Store Operations and Growth - As of November 2, 2024, the company operated 362 corporately-managed stores, 123 partner-operated locations, and 80 international franchised stores[81]. - The company expects net new unit growth of at least 65 locations in fiscal 2024, focusing on non-traditional locations such as family-centric tourist sites[87]. - The company has opened a net of 40 new retail experience locations during the first thirty-nine weeks of fiscal 2024[87]. - The number of third-party retail locations increased to 123 by November 2, 2024, from 92 at the beginning of the period, highlighting the expansion of the capital-light retail model[91]. Financial Performance - The company reported growth in total revenues and profit in fiscal 2023, driven by strategic investments and improved operational efficiency[87]. - Consolidated revenues increased by 11.0%, driven by a 9.1million(9.12.6 million (43%) increase in commercial revenue compared to the third fiscal quarter of 2023[98]. - Net retail sales for the thirteen weeks ended November 2, 2024, were 109.5million,upfrom100.4 million for the same period in 2023, with existing stores contributing 8.8milliontothisincrease[99].−Commercialrevenuereached8.6 million for the thirteen weeks ended November 2, 2024, compared to 6.0millionforthesameperiodin2023,primarilyduetoincreasedsalesvolumefromwholesaleaccounts[102].−Forthethirty−nineweeksendedNovember2,2024,netretailsaleswere320.8 million, a 4.9million(1.521.9 million, up from 17.7millionintheprioryear,reflectinga4.2 million increase[109]. - International franchising revenue was 1.3millionforthethirteenweeksendedNovember2,2024,comparedto1.1 million in the same period of 2023, mainly due to product shipment timing[103]. Profitability and Margins - Retail gross margin dollars increased by 6.5millionto59.4 million, with the retail gross margin rate improving by 160 basis points compared to the prior year[104]. - EBITDA for the thirteen weeks ended November 2, 2024, increased by 3.4million,or25.316.7 million from 13.3millionforthesameperiodlastyear[117].−EBITDAforthethirty−nineweeksendedNovember2,2024,increasedby0.7 million, or 1.5%, to 49.9millionfrom49.2 million for the same period last year[118]. Shareholder Returns and Capital Management - The company returned 42milliontoshareholdersthroughspecialdividendsandhasinitiatedaquarterlydividendprogram,declaringcashdividendsof0.20 per share totaling 2.9million,2.7 million, and 2.7millioninthefirstthreequartersoffiscal2024[88].−Thecompanyhasimplementeda100 million stock repurchase program announced in September 2024, following previous repurchase programs totaling 75million[88].−Thecompanyutilized23.0 million in cash to repurchase 832,944 shares during the thirty-nine weeks ended November 2, 2024, compared to 15.2millionfor672,734sharesinthesameperiodlastyear[133].CashFlowandCapitalExpenditures−Cashprovidedbyoperatingactivitiesdecreasedby5.2 million to 27.6millionforthethirty−nineweeksendedNovember2,2024,comparedto32.7 million for the same period last year[124]. - Total inventory at quarter end was 70.8million,anincreaseof6.3 million or 10% from the end of the fiscal 2023 third quarter[131]. - Capital spending through the thirty-nine weeks ended November 2, 2024, totaled 9.6million,withanexpectedcapitalexpenditureofapproximately18 to 20millioninfiscal2024[131].BusinessStrategyandDigitalTransformation−Thecompany′sdigitaltransformationincludesthelaunchofitsfirstanimatedtheatricalfilmin2023,"GlistenandtheMerryMission,"aimedatexpandingitsconsumerbasebeyondchildren[87].−Thecompanyaimstoenhanceitsomnichannelcapabilities,integratingcustomercommunicationstoacquirenewcustomersandincreasepurchaseoccasions[87].−Thecompanyhasshiftedtoasset−lightbusinessmodels,improvingcashflowsandsupportinglong−termprofitablegrowthinitiatives[88].−Thecompanyoperatesinthreesegments:Direct−to−Consumer,Commercial,andInternationalfranchising,leveragingitsbrandstrengthacrossvariouschannels[82].FinancialPositionandObligations−AsofNovember2,2024,thecompanyhadaconsolidatedcashbalanceof29.0 million, with 79% domiciled within the U.S.[123]. - The company had purchase obligations totaling approximately 99.7millionasofNovember2,2024,with29.0 million due in the next 12 months[132]. - The company had no outstanding borrowings as of November 2, 2024, under its revolving credit agreement[127]. Economic Outlook - The company expects inflationary pressures to continue throughout fiscal 2024, particularly through wage increases[135].