Brad Martin Operating Quotations

Our outlook for the balance of the year remains quite cautious as we continue to face the uncertain economic environment, and as we rebound from the Sept. 11 event, ... Our team remains focused on maximizing our operating performance in this challenging retail environment by executing our customer focus strategy while appropriately adjusting operating expenses, inventory and capital spending.

We believe the next appropriate step in this process is to explore strategic alternatives for our Parisian specialty department store business, which could include its sale. We believe there is a very bright future for this unique franchise, and that meaningful opportunity exists for continued revenue growth and substantial operating income improvement.

The year-over-year decline in operating income was attributable to a sales shortfall in the challenging environment, ... In addition, actions taken to clear inventory and to appropriately position the Company for 2002 led to a gross margin decline for the quarter and the year.