Right Start’s Net Income Down 8% in 4th Quarter

The Right Start Inc., a Westlake Village-based mail-order seller of products and apparel for infants and children, reported net income of $362,000 for its fiscal fourth quarter that ended May 25, down 8% from earnings of $392,000 for the same quarter a year ago.

Fourth-quarter revenue totaled $15.4 million, which represents a 10% rise over the $14 million in revenue reported in the same quarter in 1993.

Net income for fiscal 1994 was $176,000, 82% below earnings of $1.03 million the previous year, the company reported. Earnings tumbled although revenue rose to $55.9 for fiscal year 1994, up from $42.3 million the previous year.

Larry Targon, chief executive officer, said earnings were hurt by poor response to a greater number of catalogues mailed and a $470,000 second-quarter charge associated with the discontinuation of the company’s Weebok catalogue.

The Right Start has five retail locations in California and Georgia; retail sales account for about 6% of company revenue.