Wet Seal Inc. continued to build on its comeback in May, with Pacific Sunwear of California Inc. eking out a same-store sales gain, the county’s biggest apparel retailers said on Thursday.
Foothill Ranch-based Wet Seal reported a 57% jump in same-store sales in May, versus a year earlier. Total sales rose 21% to $40 million.
“May represents the fifth consecutive month of comparable store sales growth since the implementation of our new merchandise strategy in January for the Wet Seal business,” Chief Executive Joel Waller said.
The teen retailer opened one store in May. Wet Seal closed 105 unprofitable stores in the first quarter.
Meanwhile, surfwear retailer Pacific Sunwear said its same-store sales rose 0.4% in May, versus a year earlier. Total sales were up 11% to $81 million.
Shares of Wet Seal were up 16.7% to $4.9 Thursday. PacSun shares rose 6.3% to $23.2.
