Reitmans (Canada) Limited Reports December Sales

MONTREAL, Jan. 9, 2019 /CNW Telbec/ - Sales in December for the five weeks ended January 5, 2019 decreased 7.8%, with a net reduction of 34 stores. Same store sales¹, which include e-commerce sales, decreased 4.6%.

Sales for the fourth quarter to date, being the nine weeks ended January 5, 2019, decreased 6.5% with 34 fewer stores in operation. Same store sales¹, which include e-commerce sales, decreased 3.4%.

In the fourth quarter to date, the Company closed 3 stores.  Accordingly, at January 5, 2019, there were 621 stores in operation, consisting of 265 Reitmans, 117 Penningtons, 83 Addition Elle, 83 RW & CO., 60 Thyme Maternity and 13 Hyba, as compared with 655 stores last year.

January 9, 2019

Jeremy H. Reitman,
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Telephone: (514) 385-2630
Corporate Website: 

All of the statements contained herein, other than statements of fact that are independently verifiable at the date hereof, are forward-looking statements. Such statements, based as they are on the current expectations of management, inherently involve numerous risks and uncertainties, known and unknown, many of which are beyond the Company's control.  Consequently, actual future results may differ materially from the anticipated results expressed in forward-looking statements, which reflect the Company's expectations only as of the date of this Press Announcement.  Forward-looking statements are based upon the Company's current estimates, beliefs and assumptions, which are based on management's perception of historical trends, current conditions and currently expected future developments, as well as other factors it believes, are appropriate in the circumstances.  This Press Announcement contains forward-looking statements about the Company's objectives, plans, goals, aspirations, strategies, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows, performance, prospects, opportunities and legal and regulatory matters. Specific forward-looking statements in this Press Announcement include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to the Company's anticipated future results and events, future liquidity, planned capital expenditures, amount of pension plan contributions, status and impact of systems implementation, the ability of the Company to successfully implement its strategic initiatives and cost reduction and productivity improvement initiatives as well as the impact of such initiatives.  These specific forward-looking statements are contained throughout the Company's Management Discussion & Analysis ("MD&A") including those listed in the "Operating and Financial Risk Management" section of the Company's MD&A. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words such as "expect", "anticipate", "believe", "foresee", "could", "estimate", "goal", "intend", "plan", "seek", "strive", "will", "may" and "should" and similar expressions, as they relate to the Company and its management.

¹The Company uses a key performance indicator ("KPI"), same store sales, to assess store performance and sales growth. The Company has embarked on an omni-channel approach to engaging with customers. Due to the cross-channel behavior of consumers, the Company has launched its initiative aimed at appealing to its customers shopping habits through either online or store channels.  This approach allows customers to shop online for home delivery, pickup in-store, purchase in any of our store locations or ship to home from our stores when products are unavailable. Due to customer cross-channel behavior, the Company reports a single comparable sales metric, inclusive of store and e-commerce channels. Same store sales are defined as sales generated by stores that have been continuously open during both of the periods being compared and include e-commerce sales.  Same store sales exclude sales from wholesale accounts.  The same store sales metric compares the same calendar days for each period.  Although this KPI is expressed as a ratio, it is a non-GAAP financial measure that does not have a standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS and may not be comparable to similar measures used by other companies.  Management uses same store sales in evaluating the performance of stores and considers it useful in helping to determine what portion of new sales has come from sales growth and what portion can be attributed to the opening of new stores.  Same store sales is a measure widely used amongst retailers and is considered useful information for both investors and analysts.  Same store sales should not be considered in isolation or used in substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with IFRS.

Numerous risks and uncertainties could cause the Company's actual results to differ materially from those expressed, implied or projected in the forward-looking statements.  Please refer to the "Forward-Looking Statements" section of the Company's MD&A for the 13 and 39 weeks ended November 3, 2018.

Other risks and uncertainties not presently known to the Company or that the Company presently believes are not material could also cause actual results or events to differ materially from those expressed in its forward-looking statements. Additional risks and uncertainties are discussed in the Company's materials filed with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities from time to time. The reader should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements included herein. These statements speak only as of the date made and the Company is under no obligation and disavows any intention to update or revise such statements as a result of any event, circumstances or otherwise, except to the extent required under applicable securities law.

SOURCE Reitmans (Canada) Limited