The Board of Directors of Natuzzi S.p.A. has approved second-quarter and half-year 2017 consolidated results. Consolidated net sales for the second quarter of 2017 were €117.9 million, up 7.3% from €109.9 million reported in 2016 second quarter. Revenues generated by core business (sofas, beds and furnishings) were €109.1 million, up 5.0% compared to the second quarter of 2016.
In particular, furnishings net sales increased by 15.3% over prior year same quarter at €7.4 million and represented 20.2% of the Natuzzi Italia branded sales.
Natuzzi branded revenues increased 4.1% to €79.6 million, also due to an increase of 5.2% of the average price per seat. Within Natuzzi branded sales, we saw an increase from the Americas (+6.5%), and Asia-Pacific region (+13.8%). EMEA reported a decrease in sales (-1.1%) over the same period of last year, mainly due to our Italy-based Divani&Divani by Natuzzi network.
Our direct retail operations (DOS) generated sales of €15.1 million during the second quarter of 2017, increasing by 32.3% over the same period of last year. These sales represented 13.8% of our core business, compared to 11.0% of one year ago.
The actions implemented over the past few quarters on the Company’s owned stores have produced good results. In particular, during the second quarter of 2017, sales generated by our DOS network on a like-for-like basis have shown an increase both versus first quarter of 2017 (+17.7%) and second quarter of last year (+6.1%). Furthermore, considering the same like-for-like parameter, the DOS operating result for the second quarter of 2017 was positive (+€0.8 million), improving with respect to both 2017 first quarter (when we reported an operating loss of -€0.3 million) and 2016 second quarter (with an operating income of +€0.3 million). We saw improvements in our DOS in the UK, China, USA, Spain and Switzerland, while our Italy-based Divani&Divani by Natuzzi retail network is still under a restructuring phase. The recently acquired Mexican stores were still in the start-up phase in second quarter 2017.
More recent sales data for DOS confirm the positive trend experienced in the first part of the year: our order flow through the third week of September on a Like-for-Like store basis increased 3.4% over the same period of last year. When we include sales from our new stores, the increase over last year is 38.3% in DOS.
Consistent with the Group’s strategy to expand its presence in the direct-retail market to better control the entire value chain, we opened one DOS in West Palm Beach, Florida, USA, and acquired three Natuzzi Italia stores in Mexico, during the second quarter. Two directly operated Natuzzi Editions stores also opened in China in the second quarter of 2017. As of the date of this press release, the number of DOS is 60.
We already have plans to open five new-generation stores, three in the last quarter of 2017 and two in the first quarter of 2018.
Sales from our Softaly Division were €29.5 million, up 7.6% compared to the second quarter of 2016, as a result of the 15.2% increase in the Americas and 4.5% increase in EMEA. Sales from Asia-Pacific decreased by 31.2% in the second quarter of 2017, after increasing by 101.7% in the first three months of this year. In spite of such positive results in the quarter, Softaly “Private Label” division of the Natuzzi Group is still challenged by the limited number of accounts on the North American market which has caused a reduction of the volumes. We will present an extended program at the coming High Point market in October with the aim of adding new major Accounts. Europe keeps growing while in the APAC market the activities planned should bring the targeted results during the current year.
In the second quarter of 2017 the Group increased the industrial margin to 35.1% from 34.2% reported in the second quarter of 2016. The slight decrease in upholstered seats sold was more than offset by a better mix and by the double digit increase in furniture sales.
Transportation costs as percentage of net sales also improved to 8.9% as opposed to 9.8% in 2016 second quarter.
Over the past few quarters the Company started implementing its retail strategy in priority markets, such as North America and China. The execution of this strategy has required investments in the organization, which resulted in increased SG&A. We expect that such investments, whose return started to appear in second quarter 2017, will support additional turnover in the future.
For the reasons highlighted above, in spite of the overall improvement of the business, the Company reported a net operating loss of €2.9 million versus net operating loss of €1.0 million in the second quarter of 2016.
The Group reported a net loss for the second quarter of €4.0 million, from a loss of €0.8 million in the same period of last year.
For the first half of 2017, the Group reported a net loss of €14.7 million. Excluding €9.3 million as extraordinary accrual accounted for in the first quarter of 2017, net loss for the first semester would have been €5.4 million, from a net loss of €1.1 million in the same period of last year.
The Group’s Net Financial position was positive at €13.6 million, up from a €12.8 million reported at the end of first quarter of 2017.
Chairman and CEO Pasquale Natuzzi said, “Despite the troubles confronting our industry and retail in general, I am pleased to report the Natuzzi grew both revenues and industrial margin in the second quarter. This is a direct result of the work we are doing to grow our direct retail network through which we are generating sales of higher end product as well as more complete home furnishing packages. Focus on continuing to build for this growth is our highest priority. At the same time, we are taking steps to strengthen management in critical areas and are managing closely our administrative expenses during this period of rapid investment. Our brand has never been stronger and our drive never more directed. All indications are that our strategy is and will continue to succeed.”
Chief Financial Officer Vittorio Notarpietro added: “We have continued with the execution of the direct retail expansion program to boost our branded sales and the scale of the entire value chain. This has resulted in the opening of new points of sales, acquisition of existing stores and reinforcement of the retail organization, both at central and regional levels.
“All these activities require, by their nature, start up investments. We are just in the initial phase of such programs, and first results from our retail business model are emerging.
“We’ll continue to pay attention in managing capital needs for investments and working capital in order to successfully accomplish the DOS development program globally so to benefit from higher margins.”