Three Months ended October 2, 2021 compared with Three Months ended September 26, 2020
Net sales increased 2.1% from $40,704 for the three months ended September 26, 2020 to $41,552 for the three months ended October 2, 2021 as the Company was successful in shifting certain domestic sales to direct import, avoiding some of the logistical bottlenecks the Company had experienced as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. Although the Company increased sales as compared to both prior year and prior quarter, the Company still experienced significant customer order cuts on our domestic sales due to limited inventory availability. Sales to our top customers, especially through their ecommerce channels, remained strong, and we increased sales in many of our core categories including entertainers, gates, strollers, specialty blankets, bath, and booster categories.
Cost of goods sold includes cost of the finished product from suppliers, tariffs/duties on certain imported items, freight-in from suppliers, and miscellaneous charges. The components of cost of goods sold remained substantially the same for the quarter ended October 2, 2021 as compared to the quarter ended September 26, 2020.
Gross profit decreased 13.0% from $13,536 for the three months ended September 26, 2020 to $11,774 for the three months ended October 2, 2021. Gross profit as a percent of net sales decreased from 33.3% for the three months ended September 26, 2020 to 28.3% for the three months ended October 2, 2021. The decline in gross profit was primarily driven by the elevated transportation costs incurred to secure inventory for our customers and an increase in our product cost due to exposure to increases in commodity costs effecting certain sourced items. During the three months ended September 26, 2020, gross profit and gross profit as a percent of net sales benefited from improved margins on gates, bath, specialty blankets, strollers, and entertainers as there were lower tariffs in place. Tariff exclusions that had been received since December 2019 expired in August 2020.
General and administrative expenses increased 3.3% from $6,890 for the three months ended September 26, 2020 to $7,116 for the three months ended October 2, 2021. The increase in expense was primarily related to increases in customer related chargebacks as a result of sales order cuts as we could not meet customer demand. The Company also experienced increased distribution center costs, including rent and pallets, versus the prior year period. General and administrative expenses increased from 16.9% of net sales for the three months ended September 26, 2020 to 17.1% of net sales for the three months ended October 2, 2021.
Selling expenses increased 11.4% from $2,802 for the three months ended September 26, 2020 to $3,121 for the three months ended October 2, 2021. Selling expenses increased as a percent of net sales from 6.9% for the three months ended September 26, 2020 to 7.5% for the three months ended October 2, 2021. The increase in selling expense dollars and as a percent of net sales were primarily attributable to an increase in freight out expense for the three months ended October 2, 2021 as compared to the three months ended September 26, 2020.
Depreciation and amortization decreased 29.1% from $783 for the three months ended September 26, 2020 to $555 for the three months ended October 2, 2021. The decrease in depreciation and amortization was attributable to lower capital investment over the past year as the Company focused on increasing productivity of existing SKU’s along with focused new product development.
Interest expense decreased 65.9% from $1,017 for the three months ended September 26, 2020 to $347 for the three months ended October 2, 2021. Interest expense decreased due to our debt refinancing with Bank of America in the fourth quarter of 2020.
For the three months ended September 26, 2020, we recorded a $166 benefit for income taxes on $2,044 of pretax income. The benefit for income tax for the three months ended September 26, 2020 included a $362 discrete reduction in valuation allowance charge for nondeductible interest expense attributable to revised final regulations released in July 2020 as part of the U.S. CARES Act. For the three months ended October 2, 2021, we recorded a $383 provision for income taxes on $635 of pretax income.
Nine Months ended October 2, 2021 compared with Nine Months ended September 26, 2020
Net sales decreased 9.1% from $119,256 for the nine months ended September 26, 2020 to $108,355 for the nine months ended October 2, 2021 primarily as a result of the negative effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on our supply chain including the inability to secure containers thus impacting our ability to meet customer demand. To mitigate these effects, we made significant progress in shifting some sales to direct import and increasing sales to the mid-tier and specialty channels compared to the prior year period.
Cost of goods sold includes cost of the finished product from suppliers, tariffs/duties on certain imported items, freight-in from suppliers, and miscellaneous charges. The components of cost of goods sold remained substantially the same for the nine months ended October 2, 2021 as compared to the nine months ended September 26, 2020.