Helen of Troy
This article was originally published in The Rose Sheet
Executive Summary
Increased focus on wholesale business within personal products segment has "stabilized or at least created a core business in Tactica and left us with less volatility," Senior VP, Chief Financial Officer Russell Gibson tells analysts Oct. 10. Wholesale advances in Tactica, which markets Epil-Stop and IGIA brands, were offset by significant drop in direct response sales, leading to 35% decline in overall division revenue in fiscal second quarter ended Aug. 31, exec notes. Drop was "almost entirely attributable" to reduced sales of Epil-Stop in direct response channel, Gibson says. Firm's consolidated sales fell 1.4% to $111 mil. in Q2, while net income jumped 22% to $8.9 mil. due to cost control initiatives. Full "ramp up" of Clairol brands to be acquired through agreement with P&G will take at least six months, company states. Completion of deal, which covers six hair and skin care brands, is expected within 90 days (1"The Rose Sheet" Sept. 30, 2002, p. 3)...