Bon-Ton Sales Steady for July

July sales for were basically no different than the same time a year ago, company officials announced Thursday.

Bon-Ton Stores, Inc. -- which operates a store in -- stated that comparable store sales in the four weeks ended July 28 were even with last year. Total sales decreased 0.1 percent to $173.4 million in the current year compared with $173.6 million in the prior year period.

"We were pleased with our July sales performance," said Brendan Hoffman, President and Chief Executive Officer.

For the second quarter of fiscal 2012, comparable stores sales increased 0.1 percent. Total sales for the thirteen weeks ended July 28, 2012 decreased 0.1 percent to $594.9 million compared with $595.5 million for the prior year period.

Year-to-date comparable store sales decreased 0.6 percent. Year-to-date total sales decreased 0.8 percent to $1,235.6 million compared with $1,245.4 million in the same period last year.

Hoffman said that strong increases were reported in a semiannual home and furniture sales event due to the successful introduction of new fall goods.

"We were particularly pleased with customer response to our new wear-now offerings in ladies’ apparel, shoes and accessories," he said.

"In addition, customers responded favorably to our promotional marketing changes and our clear message of value. Our inventory has transitioned such that we are well-positioned to capitalize on the early sell-through of fall merchandise as we head into the second half of the year,” Hoffman added.

Keith Plowman, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, stated, “We previously discussed on our conference calls this year that we would convert our proprietary credit card operation to Alliance Data by the end of our second quarter. The transition was successfully completed on July 24, 2012.”

Plowman further commented, “Our excess borrowing capacity under our revolving credit facility was approximately $382 million at the end of July.”

Financial results for the second quarter of fiscal 2012 are scheduled to be released Thursday, Aug. 16.

The Bon-Ton Stores Inc., with corporate headquarters in York and Milwaukee, Wisc., operates 272 department stores, which include 11 furniture galleries, in 23 states in the Northeast, Midwest and upper Great Plains under the Bon-Ton, Bergner’s, Boston Store, Carson Pirie Scott, Elder-Beerman, Herberger’s and Younkers nameplates and, in the Detroit area, under the Parisian nameplate.

The department stores offer a broad assortment of national and private brand fashion apparel and accessories for women, men and children, as well as cosmetics and home furnishings.

For further information, please visit the investor relations section of the company’s website at http://investors.bonton.com.