The Lovesac Company Announces First Quarter Fiscal 2021 Financial Results

First Quarter Net Sales Increased 32.8% 
First Quarter Comparable Sales Increased 50.0%

STAMFORD, Conn., June 09, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Lovesac Company (Nasdaq: LOVE) (“Lovesac” or the “Company”) today announced its financial results for the first quarter of fiscal 2021, which ended May 3, 2020.

Shawn Nelson, Chief Executive Officer, stated, “Amid the global dislocation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, Lovesac’s first quarter results affirm the resilience and compassion of our team, the benefit of our diversified channel mix, and the fundamental appeal of the Lovesac brand.  These positive attributes contributed to the quarter’s strong results with nearly 33% total company sales growth, including a 255% increase in our e-commerce sales. We were also pleased that our operating loss improved by almost $1 million from the prior year period despite our entire fleet of showrooms being closed for half the quarter.”

Mr. Nelson added, “Lovesac’s origins as an ‘e-commerce-first’ platform confers a distinct competitive advantage in this environment.  Our logistical expertise, processes, and cultural underpinnings are evident in our shippable product offering, agile and lean multi-channel operating model, and dynamic digital marketing efforts.  As we move into the re-opening phase, we are taking a thoughtful and measured approach to re-opening showrooms, governed by local regulations and with the health and safety of our employees and customers as our highest priority. The power of our business model, the execution and commitment of our entire team, combined with our strong balance sheet and financial position, will continue to serve us well as we move into this next phase and beyond.”

Key Measures for the First Quarter Ending May 3, 2020:
(Dollars in millions, except per share amounts)

¹ Estimated gross 25% tariff impact for the first quarter of fiscal 2021 to Gross Profit and Gross Margin was $2.4 million and 447 bps, respectively. Estimated gross 10% tariff impact for the first quarter of fiscal 2020 to Gross Profit and Gross Margin was $1.0 million and 248 bps, respectively.

² Total comparable sales include showroom and internet transactions through the point of sale.
³ Comparable sales reflect transactions through the point of sale and not necessarily product that has shipped to the customer.  Product that has shipped to the customer is what is included in Net Sales.  Showrooms were closed as required by local and state laws as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic effective March 18, 2020 through the remainder of the first quarter.

Highlights for the First Quarter Ended May 3, 2020:

• The net sales increase of 32.8% was driven by an increase in internet sales of 255.4%, an increase of 11.0% in “Other” sales (which includes shop in shops and pop-up shops), partially offset by a decrease in showroom sales of (32.7%) due to the impact of showroom closures related to COVID-19.
   
• The gross profit increase of 30.0% was primarily due to the increase in net sales, partially offset by the impact of tariffs. The approximately 110 basis point decrease in gross margin versus the prior year period reflects an increase of approximately 300 basis points in distribution and tariff related expenses, partially offset by improvements of approximately 190 basis points in product costs as a result of vendor negotiations associated with tariff mitigation and continued shift of product sourcing from China to Vietnam and Malaysia.
   
• SG&A expense in the first quarter of fiscal 2021 and first quarter of fiscal 2020 included less than $0.2 million of other non-recurring expenses related to financing and executive recruitment fees, respectively.  SG&A expense as a percent of net sales decreased 1080 basis points primarily due to leverage of employment costs, rent and professional fees as well as a decrease in equity-based compensation, partially offset by increases in selling related expenses.
   
• Advertising and marketing expense in the first quarter of fiscal 2021 increased approximately 52% over the prior year quarter principally due to increased media and direct-to-consumer program spend which contributed to the first quarter sales increase over the prior year period.
   
• Operating loss was $8.4 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2021 compared to $9.3 million in the prior year period.  Operating margin improved to (15.4%) of net sales from (22.8%) of net sales in the prior year period.
   
• Net loss was $8.3 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2021 compared to $9.1 million in the prior year period.

Other Financial Highlights as of May 3, 2020:

• The cash and cash equivalents balance as of May 3, 2020 was $45.5 million as compared to $35.7 million as of May 5, 2019.  There was no debt outstanding on the Company’s line of credit as of May 3, 2020 and May 5, 2019, respectively. The Company’s availability under the line of credit was $11.4 million as of May 3, 2020 and $12.5 million as of May 5, 2019.
   
• Total inventory was $33.4 million as of May 3, 2020 as compared to $30.9 million as of May 5, 2019. 

Conference Call Information:
A conference call to discuss the first quarter of fiscal 2021 financial results is scheduled for today, June 9, 2020, at 8:30 am Eastern Time. Investors and analysts interested in participating in the call are invited to dial 877-407-3982 (international callers please dial 201-493-6780) approximately 10 minutes prior to the start of the call. A live audio webcast of the conference call will be available online at investor.lovesac.com.

A recorded replay of the conference call will be available within two hours of the conclusion of the call and can be accessed online at investor.lovesac.com for 90 days.

About The Lovesac Company
Based in Stamford, Connecticut, The Lovesac Company is a direct-to-consumer specialty furniture brand with 91 retail showrooms supporting its ecommerce delivery model. Lovesac’s name comes from its original Durafoam filled beanbags called Sacs. The Company derives a majority of its current sales from its proprietary platform called Sactionals, a washable, changeable, reconfigurable, and FedEx-shippable solution for large upholstered seating. Founder and CEO, Shawn Nelson’s, “Designed for Life” philosophy emphasizes sustainable products that are built to last a lifetime and designed to evolve with the customer’s needs, providing long-term utility and ultimately reducing the amount of furniture discarded into landfills.

Non-GAAP Information
This press release includes the following financial measures defined as non-GAAP financial measures by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”): Adjusted Net Loss and Adjusted EBITDA. We define Adjusted EBITDA as net loss less interest income, plus income tax expense, depreciation and amortization, management fees, deferred rent, equity-based compensation, net (gain) or loss on the disposal of property and equipment, one-time IPO-related expenses, and fees associated with fundraising and reorganizing activities. The Company has reconciled these non-GAAP financial measures with the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures hereunder. The Company believes that these non-GAAP financial measures not only provide its management with comparable financial data for internal financial analysis but also provide meaningful supplemental information to investors. Specifically, these non-GAAP financial measures allow investors to better understand the performance of the Company’s business and facilitate a more meaningful comparison of its actual results on a period-over-period basis. The Company has provided this information as a means to evaluate the results of its ongoing operations. Other companies in the Company’s industry may calculate these items differently than the Company does. Each of these measures is not a measure of performance under GAAP and should not be considered as a substitute for the most directly comparable financial measures prepared in accordance with GAAP, such as net income/loss. Non-GAAP financial measures have limitations as analytical tools, and investors should not consider them in isolation or as a substitute for analysis of the Company’s results as reported under GAAP.

Cautionary Statement Concerning Forward Looking Statements
Certain statements either contained in or incorporated by reference into this communication, other than purely historical information, including estimates, projections and statements relating to our business plans, objectives and expected operating results, and the assumptions upon which those statements are based, are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These statements are often, but not always, made through the use of words or phrases such as “may,” “believe,” “anticipate,” “could,” “should,” “intend,” “plan,” “will,” “aim(s),” “can,” “would,” “expect(s),” “estimate(s),” “project(s),” “forecast(s)”, “positioned,” “approximately,” “potential,” “goal,” “pro forma,” “strategy,” “outlook” and similar expressions. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included in or incorporated by reference into this press release regarding strategy, future operations, future financial position, future revenue, projected expenses, prospects, plans and objectives of management are forward-looking statements. These statements are based on management’s current expectations and/or beliefs and assumptions that management considers reasonable, which assumptions may or may not prove correct. We may not actually achieve the plans, carry out the intentions or meet the expectations disclosed in the forward-looking statements and you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Actual results and performance could differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements as a result of many factors. The preliminary financial results included in this press release represent the most current information available to management. The Company’s actual results when disclosed on the Company’s first quarter fiscal year 2021 earnings conference call may differ from these preliminary results as a result of the completion of the Company’s financial closing procedures; final adjustments; completion of the audit by the Company’s independent registered accounting firm; and other developments that may arise between now and the disclosure of the final results. Among the key factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements are the effect and consequences of the novel coronavirus public health crisis on matters including U.S. and local economies, our business operations and continuity, our ability to re-open showrooms and those showrooms to remain open, the health and productivity of our associates, the ability of third-party providers to continue uninterrupted service, the timing of openings of new showrooms that further shift expected growth to later periods, risks related to tariffs, the countermeasures and mitigation steps that we adopt in response to tariffs and other similar issues, as well as those risks  and uncertainties disclosed under the sections entitled “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in our most recent Form 10-K and Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and similar disclosures in subsequent reports filed with the SEC, which are available on our investor relations website at investor.lovesac.com and on the SEC website at www.sec.gov. Any forward-looking statement made by us in this press release speaks only as of the date on which we make it. We disclaim any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that exist after the date on which they were made.

Investor Relations Contact:
Rachel Schacter, ICR
(203) 682-8200
InvestorRelations@lovesac.com

Released June 9, 2020