Mothers Work same-store sales rise in August

Maternity apparel retailer Mothers Work Inc. said Thursday its same-store sales jumped 7.2 percent in August, helped by the inclusion of more weekend days in the month.

Same-store sales, or sales at stores open at least a year, is a key indicator of retailer performance since it measures growth at existing stores rather than newly-opened ones.

Mothers Work said the rise in same-store sales was partly due to having five Saturdays and five Sundays this year, compared to four Saturdays and four Sundays in August of 2007. An earlier Labor Day also helped, the company said.

Total sales fell 5 percent to $44.8 million from $47.1 million. Mothers Work said the decline was due to lower sales from its licensed relationship and lower Sears leased department sales since the company is closing its leased departments in Sears stores.

The company said its gross margin in the month was lower than planned due to strong sales of marked down spring and summer merchandise.