16
Business Outlook
We were pleased to start our 2023 fiscal year
with double-digit sales growth across
four of our five go-to-market
channels, including record sales
and almost 20% growth
in our DTG2Go
digital print channel
as well as
record sales
and 17% growth
in our Salt
Life lifestyle
brand channel.
Our topline performance
this quarter
further illustrates
the resiliency of our multi-pronged business
model, which allowed us to overcome
the soft demand for basic
tees impacting the mass retail supply
chain and our Delta
Direct channel for the last several quarters.
The
milestone
sales
in
our
Delta
Group
segment’s
DTG2Go
channel
highlight the
market’s
growing
interest in
our
digital
print
and
fulfillment
strategies and
its
appreciation for the reduced working capital
investment; lower inventory risk; faster order-to-porch
cycle; replenishment and quick activation
capability; unlimited color
and design choice; and other
benefits they provide. DTG2Go continues
to effectively leverage two very
unique advantages that differentiate
it in the market
– a multi-
facility footprint facilitating one-to-two day shipping speed to 99% of United States consumers and priority access to our Delta Direct channel’s
low-cost vertical blank
tee and
fleece supply.
DTG2Go’s “Digital
First” strategy continues
to generate substantial
new customer demand
and we are
encouraged with the
productivity gains
achieved on the new technology. Further improvements in
machine efficiency, quality and production rates are
necessary for us to realize our long-term
objectives in this
Our Delta Group segment’s Global Brands channel delivered double-digit sales growth for the quarter and continues to add value to the supply chains of multi-national,
regional and major sportswear brands and the United States armed forces as a preferred supplier of custom decorated products. We also achieved double-digit growth in
our Delta
Group segment’s
Retail Direct
channel where
we provide
decorated and
“retail ready”
products directly
to the
brick and
mortar locations
and eCommerce
fulfillment centers of sporting goods and outdoor retailers,
farm and fleet stores, department stores, and mid-tier
and mass retailers.
The growth in our
Global Brands and
Retail Direct channels was
accelerated by new
business resulting from
the Activewear industry’s burgeoning emphasis
on nearshore
sourcing strategies like those offered
by our vertical platform in
Central America coupled with our
ability to meet the service
and compliance requirements of the
world’s
leading brands and
retailers.
We expect
the focus on
U.S. proximity sourcing strategies
to continue and believe
that both of
these channels are positioned
to generate
growth opportunities across our Delta Group segment over
time.
As expected, our Delta Group segment’s
results for the quarter were impacted by
the reduced demand in the mass retail
supply chain and the associated manufacturing
shutdowns that we, like many
across the industry,
initiated to recalibrate output as
well as elevated raw material, energy
and labor costs.
Although the price of cotton,
one of our key raw materials, has moderated from last year’s notable highs, that high-cost cotton continues to flow through our cost of sales due to production cadences
and pressures margins accordingly.
We expect to cycle through most of that higher-priced cotton in our
second quarter and begin to see the benefit of lower input costs
in our results as
we progress through the
second half of our
fiscal year. We
will continue to leverage
the flexibility of our
vertical manufacturing strategy until we
see
better equilibrium between inventories and demand and also focus on opportunities in higher
margin areas of our Delta Direct channel outside
of the mass retail supply
The momentum in our Salt Life Group segment continues with this quarter’s record sales
and excellent bottom line performance as it moves into its traditionally strong
Spring selling season. The
escalating growth across
Salt Life’s direct-to-consumer retail
and eCommerce channels
should continue as
it expands its brick
and mortar retail
and digital footprints to
keep pace with the
brand’s consumer base
stretching across the country.
Salt Life is targeting
six to eight new
store openings this fiscal
year,
including debut locations
in New
Jersey and Virginia,
bringing its total
store count to
approximately 30 locations
across nine states
spanning the U.S.
coastline from
California to Florida to New Jersey.
Salt Life’s consumer
eCommerce site,
www.saltlife.com, now ships
to all
50 states,
including significant
order flows
to states outside
of the brand’s
traditional southeastern
base, and its wholesale business also continues to expand.
There are now approximately 1,800 customer retail doors across 48 states and foreign countries offering Salt
Life products.
We continue to see a tremendous runway for growth for the Salt Life brand across the United
States and internationally.
Looking ahead, we
will further rely on
the versatility of
our multiple go-to-market
strategies and focus on
organic growth through
both new customer
acquisition and
expansion of existing relationships. We see outstanding opportunities deriving from our investments in DTG2Go’s
digital technology platform and Salt Life’s authentic
lifestyle brand
positioning. Moreover,
we are
now seeing
some welcome
cost stabilization
in our
Delta Group
segment and
expect these
trends to
positively impact
profitability as we progress
throughout the year.
Along the way,
we will continue to
prudently manage our working capital
and expenses while pursuing
opportunities
generated by our diversified business model.
Results of Operations
Financial results included herein have been presented on a generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") basis.
Net sales were $107.3 million in the first quarter of fiscal
2023, a decrease of 3.1% compared to the prior year first quarter net sales
of $110.7 million.
Net sales in the Delta Group segment declined 4.8% to $97.0 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2023 compared to $101.9 million in the prior year first quarter.
We saw record first quarter sales in our DTG2Go business and
growth in our Global Brands and Retail Direct
channels, offset by diminished demand in the mass
retail supply chain driving reduced sales in our Delta Direct
channel.
The Salt Life Group segment first
quarter fiscal 2023 revenue grew
16.5% to $10.3 million compared to
$8.8 million in the prior year
first quarter. The segment’s
record first quarter sales were driven by growth in both direct-to-consumer
and wholesale channels.
Gross margins were 12.7% for the first quarter of fiscal 2023, declining
810 basis points from the prior year first quarter gross margin of 20.8%.
The Delta Group segment gross margins were 8.0%
for the first quarter of fiscal
2023, a decline of 100 basis points
from the prior year first quarter
margins of
18.0%. Gross margins were primarily impacted
by higher inventory costs from inflationary
raw material and other input pricing
in fiscal 2022 flowing through
sales during the quarter, in addition to $3.4 million in plant curtailment costs.
The Salt Life Group segment gross margins improved to 57.0% in the first quarter of fiscal 2023, an improvement of 370 basis points compared to 53.3% in the
prior year first quarter resulting from a favorable mix
of sales, including increased Salt Life branded retail store
and ecommerce sales.
Selling, general, and administrative expenses ("SG&A") were $18.9 million in the first
quarter of fiscal 2023, or 17.6% of sales, compared to $17.5 million,
or 15.8% of
sales, in the prior year first quarter.
The increase in SG&A expenses of $1.3 million compared to the prior year first quarter
was primarily driven by higher selling costs
driven by our expanded Salt Life retail footprint, in addition
to increased distribution and administrative costs.
Other income for the 2023 and 2022 first fiscal quarters includes
profits related to our Green Valley Industrial Park equity method investment. Additionally, in the first
quarter of fiscal 2023, we recognized a discrete gain of
$2.5 million from the settlement of a commercial litigation matter.
Operating loss in the first quarter of fiscal 2023
was $2.6 million.
This compares to operating income of $5.9 million
in the prior year first fiscal quarter.