Birks & Mayors Inc. Celebrates 17% Increase in Holiday Sales.MONTREAL and SUNRISE Sunrise, city (1990 pop. 64,407), Broward co., SE Fla., a residential suburb 8 mi (13 km) W of Fort Lauderdale; inc. 1961 as Sunrise Golf Village. It is a major office and commercial center and the site of Sawgrass Mills, one of the largest malls in the United States. , Fla. -- Birks & Mayors Inc. (AMEX AMEX See: American Stock Exchange :BMJ BMJ n abbr (= British Medical Journal) → vom BMA herausgegebene Zeitschrift ) announced net sales Net Sales The amount a seller receives from the buyer after costs associated with the sale are deducted. Notes: This amount is calculated by subtracting the following items from gross sales: merchandise returned for credit, allowances for damaged or missing goods, freight increased 17% during the 2005 holiday season (October 30, 2005 through December 24, 2005). The Company reported net sales of $90.1 million for the period, a 17% increase over last year's holiday sales of $77.2 million. Birks & Mayors Inc.'s holiday sales results significantly exceeded the overall retail industry projection of 6% forecast by the National Retail Federation. Comparable store sales (stores open in the same periods in both the current and prior years) also increased 17%. On a constant-exchange-rate basis (see the heading "Non-GAAP Measures" below), which excludes the effect of translating Canadian currency denominated sales into U.S. dollars, net sales and comparable store sales increased 15%. The Company generated double-digit comparable store sales growth during both months of the holiday season with sales momentum accelerating in December. Last year's comparable store sales for the November - December holiday sales period (October 31, 2004 through December 25, 2004) increased 13%, or 9% on a constant-exchange-rate basis, from the prior year period. Results are based on unaudited sales. The company reported both its U.S. and Canadian operations saw similar double digit Noun 1. double digit - a two-digit integer; from 10 to 99 integer, whole number - any of the natural numbers (positive or negative) or zero; "an integer is a number that is not a fraction" comparable store sales growth during the holiday season with significant increases generated across most jewelry jewelry, personal adornments worn for ornament or utility, to show rank or wealth, or to follow superstitious custom or fashion. The most universal forms of jewelry are the necklace, bracelet, ring, pin, and earring. categories and watch brands. Comparable store sales growth during this period was primarily driven by customers attracted to the expanded selection of high-end luxury jewelry collections now offered in the stores. "The increased demand for these high-end offerings reinforces our strategy of offering unique luxury items and outstanding personal customer service. Also, we were very encouraged by our customers' response during the holiday season to The Amorique Diamond(TM), our newly developed and designed proprietary diamond that we recently introduced," said Thomas Andruskevich, President and Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Andruskevich added, "Our holiday season success reinforces the effectiveness of our merchandising merchandising Element of marketing concerned especially with the sale of goods and services to customers. One aspect of merchandising is advertising, which aims to capture the interest of the segment of the population most likely to buy the product. , marketing and retail initiatives, which are based on solid business planning and strategies and remain in place as we move forward. We are hopeful these initiatives will continue to support our growth into the fourth fiscal quarter and produce another successful fiscal year." About Birks & Mayors Inc. Birks & Mayors Inc. is a leading North American North American named after North America. North American blastomycosis see North American blastomycosis. North American cattle tick see boophilusannulatus. luxury retailer, designer, manufacturer and wholesaler of fine jewelry, timepieces, sterling silverware and gifts. Birks & Mayors Inc. has 67 luxury jewelry stores, 39 stores operating under the Birks brand across Canada Across Canada was an afternoon program that formerly aired on The Weather Network. The segment ran from early 1999 until mid 2002. The show ran from 3:00PM ET until 7:00 PM ET. , and 28 stores operating under the Mayors brand in Florida and Atlanta, Georgia. This press release contains certain "forward-looking" statements concerning expectations for strong sales, success of the Company's merchandising, marketing and retail initiatives, and continued growth. Actual results might differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements forward-looking statement A projected financial statement based on management expectations. A forward-looking statement involves risks with regard to the accuracy of assumptions underlying the projections. as they are subject to various risks and uncertainties. These risks and uncertainties include the Company's ability to maintain strong sales throughout the remainder of the fiscal year, the ability of the Company to maintain strong growth and profitability, the Company's ability to keep costs low, the Company's ability to compete with other jewelers, the success of the Company's marketing initiatives, the Company's ability to have a successful customer service program, and the Company's ability to attract and retain its key personnel. Information concerning factors that could cause actual results to differ materially are set forth in the proxy statement/prospectus contained in Birks & Mayors Inc. registration statement on Form F-4 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (File No. 333-126939). The Company undertakes no obligation to update or release any revisions to these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this statement or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as required by law. Non-GAAP Measures The Company reports all required information in accordance Accordance is Bible Study Software for Macintosh developed by OakTree Software, Inc.[] As well as a standalone program, it is the base software packaged by Zondervan in their Bible Study suites for Macintosh. with U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles The standard accounting rules, regulations, and procedures used by companies in maintaining their financial records. Generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) provide companies and accountants with a consistent set of guidelines that cover both broad accounting ("GAAP GAAP See: Generally Accepted Accounting Principles GAAP See generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). "), but management believes that ongoing operating results are more difficult to understand if only GAAP financial measures are available to review. Internally, management monitors the sales performance of its Canadian operation on a non-GAAP basis that excludes, from GAAP reported sales, the positive or negative effects that result from translating sales of its Canadian operations into U.S. dollars (constant-exchange-rate basis). Management uses this constant-exchange-rate measure because it believes it is a more representative assessment of the sales performance of its Canadian operations and provides for better comparability between reporting periods. The Company's management does not itself, nor does it suggest that investors should, consider such non-GAAP financial measures in isolation from, or as a substitute for, financial information prepared in accordance with GAAP. The Company presents such non-GAAP financial measures in reporting its financial results to provide investors with an additional tool to evaluate and analyze the Company's operating results. |
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