MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 2018 COMPARED TO THE SIX MONTHS ENDED
JUNE 30, 2017
Net Sales
Net sales for the six months ended June 30, 2018 were $266.8 million, an increase of $36.1 million, or 15.7%, as compared to net sales of $230.7 million for the corresponding period in 2017. The six months ended June 30, 2018 includes net sales of $38.6 million from Filament for the period from March 2, 2018, the date of acquisition.
Net sales for the U.S. Wholesale segment for the six months ended June 30, 2018 were $215.1 million, an increase of $32.9 million, or 18.1%, as compared to net sales of $182.2 million for the corresponding period in 2017.
Net sales for the U.S. Wholesale segment’s Kitchenware product category were $124.6 million for the six months ended June 30, 2018, an increase of $6.7 million, or 5.7%, as compared to $117.9 million for the corresponding period in 2017. The increase in the U.S. Wholesale segment’s Kitchenware product category was primarily attributable to contributions from Filament, partially offset by a decrease in tools and gadget sales with certain retailers and a decrease due to the timing of pantryware sales.
Net sales for the U.S. Wholesale segment’s Tableware product category were $53.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2018, an increase of $11.0 million, or 26.1%, as compared to $42.1 million for the corresponding period in 2017. The increase was primarily attributable to new houseware programs and contributions from the Fitz and Floyd product line.
Net sales for the U.S. Wholesale segment’s Home Solutions product category were $37.4 million for the six months ended June 30, 2018, an increase of $15.3 million, or 69.2%, as compared to $22.1 million for the corresponding period in 2017. The increase primarily reflects contributions from Filament and BuiltNY product launches, partially offset by a decrease due to a home decor program not repeated in 2018.
Net sales for the International segment were $40.9 million for the six months ended June 30, 2018, an increase of $0.3 million, or 0.7%, as compared to net sales of $40.6 million for the corresponding period in 2017. In constant currency, net sales decreased approximately 7.7%. The decrease, in constant currency, was in part due to the closing of the Netherlands operations, offset by an increase in ecommerce sales.
Net sales for the Retail Direct segment were $10.7 million for the six months ended June 30, 2018, as compared to net sales of $8.0 million for the corresponding period in 2017. The increase primarily reflects contributions from Filament’s retail websites.
Gross margin
Gross margin for the six months ended June 30, 2018 was $97.2 million, or 36.4%, as compared to $86.7 million, or 37.6%, for the corresponding period in 2017.
Gross margin for the U.S. Wholesale segment was $76.4 million, or 35.5%, for the six months ended June 30, 2018, as compared to $68.1 million, or 37.4%, for the corresponding period in 2017. Gross margin may fluctuate from period to period based on a number of factors, including product and customer mix. The decrease in margin is primarily attributable to the sale of excess inventory at lower margins, as well as strategic promotions for certain customers.
Gross margin for the International segment was $14.0 million, or 34.1%, for the six months ended June 30, 2018, as compared to $13.3 million, or 32.7%, for the corresponding period in 2017. The increase in margin is mainly attributable to favorable customer and product mix. The 2017 period reflects the establishment of inventory reserves not repeated in 2018.
Gross margin for the Retail Direct segment was $6.8 million, or 63.0%, for the six months ended June 30, 2018, as compared to $5.3 million, or 67.0%, for the corresponding period in 2017. The decrease in gross margin in the Retail Direct segment reflects an increase in promotions.
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