01.13.10
Ulta Saw Increased Traffic, Sales Over Holiday

Ulta Salon, Cosmetics & Fragrance has announced its sales results for the seven-week holiday period corresponding with its holiday marketing initiatives and representing the seven full weeks beginning the week before Thanksgiving through the end of the week following Christmas.

The 348-store beauty retailer’s total net sales for the seven-week holiday period were $262.2 million, an 18.2% increase from the prior year holiday period. Comparable store sales for the holiday period increased 7.9%, as compared to a 5.8% decrease during the same period in the prior year.

“The combination of dynamic marketing, compelling offerings and enticing value drove an 8.8% increase in customer traffic, which led to a better-than-expected performance for the holiday season,” said Ulta’s president and CEO Lyn Kirby. “The period also benefited from a less promotional gift-giving environment across retail, versus last year. As a result, we improved our merchandise margin and leveraged our marketing spend as a percentage of net sales, as compared to last year. Based on our holiday results, we have raised our fourth-quarter expectations for sales and earnings.”