Pep Boys 2008 Annual Report Download - page 91

Fiscal Year 2007 vs. Fiscal Year 2006
Total revenues for fiscal 2007 decreased 4.7% to $2,138,075,000 from $2,243,855,000 in fiscal year
2006. This decrease was primarily the result of weaker sales in our retail business stemming from lower
customer counts and the de-emphasis of non-core automotive merchandise. On a 52-week basis,
comparable revenues decreased by 3.1%, consisting of a 1.8% increase in comparable service revenue
and a 4.2% decrease in comparable merchandise sales. Upon reaching its 13th month of operation, a
store is added to our comparable sales store base. Stores are removed from the comparables sales store
base upon their relocation or closure. Once a relocated store reaches its 13th month of operation at its
new location, it is added back into our comparable sales store base. Square footage increases are
infrequent and immaterial and, accordingly are not considered in our calculations of comparable sales
data.
Gross profit from merchandise sales decreased, as a percentage of merchandise sales, to 25.4% in
fiscal 2007 from 28.8% in fiscal 2006. This decrease in dollars was $89,650,000 or a 16.8% decrease
from the prior year. This decrease, as a percentage of merchandise sales, resulted primarily from
decreased product margins, higher occupancy costs and higher rent expense offset, in part, by lower
warehousing and distribution costs. The 2.5% decrease in product margins resulted from recording a
$32,803,000 inventory impairment charge associated with the markdown and discontinuance of certain
non core products as part of our longer term-strategic plan. Occupancy costs increased by $7,242,000
primarily due to the impairment charges of $5,350,000 related to the 20 stores identified for closure
that operated as clearance centers during the fourth quarter and rent expense increased by $4,128,000
primarily related to the change in fair value of the cash flow hedge associated with variable lease
payments on certain stores, partially offset by lower equipment rental. Warehousing and distribution
costs decreased by $7,083,000 due to a more efficient store replenishment schedule and lower
occupancy costs.
Gross profit from service revenue increased, as a percentage of service revenue, to 11.0% in fiscal
2007 from 8.4% in fiscal 2006. The increase in dollars was $9,607,000 or a 29.1% increase from the
prior year. This increase as a percentage of service revenue resulted primarily from lower service
associate costs (positive experience in workers compensation and medical claims) of $15,124,000,
partially offset by higher service associate compensation expense resulting from increased staffing levels
in our service centers and impairment charges of $1,849,000 related to the 20 closed stores.
Selling, general and administrative expenses, as a percentage of total revenues, decreased to 24.2%
for fiscal 2007 as compared to 24.4% for fiscal 2006. The decrease in dollars was $28,026,000 or a 5.1%
decrease from the prior year. The dollar decrease resulted primarily from lower retail associate
compensation expense of $15,744,000, lower retail associate costs of $8,349,000 (workers compensation
and medical) and reduced media expenditures of $5,700,000, partially offset by increased legal
settlements and reserves.
Net gain from disposition of assets increased, as a percentage of total revenue, to 0.7% for fiscal
2007 as compared to 0.4% for fiscal 2006. The $6,183,000 increase resulted from the $13,971,000 gain
realized upon the consummation of our 34 store sale leaseback transaction which was required to be
immediately recognized (the remaining portion of the gain is being amortized over the lease term).
Interest expense increased $1,951,000 or 4.0% to $51,293,000 in fiscal 2007 from $49,342,000 in
fiscal 2006. Included in fiscal 2007 was $5,900,000 in expense incurred due to the write off of deferred
financing costs resulting from the repayment of $162,558,000 of our Senior Secured Term Loan facility
and the reclassification from other comprehensive loss for the portion of the related interest rate swap
that is no longer designated as a hedge. Included in fiscal 2006 was $4,200,000 of expense associated
with the early satisfaction and discharge of $119,000,000 4% Senior Convertible Notes due in June,
2007. In fiscal 2007, we experienced a lower weighted average interest rate and lower debt levels
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