Leslie's Poolmart announces preliminary May sales results

Business Wire, May 29, 1997

CHATSWORTH, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 29, 1997--Leslie's Poolmart (NASDAQ:LESL) Thursday announced preliminary sales results for the four weeks ended May 24, 1997.

The company's preliminary figures indicate that sales for the period grew to $32,188,000, a 5.6 percent increase, compared with the same four weeks of 1996. This brings sales for the 21-week period ended May 24, 1997, to $75,314,000, an increase of 12.2 percent over 1996. Based on the preliminary sales report, comparable store sales were up 2.2 percent in the May four-week period, a performance that resulted in a year-to-date increase of 7.7 percent.

"We view this month's modest comparable store sales increase as reasonably positive when compared to the very strong 31.2 percent comps which Leslie's achieved in May 1996," said Brian P. McDermott, president and chief executive officer of Leslie's Poolmart. "More importantly, the year-to-date increase of 7.7 percent is consistent with our longer-term comparable store sales targets."

Founded in 1963, Leslie's Poolmart is the country's leading specialty retailer of swimming pool supplies and related products. The company currently markets its products through 278 retail stores in 27 states and through a nationwide mail-order catalog.

CONTACT: Leslie's Poolmart, Chatsworth

Brian P. McDermott/Robert D. Olsen, 818/993-4212