Corporate Overview     Management     News Releases     Public Filings     Code of Conduct and Ethics

News Releases

Please enter your email address to receive future news release notifications .

E-mail:

Brookstone Announces First Quarter 2002 Results

NASHUA, N.H., May 22, 2002 -- Brookstone, Inc. (Nasdaq:BKST) today announced results for the first quarter ended May 4, 2002.

For the first quarter of Fiscal 2002 the Company reported a net loss of $6.5 million, or $0.78 per diluted share, compared to a net loss of $5.2 million or $0.62 per diluted share for the first quarter of Fiscal 2001. Total sales for the thirteen-week period ended May 4, 2002 increased 3.0% to $56.6 million compared to $55.0 million for the first quarter of last year. Same store sales for the comparable thirteen-week period decreased 3.3%. Direct marketing sales for the first quarter decreased 3.4% on a circulation decrease of 20%.

Michael Anthony, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, commented, "We are pleased that our first quarter net loss was less than previously released estimates. Same store sales trends have continued to improve since the third quarter of last year. New product penetration as a percent of total sales continues to increase. The Direct Marketing channel exceeded expectations, and operating results for this segment improved substantially over the first quarter of the prior year due to a strong increase in sales per book and significant growth in the Internet. In addition, we were able to leverage SG&A expenses through continued expense control."

Mr. Anthony continued, "We completed the quarter in strong financial condition, with inventories 10% below the first quarter of last year, while providing for 23 additional stores. Additionally, we ended the quarter with approximately $10 million more in cash than at the end of the first quarter of last year."

Mr. Anthony further commented, "Looking to our second quarter, we believe the net loss will range between $0.17 to $0.23 per diluted share as compared to last year's second quarter loss of $0.33 per diluted share. We feel we are on track to meet our earnings target for the year of between $1.20 to $1.25 per diluted share."

Brookstone, Inc. is a nationwide specialty retailer that operates 248 stores in 39 states, Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia. Typically located in high-traffic regional shopping malls and airports, the stores feature unique and innovative consumer products. The Company also operates a direct marketing business that consists of three catalogs; The Brookstone Catalog, Hard-to-Find Tools and Gardeners Eden catalog; as well as an e-commerce web site at http://www.Brookstone.com.

Statements in this release which are not historical facts, including statements about the Company's confidence or expectations, earnings, anticipated operations of its e-commerce sites and those of third-party service providers, and other statements about the Company's operational outlook, are forward-looking statements subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those set forth in such forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, risks of changing market conditions in the overall economy and the retail industry, consumer demand, the effectiveness of e-commerce technology and marketing efforts, availability of products, availability of adequate transportation of such products, and other factors detailed from time to time in the Company's annual and other reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Words such as "estimate", "project", "plan", "believe", "feel", "anticipate", "assume", "may", "will", "should" and similar words and phrases may identify forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date thereof. The Company undertakes no obligations to publicly release any revisions to these forward-looking statements or reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof.


                                Brookstone, Inc.
                     Consolidated Statement of Operations
                               ($ in thousands)

                                                 (Unaudited)
                                            Thirteen Weeks Ended
                                       May 4, 2002        May 5, 2001

Net sales                                 $56,633            $54,997
Cost of sales                              43,742             40,841

Gross profit                               12,891             14,156

Selling, general and                       23,098             22,648
administrative expenses

   Loss from operations                   (10,207)            (8,492)

Interest (income) expense, net                307                (61)

Loss before taxes                         (10,514)            (8,431)

   Income tax benefit                      (3,995)            (3,238)

Net loss                                  $(6,519)           $(5,193)

Basic / diluted loss per share:
Net loss                                   $(0.78)            $(0.62)

Weighted average shares outstanding
      Basic/diluted                         8,407              8,336


                       Brookstone, Inc.
                  Consolidated Balance Sheet
                       ($ in thousands)

                                  Unaudited
                          May 4, 2002    May 5, 2001  February 2, 2002
Current Assets:
  Cash and cash
   equivalents               $ 14,156         $3,774      $ 28,928
  Receivables, net              6,222          4,686         8,170
  Merchandise inventories      57,646         64,314        55,629
  Deferred income taxes, net    7,824          7,054         3,447
  Other current assets          5,009          5,453         4,933

     Total current assets      90,857         85,281       101,107

Deferred income taxes, net      4,536          3,662         4,536
Property and equipment, net    43,258         42,160        45,058
Intangible assets, net          4,676          5,222         4,812
Other assets                    2,720          2,365         1,592

     Total assets            $146,047       $138,690      $157,105

Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity
Current Liabilities:
  Accounts payable            $10,400        $12,304       $11,232
  Other current liabilities    17,748         14,562        22,569

     Total current liabilities 28,148         26,866        33,801

Other long term liabilities    13,407         11,896        13,246
Long term obligation
 under capital lease            2,238          2,387         2,273

Commitments and Contingencies

Common stock                        8              8             8
Additional paid-in capital     51,654         50,500        50,666
Retained earnings              50,639         47,080        57,158
Treasury stock, at cost           (47)           (47)          (47)
    Total shareholders'
     equity                   102,254         97,541       107,785

Total liabilities and
 shareholders' equity        $146,047       $138,690      $157,105

Contacts:

Philip Roizin, EVP of Finance and Administration
(603) 880-9500

Robert Fusco, Investor Relations Brookstone
(603) 880-9500