Bassett(BSET)2025-04-03 13:00Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Consolidated sales decreased by 5.1% for the first quarter, primarily due to a comparison of 13 weeks this year to 14 weeks in the previous fiscal year [11][26] - On a normalized basis, sales revenue for the first quarter increased by 2.2% [12][27] - Consolidated gross margins increased by 170 basis points, primarily due to better margins in the wholesale segment [27] - Consolidated operating income was 2.4 million in the previous year [28] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Wholesale orders decreased by 8.4% for the quarter, or 1.4% normalized for the extra week [13] - Orders from the store network increased by 4.2% on a normalized basis [13] - Retail gross margins fell modestly, but cost reductions contributed to improved results [15] - E-commerce sales increased by 36% due to investments in BassettFurniture.com [16] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The sales environment was more challenging in February, with the President's Day promotional event not as successful as last year [12][13] - Orders from the traditional wholesale business decreased by 10% on a normalized basis, with February being the slowest month of the quarter [14] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The strategic plan for 2025 aims to weather slow housing sales and maintain a disciplined focus on growth [10] - The company is incorporating more technology into the customer experience and fine-tuning marketing efforts [10] - Investments in omnichannel strategies are expected to drive growth in traffic and conversions [17] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management noted that consumer confidence has been declining, impacting business trends [11][40] - The company is preparing to address the implications of new tariffs on materials and products [23][24] - Management expressed confidence in the steps taken to run efficiently through the current economic challenges [11][36] Other Important Information - The board of directors approved a regular quarterly dividend of 20 cents per share [25] - The company plans to invest between 12 million in capital expenditures for store remodels and technology [35] Q&A Session Summary Question: Changes in business trends due to consumer confidence drop - Management observed a spike in sales post-election but noted a return to last year's pace as the year progressed [40] Question: Health of inventory and impact of tariffs - Increased inventory was driven by new collections rather than a conscious effort to stockpile against tariffs [43][44] Question: Sustainability of gross margins - Management indicated that current gross margins are among the highest achieved but do not expect them to increase further in the short term [55] Question: Plans for addressing tariffs - The company is considering various strategies, including potential price increases, but has not finalized a plan [57] Question: New store openings and design studios - Management sees significant growth potential in the design studio program and is working on new store leases [60][66]