U.S. Ad Economy Outpaces GDP During Q2 And First Half (mediapost.com)

Total revenues in the first quarter of 2018 were $198.9 million, down 10.1% compared to the first quarter of 2017. Headwinds that impacted advertising included continued declines in print advertising and difficulties faced in retail advertising. Total advertising revenues were $99.9 million, down 16.7% in the first quarter of 2018 compared to the first quarter of 2017. Digital-only advertising revenues grew 21.6% and total digital advertising revenues were up 7.6% over the same period in 2017. Adjusted net loss, which excludes the items above, was $20.3 million. Adjusted EBITDA was $17.4 million, down 24.5% compared to the first quarter last year. Operating expenses were down 10.6% while adjusted operating expenses, which exclude non-cash and certain other charges, were down 8.4% compared to the same quarter last year. Click Read More below for additional information.

REI Co-op will open its new store in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee on September 4 for limited in-store shopping, offering a wide assortment of quality outdoor gear for hiking, camping, climbing and more. Designed to be a gateway to outdoor adventures in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, REI Pigeon Forge will feature the co-op’s newest retail format offering a variety of gear rentals, zero contact bike shop services for maintenance and repairs and Buy Online Pickup In Store capabilities. The new 21,500-square-foot store was originally scheduled to open in the spring but was delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic. REI Pigeon Forge marks the co-op’s fifth location in the state and will serve the co-op’s nearly 250,000 lifetime members in Tennessee and the millions of visitors that adventure in the region every year.

Total sales for the second quarter of 2017 decreased 2.7 percent to $311.0 million, while comparable store sales decreased 5.0 percent. Ecommerce sales were up 41 percent over last year's second quarter. For the first six months of 2017, total sales decreased 4.0 percent to $648.4 million, while comparable store sales decreased 6.4 percent. Gross profit for the second quarter of 2017 was $64.7 million or 20.8 percent of sales compared to $89.4 million or 28.0 percent of sales in 2016. Gross profit for the first six months of 2017 was $160.2 million or 24.7 percent of sales compared to $198.3 million or 29.4 percent of sales in 2016. The lower gross profit rate for both periods reflects much higher markdowns and to a lesser extent higher occupancy costs that negatively leverage on lower sales. Click Read More below for additional detail.