and today. thank Eric. you everyone, for Thank you, us Good morning, joining
our we range with over years past challenges, is brands. the review our our results, consumers our unprecedented they including confident the have managing laser are a relevancy transformation strengthening plus of broad have operating quarter structure. begin of it increasing Before an our teams definitely important two we that to recognize experience been second on have and customer pandemic on in and and environment, In our the we with been strategy focused our focused our
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the million. end was of at QX inventory $XXX Our
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this growth of year. expect to back the half the We through continue
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the months in anticipate given versus average quarter. perform year-end continue NXTGEN ending we of We NXTGEN with expenses revised stores stores control CapEx outlook. the continue single-digit plan, back in openings that in XXX less our which to a of a stores to tightly XX and rate stores NXTGEN in store chain, sales are remodels very XXX of NXTGEN more on average. our by year We as on well. the continue XX payback than to initial XXX delivers half increase QX, or lower than invest each managing the XXX stores, mid period We our stores totaling with opened of the XXXX as stores run to end a These
enhanced further chain planning demand product are taking forecasting supply visibility, capacity additional mitigate to incremental actions challenges capabilities, and enhanced inventory through improvements and We planning. supply
We are also new further and adding supply integrating functions. chain talent
and will to reporting insights, implement platforms and improve our productivity. that analytics, Additionally, data we continue new
initial into to In and will major which provide from the report, governance of future stem we each As initial it insights priorities the celebration. initiatives. our entitled release relates our report ESG, September, priorities, we our will social in inspiring assessment outline environmental, and our
value our We are our which to all will for meaningful program, of stakeholders. advancing committed drive we ESG believe
the for season important cautiously ready are we optimistic. and Halloween remain Finally,
stores. improved while to transitory are this are City topline an have last that expectations pressures year's year, XX elevated the will up in line and XXX predominantly our to line continues with results year-over-year cost is planning bottom from for our which the in XXX experience to We operate face closing, Halloween were In stores consumer nature.
our strategies environment continue continues we navigate is remain dynamic the the and what ability evolve, We to in deliver and As in manage environment to control. growth. macro proactively operating earnings to confident our sales long-term and
results be are them where expected not financial Our we to this year.
sales to faced. were higher have headwinds they despite be than pre-pandemic Our continue the we
position are Celebrations enjoy important We the them more no and have we in and can. to all inspire one to a in for able customers it market, believe than memories unique else easy we and powerful unforgettable times, ever. make now ways create are in and
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