Thank you, Barry.
and significantly to of same-store in the sales growth ahead pleased quarter successful our strong than quarter to consecutive our These margins, by efforts pressure. fourth prior our report are results more third year. earnings guidance and We the mitigate of posted earnings double we were [indiscernible] merchandise driven exceptionally
$XXX.X increasing for X.X% net sales sales were the Third with million same-store our quarter period.
due second sales we relatively of for sales, in the significant into slow were effective digit last start the of start the as July. two became the that the to negative There product call, a low-single California in Northwest, had ammunition particularly to due regulatory in a on comped significant our rollout noted in sales quarter, our the from changes pull at headwinds to summer-related start weather, that July the down to softness forward quarter Looking Pacific at in summer weak our July cool of as range. we category a and beginning resulted we
remain August picked when product positive sales across benefiting of September over from of we overall in low-single up ammunition challenged a the the broad sales and digit our produced quarter, categories. Although comp balance straight array
For our footwear comped slightly the up comped digit, our ammunition up, quarter, down, challenging hardgoods our category apparel with even low-single comped slightly the category sales. category
customer and third experienced our increase decrease slight for in quarter, sales a we small a transaction. in prior-year the average Overall, period, the versus
margins As our a year-over-year. XX the I our points increasing were mentioned, merchandise for quarter strong earnings to basis contributor performance,
product were a any Multiple products opportunistic merchandise and XXXX. increased quarter of margin strongest a gains, factors publicly since including reflecting mix margin company of and reduced sales margin the sales buys. Our shift, third of of lower benefit traded contributed margins in higher the became to firearms we the ammunition
and our quite favorable strategic from promotion. margins response optimize our significantly, to efforts a to pricing Additionally, benefited our and
stores XXX store store closed quarter, with the activity. commenting on one operation. in third Now ending We in
July a year. Additionally, early that we in we to closed fire, store temporarily have one reopen next position a since been has to which to be expect due
store quarter, stores, the opening quarter. we including relocation during the fourth the anticipate During the two of closed that
one three improve For has our five relocation to stores our base. and us opening store the XXXX efforts year, full including continuous closing reflecting this stores
the fourth quarter. to now Turning
year-over-year Our the third well business the accelerating continues merchandise with to and trends quarter. margin perform from sales
overall retail of key the always be quarter lowest the period the volume our winter the and are momentum quarter holiday will the environment fourth year. of in to October Friday, is until we Thus Black note weather. consumer start the should along our which business, November, real pretty with that the periods and pleased Although influenced much with the by generally
throughout As full we entire which believe resonate sell-through resulted X.X% until our quarter. the the a year That our same-store winter winter advantage the soft that for this our bring winter sales remarkable products. week momentum last and virtually sales enabled arrival season. holiday the which of up of of winter were drove when extraordinary a pushed the product us assortment to selling last over customers in reminder, winter took markets, weather year, ultimately with continued year, in will sales the of season, relatively winter our fresh This we very favorable a
markets, weather To the very our encouraged few extent in by that we of early early glimpses winter are a of wind. we have had
in encouraged also our we are are markets. We that pressures mitigating by throughout progress expense our the team's facing
have testing reflected been impact that wage part level. staffing results. we is the ongoing impact to compromising these our SG&A customer efforts, without meets in our model service positive pressures of adjustments store adjustments As of these favorable The of
scale we these our adjustments managing further. on our actively as forward, part look expand ongoing of broader Moving will focus on a costs to
our guidance. turn Now will to as information cash call as provide about the speak I will sheet, well flows more balance to quarter provide and Barry the over who fourth quarter