
those included in the disclosure under the heading "FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
AND RISK FACTORS" in "ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS" of A&F's Annual Report on Form
10-K for the fiscal year ended February 2, 2008, in some cases have affected
and in the future could affect the Company's financial performance and could
cause actual results for the 2008 fiscal year and beyond to differ materially
from those expressed or implied in any of the forward-looking statements
included in this Press Release or otherwise made by management: changes in
consumer spending patterns and consumer preferences; the effects of political
and economic events and conditions domestically and in foreign jurisdictions
in which the Company operates, including, but not limited to, acts of
terrorism or war; the impact of competition and pricing; changes in weather
patterns; postal rate increases and changes; paper and printing costs; market
price of key raw materials; ability to source product from its global supplier
base; political stability; currency and exchange risks and changes in existing
or potential duties, tariffs or quotas; availability of suitable store
locations at appropriate terms; ability to develop new merchandise; ability to
hire, train and retain associates; and the outcome of pending litigation.
Future economic and industry trends that could potentially impact revenue and
profitability are difficult to predict. Therefore, there can be no assurance
that the forward-looking statements included in this Press Release will prove
to be accurate. In light of the significant uncertainties in the forward-
looking statements included herein, the inclusion of such information should
not be regarded as a representation by the Company, or any other person, that
the objectives of the Company will be achieved. The forward-looking
statements herein are based on information presently available to the
management of the Company. Except as may be required by applicable law, the
Company assumes no obligation to publicly update or revise its forward-looking
statements even if experience or future changes make it clear that any
projected results expressed or implied therein will not be realized.
SOURCE Abercrombie & Fitch
