Release Details

BASSETT, Va., June 28, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bassett Furniture Industries, Inc. (Nasdaq:BSET) announced today its results of operations for its fiscal quarter ended May 26, 2018.

Fiscal 2018 Second Quarter Highlights
(Dollars in millions)

	Sales											Operating Income
	2nd Qtr					Dollar			%			2nd Qtr		% of			2nd Qtr		% of
	2018		2017			Change			Change			2018		Sales			2017		Sales
Consolidated *	$	117.0	$	114.1		$	2.9		2.5	%		$	5.7	4.8	%		$	7.6	6.7	%
Wholesale	$	63.8	$	62.3		$	1.5		2.4	%		$	3.0	4.8	%		$	4.8	7.7	%
Total Retail	$	68.7	$	67.1		$	1.5		2.3	%		$	1.6	2.4	%		$	1.4	2.0	%
53 Comparable Stores	$	60.1	$	61.1		$	(1.1	)	-1.8	%		$	2.7	4.4	%		$	2.8	4.5	%
Logistical Services	$	24.9	$	24.6		$	0.3		1.2	%		$	0.3	1.2	%		$	0.8	3.2	%
* Our consolidated results include certain intercompany eliminations.  See the “Segment Information” table below for an illustration of the effects of these intercompany eliminations on our consolidated sales and operating income.

Net income for the quarter was $4.3 million or $0.40 per share as compared to net income of $5.8 million or $0.54 per diluted share for the prior year quarter. Included in net income for the prior year quarter was a $3.3 million pre-tax gain on the sale of an equity investment and a $1.1 million pre-tax loss on the write down of a store property previously operated by a licensee.  Excluding the effects of these items, net income would have been $4.5 million or $0.42 per diluted share.

“We continued to invest energy and capital into all facets of our vertically integrated model during the fiscal 2018 second quarter,” commented Rob Spilman, Chairman and CEO.  “As we navigate the competitive traditional brick and mortar marketplace and face the challenge of pure play e-commerce, we believe more than ever that our closed loop of proprietary product, a vibrant store and digital experience, and the end of transaction service provided by our logistics arm offers the consumer a unique home furnishings experience that builds customer loyalty and repeat business.  To that end, we are broadening our product assortment, re-architecting our customer service paradigm, researching a new digital marketing template, and refining the capabilities of our middle mile and final mile delivery platform; all underway as we expand our store network.  As previously communicated, these endeavors may prove detrimental to our short term financial performance as witnessed this past quarter.  We are committed to the proper development of all elements of our strategy as we seek to further enhance Bassett’s position in today’s fluid retail environment.”

“Consolidated revenue grew by 2.5% to $117.0 million compared to last year’s 7.0% sales increase,” continued Spilman.  “This year, the growth was generated by the Lane Venture acquisition as sales for the rest of the company were virtually flat.  Two stores were opened in the quarter – a corporately owned location in El Paso, Texas and our third licensee owned store in the San Diego market. For the remainder of the fiscal year, we plan to open 3 to 4 new corporate locations and two licensee owned stores, re-position two more corporate stores, and open our first clearance center.  Enhancements to our website, including our new sectional configurator and the addition of staff to augment our digital marketing capabilities, were important initiatives in the quarter.  The foundational elements of our digital strategy are ongoing but necessary for us to effectively compete today and into the future.  Part of our strategy involves the fusion of digital technology and our physical store environment which will initially culminate with the opening of our new Generation 3 stores in Texas this fall.”

Wholesale Segment                                                                                        

Net sales for the wholesale segment were $63.8 million for the second quarter of 2018 as compared to $62.3 million for the second quarter of 2017, an increase of $1.5 million or 2.4%.  This increase was driven by $3.3 million in sales from Lane Venture, acquired during the first quarter of 2018, partially offset by a 1.6% decrease in furniture shipments to the open market (outside the Bassett Home Furnishings network), and a 3.8% decrease in furniture shipments to the Bassett Home Furnishings network compared to the prior year period.  Wholesale shipments of accessories, a much smaller component of the Company’s wholesale revenues, increased 17% over the prior year quarter. Gross margins for the wholesale segment were 32.9% for the second quarter of 2018 as compared to 33.8% for the prior year quarter.  This decrease was primarily driven by lower margins in the Bassett Custom Upholstery operations from continued higher material costs coupled with lower absorption of fixed costs from lower volumes partially offset by improved margins in the Bassett Custom Wood operations due to operational efficiencies.  In June 2018, the Company implemented targeted price increases to its custom upholstery line to mitigate the effects of the cost increases.  Wholesale SG&A for the second quarter of 2018 was $17.9 million as compared to $16.3 million for the prior year period. SG&A as a percentage of sales increased to 28.1% as compared to 26.1% for the second quarter of 2017.  This increase in SG&A as a percentage of sales was primarily driven by planned higher digital marketing and other brand development costs coupled with the shift in timing of certain marketing costs that occurred in the third quarter of the prior year.  Operating income was $3.0 million or 4.8% of sales as compared to $4.8 million or 7.7% of sales in the prior year. 

“Growth in Bassett Casegoods and the volume from the Lane Venture acquisition provided the revenue increase in our wholesale segment,” added Spilman.  “The successful launch and retail sell through of our Bassett Modern line this spring propelled Bassett Casegoods to positive year over year sales for the first time in several quarters.  Bassett Custom Wood also grew modestly in the period.  A sales decline in Bassett Custom Upholstery, excluding Lane Venture, coupled with ongoing raw material inflation and the previously referenced digital marketing investments were the main culprits in our wholesale operating profit decline.  A complete refresh of our signature Bassett Custom Upholstery program is scheduled for this fall.  This product has been the stalwart of our assortment for many years and we have been working on the new version since mid-2017.  The new program, replete with a more robust interactive web component, will begin shipping this fall in anticipation of an early 2019 introductory promotion.  On the cost side, we implemented a price increase in early June to cover the material cost escalation being passed on to us by our suppliers and we expect to begin to see margin relief in July and beyond as a result.  We made progress in the integration of Lane Venture and in establishing a new manufacturing platform that will offer its dealer base a level of service to which they have previously been unaccustomed.”

Retail Segment

Net sales for the 64 Company-owned Bassett Home Furnishings stores were $68.7 million for the second quarter of 2018 as compared to $67.1 million for the second quarter of 2017, an increase of $1.6 million or 2.3%. The overall increase was due to a $2.6 million increase in non-comparable store sales partially offset by a 1.8% decrease in comparable store sales. 

While the Company does not recognize sales until goods are delivered to the consumer, management tracks written sales (the retail dollar value of sales orders taken, rather than delivered) as a key store performance indicator.  Written sales for comparable stores decreased by 2.6% for the second quarter of 2018 as compared to the second quarter of 2017. 

The consolidated retail operating income for the second quarter of 2018 was $1.6 million as compared to $1.4 million for the second quarter of 2017, an increase of $0.2 million.  The 53 comparable stores generated operating income of $2.7 million for the quarter, or 4.4% of sales, as compared to $2.8 million, or 4.5% of sales, for the prior year quarter. Gross margins for comparable stores were 52.0% for the second quarter of 2018 as compared to 50.9% for the second quarter of 2017.  This increase was primarily due to improved pricing strategies and product mix.  SG&A expenses for comparable stores increased $0.2 million to $28.6 million or 47.6% of sales as compared to 46.3% of sales for the second quarter of 2017 due primarily to higher personnel and health care costs.

Non-comparable stores generated sales of $8.6 million with an operating loss of $1.0 million as compared to sales of $6.0 million and an operating loss of $1.4 million in the prior year quarter.  As part of the $1.0 million loss for the second quarter of 2018, the Company incurred $0.2 million in new store pre-opening costs, a decrease of $0.3 million from the prior year.  In addition, the Company incurred $0.4 million of post opening startup losses compared to $0.7 million in the second quarter of 2017.  As previously stated, the Company’s retail expansion is initially costly.  However, the Company believes that site selection and new store presentation will generally result in locations that operate at or above a break-even level within a reasonable period of time following store opening.

“We ended the quarter with a total of 64 corporate stores in operation compared with 62 a year ago,” said Spilman.  “The additional stores opened in the past year provided our overall corporate retail sales increase as comparable store sales fell by 1.8% compared to last year’s 6.3% increase.  At the mid-point of fiscal 2018, comparable store sales stand at a positive 0.7%.  Historically high retail gross margins helped to generate a 19% improvement in retail operating income.  Our average ticket and close ratio continue to improve and have somewhat mitigated the decline in physical store traffic that we have experienced in most of our stores this year.  Our marketing efforts are centered on the changing dynamics in which consumer’s access information and the corresponding effects on store traffic.  With the help of outside expertise, we are aggregating the many sources of consumer interface data that flow into Bassett and will use that information to customize market specific strategies on a case by case basis.  These studies are ongoing and their fruit will be brought to bear later this year in several test markets.  Another important piece of work is our testing of a new home delivery model for our Zenith Logistics division.  We believe that we can ultimately operate fewer delivery centers and maintain our industry leading speed-to-home proposition for truly customized furniture more efficiently and more profitably. Given the importance of these initiatives and the pending debut of our Generation 3 prototype, we plan to slow the pace of new corporate store openings once we enter 2019.”

Logistical Services Segment

Revenue for Zenith was $24.9 million for the second quarter of 2018 as compared to $24.6 million for 2017, an increase of $0.3 million or 1.2%.  This increase was primarily due to increased revenues from non-Bassett customers.  Zenith’s operating expenses for the second quarter of 2018 were $24.6 million or 98.8% of revenue as compared to $23.8 million or 96.8% for the second quarter of 2017.  This resulted in operating profit of $0.3 million or 1.2% of sales for the current quarter as compared to $0.8 million or 3.2% of sales for the prior year quarter.  This operating profit decrease was primarily due to increased fleet insurance costs due to claims experience, higher fuel costs and inefficiencies in the final mile operation.

About Bassett Furniture Industries, Inc.
Bassett Furniture Industries, Inc. (NASDAQ:BSET), is a leading manufacturer and marketer of high quality home furnishings. With 95 company- and licensee-owned stores at the time of this release, Bassett has leveraged its strong brand name in furniture into a network of corporate and licensed stores that focus on providing consumers with a friendly environment for buying furniture and accessories. The most significant growth opportunity for Bassett continues to be the Company’s dedicated retail store program. Bassett’s retail strategy includes stylish, custom-built furniture that is ready for delivery in the home within 30 days. The stores also feature the latest on-trend furniture styles, free in-home design visits, and coordinated decorating accessories. Bassett also has a traditional wholesale business with more than 700 accounts on the open market, across the United States and internationally and a logistics business specializing in home furnishings.  For more information, visit the Company’s website at bassettfurniture.com. (BSET-E)

Certain of the statements in this release, particularly those preceded by, followed by or including the words “believes,” “plans,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “should,” “estimates,” or similar expressions, or those relating to or anticipating financial results or changes in operations for periods beyond the end of the second fiscal quarter of 2018, constitute “forward looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.  For those statements, Bassett claims the protection of the safe harbor for forward looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  In many cases, Bassett cannot predict what factors would cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in the forward looking statements.  Expectations included in the forward-looking statements are based on preliminary information as well as certain assumptions which management believes to be reasonable at this time.  The following important factors affect Bassett and could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in the forward looking statements:  the effects of national and global economic or other conditions and future events on the retail demand for home furnishings and the ability of Bassett’s customers and consumers to obtain credit; the success of marketing, logistics, retail and other initiatives; and the economic, competitive, governmental and other factors identified in Bassett’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.  Any forward-looking statement that Bassett makes speaks only as of the date of such statement, and Bassett undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.  Comparisons of results for current and any prior periods are not intended to express any future trends or indication of future performance, unless expressed as such, and should only be viewed as historical data.

BASSETT FURNITURE INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income - unaudited
(In thousands, except for per share data)
	Quarter Ended												Six Months Ended
	May 26, 2018						May 27, 2017						May 26, 2018						May 27, 2017
				Percent of						Percent of						Percent of						Percent of
	Amount			Net Sales			Amount			Net Sales			Amount			Net Sales			Amount			Net Sales
Sales revenue:
Furniture and accessories	$	102,675					$	100,294					$	198,798					$	193,992
Logistics		14,305						13,831						28,454						26,025
Total sales revenue		116,980		100.0	%			114,125		100.0	%			227,252		100.0	%			220,017		100.0	%
Cost of furniture and accessories sold		45,660		39.0	%			44,981		39.4	%			88,929		39.1	%			86,879		39.5	%
Selling, general and administrative expenses excluding new store pre-opening costs		65,456		56.0	%			61,075		53.5	%			129,707		57.1	%			119,599		54.4	%
New store pre-opening costs		201		0.2	%			469		0.4	%			903		0.4	%			1,275		0.6	%
Income from operations		5,663		4.8	%			7,600		6.7	%			7,713		3.4	%			12,264		5.6	%
Gain on sale of investments		-		0.0	%			3,267		2.9	%			-		0.0	%			3,267		1.5	%
Impairment of investment real estate		-		0.0	%			(1,084	)	-0.9	%			-		0.0	%			(1,084	)	-0.5	%
Other loss, net		(233	)	-0.2	%			(678	)	-0.6	%			(860	)	-0.4	%			(1,411	)	-0.6	%
Income before income taxes		5,430		4.6	%			9,105		8.0	%			6,853		3.0	%			13,036		5.9	%
Income tax provision		1,141		1.0	%			3,263		2.9	%			3,477		1.5	%			4,333		2.0	%
Net income	$	4,289		3.7	%		$	5,842		5.1	%		$	3,376		1.5	%		$	8,703		4.0	%
Basic earnings per share	$	0.40					$	0.55					$	0.32					$	0.82
Diluted earnings per share	$	0.40					$	0.54					$	0.31					$	0.81

 

BASSETT FURNITURE INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(In thousands)
		(Unaudited)
Assets		May 26, 2018				November 25, 2017
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents		$	22,549			$	53,949
Short-term investments			23,125				23,125
Accounts receivable, net			20,619				19,640
Inventories, net			62,086				54,476
Other current assets			10,539				8,192
Total current assets			138,918				159,382
Property and equipment, net			101,658				103,244
Other long-term assets
Deferred income taxes, net			6,210				8,393
Goodwill and other intangible assets			28,616				17,351
Other			5,946				5,378
Total long-term assets			40,772				31,122
Total assets		$	281,348			$	293,748
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
Current liabilities
Accounts payable		$	21,787			$	21,760
Accrued compensation and benefits			13,195				14,670
Customer deposits			22,093				27,107
Dividends payable			-				3,759
Current portion of long-term debt			432				3,405
Other accrued liabilities			12,323				12,655
Total current liabilities			69,830				83,356
Long-term liabilities
Post employment benefit obligations			13,672				13,326
Long-term debt			109				329
Other long-term liabilities			5,641				5,277
Total long-term liabilities			19,422				18,932
Stockholders’ equity
Common stock			53,736				53,690
Retained earnings			140,934				139,378
Additional paid-in-capital			382				962
Accumulated other comprehensive loss			(2,956	)			(2,570	)
Total stockholders' equity			192,096				191,460
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity		$	281,348			$	293,748

 

BASSETT FURNITURE INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - unaudited
(In thousands)
		Six Months Ended
		May 26, 2018				May 27, 2017
Operating activities:
Net income		$	3,376			$	8,703
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by
(used in) operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization			6,688				6,706
Provision for asset impairment charge			-				1,084
Gain on sale of property and equipment			(136	)			-
Gain on sale of investments			-				(3,267	)
Tenant improvement allowances received from lessors			860				715
Deferred income taxes			2,183				318
Other, net			794				960
Changes in operating assets and liabilities
Accounts receivable			124				(904	)
Inventories			(3,689	)			(4,535	)
Other current and long-term assets			(2,311	)			2,128
Customer deposits			(5,014	)			(2,532	)
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities			(3,045	)			116
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities			(170	)			9,492
Investing activities:
Purchases of property and equipment			(7,662	)			(9,172	)
Proceeds from sale of retail  real estate and property and equipment			2,463				63
Cash paid for business acquisition			(15,556	)			-
Proceeds from sale of investments			-				3,592
Acquisition of retail licensee store			-				(655	)
Other			-				223
Net cash used in investing activities			(20,755	)			(5,949	)
Financing activities:
Cash dividends			(6,124	)			(5,363	)
Proceeds from the exercise of stock options			27				221
Other issuance of common stock			173				-
Repurchases of common stock			(823	)			(82	)
Taxes paid related to net share settlement of equity awards			(522	)			(474	)
Repayments of notes payable			(3,206	)			(3,191	)
Net cash used in financing activities			(10,475	)			(8,889	)
Change in cash and cash equivalents			(31,400	)			(5,346	)
Cash and cash equivalents - beginning of period			53,949				35,144
Cash and cash equivalents - end of period		$	22,549			$	29,798

 

 

BASSETT FURNITURE INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Segment Information - unaudited
(In thousands)
		Quarter Ended								Six Months Ended
		May 26, 2018				May 27, 2017				May 26, 2018				May 27, 2017
Net Sales
Wholesale		$	63,788			$	62,293			$	126,888			$	124,268
Retail - Company-owned stores			68,682				67,144				133,343				128,737
Logistical services			24,929				24,626				50,178				46,960
Inter-company eliminations:
Furniture and accessories			(29,795	)			(29,143	)			(61,433	)			(59,013	)
Logistical services			(10,624	)			(10,795	)			(21,724	)			(20,935	)
Consolidated		$	116,980			$	114,125			$	227,252			$	220,017
Operating Income
Wholesale		$	3,039			$	4,783			$	6,103			$	10,676
Retail			1,626				1,367				113				24
Logistical services			289				798				619				572
Inter-company elimination			709				652				878				992
Consolidated		$	5,663			$	7,600			$	7,713			$	12,264

 

BASSETT FURNITURE INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Rollforward of BHF Store Count
		November 25,				May 26,
		2017	Opened*	Closed*	Transfers	2018
Company-owned stores		60	4	-	-	64
Licensee-owned stores		30	1	-	-	31
Total		90	5	-	-	95
* Does not include openings and closures due to relocation of existing stores within a market.

 

BASSETT FURNITURE INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Supplemental Retail Information--unaudited
(In thousands)
	53  Comparable Stores												53  Comparable Stores
	Quarter Ended						Quarter Ended						Six Months Ended						Six Months Ended
	May 26, 2018						May 27, 2017						May 26, 2018						May 27, 2017
				Percent of						Percent of						Percent of						Percent of
	Amount			Net Sales			Amount			Net Sales			Amount			Net Sales			Amount			Net Sales
Net sales	$	60,058		100.0	%		$	61,132		100.0	%		$	118,910		100.0	%		$	118,106		100.0	%
Cost of sales		28,832		48.0	%			30,038		49.1	%			57,882		48.7	%			58,843		49.8	%
Gross profit		31,226		52.0	%			31,094		50.9	%			61,028		51.3	%			59,263		50.2	%
Selling, general and administrative expense*		28,563		47.6	%			28,325		46.3	%			57,589		48.4	%			56,579		47.9	%
Income from operations	$	2,663		4.4	%		$	2,769		4.5	%		$	3,439		2.9	%		$	2,684		2.3	%
	All Other Stores												All Other Stores
	Quarter Ended						Quarter Ended						Six Months Ended						Six Months Ended
	May 26, 2018						May 27, 2017						May 26, 2018						May 27, 2017
				Percent of						Percent of						Percent of						Percent of
	Amount			Net Sales			Amount			Net Sales			Amount			Net Sales			Amount			Net Sales
Net sales	$	8,624		100.0	%		$	6,012		100.0	%		$	14,433		100.0	%		$	10,631		100.0	%
Cost of sales		4,097		47.5	%			3,034		50.5	%			7,041		48.8	%			5,688		53.5	%
Gross profit		4,527		52.5	%			2,978		49.5	%			7,392		51.2	%			4,943		46.5	%
Selling, general and administrative expense		5,364		62.2	%			3,911		65.1	%			9,816		68.0	%			6,328		59.5	%
Pre-opening store costs**		200		2.3	%			469		7.8	%			902		6.2	%			1,275		12.0	%
Loss from operations	$	(1,037	)	-12.0	%		$	(1,402	)	-23.4	%		$	(3,326	)	-23.1	%		$	(2,660	)	-25.0	%
*Comparable store SG&A includes retail corporate overhead and administrative costs.
**Pre-opening store costs include the accrual for straight-line rent recorded during the period between date of possesion and store opening  date, employee payroll and training costs prior to store opening and other various expenses incurred prior to store opening.

J. Michael Daniel
Senior Vice President and 
Chief Financial Officer
(276) 629-6614 – Investors

Peter D. Morrison
Vice President of Communications
(276) 629-6450 – Media

 

Source: Bassett Furniture Industries, Incorporated