Buckled Up and Succeeding

In January, this blog reported on the success of retailer-to-the-teens The Buckle, a Nebraska-based chain that caters to fashion-conscious young people.

Well, buckle your seat belts because this retailer just weighed in with more good news. Net income for the fiscal quarter ended Jan. 31 increased 18.2 percent on a 21.5 percent net sales increase. Net income for the fiscal year that ended Jan. 31 increased an amazing 38.8 percent on a 27.8 percent increase in net sales.

How does The Buckle do it when all around it other retailers are closing their doors? As Associated Press story says that a retailer at the low end of the price spectrum -- that's The Buckle's space -- can succeed "as long as teens dig the fashion."

AP goes on to say that The Buckle and Hot Topic (we’ll look at this retailer tomorrow) "which focus on feeding teens' every fashion craving, performed much better than the rest of the dour retail sector."

So, there you have it: Value plus fashion equals strong results.