Superior Uniform Group Inc., a Seminole, Florida-based manufacturer of uniforms, career apparel and accessories, today announced that for the first quarter ended March 31, 2012, earnings were $327,000 or $0.05 per share (diluted) compared with $599,000 or $0.10 per share (diluted) reported for the quarter ended March 31, 2011. Net sales for the 2012 first quarter were $28,508,000 compared with 2011 first quarter sales of $26,899,000.
Michael Benstock, chief executive officer, commented: “We are pleased to report an increase of 6.0 percent in our net sales. Gross margins for our uniform and related products business continued to be pressured in the first quarter of 2012, consistent with our expectations. As we indicated in our 2011 year-end earnings release, we ensured that we were in a position to take care of our customers by investing heavily in our raw material inventories during the cotton crisis of 2011. As a result, we were able to provide our products to our customers throughout the period of the shortages and were able to improve our market share in the process. However, as we work through the higher priced inventory we had built up during 2011, our gross margins were negatively impacted and we expect that they will continue to be pressured into the third quarter of 2012. We continued to see the benefits in this approach as we increased our market position in the first quarter of 2012.”
“We experienced positive growth in our remote staffing business, The Office Gurus. Net sales for the first quarter of 2012 were $688,000, compared to $576,000 in the prior year first quarter. We expect this vertical to continue to grow substantially going forward. Our financial position remains very strong and continues to provide us with the ability to invest in new ventures such as everyBODY media and The Office Gurus, as well as to continue to explore strategic acquisitions and stock buyback programs.”
For more information, visit www.superioruniformgroup.com.
