Havertys sales up 5.9% in second quarter

Clint Engel -- Furniture Today, July 6, 2012

ATLANTA — Havertys posted a 5.9% second-quarter sales gain, reporting continued strong business in upholstery as well as a pickup in bedroom.

The Atlanta-based Top 100 company said sales for the quarter ended June 30 increase to $151.5 million from $143.1 million for the same period a year ago. Same-store sales rose 5.6%.

For the first half of the year, the 120-store retailer's sales were up 6% to $315.1 million and same-store sales ticked up 5.7%.

Written sales in the second quarter increased 3.5%, the company said.

Havertys President and CEO Clarence Smith said the retailer is "encouraged by the stronger pace of business in the last half of the quarter."

"Upholstery sales continue to lead our product categories, and the second quarter results included increased sales of bedroom merchandise," he said. "We believe our investments in improving the customer experience and developing a wider assortment of ‘better' price point merchandise is gaining momentum with customers."

The retailer, No. 16 on Furniture/Today's Top 100 with furniture, bedding and accessories sales of $620.9 million in 2011, sells at medium to upper-medium price points and has stores in 17 Southern and Midwestern states.