While the 2015 holiday shopping season did not produce hoped-for sales in many stores, one chain store posted solid gains over 2014 holiday sales. Toy retailer Toys R Us said Friday that same-store sales for the five-week period between November 29 and January 2 rose 3.7%, and sales for the nine-week period beginning November 1 rose 2%, compared with the same periods a year ago.
U.S. sales rose 2.9% for the five-week period and rose 1.4% for the nine-week period. The company noted that online sales showed “particular strength.” The core toy, learning and seasonal categories generated the strongest same-store sales growth, partially offset by a decline in the entertainment (which includes electronics, video game hardware and software) category.
International sales for the five-week period rose 5.1% and 3.1% for the nine weeks. Canada and Japan led results in the international division while European sales were softer.
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CEO Dave Brandon said:
Our positive holiday same store sales results demonstrate our ability to execute our holiday plan in a highly competitive marketplace. We successfully maintained a strong in-stock position on the hottest toys while offering customers competitive prices and an extensive merchandise assortment, both in stores and online.
Toys R Us is privately held by Bain Capital Partners, KKR and Vornado Realty and operates 865 stores in the United States and Puerto Rico and 750 stores internationally. The company also has more than 250 licensed stores in 38 global locations.
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