Saks blames weak handbag and footwear sales for loss

20/08/2013
Saks Inc has reported a worse-than-expected second-quarter loss after disappointing sales of shoes and handbags forced the luxury retailer to mark down prices.

Overall sales rose 0.5% to $707.8 million for the quarter which ended August 3, with a net loss of $19.6 million compared with a net loss of $12.3 million a year earlier.

It said it had built up too much inventory of men's and women's shoes and handbags and had to slash prices to clear unsold merchandise.