Right Start Store Sales Up, Catalogue Sales Plunge

The Right Start Inc. in Westlake Village, a nationwide marketer of products for infants and young children, enjoyed increased business at its chain of retail stores in the quarter ended Aug. 30, but the improvement was more than offset by a decline in catalogue sales.

Revenues at the retail outlets rose 146% over the same period last year, but catalogue sales, a larger factor in the company’s business, plummeted 50%.

Overall, The Right Start had net income in its first fiscal quarter of $34,000, or 1 cent a share, on sales of $10 million.

This compared with a profit of $55,000, also equaling about 1 cent a share, on sales of $14.5 million a year earlier.

The company opened its 12th store in August in Short Hills, N.J. By the end of the year, it plans to open additional outlets in New York, Chicago and Philadelphia.

Early results at the Short Hills store have been encouraging, the company said.

The Right Start markets more than 300 children’s items through its catalogue and retail stores.