Exhibit 99.1 Contact: Walter Parks
Chief Financial Officer
bebe stores, inc.
(415) 715-3900 bebe stores, inc. Announces August 2004 Sales;
Same Store Sales Increase 9.2%;
Updates First Quarter GuidanceBRISBANE, CALIF. – September 2, 2004 – bebe stores, inc. (Nasdaq: BEBE) today reported retail sales of $31.0 million for the four-week period ended August 28, 2004, an increase of 17.4% compared to sales of $26.4 million for the four-week period ended August 30, 2003. Same store sales for the four-week period ended August 28, 2004 increased 9.2% compared to an increase of 7.9% for August 2003. Retail sales for the year-to-date period beginning July 1, 2004 and ending August 28, 2004 were $62.3 million compared to $53.3 million for the year-to-date period beginning July 3, 2003 and ending August 30, 2003, an increase of 16.9%. Same store sales for the year-to-date period beginning July 1, 2004 and ending August 28, 2004 increased 9.4% compared to an increase of 6.7% for the year-to-date period beginning July 1, 2003 and ending August 31, 2003. Based on year-to-date results, we currently anticipate diluted earnings per share, for the first quarter of fiscal 2005 to be in the range of $0.18 to $0.21 per share, an increase from previous guidance in the range of $0.16 to $0.19 per share compared to $0.15 per share in the first quarter of fiscal 2004. Effective July 1, 2004, we switched to a 4-4-5 week period end. Each period will end on a Saturday. Fiscal August 2005 started on August 1, 2004 and ended on August 28, 2004. August 2003 was a calendar month beginning on August 1, 2003 and ending on August 31, 2003. bebe stores, inc. provides additional information on a recorded message. Interested parties are invited to listen to the message by calling 1-877-232-3757. bebe stores, inc. designs, develops and produces a distinctive line of contemporary women’s apparel and accessories, which it markets under the bebe and BEBE SPORT brand names. bebe currently operates 201 stores, of which 177 are bebe stores and 24 are BEBE SPORT stores. These stores are located in the United States and Canada. In addition, we have an online store at www.bebe.com. The statements in this news release and on our recorded message, other than the historical financial information, contain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ from anticipated results. Wherever used, the words “expect,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “believe” and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. Any such forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties and the company’s future results of operations could differ materially from historical results or current expectations. Some of these risks include, without limitation, miscalculation of the demand for our products, effective management of our growth, decline in comparable store sales performance, ongoing competitive pressures in the apparel industry, changes in the level of consumer spending or preferences in apparel, and/or other factors that may be described in the company’s annual report on Form 10-K and/or other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Future economic and industry trends that could potentially impact revenues and profitability are difficult to predict. _________________ |
