Raw Data Report: Clothing

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Most Ann Taylor (ANN) Stores Report Business As Being Above Average

Like many in the retail sector, Ann Taylor, the woman's apparel retailer, is seeing a choppy second quarter. Earnings estimates show their estimated growth for next quarter is only 4.5%.

Tickermine surveyed 26 Ann Taylor stores in various department stores across the country. We asked our respondents how sales were this year compared with last year, do they have excess inventory and did the respondents think that the economy had impacted sales this year?

Contrary to analyst pessimism, 11 respondents or 42% of those polled reported that business was "above average" and interestingly four respondents or 15% said their business was actually "very strong." Seven respondents or 27% of those interviewed said that business was "average" and only four respondents or 15% said it was "below average." 15 respondents or 58% said they had no excess inventory that would need to go on sale soon. 11 respondents or 42% said they had excess and mentioned items such as spring blouses, bolero sweaters and shoes. Perhaps most telling was that 14 respondents or 54% felt that the economy had no impact whatsoever on sales. 12 respondents or 46% said the sluggish economy impacted business.

Kate Spade Clothing, Shoes Considered "Good Quality", "Very Popular"

TickerMine surveyed department stores across the U.S. about their sales of Kate Spade clothing and shoes. (Stores surveyed included Bloomingdales, Macy's (M), Bergdorf Goodman, JC Penney (JCP), Lunatique, Fashion Square, Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom (JWN), Saks Fifth Avenue, and Value City, in addition to Kate Spade retail stores.)

Eighty-eight percent of stores surveyed sell Kate Spade clothing, and 92% sell the designer's shoes. The majority of retailers had a positive opinion of the line, reporting that Kate Spade shoes and clothes are "good quality", "fairly priced", and "very popular". Sixteen percent of respondents said sales of Kate Spade items are increasing, while 84% said they have remained consistent. Only four percent of retailers are offering clearance sales on Kate Spade clothing or shoes.

41% of Pier 1 Imports (PIR) Stores Say Business is Down from Last Year

Pier 1 Imports, Inc., the imported gifts, décor and furniture store, was surveyed by Tickermine this month.

Analysts report that the company has seen a nice turnaround this spring with improved merchandising and lower-than-expected costs.

We asked respondents at 27 different stores whether business was up from last year, are new and big furniture items emerging this summer, was Easter a busy season for the store, do their customers spend over $250 per shop and are their shoppers scouting the sale items section more than before due to the tight economy?

22 respondents or 81% of those polled said that they expected to have new, large furniture this summer, and mostly patio furniture sets, the poll said. Five respondents or 19% said they wouldn't get any big pieces in. In spite of upbeat analysts reports, 11 respondents or 41% said business was slower than last year. This was the majority. Another 9 or 33% said business was up from last year and 7 or 26% said it was the same. Fifteen respondents or 56% of those interviewed reported Easter as a busy time in their store. Twelve or 44% said it was not busy. 17 respondents or 63% of those polled said that most of their customers shop for seasonal merchandise. Ten people or 37% said this was not true for their store. And 20 respondents or 74% said most of their customers spend over $250 per store visit. Only 7 or 26% said their customers spend less than this per visit. The majority (18 respondents or 67%) said their customers shop more in the sale section than they did before, because of the soft economy. Nine respondents or 33% did not see this trend at all.