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Retailers across apparel, home goods and grocery reported ecommerce earnings results as consumers check their spending.

This week, more retailers in Digital Commerce 360’s Top 1000 list of leading ecommerce retailers in North America reported ecommerce earnings results for the most recent fiscal quarter. Here’s the ecommerce earnings summary you need to know from this week. Read more ecommerce earnings coverage here.

American Eagle Outfitters Inc. (No. 54 in the Top 1000)

American Eagle reported digital revenue declined 7% in the fiscal second quarter ended July 29, 2023. Meanwhile, store revenue grew 4% and total net revenue was up “slightly” to $1.2 billion.

“Demand picked up in June and July, reflecting brand strength and on trend collections that are resonating well with customers, supported by exciting new marketing campaigns,” CEO Jay Schottenstein said in a written statement.

Following improvements to BOPIS offerings in the quarter, pickup penetration doubled, the retailer said. That is leading to savings on shipping costs and leading to additional sales.

Designer Brands Inc. (No. 77)

Designer Brands reported net sales declined 7.8% to $792.2 million for the fiscal second quarter ended July 29, 2023. Total comparable sales, which include ecommerce sales, declined 8.9%. The shoe retailer did not share specific information about online sales. It also took over hushpuppies.com, its sixth ecommerce brand website.

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Designer Brands noted declines in consumer spending. Forecasts are uncertain due to “competitive inventory, the health of the consumer and overall macroeconomic headwinds,” said Jared Poff, chief financial officer.

Express Inc. (No. 114)

Express reported online sales decreased 1% in the fiscal second quarter ended July 30, 2023. Retail store comparable sales declined 21% during the same period. Consolidated net sales declined 6% to $435.3 million. 

Ecommerce sales were a highlight of the quarter, nearly offsetting depressed store sales, particularly in women’s products, the retailer said. 

J. Jill (No. 246)

J.Jill reported total net sales declined 2.9% to $155.7 million in the fiscal second quarter ended July 29, 2023. Direct-to-consumer sales decreased 5.1%, representing 44.7% of total sales. Comparable sales, including both stores and DTC, declined 1.3%.

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A high rate of online returns continues to hurt margins, the apparel retailer said, though they are starting to stabilize.

Kirkland’s Inc. (No. 518)

Kirkland’s reported online sales declined 16.6% in the fiscal second quarter ended July 29, 2023. Comparable store sales declined 9.7%. Net sales decreased to $89.5 million from $102.1 million in the year-ago period. Declines were due to decreases in traffic and average ticket, the retailer said.

“The second quarter sales results were challenged by lower traffic and the aggressive liquidation efforts in Q2 of last year that presented a tough sales comparison, period over period,” interim CEO Ann Joyce said in a statement.

The Kroger Co. (No. 8)

Kroger reported online sales grew 12% in the fiscal second quarter ended Aug. 12, 2023. Total company sales declined to $33.9 billion from $34.6 billion the previous year. However, excluding fuel, sales increased 1.1%. 

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“Looking forward, we believe inflation will continue to decelerate and the environment will remain challenging for consumers. We therefore expect identical sales without fuel will be at the low end of our full-year guidance range and slightly negative in the second half of the year,” Gary Millerchip, chief financial officer, said in a written statement.

GameStop Corp. (No. 41)

GameStop reported net sales grew to $1.16 billion from $1.14 billion the previous year for the fiscal second quarter ended July 29, 2023. Net loss was $2.8 million, compared to $108.7 million last year. The retailer did not share additional information on online sales.

Sportsman’s Warehouse (No. 361)

Sportsman’s Warehouse reported net sales declined 11.8% to $309.5 million in the fiscal second quarter ended July 29, 2023. 

“We were disappointed with our second-quarter results and the slowdown in store traffic, as the challenging macroeconomic conditions continue to pressure consumer discretionary spending,” interim CEO Joseph Schneider said in a written statement.

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However, omnichannel sales were a bright spot, he said, with ecommerce sales outpacing in-store sales.

Zumiez Inc. (No. 452)

Zumiez reported net sales declined 11.6% to $194.4 million in the fiscal second quarter ended July 29, 2023. Net sales for the first six months also declined 14.4% year over year. CEO Rich Brooks called out “continued headwinds facing consumer discretionary spending combined with a heightened promotional marketplace” as explanations for the sales slump.

However, he said back-to-school sales have been promising so far, and are historically a good indicator of upcoming holiday sales.

So what does it mean?

  • Retailers across the board are seeing consumers cut back on non-essential spending, per ecommerce earnings reports. Even grocery retailer Kroger notes the pullback, although it managed to grow online sales.
  • Apparel retailers appear to be bearing the brunt of the decline in spending. American Eagle is an exception, growing in-store sales while online sales declined. 

In case you missed it: Best Buy, Chewy, Lululemon, Land’s End and more reported last week.

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