Haverty’s sales plunge 23% in Q2

Atlanta Haverty’s on Thursday said second-quarter sales dropped 23% to $129.7 million from $168.4 million in second quarter 2008.

Same-store sales slid 22.6%.

Sales for the first six months of 2009 dropped 22.6% to $273.9 million. Same-store sales decreased 22.7% for the first six months.

"Sales declines for the second quarter, which historically is our weakest of the year, were on a similar pace as the previous two quarters,” said Clarence H. Smith, president and CEO, in a statement. “We will be launching attractive new products with a strong value statement in the coming months and highlighting them in television, print and online media. Our Web site, which features product reviews and an easy-to-use room planner, is an important part of our reaching the customer as consumers research potential big-ticket purchases."