Leslie’s Poolmart Loses $1.88 Million in 4th Quarter

Leslie’s Poolmart, a Chatsworth-based retailer of swimming pool supplies, said its loss widened to $1.88 million in the fourth quarter, compared with the $1.73 million the company lost in the same period in 1992.

Sales in the quarter that ended Dec. 31 grew 15% to $13.5 million, from $11.7 million a year earlier. The company attributed the sales gain to changes in its marketing, merchandising and purchasing strategies, which also resulted in higher expenses.

For all of 1993, Leslie’s posted a profit of $3.04 million, up 41% from a profit of $2.15 million in 1992. Sales last year increased 25% to $120 million, from $96.3 million in 1992.