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Urban Plans 9 Openings

PHILADELPHIA-Clothing and accessory retailer Urban Outfitters plans to open nine new stores by the end of the fiscal year.

By Beverly Ford | Updated on November 09, 2006

PHILADELPHIA-Urban Outfitters chalked up 23 new store openings so far this year in a growth spurt that company officials say is far from over. By January, the firm plans nine additional store openings, taking it well beyond the 1.66 million sf of selling space it currently operates under its three banners.

For the Philadelphia-based clothing and accessories retailer, owners of the Urban Outfitters, Anthropologie and Free People brands, the year-long expansion that so far increased the company’s retail space by 21% has been good for sales. In the third quarter, sales were up 6.8% to a record $308.4 million, due largely to new store openings and strong gains in the company’s direct and wholesale business.

But quarterly earnings didn’t quite measure up, dropping 7.1% to $34.5 million, or 21 cents a share, when compared with last year’s $37.2 million, or 22 cents a share, third quarter results. Lower margins and weaker same-store sales were to blame, the company says. Increases in fixed-occupancy costs, store payroll and other expenses, including markdowns taken to clear seasonal merchandise, had a clear effect on operating margins, company officials note.Sales at stores open at least a year were also down, dropping by 10% at both Anthropologie and Urban Outfitters but rising by 9% at Free People stores, which experienced a 15% gain overall. Comparable-store sales grew 13% company-wide in last year’s third quarter, rising 7%, 19% and 21% respectively.

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