Linens' Same-Store Sales Drop

CLIFTON, NJ-Linens ‘n Things posted a year-over-year same-store sales drop of 6.8% for its Q2, which ended July 2. Executives blamed a “product transition” process the company has gone through for the retailer’s weak performance.

Net sales also fell, by 0.9%, to $573.3 million, and Linens reported a $5.9 million net loss for the quarter. “We are clearly disappointed that we have not been able to generate a stronger sales performance for the first half of the year,” said Jack Moore, the company’s president and COO, during a conference call.

The product transition hurt the delivery of new product, decreased guest traffic and impacted other parts of the business. Executives say they expect a turnaround for the second half of the year, though rising fuel costs could put a damper on the improvement.