AeroGrow Reports Results for the Quarter Ended December 31, 2012
Unit shipments of AeroGardens increased 85% year-over-year
Boulder, CO – February 11, 2013 – AeroGrow International, Inc. (OTCQB:AERO) ("AeroGrow" or the "Company"), makers of the AeroGarden® line of indoor gardening products, announced results for the three months ended December 31, 2012, the third quarter of its fiscal year ending March 31, 2013.
“We successfully executed a number of our initiatives for the holiday season,” said Mike Wolfe, President and CEO of AeroGrow. “We re-entered the retail market with highly successful product launches at Amazon.com and other retailers, launched our innovative new AeroGarden ULTRA product, broadened our marketing efforts to reach new AeroGarden purchasers, and, most importantly, drove an 85% increase in the number of AeroGarden units shipped during the quarter. This growth in AeroGarden shipments – the razors in our razor/razor blade business model – is expected to result in a resurgence of our recurring revenue from seed kits, grow bulbs, and other accessories in the coming quarters and years.”
The new AeroGarden ULTRA, launched on November 1st exclusively into the direct-to-consumer channels, was the Company’s highest selling product during the holiday season. The ULTRA offers over 100 improvements that make indoor growing easier and faster for beginners, and is fully customizable, allowing the advanced indoor gardener to grow a wide variety of plants at home.
“We were very pleased by the consumer demand for AeroGardens this holiday season,” continued Mr. Wolfe. “Our AeroGarden products were consistently ranked among the top 10 sellers in the Patio, Lawn & Garden category at Amazon, even though they were only launched in mid-November. We believe this demonstrates the kind of consumer demand we can expect for our products when we expand the reach of our marketing message to customers who are new to indoor gardening and to the AeroGarden franchise.”
Despite the strong AeroGarden shipments, AeroGrow’s total sales declined 1.8% during the quarter in large part because of the effects of a labor strike in early December at West Coast ports that adversely impacted the Company’s inventory availability and therefore its ability to meet pre-Christmas demand. The Company’s net loss of $296,788 was greater than the $139,221 net loss reported in the previous year because of a significant year-over-year increase in business building activities like product development spending related to the AeroGarden ULTRA, and increased investment in brand and market-building spending.
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
For the three months ended December 31, 2012, total revenue of $2,972,493 was down 1.8%, or $53,452, relative to the same period in the prior year. Direct-to-consumer sales fell 17.0%, to $2,322,967, in part reflecting the impact of a labor strike that shut down most of the activity at the Los Angeles and Long Beach port complexes for the eight-day period ended December 6, 2012. The strike and its aftermath delayed the delivery of container loads of AeroGardens en route from manufacturers in Asia during the critical pre-Christmas selling period, causing us to be out-of-stock of key AeroGarden inventory items in both our direct response and retailer channels and adversely impacting sales. In addition, we experienced lower sales of recurring revenue items such as seed kits and accessory items. The decline in direct-to-consumer sales was for the most part offset by a 203.9% increase in sales to retailers, to $626,072, as we successfully launched the AeroGarden product line in a number of new retailer customer accounts, including Amazon.com.
On a product line basis, sales of AeroGardens increased by 9.0%, to $1,846,612. On a unit basis, the total number of AeroGardens shipped to consumers and to retailer customers during the quarter increased by almost 85% relative to the same period in the prior year. AeroGarden sales as a percent of total sales increased to 62.1% from 56.0% in the prior year as we shifted more of our marketing efforts to prospecting for new direct-to-consumer customers, and because of stocking orders from new retailer customers. Seed kit and accessory sales declined by 15.4%, to $1,125,881, because of the shift in the marketing mix and because of an increase in the average age of the installed base of AeroGardens.
Our gross margin for the three months ended December 31, 2012 was 44.0%, down from 48.7% in the prior year period, reflecting the increased mix of lower-margin sales to retailers and of AeroGardens, combined with higher costs we incurred to expedite the delivery of container loads of AeroGardens following the port strike.
In aggregate, our total operating expenses increased 24.6%, or $269,942, year-over-year, principally because our investment in new product and channel development spending increased by $119,320, and because we increased our advertising expenditures by $219,930. While these investments depressed earnings in the current quarter, they represent critical elements in our longer-term strategy.
As a result of the lower sales and the increase in investments in business development and advertising activities, our operating loss was $59,175 for the three months ended December 31, 2012, as compared to a $377,870 operating profit in the prior year period.
Net other expense for the three months ended December 31, 2012 totaled $237,613, as compared to net other expense of $517,091 in the prior year period. The current year period included the impact of $108,140 in non-cash amortization expense related to short-term promissory notes that were issued in September 2012. The net other expense in the prior year period included the impact of $398,373 in gains related to accounts payable balance concessions we negotiated with certain of our vendors, as well as $732,185 in non-cash expense related to the amortization of costs related to the 2010 issuance of convertible promissory notes. These convertible notes were fully converted to common stock in April 2012.
The net loss for the three months ended December 31, 2012 was $296,788, as compared to the $139,221 loss recognized a year earlier. The increased loss reflected the impact of lower sales and higher business development spending, as well as the comparison to one-time gains recognized in the prior year period.
The following table sets forth, as a percentage of sales, our financial results for the three months ended December 31, 2012 and the three months ended December 31, 2011:
| | | Three Months Ended December 31, | |
| | | 2012 | | | 2011 | |
| Net revenue | | | | | | |
| Direct-to-consumer | | | 78.1 | % | | | 92.5 | % |
| Retail | | | 21.1 | % | | | 6.8 | % |
| International | | | 0.8 | % | | | 0.7 | % |
| Total net revenue | | | 100.0 | % | | | 100.0 | % |
| | | | | | | | | |
| Cost of revenue | | | 56.0 | % | | | 51.3 | % |
| Gross margin | | | 44.0 | % | | | 48.7 | % |
| | | | | | | | | |
| Operating expenses | | | | | | | | |
| Research and development | | | 3.2 | % | | | 0.3 | % |
| Sales and marketing | | | 29.7 | % | | | 20.2 | % |
| General and administrative | | | 13.1 | % | | | 15.8 | % |
| Total operating expenses | | | 46.0 | % | | | 36.3 | % |
| Profit (loss) from operations | | | (2.0 | )% | | | 12.4 | % |
AEROGROW INTERNATIONAL, INC.
Condensed Statements of Operations
(Unaudited)
| | | Three Months ended December 31, | | | Nine Months ended December 31, | |
| | | 2012 | | | 2011 | | | 2012 | | | 2011 | |
| Net Revenue | | $ | 2,972,493 | | | $ | 3,025,945 | | | $ | 5,533,286 | | | $ | 6,003,367 | |
| Cost of revenue | | | 1,665,749 | | | | 1,552,098 | | | | 2,904,949 | | | | 3,140,598 | |
| Gross profit | | | 1,306,744 | | | | 1,473,847 | | | | 2,628,337 | | | | 2,862,769 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Operating expenses | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Research and development | | | 93,770 | | | | 8,185 | | | | 301,908 | | | | 36,718 | |
| Sales and marketing | | | 882,305 | | | | 610,761 | | | | 1,765,543 | | | | 1,457,702 | |
| General and administrative | | | 389,844 | | | | 477,031 | | | | 1,407,134 | | | | 1,733,591 | |
| Total operating expenses | | $ | 1,365,919 | | | $ | 1,095,977 | | | $ | 3,474,585 | | | $ | 3,228,011 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Profit (loss) from operations | | | (59,175 | ) | | | 377,870 | | | | (846,248 | ) | | | (365,242 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Other (income) expense, net | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Interest (income) | | | (2 | ) | | | (2 | ) | | | (6 | ) | | | (16 | ) |
| Interest expense | | | 228,316 | | | | 846,591 | | | | 441,105 | | | | 2,476,832 | |
| Interest expense – related party | | | 8,366 | | | | 122,211 | | | | 24,460 | | | | 351,790 | |
| Debt conversion cost | | | - | | | | - | | | | 6,648,267 | | | | - | |
| Other expense (income) | | | 933 | | | | (451,709 | ) | | | (96,824 | ) | | | (481,225 | ) |
| Total other expense, net | | | 237,613 | | | | 517,091 | | | | 7,017,002 | | | | 2,347,381 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Net loss | | $ | (296,788 | ) | | $ | (139,221 | ) | | $ | (7,863,250 | ) | | $ | (2,712,623 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Net loss per share, basic | | $ | (0.05 | ) | | $ | (0.72 | ) | | $ | (1.35 | ) | | $ | (14.03 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Net loss per share, diluted | | $ | (0.05 | ) | | $ | (0.72 | ) | | $ | (1.35 | ) | | $ | (14.03 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Weighted average number of common shares outstanding, basic and diluted | | | 5,904,877 | | | | 194,504 | | | | 5,826,173 | | | | 193,383 | |
AEROGROW INTERNATIONAL, INC.
Condensed Balance Sheet
| | | December 31, 2012 | | | March 31, 2012 | |
| ASSETS | | (Unaudited) | | | (Derived from Audited Statements) | |
| Current assets | | | | | | |
| Cash | | $ | 836,736 | | | $ | 501,577 | |
| Restricted cash | | | 41,410 | | | | 42,756 | |
| Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $2,158 and $768 at December 31, 2012 and March 31, 2012, respectively | | | 490,374 | | | | 221,713 | |
| Other receivables | | | 144,536 | | | | 197,076 | |
| Inventory | | | 1,724,594 | | | | 1,784,424 | |
| Prepaid expenses and other | | | 158,471 | | | | 309,340 | |
| Total current assets | | | 3,396,121 | | | | 3,056,886 | |
| Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation of $2,820,272 and $2,709,075 at December 31, 2012 and March 31, 2012, respectively | | | 313,846 | | | | 133,768 | |
| Other assets | | | | | | | | |
Intangible assets, net of $131,598 and $120,923 of accumulated amortization at December 31, 2012 and March 31, 2012, respectively | | | 198,147 | | | | 198,490 | |
| Deposits | | | 145,401 | | | | 145,744 | |
Deferred debt issuance costs, net of accumulated amortization of $2,437,646 and $1,449,581 at December 31, 2012 and March 31, 2012, respectively | | | 78,966 | | | | 844,116 | |
| Total other assets | | | 422,514 | | | | 1,188,350 | |
| Total assets | | $ | 4,132,481 | | | $ | 4,379,004 | |
| LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (DEFICIT) | | | | | | | | |
| Current liabilities | | | | | | | | |
| Notes payable | | $ | 730,053 | | | $ | 633,995 | |
| Notes payable – related party | | | 171,865 | | | | 307,821 | |
| Current portion – long term debt – related party | | | -- | | | | 100,464 | |
| Current portion – long term debt | | | 813,146 | | | | 988,589 | |
| Accounts payable | | | 679,862 | | | | 607,840 | |
| Accrued expenses | | | 372,629 | | | | 252,562 | |
| Customer deposits | | | 157,610 | | | | 8,270 | |
| Deferred rent | | | 6,588 | | | | 6,207 | |
| Total current liabilities | | | 2,931,753 | | | | 2,905,748 | |
| Long term debt | | | 1,386,618 | | | | 5,892,590 | |
| Long term debt – related party | | | -- | | | | 702,708 | |
| Total liabilities | | | 4,318,371 | | | | 9,501,046 | |
| Commitments and contingencies | | | | | | | | |
| Stockholders' equity (deficit) | | | | | | | | |
Preferred stock, $.001 par value, 20,000,000 shares authorized, 0 and 7,526 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2012 and March 31, 2012, respectively | | | -- | | | | 8 | |
Common stock, $.001 par value, 750,000,000 shares authorized, 5,904,877 and 210,319 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2012 and March 31, 2012, respectively | | | 5,905 | | | | 210 | |
| Additional paid-in capital | | | 75,417,032 | | | | 62,623,317 | |
| Accumulated deficit | | | (75,608,827 | ) | | | (67,745,577 | ) |
| Total stockholders' deficit | | | (185,890 | ) | | | (5,122,042 | ) |
| Total liabilities and stockholders' deficit | | $ | 4,132,481 | | | $ | 4,379,004 | |
AEROGROW INTERNATIONAL, INC.
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
SALES BY CHANNEL
| | | Three Months Ended December 31, | |
| Net Revenue | | 2012 | | | 2011 | |
Direct-to-consumer | | $ | 2,322,967 | | | $ | 2,798,393 | |
Retail | | | 626,072 | | | | 206,007 | |
International | | | 23,454 | | | | 21,545 | |
| Total | | $ | 2,972,493 | | | $ | 3,025,945 | |
SALES BY PRODUCT
| | | Three Months Ended December 31, | |
| | | 2012 | | | 2011 | |
| Product Revenue | | | | | | |
| AeroGardens | | $ | 1,846,612 | | | $ | 1,694,529 | |
| Seed kits and accessories | | | 1,125,881 | | | | 1,331,416 | |
| Total | | $ | 2,972,493 | | | $ | 3,025,945 | |
| % of Total Revenue | | | | | | | | |
| AeroGardens | | | 62.1 | % | | | 56.0 | % |
| Seed kits and accessories | | | 37.9 | % | | | 44.0 | % |
| Total | | | 100.0 | % | | | 100.0 | % |
About AeroGrow International, Inc.
Founded in 2002 in Boulder, Colorado, AeroGrow International, Inc. is dedicated to the research, development and marketing of the AeroGarden line of extraordinary dirt-free indoor gardens. AeroGardens allow anyone to grow farmer's market fresh herbs, salad greens, tomatoes, chili peppers, flowers and more, indoors, year-round, so simply and easily that no green thumb is required. See www.aerogrow.com.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
"Safe Harbor" Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: Statements by Mike Wolfe, and/or the Company, statements regarding growth of the AeroGarden product line, ability to raise capital, optimism related to the business, expanding sales, and other statements in this press release are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements are based on current expectations, estimates and projections about the Company's business. Words such as expects, anticipates, intends, plans, believes, sees, estimates and variations of such words and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve certain risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict. Actual results could vary materially from the description contained herein due to many factors including continued market acceptance of the Company's products or the need to raise additional capital. In addition, actual results could vary materially based on changes or slower growth in the indoor garden market; the potential inability to realize expected benefits and synergies; domestic and international business and economic conditions; changes in customer demand or ordering patterns; changes in the competitive environment including pricing pressures or technological changes; technological advances; shortages of manufacturing capacity; future production variables impacting excess inventory and other risk factors listed from time to time in the Company's Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filings, including in “Item 1A Risk Factors” of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2012. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date on which they are made, and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this press release.
Contact:
Company
John Thompson
AeroGrow International, Inc.
