It’s no secret customers like a good sale, but a recent finding from Ann Taylor shows items can still sell–even with a full-price sticker.
Ann Taylor reported a second-quarter profit and rising sales that even bested their lower-priced namesake Loft chain, which used to be a superstar during the recession. MarketWatch quotes the company saying gross-margin comps “dramatically outpaced” sales performance because of “the strength of the full-priced offering.”
It’s an encouraging report for women retailers. Often, women retailers feel the effects of a recession harder than other companies. When women oversee the household finances, they tend to cut back their own spending first. Plus, Ann Taylor, a retailer known for supplying professional clothing, found itself in a tricky situation trying to sell business clothes amidst job layoffs and potential job layoffs.
While the economy still isn’t in great shape, it’s nice to hear that retailers can do well in the present situation.
