pLJ International Inc. (NASDAQ: JADE), a leading jewelry manufacturer and retailer, today announced a significant increase in revenues at its ENZO retail division, on both an overall and same-store basis, during the fourth quarter ending December 31, 2009. It also announced an upward revision of earlier guidance for the fourth quarter and fiscal year 2009./p
pThe Company reported that sales at its ENZO chain of retail stores across Greater China rose approximately 56% in the fourth quarter of 2009 from a year earlier, to an estimated total of approximately $16.7 million. It achieved this gain despite a slight decrease in the number of ENZO stores, to 95 at the end of 2009 from 97 a year earlier./p
pOn a comp-store basis, net sales increased an average of 19% year-over-year in the fourth quarter of 2009. The Company noted that these increases were due to the growing popularity of the ENZO brand, increased sales from the Christmas and National Day holidays, productivity gains at the store level as well as ongoing changes in its inventory mix. LJIrsquo;s comp-store data are based on figures from stores open 13 months or more. There were 75 such stores in the fourth quarter of 2009./p
pCEO Sees ENZO Capturing Greater Share of Chinarsquo;s Jewelry Market as Roll-Out Continues/p
pldquo;Our fourth quarter sales shows that ENZO is poised for rapid growth as the Chinese economy continues to recover and Chinese consumer spending resumes its historic upward trend,rdquo; said LJI Chairman and CEO Yu Chuan Yih. ldquo;Our strong results over the past year also reflect good management of the ENZO chain, which has shut underperforming stores and sharply increased its per-store results in the process. With ENZO gross margins continuing to run at more than 50% and nearly all of our stores individually profitable, the division is now capable of resuming its expansion largely on the strength of its own cash flows. We expect to be able to roughly double the number of ENZO locations over the next two years, adding approximately 100 stores to serve the rapidly growing Chinese market and to meet rising consumer demand for our products.rdquo;/p
pGuidance Raised for Q409 and FY09/p
pIn light of its updated retail sales figures, LJI issued new revenue guidance for the fourth quarter and fiscal year ended December 31, 2009. It now projects combined wholesale and retail revenues of at least $39 million for the fourth quarter and at least $110 million for the fiscal year. This is up from earlier guidance, issued in November 2009, for quarterly and annual revenues of $30 million and $100 million. Based on these projections, revenues will be down approximately 6% and 19% year-over-year for the fourth quarter and fiscal year 2009 respectively, with lower sales in LJIrsquo;s wholesale operations offsetting gains in its retail division./p
pThe Company has also increased its guidance for earnings per fully diluted share at $0.09 for the fourth quarter of 2009 and $0.15 for the full year./p
pAbout LJ International/p
pLJ International Inc. (LJI) (NASDAQ: JADE) is engaged in the designing, branding, marketing and distribution of a full range of jewelry. It has built its global business on a vertical integration strategy and an unwavering commitment to quality and service. Through its ENZO stores, LJI is now a major presence in Chinarsquo;s fast-growing retail jewelry market. As a wholesaler, it distributes to fine jewelers, department stores, national jewelry chains and electronic and specialty retailers throughout North America and Western Europe. Its product lines incorporate all major categories, including earrings, necklaces, pendants, rings and bracelets./p
