Item 1. Business
General
We are a specialty retailer of home décor and gifts in the United States, operating 309 stores in 30 states as of January 28, 2012. Our stores present a broad selection of distinctive merchandise, including framed art, mirrors, wall décor, candles and related items, lamps, decorative accessories, accent furniture, textiles, garden-related accessories and artificial floral products. Our stores also offer an extensive assortment of holiday merchandise during seasonal periods as well as items carried throughout the year suitable for gift-giving. In addition, we use innovative design and packaging to market home décor items as gifts. We provide our predominantly female customers an engaging shopping experience characterized by a diverse, ever-changing merchandise selection at prices which provide discernable value to the customer. Our stores offer a unique combination of style and value that has led to our emergence as a leader in home décor and has enabled us to develop a strong customer franchise.
Business Strategy
Our goal is to be one of the leading specialty retailers of home décor in each of our markets. We believe the following elements of our business strategy both differentiate us from our competitors and position us for growth:
Item-focused merchandising. While our stores contain items covering a broad range of complementary product categories, we emphasize traditionally-styled, high quality and fashionable key items within our targeted categories rather than merchandising complete, themed product classifications. Our buyers work closely with our vendors to identify and develop stylish merchandise that appeals to a broad base of customers while reflecting the latest trends. We test-market products where appropriate and monitor individual item sales, which enables us to identify and quickly reorder bestselling items in order to maximize sales. We constantly evaluate market trends and merchandise sales data and work with vendors to develop new products to be sold in our stores, frequently on an exclusive basis. In most cases, this exclusive merchandise is the result of our buying team’s experience in interpreting market and merchandise trends in a way that appeals to our customers.
Ever-changing merchandise mix. We believe our ever-changing merchandise mix and method of display create an exciting “treasure hunt” environment, encouraging strong customer loyalty and frequent return visits to our stores. The merchandise in our stores is traditionally-styled for broad market appeal, yet it reflects an understanding of our customer’s desire for fashion and novelty. Our information systems permit close tracking of individual item sales, enabling us to react quickly to both fast-selling and slow-moving items. Accordingly, our inventory turns rapidly and we actively change our merchandise throughout the year in response to market trends, sales results and changes in seasons. We also strategically increase selling space devoted to gifts and seasonal merchandise in advance of holidays.
Stimulating visual presentation. Through our marketing and in-store presentation, we seek to help customers visualize our merchandise in their own homes and inspire decorating and gift-giving ideas. We creatively group complementary merchandise throughout the store. We believe this cross-category merchandising encourages customers to browse for longer periods of time, promoting add-on sales. We adjust our visual presentation frequently to take advantage of sales trends and enhance our ever-changing merchandise mix.
Strong value proposition. Our customers regularly experience the satisfaction of paying noticeably less for items similar to those sold by other retail stores or through other retail channels. This strategy of providing a unique combination of style, quality and value is an important element in making Kirkland’s a destination store. While we carry some items in our stores that sell for several hundred dollars, most items sell for under $20 and are perceived by our customers as very affordable home décor and gifts. Our longstanding relationships with vendors and our ability to place and sell-through large orders of a single item enhance our ability to attain favorable product pricing from vendors.
Broad market appeal. Our stores operate successfully across different geographic regions and market sizes. As of January 28, 2012, we operated stores in 30 states. Although originally focused in the Southeast, over 50% of our stores are now located outside that region. The flexibility of our concept enables us to select the most promising real estate opportunities that meet requisite economic and demographic criteria within the target markets where our customers live and shop. In addition to our stores, we sell direct-to-customer through our website at www.kirklands.com. We view this on-line channel as an important part of our business strategy, allowing us to introduce our concept to new customers and complement our “brick-and-mortar” business.
Opening new stores. We experienced net store growth during fiscal 2011, ending the year with 309 stores versus 300 stores at the end of fiscal 2010. Our approach to new store growth in fiscal 2012 will continue to focus on replacements of successful mall and smaller-sized off-mall stores with new, larger off-mall locations that have proved to produce higher sales. We expect to open stores in existing, underpenetrated markets as well as selected new geographic markets within the continental United States. During fiscal 2012, we expect to open a total of 35 to 45 stores, and expect to close approximately 25 stores. Many of these expected closings are currently in markets where we are pursuing or have identified a relocation opportunity. Fiscal 2012 new store openings will be weighted toward the back half of the year while store closings for fiscal 2012 are expected to be weighted toward the first half of the year.
Merchandising
Merchandising strategy. Our merchandising strategy is to (i) offer unique, distinctive and often exclusive, high quality home décor products and gifts at affordable prices representing great value to our customers, (ii) maintain a breadth of productive merchandise categories, (iii) provide a carefully edited selection of key items within targeted categories, rather than merchandising complete, themed product classifications, (iv) emphasize new and fresh-to-market merchandise by continually updating our merchandise mix, and (v) present merchandise in a visually appealing manner to create an inviting atmosphere which inspires decorating and gift-giving ideas and encourages frequent store visits.
Our information systems permit close tracking of individual item sales, which enables us to react quickly to market trends and best or slow sellers. This daily sales and gross margin information helps us to maximize the productivity of successful products and categories, and minimize the accumulation of slow-moving inventory. Our core merchandise assortment is relatively consistent across the chain. We address regional differences where applicable by tailoring inventories to geographic considerations and specific store sales results in selected categories and classes of product.
We continuously introduce new and often exclusive products to our merchandise assortment in order to (i) maintain customer interest by providing freshness in our product selections, encouraging frequent return visits to our stores, (ii) enhance our reputation as a source for identifying and developing high quality, fashionable products, and (iii) allow merchandise which has peaked in sales to be quickly discontinued and replaced by new items. In addition, we strategically manage the selling space devoted to gifts and holiday merchandise throughout the year. Our flexible store design and display fixtures allow us to adjust our selling space as needed to capitalize on sales trends.
Our average store generally carries approximately 4,000-5,000 Stock Keeping Units (“SKUs”). We regularly monitor the sell-through on each item, and therefore, the number and make-up of our active SKUs is continuously changing based on changes in selling trends. New and different SKUs are introduced to our stores constantly.
We purchase merchandise from approximately 240 vendors, and our buying team works closely with vendors to differentiate Kirkland’s merchandise from that of our competitors. For products that are not manufactured specifically for Kirkland’s, we may create custom packaging as a way to differentiate our merchandise offering and reinforce our brand. Exclusive or proprietary products distinguish us from our competition, enhance the value of our merchandise and provide the opportunity to improve our net sales and gross margin. Our strategy is to continue to increase the amount of exclusive and proprietary products within our merchandise mix.
Product assortment. Our major merchandise categories include wall décor (framed art, mirrors, metal and other wall ornaments), lamps, decorative accessories, accent furniture, candles and related items, textiles, garden-related accessories, and artificial floral products. Our stores also offer an extensive assortment of holiday merchandise, as well as items carried throughout the year suitable for gift-giving. Consistent with our item-focused strategy, a vital part of the product mix is a variety of home décor and other assorted merchandise that does not necessarily fit into a specific product category. Decorative accessories consist of such varied products as vases and clocks. Throughout the year and especially during the fourth quarter of the calendar year, our buying team uses its experience in home décor to develop products that are equally appropriate for gift-giving.
The following table presents the percentage of net sales contributed by our major merchandise categories over the last three fiscal years:
Value to customer. We continually strive to increase the perceived value of Kirkland’s products to our customers through our distinctive merchandising, carefully coordinated in-store signage, visual presentation and product packaging. Our shoppers regularly experience the satisfaction of paying noticeably less for items similar to those sold by other retail stores, through catalogs, or on the Internet. Our stores typically have two major semi-annual sale events, one in January and one in July. We also use temporary promotions throughout the year featuring specific items or categories of merchandise. We believe our value-oriented pricing strategy, coupled with an adherence to high quality standards, is an important element in establishing our distinct brand identity and solidifying our connection with our customers.
Buying and Inventory Management
Merchandise sourcing and product development. Our merchandise team purchases inventory on a centralized basis to take advantage of our consolidated buying power and our technology to closely control the merchandise mix in our stores. Our buying team selects all of our products, negotiates with vendors and works closely with our planning and allocation team to optimize store-level merchandise quantity and mix by category, classification and item.
We purchase merchandise from approximately 240 vendors. Approximately 95% of our total purchases are from importers of merchandise manufactured primarily in China, with the balance purchased from domestic manufacturers and wholesalers. For our purchases of merchandise manufactured abroad, we have historically bought from importers or U.S.-based representatives of foreign manufacturers rather than dealing directly with foreign manufacturers. This process has enabled us to maximize flexibility and minimize product liability and credit risks. We continually evaluate the best ways to source and differentiate our merchandise while attaining our sales and gross margin objectives. For certain categories and items, the strategic use of domestic manufacturers and wholesalers enables us to reduce the lead times between ordering products and presenting them for sale in our stores.
Planning and allocation. Our merchandise planning and allocation team works closely with our buying team, field management and store personnel to meet the requirements of individual stores for appropriate merchandise in sufficient quantities. This team also manages inventory levels, allocates merchandise to stores and replenishes inventory based upon information generated by our information systems. Our inventory control systems monitor current inventory levels at each store, by operating district, and for the total company. We also continually monitor recent selling history within each store by category, classification and item to properly allocate future purchases to maximize sales and gross margin.
Each of our stores is internally classified for merchandising purposes based on certain criteria including sales volume, size, location and historical performance. Although all of our stores carry similar merchandise, the variety and depth of products in a given store may vary depending on the store’s rank and classification. Where applicable, inventory purchases and allocation are also tailored based on regional or demographic differences between stores in selected categories.
Store Operations
General. As of January 28, 2012, we operated 309 stores in 30 states, with stores operating seven days a week. In addition to corporate management and three Regional Directors, approximately 23 Multi-Unit Managers (who generally have responsibility for approximately 10-18 stores within a geographic district) manage store operations. A Store Manager and one to three Assistant Managers manage individual stores. The Store Manager is responsible for the day-to-day operation of the store, including sales, customer service, merchandise display, human resource functions and store security. A typical store operates with an average of eight to 10 employees including a combination of full and part-time employees, depending on the volume of the store and the season. Additional part-time employees are typically hired to assist with increased traffic and sales volume in the fourth quarter of the calendar year.
Formats. We operate stores in enclosed malls and a variety of off-mall venues. As of January 28, 2012, we operated 50 stores in enclosed malls, of which seven were outward-facing, and 259 stores in off-mall venues. Off-mall stores included 236 in “lifestyle” centers and “power” strip centers, 9 in outlet centers and 14 freestanding locations. Off-mall stores are generally larger than mall stores and tend to have a lower occupancy cost per square foot. The average size of our mall stores was approximately 5,000 square feet, and the average size of our off-mall stores was approximately 7,200 square feet. The average size of the new stores we opened in fiscal 2011 was approximately 9,300 square feet, and we currently expect our fiscal 2012 new stores to be of similar average size.
Merchandise Presentation. Merchandise is generally displayed according to guidelines and directives given to each store from the Merchandise Presentation team with input from Store Operations. This procedure promotes somewhat uniform display standards throughout the chain depending upon store configuration. Using multiple types of fixtures, we group complementary merchandise creatively throughout the store, and also display certain products strictly by category or product type.
Because of the nature of our merchandise and our focus on identifying and developing best-selling items, we emphasize our merchandise presentation standards. Our Merchandise Presentation team provides Store Managers with recommended directives such as photographs, diagrams and placement guides. Augmenting this centralized approach, each Store Manager has flexibility to creatively highlight those products that are expected to have the greatest appeal to local shoppers. Effective and consistent visual merchandising enhances a store’s ability to reach its full sales potential.
Personnel recruitment and training. We believe our continued success is dependent in part on our ability to attract, retain and motivate quality employees. In particular, the success of our growth strategy depends on our ability to promote and/or recruit qualified Multi-Unit and Store Managers and maintain quality full- and part-time sales associates. A training program is provided for new Multi-Unit Managers and Store Managers. Many Store Managers begin their Kirkland’s career as sales associates, but complete a formal training program before taking responsibility for a store. This training program includes three to 10 days in a designated “training store,” working directly with a qualified Training Store Manager. Multi-Unit Managers are primarily responsible for recruiting new Store Managers. Store Managers are responsible for the hiring and training of new associates, assisted where appropriate by a Human Resources Manager. We constantly look for motivated and talented people to promote from within Kirkland’s, in addition to recruiting outside Kirkland’s.
Compensation and incentives. Multi-Unit and Store Managers are compensated with a base salary or on an hourly basis, plus a monthly sales bonus combined with a quarterly performance bonus based on store-level profit contribution. Sales associates are compensated on an hourly basis. In addition, we periodically run a variety of contests that reward associates for outstanding achievement in sales and other corporate initiatives.
Real Estate
Strategy. Our real estate strategy is to identify dominant retail properties that are convenient and attractive to our target female customer. The flexibility and broad appeal of our stores and our merchandise allow us to operate successfully in major metropolitan markets such as Houston, Texas and Atlanta, Georgia; middle markets such as Birmingham, Alabama, Nashville, Tennessee, and Fresno, California; and smaller markets such as Lafayette, Louisiana, and Amarillo, Texas. As we execute our store growth strategy, we are increasingly focused on under-penetrated markets in the United States such as the Mid-Atlantic states, California and the Midwest to provide us with the unit growth to achieve our goals.
Site selection. Our current strategy is to locate our stores in venues which are destinations for large numbers of shoppers and which reinforce our quality image and brand. To assess potential new locations, we review financial and demographic criteria and infrastructure for access. We also analyze the quality and relative location of co-tenants and competitive factors, square footage availability, frontage space and other relevant criteria to determine the overall acceptability of a property and the optimal locations within it.
As of January 28, 2012, of our 309 stores, 259 were in a variety of off-mall venues including 236 in “lifestyle” centers and “power” strip centers, 9 in outlet centers and 14 freestanding locations. We currently anticipate that most of the new stores opening in fiscal 2012 and beyond will be located in off-mall venues, where we have generally experienced better financial results, primarily due to higher sales volumes. We also believe that our target shopper prefers the off-mall location for convenience in her shopping experience.
We believe we are a desirable tenant to developers because of our long and successful operating history, sales productivity, ability to attract customers, financial strength and our strong position with co-tenants in the home décor category. The following table provides a history of our store openings and closings by venue for the last five fiscal years.
Distribution and Logistics
We have implemented a comprehensive approach to the management of our merchandise supply chain. This approach encompasses all parts of the supply chain, from the manufacturer overseas to the store selling floor. Our 771,000-square-foot distribution center in Jackson, Tennessee was built to our specifications in May 2004 and provides a scalable infrastructure for our supply chain. Our custom warehouse management system and improved material handling equipment streamline the flow of goods within the distribution center.
In addition to making improvements to our distribution center operation, we have taken important steps to improve our efficiency in transporting merchandise to stores. We currently utilize third-party carriers to transport merchandise from our Jackson distribution center to our stores. Prior to fiscal 2006, the majority of our merchandise deliveries were handled by either less-than-truckload (“LTL”) carriers or full truckload deliveries to regional “pool points,” with local delivery agents handling the actual store delivery function. By the end of fiscal 2011, we had migrated 94% of our stores to less-frequent, full truckload deliveries. This alternative results in lower distribution costs and allows our field personnel to better schedule our store staff for the receiving process. The optimal delivery method for a given store depends on the store’s sales volume, square footage, geographic location and other factors. This shift to direct store delivery methods has resulted in lower annual outbound freight costs both on a dollar basis and as a percentage of sales compared to the LTL and pool point delivery methods used in the past.
An important part of our efforts to achieve efficiencies, cost reductions and net sales growth is the continued identification and implementation of improvements to our planning, logistical and distribution infrastructure and our supply chain, including merchandise ordering, transportation and receipt processing. We seek to ensure that our distribution infrastructure and supply chain are kept in sync with our anticipated growth and increased number of stores. For the foreseeable future, we believe our current distribution infrastructure is adequate to support our operational needs.
Our distribution facility is also used for e-commerce fulfillment for sales made through our website. We currently use approximately 55,000 square feet of the building to support the pick-and-pack operation used in e-commerce fulfillment. Due to the anticipated growth in the e-commerce business, we are planning to spend approximately $2 million in capital improvements during fiscal 2012 to allow the e-commerce space to grow, as well as support the increase in store count. These improvements will primarily consist of the reconfiguration of certain areas of the distribution center to generate additional space for e-commerce, streamline the sorting systems for the “brick-and-mortar” business, and offload other processes such as new store staging and data storage to other, more cost-effective solutions.
Information Systems
Our store information systems include a server in each store that runs our automated point-of-sale (“POS”) application on multiple POS registers. The server provides Store Managers with convenient access to detailed sales and inventory information for the store. Our POS registers provide a price look-up function (all merchandise is bar-coded), time and attendance, and automated check, credit card, debit card and gift card processing. Through nightly two-way electronic communication with each store, we upload SKU-level sales, gross margin information and payroll hours to our home office system and download new merchandise pricing, price changes for existing merchandise, purchase orders and system maintenance tasks to the store server. Based upon the evaluation of information obtained through this daily information exchange, our planning and allocation team implements merchandising decisions regarding inventory levels, reorders, price changes and allocation of merchandise to our stores. During the second half of 2011, we implemented a new point-of-sale software package. This new software provides us with new tools to better control store-level labor and implement additional scheduling capabilities. It also allowed us to move away from a highly-customized, more expensive solution to a more scalable and flexible solution as we seek to take quick advantage of the rapidly-changing technology landscape in the retail market.
Our current merchandise management system integrates all merchandising and inventory management applications, including category, classification and SKU inventory tracking, purchase order management, automated ticket making, and sales audit. We completed a vendor selection process for this foundational merchandising system and are in the development phase of the new system implementation. Testing of the new system will occur throughout 2012 with an implementation targeted for late fiscal 2012. Our financial system applications, including general ledger and accounts payable, were upgraded to new software in February 2011.
We moved into our distribution center during the second quarter of 2004. Concurrent with this move, we implemented a new warehouse management system (“WMS”). The WMS was tailored to our specifications and provides us with a fully automated solution for all operations within the distribution center.
Marketing
Although our overall marketing efforts encompass various techniques, in recent years, we have had a specific focus on e-mail communication. We now manage a database of approximately 3.5 million e-mail addresses that have been provided by our customers, primarily through in-store collection processes and various contests and initiatives designed to drive e-mail sign-ups. We use this database to communicate frequently with our loyal customer base about new products, in-store events and special offers. We are beginning to utilize other means of media advertising to enhance the visibility of our products and our brand. During the first quarter of 2012, we developed a catalog of current merchandise offerings that was distributed to one million addresses within our demographic criteria and provided to our stores to facilitate customer interaction. We additionally devoted presence on the internet and with our email database for these merchandise offerings. Additional mailings are planned for 2012. We are actively evaluating other forms of advertising to test during 2012, as we seek to build the brand of the company as we execute our growth strategy.
We utilize marketing efforts and other in-store activity to promote specific events in our stores, including our major semi-annual sale events. Our marketing efforts emphasize in-store signage, store and window banners, displays and other techniques to attract customers and provide an exciting shopping experience. Historically, we have not engaged in extensive media advertising because we believe that we have benefited from our strategic locations in high-traffic shopping centers and valuable “word-of-mouth” advertising by our customers.
To drive customer loyalty, we provide our customers with the option to utilize Kirkland’s private-label credit card. This program is administered by a third-party, who bears the credit risk associated with the card program without recourse to us. As cardholders, customers are automatically enrolled in a loyalty program whereby they earn loyalty points for their purchases. Customers attaining specified levels of loyalty points are eligible for special discounts on future purchases. We believe that customers using the card visit our stores and purchase merchandise more frequently as well as spend more per visit than our customers not using the card. During December of 2011, we terminated the agreement with our prior service provider. We launched a new program with a new provider during the first quarter of 2012.
Internet and Social Media
We believe the Internet offers opportunities to complement our “brick-and-mortar” stores, increase sales and increase consumer brand awareness of our products. Our website at www.kirklands.com, provides our customers with the ability to purchase Kirkland’s merchandise online and have it delivered directly to their homes or their nearest Kirkland’s store. Customers may also use the website as a resource to locate a store, preview our merchandise, apply for a Kirkland’s credit card, and purchase gift cards online. We are also very active in social media and have developed a social community website at www.mykirklands.com for home décor discussions, photographs, and reviews of Kirkland’s product. Over 160,000 customers have joined the site and regularly interact with each other and with professional designers with whom we have partnered to contribute content to the site. In addition, we maintain a presence on Facebook, where we have a growing fan base of over 340,000. We launched a Twitter initiative in 2011, and are actively pursuing opportunities with Pinterest.
The information contained or incorporated in our websites is not a part of this annual report on Form 10-K.
Trademarks
All of our stores operate under the names “Kirkland’s”, “Kirkland’s Home”, “Kirkland’s Home Outlet”, “Kirkland’s Outlet,” and “The Kirkland Collection.”
We have registered several trademarks with the United States Patent and Trademark Office on the Principal Register that are used in connection with the Kirkland’s stores, including KIRKLAND’S® logo design, THE KIRKLAND COLLECTION®, HOME COLLECTION BY KIRKLAND’S®, KIRKLAND’S OUTLET®, KIRKLAND’S HOME®, as well as several trademark registrations for Kirkland’s private label brand, the CEDAR CREEK COLLECTION®. In addition to the registrations, Kirkland’s also is the common law owner of the trademark BRIAR PATCHtm. These marks have historically been very important components in our merchandising and marketing strategy. We are not aware of any claims of infringement or other challenges to our right to use our marks in the United States.
Competition
The retail market for home décor and gifts is highly competitive. Accordingly, we compete against a diverse group of retailers, including specialty stores, department stores, discount stores, catalog and Internet-based retailers, which sell similar lines of merchandise to those carried by us. Our product offerings also compete with a variety of national, regional and local retailers, including such retailers as HomeGoods, Bed, Bath & Beyond, Cost Plus World Market, Hobby Lobby, Pier 1 Imports, Target, Ebay, Amazon.com and Overstock.com. Department stores typically have higher prices than our stores for similar merchandise. Specialty retailers tend to have higher prices and a narrower assortment of home décor products. Wholesale clubs may have lower prices than our stores, but the product assortment is generally more limited. We believe that the principal competitive factors influencing our business are merchandise novelty, quality and selection, price, customer service, visual appeal of the merchandise and the store, and the convenience of our store locations.
The number of companies offering a selection of home décor products that overlaps generally with our product assortment has increased over the last 10 years. However, we believe that our stores still occupy a distinct niche in the marketplace: traditionally-styled, quality merchandise, reflective of current market trends, offered at a value price combined with a unique store experience. We believe we compete effectively with other retailers due to our experience in identifying a broad collection of distinctive merchandise, pricing it to be attractive to the target Kirkland’s customer, presenting it in a visually appealing manner, and providing a quality store experience.
In addition to competing for customers, we compete with other retailers for suitable store locations and qualified management personnel and sales associates. Many of our competitors are larger and have substantially greater financial, marketing and other resources than we do. See Item 1A
Item 1A. Risk Factors
Investing in our common stock involves risk. You should carefully consider the following risks, as well as the other information contained in this 10-K, including our consolidated financial statements and the related notes, before investing in our common stock.
If We Do Not Generate Sufficient Cash Flow, We May Not Be Able to Implement Our Growth Strategy.
The rate of our expansion will depend on, among other factors, the availability of adequate capital, which in turn will depend in large part on cash flow generated by our business and the availability of equity and debt capital. The cost of opening new stores or expanding, remodeling and relocating existing stores - which is at the heart of our growth strategy - may increase in the future compared to historical costs. There can be no assurance that our business will generate adequate cash flow or that we will be able to obtain equity or debt capital on acceptable terms, or at all. Moreover, our senior credit facility contains provisions that restrict the amount of debt we may incur in the future. If we are not successful in obtaining sufficient capital, we may be unable to open additional stores or expand, remodel and relocate existing stores as planned, which may adversely affect our growth strategy resulting in a decrease in net sales. There can be no assurances that we will be able to achieve our current plans for the opening of new stores and the expansion, remodeling or relocation of existing stores.
If We Are Unable to Profitably Open and Operate New Stores, We May Not Be Able to Adequately Execute Our Growth Strategy, Resulting in a Decrease in Net Sales and Net Income.
A key element of our growth strategy is to open new stores, both in existing markets and in new geographic markets that we select based on customer data and demographics. During fiscal 2011, we opened 34 new stores. Our future operating results will depend to a substantial extent on whether we are able to continue to open and operate new stores successfully.
Our ability to open new stores and to expand, remodel and relocate existing stores depends on a number of factors, including the prevailing conditions in the commercial real estate market and our ability to:
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Maintain or obtain adequate capital resources for leasehold improvements, fixtures and inventory on acceptable terms;
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locate and obtain favorable store sites and negotiate acceptable lease terms;
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construct or refurbish store sites;
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obtain and distribute adequate product supplies to our stores;
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maintain adequate warehousing and distribution capability at acceptable costs;
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hire, train and retain skilled managers and personnel; and
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continue to upgrade our information and other operating systems to control the anticipated growth and expanded operations.
There also can be no assurance that we will be able to open, expand, remodel and relocate stores at the anticipated rate, if at all. Furthermore, if we are unable to open new stores, there is no assurance that these new stores will generate net sales levels necessary to achieve store-level profitability. New stores that we open in our existing markets may draw customers away from our existing stores and may have lower net sales growth compared to stores opened in new markets.
New stores also may face greater competition and have lower anticipated net sales volumes relative to previously opened stores during their comparable years of operations. New stores opened in new markets, where we are less familiar with the target customer and less well known, may face different or additional risks and increased costs compared to stores operated in existing markets. Also, stores opened in off-mall locations may require greater marketing costs in order to attract customer traffic. These factors, together with increased pre-opening expenses at our new stores, may reduce our average store contribution and operating margins. If we are unable to profitably open and operate new stores and maintain the profitability of our existing stores, our net income could suffer.
The success of our growth plan will be dependent on our ability to promote and/or recruit a sufficient number of qualified district managers, store managers and sales associates to support the expected growth in the number of our stores. In addition, the time and effort required to train and supervise a large number of new managers and associates may divert resources from our existing stores and adversely affect our operating and financial performance. Our operating expenses would also increase as a result of any increase in the minimum wage or other factors that would require increases in the compensation paid to our employees.
Our Success Depends Upon our Marketing, Advertising and Promotional Efforts. If We are Unable to Implement them Successfully, or if Our Competitors are More Effective Than We are, Our Revenue May Be Adversely Affected.
We use marketing and promotional programs to attract customers to our stores and to encourage purchases by our customers. We use various media for our promotional efforts, including print, database marketing, email communications and other electronic communications such as online social networks. If we fail to choose the appropriate medium for our efforts, or fail to implement and execute new marketing opportunities, our competitors may be able to attract some of our customers. Changes in the amount and degree of promotional intensity or merchandising strategy by our competitors could cause us to have difficulties in retaining existing customers and attracting new customers.
Our Results Could be Negatively Impacted if any of our Primary Brands Suffers a Substantial Impediment to its Reputation Due to Real or Perceived Quality Issues.
Maintaining, promoting and growing our brands will depend largely on the success of our design, merchandising, and marketing efforts and our ability to provide a consistent, high quality client experience. If we fail to achieve these objectives, our affected brands and our public image and reputation could be tarnished by negative publicity.
If our merchandise offerings do not meet applicable safety standards or customer expectations regarding safety, we could experience lost sales and increased costs and be exposed to legal and reputational risk. All of our vendors must comply with applicable product safety laws, and we are dependent on them to ensure that the products we buy comply with all safety standards. Events that give rise to actual, potential or perceived product safety concerns with respect to our products could expose us to government enforcement action or private litigation and result in costly product recalls and other liabilities. In addition, negative customer perceptions regarding the safety of the products we sell could cause our customers to seek alternative sources for their needs, resulting in lost sales. In those circumstances, it may be difficult and costly for us to regain customer confidence.
Product Liability Claims Could Adversely Affect Our Reputation.
We may be subject to product liability claims if customers are harmed by the products that we sell. Claims, recalls or actions could be based on allegations that, among other things, the products sold by us are misbranded, contain contaminants or impermissible ingredients, provide inadequate instructions regarding their use or misuse, or include inadequate warnings concerning flammability or interactions with other substances. A significant product liability judgment or a widespread product recall may negatively impact the sales and profitability of the affected brand or all of our brands.
Weather Conditions Could Adversely Affect Our Sales and/or Profitability by Affecting Consumer Shopping Patterns.
Our operating results may be adversely affected by severe or unexpected weather conditions. Frequent or unusual snow, ice or rain storms or extended periods of unseasonable temperatures in our markets could adversely affect our performance by affecting customer shopping patterns or diminishing demand for seasonal merchandise.
Our Performance May be Affected by General Economic Conditions.
Our performance is subject to worldwide economic conditions and their impact on levels of consumer spending. Some of the factors that have had, and may in the future have, an impact on discretionary consumer spending include national or global economic downturns, an increase in consumer debt (and a corresponding decrease in the availability of affordable consumer credit), reductions in net worth based on recent severe market declines, softness in the residential real estate and mortgage markets, changes in taxation, increases in fuel and energy prices, fluctuation in interest rates, low consumer confidence and other macroeconomic factors.
Specialty retail is a cyclical industry that is heavily dependent upon the overall level of consumer spending. Purchases of home décor and gifts tend to be highly correlated with cycles in consumers’ disposable income and trends in the housing market. A weak retail environment could impact customer traffic in our stores and also adversely affect our net sales. Because of the seasonality of our business, economic downturns, increased sourcing costs, or scarcity in equipment during the last quarter of our fiscal year could adversely affect us to a greater extent than if such downturns occurred at other times of the year. As purchases of home décor items may decline during recessionary periods, a prolonged recession, including any related decrease in consumers’ disposable incomes, may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Should credit markets tighten or turmoil in the financial markets continue or increase, our ability to access funds, refinance our existing indebtedness (if necessary), enter into agreements for new indebtedness or obtain funding through the issuance of our securities would be adversely impacted.
The impact of any such credit crisis or market turmoil on our major suppliers cannot be predicted. The inability of key suppliers to access liquidity, or the insolvency of key suppliers, could lead to their failure to deliver our merchandise. Worsening economic conditions could also result in difficulties for financial institutions (including bank failures) and other parties with whom we do business, which could potentially impair our ability to access financing under existing arrangements or to otherwise recover amounts as they become due under our other contractual arrangements. Additionally, both as a result and independent of the current financial crisis in the United States, material fluctuations in currency exchange rates could have a negative impact on our business.
Changes in Accounting and Tax Rules and Regulations May Adversely Affect our Operating Results.
Our operating results and financial position could be negatively impacted by changes to accounting rules and regulations or new interpretations of existing accounting standards. Our effective income tax rate could be impacted by changes in accounting standards as well as changes in tax laws or the interpretations of these tax laws by courts and taxing authorities which could negatively impact our financial results
We May Not Be Able to Successfully Anticipate Consumer Trends and Our Failure to Do So May Lead to Loss of Consumer Acceptance of Our Products Resulting in Reduced Net Sales.
Our success depends on our ability to anticipate and respond to changing merchandise trends and consumer demands in a timely manner. While we devote considerable effort and resources to shape, analyze and respond to consumer preferences, consumer spending patterns and preferences cannot be predicted with certainty and can change rapidly. Our product introductions and product improvements, along with our other marketplace initiatives, are designed to capitalize on customer or consumer trends. In order to remain successful, we must anticipate and react to these trends and develop new products or processes to address them. If we fail to identify and respond to emerging trends, consumer acceptance of the merchandise in our stores and our image with our customers may be harmed, which could reduce customer traffic in our stores and materially adversely affect our net sales. Additionally, if we misjudge market trends, we may significantly overstock unpopular products and be forced to take significant inventory markdowns, which would have a negative impact on our gross profit and cash flow. Conversely, shortages of items that prove popular could reduce our net sales. In addition, a major shift in consumer demand away from home décor could also have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
Our Freight Costs and thus Our Cost of Goods Sold are Impacted by Changes in Fuel Prices.
Our freight cost is impacted by changes in fuel prices through surcharges. Fuel prices and surcharges affect freight costs with respect to both on inbound freight from vendors to our distribution center and outbound freight from our distribution center to our stores. Increased fuel prices or surcharges may increase freight costs and thereby increase our cost of goods sold.
New Legal Requirements Could Adversely Affect Our Operating Results.
Our sales and results of operations may be adversely affected by new legal requirements, including health care reform and proposed climate change and other environmental legislation and regulations.
In 2010, the Patient Protection Act and Affordable Care Act and the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 were signed into law in the U.S. This legislation expands health care coverage to many uninsured individuals and expands coverage to those already insured. The changes required by this legislation could cause us to incur additional health care and other costs. However, we do not expect any material short-term impact on our financial results as a result of the legislation and are currently assessing the extent of any long-term impact.
Concern over climate change, including global warming, has led to legislative and regulatory initiatives directed at limiting greenhouse gas (“GHG”) emissions. If domestic or international laws or regulations were expanded to require GHG emission reporting or reduction by us or our third-party manufacturers, or if we engage third-party contract manufacturers in countries that have existing GHG emission reporting or reduction laws or regulations, we would need to expend financial and other resources to comply with such regulations and/or monitor our third-party manufacturers’ compliance with such regulations. In addition, we cannot control the actions of our third-party manufacturers or the public’s perceptions of them, nor can we assure that these manufacturers will conduct their businesses using climate change proactive or sustainable practices. Violations of climate change laws or regulations by third parties with whom we do business could result in negative public perception of us and/or delays in shipments and receipt of goods, and could subject us to fines or other penalties, any of which could restrict our business activities, increase our operating expenses or cause our sales to decline
The costs and other effects of new legal requirements cannot be determined with certainty. Additional laws may directly or indirectly affect our production, distribution, packaging, cost of raw materials, fuel, ingredients or water, any of which could impact our business and financial results. In addition, our efforts to comply with new legislation or regulations may increase our costs.
The Market Price for Our Common Stock Might Be Volatile and Could Result in a Decline in the Value of Your Investment.
The price at which our common stock trades may be volatile. The market price of our common stock could be subject to significant fluctuations in response to our operating results, general trends and prospects for the retail industry, announcements by our competitors, analyst recommendations, our ability to meet or exceed analysts’ or investors’ expectations, the condition of the financial markets and other factors. In addition, the stock market in recent years has experienced extreme price and volume fluctuations that often have been unrelated or disproportionate to the operating performance of companies. These fluctuations, as well as general economic and market conditions, may adversely affect the market price of our common stock notwithstanding our actual operating performance.
Our Comparable Store Net Sales Fluctuate Due to a Variety of Factors.
Numerous factors affect our comparable store net sales results, including among others, weather conditions, retail trends, the retail sales environment, economic conditions, the impact of competition and our ability to execute our business strategy efficiently. Our comparable store net sales results have historically experienced fluctuations, including declines in some fiscal periods. Our comparable store net sales may not increase from quarter to quarter, or may decline. As a result, the unpredictability of our comparable store net sales may cause our revenues and operating results to vary quarter to quarter, and an unanticipated decline in revenues or comparable store net sales may cause the price of our common stock to fluctuate significantly.
Failure to Protect the Integrity and Security of Individually Identifiable Data of Our Customers and Employees Could Expose Us to Litigation and Damage Our Reputation.
We receive and maintain certain personal information about our customers and employees in the ordinary course of business. Our use of this information is regulated at the international, federal and state levels, as well as by certain third-parties with whom we contract for such services. If our security and information systems are compromised or our business associates fail to comply with these laws and regulations and this information is obtained by unauthorized persons or used inappropriately, it could adversely affect our reputation, as well as operations, results of operations, and financial condition and could result in litigation or the imposition of penalties. As privacy and information security laws and regulations change, we may incur additional costs to ensure we remain in compliance.
Certain aspects of the business, particularly our website, heavily depend on consumers entrusting personal financial information to be transmitted securely over public networks. We invest considerable resources in protecting the personal information of our customers but are still subject to a possible security event resulting in unauthorized access to stored personal information. Resulting concerns about the security of transactions over the internet could result in lost future sales and have a material adverse effect on our reputation. In addition, a privacy breach could cause us to incur significant costs to restore the integrity of its system and could result in significant costs in government penalties and private litigation.
We Face an Extremely Competitive Specialty Retail Business Market, and Such Competition Could Result in a Reduction of Our Prices and a Loss of Our Market Share.
The retail market is a highly competitive market. We compete against a diverse group of retailers, including specialty stores, department stores, discount stores, catalog and Internet-based retailers, which sell similar lines of merchandise to those carried by us. Our competitors, many of which are larger and have substantially greater financial and other resources than us, include HomeGoods, Bed, Bath & Beyond, Cost Plus World Market, Hobby Lobby, Pier 1 Imports, Target, Ebay, Amazon.com and Overstock.com. Our “brick-and-mortar” stores and our kirklands.com website also compete with the ever-increasing number of Internet retail websites offering home décor and gift merchandise. The availability of home décor and gift merchandise from various competitors on the Internet could result in increased price competition as our customers are more readily able to comparison shop, which could reduce our sales, prices and margins and adversely affect our results of operations.
Competitors may have greater financial, distribution, logistics, marketing and other resources available to them and may be able to adapt to changes in customer requirements more quickly, devote greater resources to the design, sourcing, distribution, marketing and sale of their products, generate greater national brand recognition or adopt more aggressive pricing policies. Our competitors may also be able to increase sales in their new and existing markets faster than we do by emphasizing different distribution channels than we do. If we are unable to overcome these potential competitive disadvantages, such factors could have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
We Depend on a Number of Vendors to Supply Our Merchandise, and Any Delay in Merchandise Deliveries from Certain Vendors May Lead to a Decline in Inventory Which Could Result in a Loss of Net Sales.
We purchase our products from approximately 240 vendors with which we have no long-term purchase commitments or exclusive contracts. Historically, we have retained our vendors and we have generally not experienced difficulty in obtaining desired merchandise from vendors on acceptable terms. However, our arrangements with these vendors do not guarantee the availability of merchandise, establish guaranteed prices or provide for the continuation of particular pricing practices. Our current vendors may not continue to sell products to us on current terms or at all, and we may not be able to establish relationships with new vendors to ensure delivery of products in a timely manner or on terms acceptable to us. In addition, a period of unfavorable financial performance may make it difficult for some of our vendors to arrange for the financing or factoring of their orders with manufacturers, which could result in our inability to obtain desired merchandise from those vendors.
We may not be able to acquire desired merchandise in sufficient quantities on terms acceptable to us in the future. Also, our business would be adversely affected if there were delays in product shipments to us due to freight difficulties, strikes or other difficulties at our principal transport providers or otherwise. We have from time to time experienced delays of this nature. We are also dependent on vendors for assuring the quality of merchandise supplied to us. Our inability to acquire suitable merchandise in the future or the loss of one or more of our vendors and our failure to replace any one or more of them may harm our relationship with our customers resulting in a loss of net sales.
We Are Dependent on Foreign Imports for a Significant Portion of Our Merchandise, and Any Changes in the Trading Relations and Conditions Between the United States and the Relevant Foreign Countries May Lead to a Decline in Inventory Resulting in a Decline in Net Sales, or an Increase in the Cost of Sales Resulting in Reduced Gross Profit.
Most of our merchandise is purchased through vendors in the United States who import the merchandise from foreign countries, primarily China. Our vendors are subject to the risks involved with relying on products manufactured abroad, and we remain subject to those risks to the extent that their effects are passed through to us by our vendors or cause disruptions in supply. These risks include changes in import duties, quotas, loss of “most favored nation” trading status with the United States for a particular foreign country, work stoppages, delays in shipments, first cost price increases, freight cost increases, exchange rate fluctuations, terrorism, war, economic uncertainties (including inflation, foreign government regulations and political unrest) and trade restrictions (including the United States imposing antidumping or countervailing duty orders, safeguards, remedies or compensation and retaliation due to illegal foreign trade practices). If any of these or other factors were to cause a disruption of trade from the countries in which the suppliers of our vendors are located, our inventory levels may be reduced or the cost of our products may increase.
Historically, instability in the political and economic environments of the countries in which our vendors obtain our products has not had a material adverse effect on our operations. However, we cannot predict the effect that future changes in economic or political conditions in such foreign countries may have on our operations. Although we believe that we could access alternative sources in the event of disruptions or delays in supply due to economic, political or health conditions in foreign countries, such disruptions or delays may adversely affect our results of operations unless and until alternative supply arrangements can be made. In addition, merchandise purchased from alternative sources may be of lesser quality or more expensive than the merchandise we currently purchase abroad.
Countries from which our vendors obtain these products may, from time to time, impose new or adjust prevailing quotas or other restrictions on exported products, and the United States may impose new duties, quotas and other restrictions on imported products. This could disrupt the supply of such products to us and adversely affect our operations. The United States Congress periodically considers other restrictions on the importation of products obtained for us by vendors. The cost of such products may increase for us if applicable duties are raised or import quotas with respect to such products are imposed or made more restrictive.
We are also subject to the risk that the manufacturers abroad who ultimately manufacture our products may employ labor practices that are not consistent with acceptable practices in the United States. In any such event we could be hurt by negative publicity with respect to those practices and, in some cases, face liability for those practices.
Our Success Is Highly Dependent on Our Planning and Control Processes and Our Supply Chain, and Any Disruption in or Failure to Continue to Improve These Processes May Result in a Loss of Net Sales and Net Income.
An important part of our efforts to achieve efficiencies, cost reductions and net sales growth is the continued identification and implementation of improvements to our planning, logistical and distribution infrastructure and our supply chain, including merchandise ordering, transportation and receipt processing. In addition, recent increases in energy prices have resulted, and are expected to continue to result, in increased merchandise and freight costs, which cannot readily be offset through higher prices because of competitive factors.
A significant portion of the distribution of products to our stores is coordinated through our distribution facility in Jackson, Tennessee. We depend on the orderly operation of this receiving and distribution facility, which depends on adherence to shipping schedules and effective management. We cannot assure that events beyond our control, such as disruptions due to fire or other catastrophic events, labor disagreements or shipping problems, will not result in delays in the delivery of merchandise to our stores. We also cannot guarantee that our insurance will be sufficient, or that insurance proceeds will be timely paid to us, in the event our distribution center is shut down for any reason. Any significant disruption in the operations of this distribution facility would have a material adverse effect on our ability to maintain proper inventory levels in our stores which could result in a loss of net sales and net income.
Our Business Is Highly Seasonal and Our Fourth Quarter Contributes a Disproportionate Amount of Our Net Sales, Net Income and Cash Flow, and Any Factors Negatively Impacting Us During Our Fourth Quarter Could Reduce Our Net Sales, Net Income and Cash Flow, Leaving Us with Excess Inventory and Making It More Difficult for Us to Finance Our Capital Requirements.
We have experienced, and expect to continue to experience, substantial seasonal fluctuations in our net sales and operating results, which are typical of many specialty retailers and common to most retailers generally. Due to the importance of the fall selling season, which includes Thanksgiving and Christmas, the last quarter of our fiscal year has historically contributed, and is expected to continue to contribute, a disproportionate amount of our net sales, net income and cash flow for the entire fiscal year. We expect this pattern to continue during the current fiscal year and anticipate that in subsequent fiscal years, the last quarter of our fiscal year will continue to contribute disproportionately to our operating results and cash flow. Any factors negatively affecting us during the last quarter of our fiscal year, including unfavorable economic or weather conditions, could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations, reducing our cash flow, leaving us with excess inventory and making it more difficult for us to finance our capital requirements.
We May Experience Significant Variations in Our Quarterly Results.
Our quarterly results of operations may also fluctuate significantly based upon such factors as the timing of new store openings, pre-opening expenses associated with new stores, the relative proportion of new stores to mature stores, net sales contributed by new stores, increases or decreases in comparable store net sales, adverse weather conditions, shifts in the timing of holidays, the timing and level of markdowns, changes in fuel and other shipping costs, changes in our product mix and actions taken by our competitors.
Our Hardware and Software Systems Are Vulnerable to Damage that Could Harm Our Business.
We rely upon our existing information systems for operating and monitoring all major aspects of our business, including sales, warehousing, distribution, purchasing, inventory control, merchandise planning and replenishment, as well as various financial functions. These systems and our operations are vulnerable to damage or interruption from:
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fire, flood and other natural disasters;
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power loss, computer systems failures, internet and telecommunications or data network failure, operator negligence, improper operation by or supervision of employees, physical and electronic loss of data or security breaches, misappropriation and similar events; and
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computer viruses and malicious attacks and security breaches.
Any disruption in the operation of our information systems, the loss of employees knowledgeable about such systems or our failure to continue to effectively modify such systems could interrupt our operations or interfere with our ability to monitor inventory, which could result in reduced net sales and affect our operations and financial performance. We also need to ensure that our systems are consistently adequate to handle our anticipated store growth and are upgraded as necessary to meet our needs. The cost of any such system upgrades or enhancements would be significant. If our systems are damaged or fail to function properly, we may incur substantial costs to repair or replace them, and may experience loss of critical data and interruptions or delays in our ability to manage inventories or process guest transactions, which could adversely affect our results of operations.
We Depend on Key Personnel, and if We Lose the Services of Any Member of Our Senior Management Team, We May Not Be Able to Run Our Business Effectively.
We have benefited substantially from the leadership and performance of our senior management team. Our success will depend on our ability to retain our current senior management members and to attract and retain qualified personnel in the future. Competition for senior management personnel is intense and there can be no assurances that we will be able to retain our personnel. The loss of a member of senior management would require the remaining executive officers to divert immediate and substantial attention to seeking a replacement.
Our Charter and Bylaw Provisions and Certain Provisions of Tennessee Law May Make It Difficult in Some Respects to Cause a Change in Control of Kirkland’s and Replace Incumbent Management.
Our charter authorizes the issuance of “blank check” preferred stock with such designations, rights and preferences as may be determined from time to time by our Board of Directors. Accordingly, the Board of Directors is empowered, without shareholder approval, to issue preferred stock with dividend, liquidation, conversion, voting or other rights that could materially adversely affect the voting power or other rights of the holders of our common stock. Holders of the common stock do not have preemptive rights to subscribe for a pro rata portion of any capital stock which may be issued by us. In the event of issuance, such preferred stock could be utilized, under certain circumstances, as a method of discouraging, delaying or preventing a change in control of Kirkland’s. Although we have no present intention to issue any new shares of preferred stock, we may do so in the future.
Our charter and bylaws contain certain corporate governance provisions that may make it more difficult to challenge management, may deter and inhibit unsolicited changes in control of Kirkland’s and may have the effect of depriving our shareholders of an opportunity to receive a premium over the prevailing market price of our common stock in the event of an attempted hostile takeover. First, the charter provides for a classified Board of Directors, with directors (after the expiration of the terms of the initial classified board of directors) serving three year terms from the year of their respective elections and being subject to removal only for cause and upon the vote of 80% of the voting power of all outstanding capital stock entitled to vote (the “Voting Power”). Second, our charter and bylaws do not generally permit shareholders to call, or require that the Board of Directors call, a special meeting of shareholders. The charter and bylaws also limit the business permitted to be conducted at any such special meeting. In addition, Tennessee law permits action to be taken by the shareholders by written consent only if the action is consented to by holders of the number of shares required to authorize shareholder action and if all shareholders entitled to vote are parties to the written consent. Third, the bylaws establish an advance notice procedure for shareholders to nominate candidates for election as directors or to bring other business before meetings of the shareholders. Only those shareholder nominees who are nominated in accordance with this procedure are eligible for election as directors of Kirkland’s, and only such shareholder proposals may be considered at a meeting of shareholders as have been presented to Kirkland’s in accordance with the procedure. Finally, the charter provides that the amendment or repeal of any of the foregoing provisions of the charter mentioned previously in this paragraph requires the affirmative vote of at least 80% of the Voting Power. In addition, the bylaws provide that the amendment or repeal by shareholders of any bylaws made by our Board of Directors requires the affirmative vote of at least 80% of the Voting Power.
Furthermore, Kirkland’s is subject to certain provisions of Tennessee law, including certain Tennessee corporate takeover acts that are, or may be, applicable to us. These acts include the Investor Protection Act, the Business Combination Act and the Tennessee Greenmail Act, and these acts seek to limit the parameters in which certain business combinations and share exchanges occur. The charter, bylaws and Tennessee law provisions may have an anti-takeover effect, including possibly discouraging takeover attempts that might result in a premium over the market price for our common stock.
Concentration of Ownership among Our Existing Directors, Executive Officers, and Their Affiliates May Prevent New Investors from Influencing Significant Corporate Decisions.
As of the date of this filing, our current directors, executive officers and their affiliates, in the aggregate, beneficially own approximately 16% of our outstanding common stock. As a result, these shareholders are able to exercise a controlling influence over matters requiring shareholder approval, including the election of directors and approval of significant corporate transactions, and will have significant control over our management and policies. These shareholders may support proposals and actions with which you may disagree or which are not in your interests.
If We Fail to Maintain an Effective System of Internal Control, We May Not be Able to Accurately Report Our Financial Results.
We maintain a system of internal control over financial reporting, but there are limitations inherent in internal control systems. If we are unable to maintain adequate and effective internal control over financial reporting, our financial reporting could be adversely affected. A control system, no matter how well conceived and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the control system are met. In addition, the design of a control system must reflect the fact that there are resource constraints and the benefit of controls must be appropriate relative to their costs.
Item 1B.
Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments
None.
Item 2.
Item 2. Properties
We lease all of our store locations and expect to continue our practice of leasing rather than owning. Our leases typically provide for 5-10 year initial terms, many with the ability for us (or the landlord) to terminate the lease at specified points during the term if net sales at the leased premises do not reach a certain annual level. Many of our leases provide for payment of percentage rent (i.e., a percentage of net sales in excess of a specified level) and the rate of increase in key ancillary charges is generally capped.
As current leases expire, we believe we have the option to obtain favorable lease renewals for present store locations or obtain new leases for equivalent or better locations in the same general area. To date, we have not experienced unusual difficulty in either renewing or extending leases for existing locations or securing leases for suitable locations for new stores. A majority of our store leases contain provisions permitting the landlord to terminate the lease upon a change in control of Kirkland’s.
We currently lease one central distribution facility, consisting of 771,000 square feet, located in Jackson, Tennessee. This lease has a 15-year initial term, with two five-year options. On March 1, 2007, we entered into an Office Lease Agreement, effective as of March 1, 2007 with a landlord, whereby we leased 27,547 square feet of office space in Nashville, Tennessee for a seven-year term with an option to renew the lease for an additional seven years. On December 3, 2009, we amended the Office Lease Agreement to include an additional 9,798 square feet of adjoining office space.
The following table indicates the states where our stores are located and the number of stores within each state as of January 28, 2012:
Item 3.
Item 3. Legal Proceedings
We are involved in various routine legal proceedings incidental to the conduct of our business. We believe any resulting liability from existing legal proceedings, individually or in the aggregate, will not have a material adverse effect on our operations or financial condition. Although the outcome of such proceedings and claims cannot be determined with certainty, we believe that it is unlikely that these proceedings and claims in excess of insurance coverage will have a material effect on our operations, financial condition or cash flows.
Item 4.
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures
Not applicable.
PART II
Item 5.
Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity and Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer of Purchases of Equity Securities
Our common stock is listed on The Nasdaq Stock Market, LLC (“Nasdaq”) under the symbol “KIRK.” We commenced trading on Nasdaq on July 11, 2002. On April 2, 2012, there were approximately 61 holders of record and approximately 3,500 beneficial owners, of our common stock. The following table sets forth the high and low last sale prices of our common stock for the periods indicated.
Dividend Policy
There have been no dividends declared on any class of our common stock during the past two fiscal years. Our senior credit facility restricts the payment of cash dividends. Future cash dividends, if any, will be determined by our Board of Directors and will be based upon our earnings, capital requirements, financial condition, debt covenants and other factors deemed relevant by our Board of Directors.
Stock Price Performance Graph
This graph shows, from the end of fiscal year 2006 to the end of fiscal 2011, changes in the value of Kirkland’s stock as compared to Standard and Poor’s 500 Composite Index (“S&P 500”).
COMPARISON OF 5 YEAR CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURN*
Among Kirkland’s, Inc., the NASDAQ Composite Index
and the NASDAQ Retail Trade Index
On August 19, 2011, the Company announced that its Board of Directors authorized a stock repurchase plan providing for the purchase in the aggregate of up to $40 million of the Company’s outstanding common stock from time to time until February 2013. Shares may be purchased through open market or privately negotiated transactions at the discretion of management based on its evaluation of market conditions and other factors.
Shares of common stock repurchased by the Company during the quarter ended January 28, 2012, were as follows:
Item 6.
Item 6. Selected Financial Data
The following selected financial data is derived from our consolidated financial statements. The data below should be read in conjunction with Item 7.
Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
The following discussion should be read with our consolidated financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this annual report on Form 10-K. A number of the matters and subject areas discussed in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and “Business” and elsewhere in this annual report on Form 10-K are not limited to historical or current facts and deal with potential future circumstances and developments and are accordingly “forward-looking statements.” You are cautioned that such forward-looking statements, which may be identified by words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “expect,” “estimate,” “intend,” “plan” and similar expressions, are only predictions and that actual events or results may differ materially.
Our fiscal year is comprised of the 52 or 53-week period ending on the Saturday closest to January 31. Accordingly, fiscal 2011 represented the 52 weeks ended on January 28, 2012. Fiscal 2010 represented the 52 weeks ended on January 29, 2011. Fiscal 2009 represented the 52 weeks ended on January 30, 2010.
Introduction
We are a specialty retailer of home décor and gifts in the United States, operating 309 stores in 30 states as of January 28, 2012. Our stores present a broad selection of distinctive merchandise, including framed art, mirrors, wall décor, candles and related items, lamps, decorative accessories, accent furniture, textiles, garden-related accessories and artificial floral products. Our stores also offer an extensive assortment of holiday merchandise, as well as items carried throughout the year suitable for gift-giving. Our stores offer a unique combination of style and value that has led to our emergence as a leader in home décor and has enabled us to develop a strong customer franchise. As a result, we have achieved substantial growth during our 46-year history and have expanded our store base into different regions of the country.
Overview of Key Financial Measures
Total revenue and gross profit are the most significant drivers to our operating performance. Total revenue consists of all merchandise sales to customers, gift card breakage and shipping revenue associated with internet sales, net of estimated returns and exclusive of sales taxes. Our total revenue for fiscal 2011 increased by 3.6% to $430.3 million from $415.3 million in fiscal 2010. The net sales increase in fiscal 2011 resulted primarily from the growth in the store base and strong sales performance of our new store openings and e-commerce partially offset by store closings and a decrease in our comparable store sales. Comparable store sales decreased 4.0% for fiscal 2011. We use comparable store sales to measure our ability to achieve sales increases from stores that have been open for at least 13 full fiscal months. Increases in comparable store sales are an important factor in maintaining or increasing the profitability of existing stores.
Gross profit is the difference between total revenue and cost of sales. Cost of sales has four distinct components: product cost (including inbound freight), outbound freight cost, store occupancy costs, and central distribution costs. Product costs comprise the majority of cost of sales, while central distribution costs are the least significant of these four elements. Product and outbound freight costs are variable, while occupancy and central distribution costs are largely fixed. Accordingly, gross profit expressed as a percentage of total revenue can be influenced by many factors including overall sales performance. For fiscal 2011, gross profit decreased 0.8% to $169.2 million from $170.5 million for fiscal 2010. Gross profit percentage for fiscal 2011 decreased to 39.3% of total revenue from 41.1% of total revenue for fiscal 2010, due to an increase in promotional activity and the rate of markdowns as compared to the prior year period, partially offset by lower ocean freight costs as well as a gain of $1.2 million related to a change in the estimate of our accrual for customer loyalty points.
Operating expenses, including the costs of operating our stores and corporate headquarters, are also an important component of our operating performance. Compensation and benefits comprise the majority of our operating expenses. Operating expenses contain fixed and variable costs, and managing the operating expense ratio (operating expenses expressed as a percentage of net sales) is an important focus of management as we seek to increase our overall profitability. Operating expenses include cash costs as well as non-cash costs such as depreciation and amortization. Because many operating expenses are fixed costs, and because operating costs tend to rise over time, increases in comparable store sales typically are necessary to prevent meaningful increases in the operating expense ratio. Operating expenses can also include certain costs that are of a one-time or non-recurring nature. While these costs must be considered to understand fully our operating performance, we typically identify such costs separately where significant in the consolidated statements of income so that we can evaluate comparable expense data across different periods.
For fiscal 2011, we reported net income of $19.1 million, or $0.95 per diluted share, compared with net income of $26.4 million or $1.28 per diluted share for fiscal 2010.
Strategic Areas of Emphasis
We experienced net store growth during fiscal 2011, ending the year with 309 stores versus 300 stores at the end of fiscal 2010. Our approach to new store growth in fiscal 2012 will continue to focus on replacements of successful mall stores and smaller-sized off-mall stores with new, larger off-mall locations that we believe have better long-term sales potential. Additionally, we expect to open stores in existing underpenetrated markets and selected new geographical markets. During fiscal 2012, we expect to open a total of 35 to 45 stores, and expect to close approximately 25 stores. Many of these expected closings are in markets where we are pursuing or have identified a relocation opportunity. Fiscal 2012 new store openings will be weighted toward the back half of the year while store closings for fiscal 2012 will be weighted toward the first half of the year.
The following table summarizes our stores in terms of size as of January 28, 2012 and January 29, 2011:
An important part of our growth strategy includes investing in technology to provide the infrastructure to support our future needs. During the third quarter of fiscal 2011, we completed our roll out of new point-of-sale software to our stores. During fiscal 2010, we launched a new e-commerce website - www.kirklands.com - which allows customers to preview and purchase Kirkland’s merchandise online and have it delivered to their home or nearest Kirkland’s store. We also launched a new financial and general ledger platform in February, 2011.
Looking forward, we are also planning for enhancements or replacements of other key software applications in the areas of workforce management, merchandising, planning and allocation and customer relationship management. We also plan to further develop our e-commerce capabilities by adding vendor “drop-ship” to customer functionality, allowing us to expand our product assortment on the website. These projects are in various phases and will be implemented in stages over the next two fiscal years. We view these technology projects as essential and supportive to the execution of our growth strategy.
Our cash balances decreased from $91.2 million at January 29, 2011 to $83.1 million at January 28, 2012 primarily due to repurchase of 2.0 million shares of our common stock during fiscal 2011 for a total of $23.4 million. Our objective is to finance all of our operating and investing activities for fiscal 2012 with cash provided by operations. We expect that capital expenditures for fiscal 2012 will range from $29 million to $32 million, and estimate $16 to $18 million of the total capital expenditures will relate to new store construction, $7 to $8 million will relate to information technology, with the balance of our capital expenditures relating to distribution center improvements and store merchandise fixture enhancements and other refurbishments.
Fiscal 2011 Compared to Fiscal 2010
Results of operations. The table below sets forth selected results of our operations both in dollars (in thousands) and as a percentage of total revenue for the periods indicated:
Total Revenue. Total revenue increased by 3.6% to $430.3 million for fiscal 2011 from $415.3 million for fiscal 2010. The net sales increase in fiscal 2011 resulted primarily from the strong sales performance of our new store openings and e-commerce sales, partially offset by store closings. We opened 34 new stores in fiscal 2011 and 38 new stores in fiscal 2010, and we closed 25 stores in fiscal 2011 and 17 stores in fiscal 2010. Additionally, during November 2010, we launched kirklands.com for “direct-to-customer” selling. E-commerce accounted for $8.4 million in sales during fiscal 2011 and $1.2 million in sales during fiscal 2010. The positive impact of these factors was offset somewhat by a decline of 4.0% in comparable stores sales for fiscal 2011. During fiscal 2010, comparable store sales decreased 0.5%. The comparable store sales decrease in fiscal 2011 accounted for a $14.9 million decline in overall sales, while the net growth of the store base and increase in e-commerce sales accounted for a $29.3 million increase in sales. The comparable store sales decrease was primarily due to a decrease in the average ticket and transactions. The decrease in the average ticket was the result of a lower average retail selling price, partially offset by an increase in items per transaction. The decrease in transactions resulted from lower traffic counts and a decline in the conversion rate. Merchandise categories that performed the strongest in fiscal 2011 were art, floral, textiles and seasonal. Categories performing below fiscal 2010 levels were wall décor, frames and decorative accessories. Additionally benefitting the sales comparison, gift card breakage revenue increased $0.6 million due to an increase in the estimate for the expected breakage rate.
Gross profit. Gross profit decreased $1.3 million, or 0.8%, to $169.2 million for fiscal 2011 from $170.5 million for fiscal 2010. Gross profit expressed as a percentage of total revenue decreased to 39.3% for fiscal 2011, from 41.1% for fiscal 2010. The decrease in gross profit as a percentage of total revenue was in part driven by lower merchandise margins, which declined from 54.0% in fiscal 2010 to 53.5% in fiscal 2011. Merchandise margin is calculated as total revenue minus product cost of sales. Merchandise margin excludes outbound freight, store occupancy and central distribution costs. The decrease in merchandise margin was primarily the result of an increase in the amount of promotional activity and the rate of markdowns as compared to the prior year period, partially offset by lower ocean freight costs as well as a gain of $1.2 million related to a change in the estimate of our accrual for customer loyalty points. Store occupancy costs increased from $35.4 million, or 8.5% of total revenue in fiscal 2010 to $38.2 million, or 8.9% of total revenue in fiscal 2011. This increase, as a percentage of sales, reflects the decline in comparable store sales during fiscal 2011, as well as the reduction in the number of renegotiated leases compared with the prior year. Outbound freight costs increased as a percentage of total revenue reflecting an increase in diesel fuel costs, as well as shipping and packaging costs associated with an increase in the e-commerce business. Central distribution expenses were essentially flat as a percentage of total revenue.
Compensation and benefits. Compensation and benefits, including both store and corporate personnel, was $78.9 million, or 18.3% of total revenue, for fiscal 2011, as compared to $74.8 million, or 18.0% for fiscal 2010. The increase in the compensation and benefits expense as a percentage of total revenue was primarily due to an increase in the average wage combined with added headcount in the corporate offices and the impact of negative comparable store sales performance.
Other operating expenses. Other operating expenses, including both store and corporate costs, were $47.4 million, or 11.0% of total revenue, for fiscal 2011 as compared to $40.9 million, or 9.9% of total revenue, for fiscal 2010. Operating expenses as a percentage of total revenue increased primarily due to increases in advertising, professional fees, utilities, legal fees, credit card processing fees, and insurance expenses as compared to the prior year period.
Depreciation. Depreciation expense was $12.4 million, or 2.9% of total revenue, for fiscal 2011 as compared to $12.8 million, or 3.1% of total revenue, for fiscal 2010. The decrease in depreciation reflects the impact of lease extensions during the preceding twelve months for store locations in which the majority of the fixed assets had been fully depreciated.
Income tax expense. Income tax expense was 37.5% of pre-tax income for fiscal 2011 as compared to 37.3% of pre-tax income for fiscal 2010. This fiscal 2010 income tax expense included a net benefit of $0.8 million related to an adjustment to the Company’s prior year income tax provision, partially offset by an adjustment to the state tax rate applied to the Company’s deferred tax assets.
Net income. As a result of the foregoing, we reported net income of $19.1 million, or $0.95 per diluted share for fiscal 2011 compared to net income of $26.4 million, or $1.28 per diluted share for fiscal 2010.
Fiscal 2010 Compared to Fiscal 2009
Results of operations. The table below sets forth selected results of our operations both in dollars (in thousands) and as a percentage of total revenue for the periods indicated:
Total Revenue. Total revenue increased by 2.2% to $415.3 million for fiscal 2010 from $406.2 million for fiscal 2009. The net sales increase in fiscal 2010 resulted primarily from the strong sales performance of our new store openings partially offset by store closings. We opened 38 new stores in fiscal 2010 and 18 new stores in fiscal 2009, and we closed 17 stores in fiscal 2010 and 38 stores in fiscal 2009. Additionally, during November 2010, we launched kirklands.com for “direct-to-customer” selling. This accounted for $1.2 million in sales during fiscal 2010. The positive impact of these factors was offset somewhat by a decline of 0.5% in comparable stores sales for fiscal 2010. During fiscal 2009, comparable store sales increased 8.4%. The comparable store sales decrease accounted for a $1.9 million decline in overall sales, while the net growth of the store base and the launch of internet selling accounted for a $10.9 million increase in sales. The comparable store sales decrease was primarily due to a decrease in the average ticket, partially offset by an increase in customer traffic and transactions. The decrease in the average ticket was the result of a lower average retail selling price, partially offset by an increase in items per transaction. Merchandise categories that performed the strongest in fiscal 2010 were floral, gift/novelty, wall décor and seasonal. Categories performing below fiscal 2009 levels were art, candles and accessories, decorative accessories and frames.
Gross profit. Gross profit increased $2.0 million, or 1.2%, to $170.5 million for fiscal 2010 from $168.5 million for fiscal 2009. Gross profit expressed as a percentage of total revenue decreased to 41.1% for fiscal 2010, from 41.5% for fiscal 2009. The decrease in gross profit as a percentage of total revenue was primarily driven by lower merchandise margins, which declined from 55.2% in fiscal 2009 to 54.0% in fiscal 2010. Merchandise margin is calculated as total revenue minus product cost of sales. Merchandise margin excludes outbound freight, store occupancy and central distribution costs. The decrease in merchandise margin was primarily the result of increased ocean freight costs and a slight increase in the rate of markdown as compared to the prior year period. Store occupancy costs as a percentage of total revenue decreased from $38.0 million, or 9.4% of total revenue in fiscal 2009 to $35.4 million, or 8.5% of total revenue in fiscal 2010. This decline resulted from favorable lease renewal or extension terms, strong new store performance and the closure of underperforming stores. Outbound freight costs increased as a percentage of total revenue reflecting an increase in diesel costs. Central distribution expenses were flat as a percentage of total revenue.
Compensation and benefits. Compensation and benefits, including both store and corporate personnel, was $74.8 million, or 18.0% of total revenue, for fiscal 2010, as compared to $71.3 million, or 17.6% for fiscal 2009. The increase in the compensation and benefits expense as a percentage of total revenue was primarily due to the increase in stock compensation expense due to higher equity valuations.
Other operating expenses. Other operating expenses, including both store and corporate costs, were $40.9 million, or 9.9% of total revenue, for fiscal 2010 as compared to $35.8 million, or 8.8% of total revenue, for fiscal 2009. Operating expenses as a percentage of total revenue increased primarily due to higher marketing expenses, meeting expenses, travel expenses and information technology maintenance expenses as compared to the prior year period.
Depreciation. Depreciation expense was $12.8 million, or 3.1% of total revenue, for fiscal 2010 as compared to $14.5 million, or 3.6% of total revenue, for fiscal 2009. The decrease in depreciation reflects the large reduction in capital expenditures during fiscal 2008, and the relatively low amount of capital expenditures during fiscal 2009 relative to prior periods as well as the related decline in the store count during those periods. The decrease in depreciation as a percentage of total revenue was also impacted by lease extensions for store locations in which the majority of fixed assets are fully depreciated.
Income tax expense. Income tax expense was 37.3% of pre-tax income for fiscal 2010 as compared to 26.4% of pre-tax income for fiscal 2009. This fiscal 2010 income tax expense included a net benefit of $0.8 million related to an adjustment to the Company’s prior year income tax provision, partially offset by an adjustment to the state tax rate applied to the Company’s deferred tax assets. The most significant reconciling item between our effective tax rate and the federal statutory rate of 35% during fiscal 2009 was the reversal of $5.4 million of the valuation allowance previously established against deferred tax assets primarily related to net operating losses generated in fiscal 2007. We were able to reverse the amounts of the previously established valuation allowance as we achieved positive operating performance in fiscal 2009. At January 30, 2010, there was no remaining valuation allowance against our deferred tax assets.
Net income. As a result of the foregoing, we reported net income of $26.4 million, or $1.28 per diluted share for fiscal 2010 compared to net income of $34.6 million, or $1.71 per diluted share for fiscal 2009.
Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Measures
“Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” includes certain financial measures not derived in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (Non-GAAP measures). The non-GAAP measures are “adjusted net income” and “adjusted earnings per share” and are equal to net income, and earnings per share, as the case may be, excluding adjustments to the Company’s valuation allowance for deferred tax assets, adjustments related to the prior year tax provision, adjustments to the state tax rate applied to the Company’s deferred tax assets and certain income tax credits related to prior periods. Management uses these financial measures to focus on normalized operations, and believes that it is useful to investors because it enables them to perform more meaningful comparisons of past, present and future operating results. The Company believes that using this information, along with the corresponding GAAP measures, provides for a more complete analysis of the results of operations by fiscal year. Net income and earnings per share, respectively, are the most directly comparable GAAP measures to these non-GAAP measures. Below is a reconciliation of each of these non-GAAP measures to the corresponding most comparable GAAP measure:
Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Information
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Our principal capital requirements are for working capital and capital expenditures. Working capital consists mainly of merchandise inventories offset by accounts payable, which typically reach their peak by the end of the third quarter of each fiscal year. Capital expenditures primarily relate to new store openings; existing store expansions, remodels or relocations; and purchases of equipment or information technology assets for our stores, distribution facilities or corporate headquarters. Historically, we have funded our working capital and capital expenditure requirements with internally generated cash and borrowings under our credit facility.
Cash flows from operating activities. Net cash provided by operating activities was $41.8 million, $36.7 million and $50.0 million for fiscal 2011, fiscal 2010 and fiscal 2009, respectively. Net cash provided by operating activities depends heavily on operating performance, changes in working capital and the timing and amount of payments for income taxes. The increase in the amount of cash from operations from fiscal 2010 to fiscal 2011 was primarily due to a decrease in income taxes paid. The decline in the amount of cash from operations from fiscal 2009 to fiscal 2010 was primarily due to the year-over-year decline in operating performance, an increase in working capital due to the increase in store count, as well as an increase in income taxes paid.
Cash flows from investing activities. Net cash used in investing activities was $26.7 million, $22.6 million and $10.2 million for fiscal 2011, fiscal 2010 and fiscal 2009, respectively. In fiscal 2011, fiscal 2010 and fiscal 2009, the amounts of cash used in investing activities consisted principally of capital expenditures related to new store construction and information technology projects. The increase in cash flows used in investing activities from fiscal 2010 to fiscal 2011 was primarily the result of several key information technology projects. During 2011, we completed information technology projects replacing the hardware and software used at the point-of-sale in all of our stores, and continued an initiative to replace our current merchandise management system with new software. During fiscal 2011, we opened 34 stores compared to 38 stores in fiscal 2010 and 18 stores in fiscal 2009. The increase in cash flows used in investing activities from fiscal 2009 to fiscal 2010 was the result of an increase in the amount of new store projects combined with the ramp-up in information technology projects. During 2010, we completed information technology projects in the e-commerce and finance areas, and launched the initiative to replace our current merchandise management system with new software.
Cash flows from financing activities. Net cash used in financing activities was $23.2 million for fiscal 2011. Net cash provided by financing activities was approximately $0.7 million and $0.2 million for fiscal 2010, and fiscal 2009, respectively. During fiscal 2011, we authorized a share repurchase plan allowing for the use of up to $40 million in cash for repurchases of our common stock. During fiscal 2011, we repurchased 2.0 million shares for a total purchase price of $23.4 million. The small offset to repurchase activity during fiscal 2011, as well as the cash provided by financing activities in fiscal 2010 and 2009, relates to cash received from employees for stock purchases and option exercises. During fiscal 2011, fiscal 2010, and fiscal 2009, we did not make any draws on our revolving credit facility.
Revolving credit facility. On August 19, 2011, we entered into an Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of August 19, 2011 (the “Credit Agreement”), with Bank of America, N.A. as administrative agent and collateral agent, and the lenders named therein (the “Lenders”). The Credit Agreement increased our senior secured revolving credit facility from $45 million to $50 million and extended the maturity date to August 2016. Borrowings under the facility bear interest at an annual rate equal to LIBOR plus a margin ranging from 175 to 225 basis points with no LIBOR floor. We also pay the banks a fee of 0.375% per annum on the unused portion of the facility.
Pursuant to the Credit Agreement, borrowings are subject to certain customary conditions and contain customary events of default, including, without limitation, failure to make payments, a cross-default to certain other debt, breaches of covenants, breaches of representations and warranties, a change in control, certain monetary judgments and bankruptcy and ERISA events. Upon any such event of default, the principal amount of any unpaid loans and all other obligations under the Credit Agreement may be declared immediately due and payable. The maximum availability under the facility is limited by a borrowing base formula which consists of a percentage of eligible inventory and eligible credit card receivables, less reserves.
Also on August 19, 2011, we entered into an Amended and Restated Security Agreement, dated as of August 19, 2011, with our Lenders. Pursuant to the Security Agreement, we pledged and granted to the administrative agent, for the benefit of itself and the secured parties specified therein, a lien on and security interest in all of the rights, title and interest in substantially all of our assets to secure the payment and performance of the obligations under the Credit Agreement.
We entered into the Credit Agreement and the Security Agreement to amend and restate the previous Loan and Security Agreement, dated as of October 4, 2004 (the “Loan and Security Agreement”) and amended on August 6, 2007, between us and the Lenders. The Loan and Security Agreement and the amendment thereto have been previously filed with the Securities Exchange Commission.
As of January 28, 2012, we were in compliance with the covenants in the facility and there were no outstanding borrowings under the credit facility, with approximately $29.4 million available for borrowing.
At January 28, 2012, our balance of cash and cash equivalents was approximately $83.1 million and the borrowing availability under our facility was $29.4 million. We did not borrow from our credit facility during fiscal 2011, nor do we expect any borrowings during fiscal 2012. We believe that the combination of our cash balances, and cash flow from operations will be sufficient to fund our planned capital expenditures and working capital requirements for at least the next twelve months.
Share Repurchase Authorization. On August 19, 2011, the Company announced that its Board of Directors authorized a stock repurchase plan providing for the purchase in the aggregate of up to $40 million of the Company’s outstanding common stock from time to time until February 2013. Through January 28, 2012, the Company had repurchased and retired a total of approximately 2.0 million shares at an aggregate cost of $23.4 million. As of January 28, 2012, the Company had $16.6 million remaining under the Board’s authorization to repurchase its common stock.
Contractual Obligations
The following table identifies payment obligations for the periods indicated under our current contractual arrangements. The amounts set forth below reflect contractual obligations as of January 28, 2012. The timing and/or the amount of the payments may be changed in accordance with the terms of the contracts or new contractual obligations may be added. A summary of the Company’s contractual obligations and other commercial commitments as of January 28, 2012 as listed below (in thousands):
(1) These amounts represent future minimum lease payments under non-cancelable operating leases.
(2) Purchase obligations consist entirely of open purchase orders of merchandise inventory as of January 28, 2012; such orders are generally cancelable at the discretion of the Company until the order has been shipped.
Related Party Transactions
In July 2009, the Company entered into a Vendor Agreement with a related party vendor to purchase merchandise inventory. The vendor is considered a related party because one of its principals is the spouse of the Company’s Vice President of Merchandising. During fiscal 2011, the Company’s purchases from this vendor totaled approximately $25.1 million, or 12% of total merchandise purchases. During fiscal 2010, the Company’s purchases from this vendor totaled approximately $20.9 million, or 11% of total merchandise purchases. During fiscal 2009, the Company’s purchases from this vendor totaled approximately $3.5 million, or 2% of total merchandise purchases. Included in cost of sales for fiscal years 2011, 2010, and 2009 were $22.5 million, $18.5 million, and $1.1 million, respectively related to this vendor. Payable amounts outstanding to this vendor were approximately $1.9 million as of January 28, 2012, $1.5 million as of January 29, 2011 and $800,000 as of January 30, 2010. The Company’s payable terms with this vendor are consistent with the terms offered by other vendors in the ordinary course of business.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
None
Seasonality and Quarterly Results
We have historically experienced and expect to continue to experience substantial seasonal fluctuations in our net sales and operating income. We believe this is the general pattern typical of our segment of the retail industry and, as a result, expect that this pattern will continue in the future. Our quarterly results of operations may also fluctuate significantly as a result of a variety of other factors, including the timing of new store openings, net sales contributed by new stores, shifts in the timing of certain holidays and competition. Consequently, comparisons between quarters are not necessarily meaningful and the results for any quarter are not necessarily indicative of future results.
Our strongest sales period is the fourth quarter of our fiscal year when we generally realize a disproportionate amount of our net sales and a substantial majority of our operating and net income. In anticipation of the increased sales activity during the fourth quarter of our fiscal year, we purchase large amounts of inventory and hire temporary staffing help for our stores. Our operating performance could suffer if net sales were below seasonal norms during the fourth quarter of our fiscal year.
The following table sets forth certain unaudited financial and operating data for Kirkland’s in each fiscal quarter during fiscal 2011 and fiscal 2010 (dollars in thousands). The unaudited quarterly information includes all normal recurring adjustments that we consider necessary for a fair statement of the information shown.
Inflation
We do not believe that our operating results have been materially affected by inflation during the preceding three fiscal years. There can be no assurance, however, that our operating results will not be adversely affected by inflation in the future.
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
The discussion and analysis of our financial condition and the results of our operations are based upon our consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. The preparation of these financial statements requires us to make estimates that affect the reported amounts contained in the financial statements and related disclosures. We base our estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions which are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results may differ from these estimates. Our critical accounting policies are discussed in the notes to our consolidated financial statements. Certain judgments and estimates utilized in implementing these accounting policies are likewise discussed in the notes to our consolidated financial statements. The following discussion aggregates the various critical accounting policies addressed throughout the financial statements, the judgments and uncertainties affecting the application of these policies and the likelihood that materially different amounts would be reported under varying conditions and assumptions.
Inventory valuation - Our inventory is stated at the lower of cost or market, net of reserves and allowances, with cost determined using the average cost method with average cost approximating current cost. The carrying value of our inventory is affected by reserves for shrinkage and obsolescence.
We estimate as a percentage of sales the amount of shrinkage that has occurred between the most recently completed store physical count and the end of the financial reporting period based upon historical physical inventory count results. Management adjusts these estimates based on changes, if any, in the trends yielded by our physical inventory counts, which occur throughout the fiscal year. Historically the variation between our recorded estimates and observed results has been insignificant, and although possible, significant future variation is not expected. If our estimated shrinkage percentage varied by 10% from the amount recorded, the carrying value of inventory would have changed approximately $140,000 as of January 28, 2012.
We also evaluate the cost of our inventory by category and class of merchandise in relation to the estimated sales price. This evaluation is performed to ensure that we do not carry inventory at a value in excess of the amount we expect to realize upon the sale of the merchandise. Our reserves for excess inventory and inventory obsolescence (in connection with which we reduce merchandise inventory to the lower of cost or market) are also estimated based upon our historical experience of selling goods below cost. Historically, the variation between our estimates to account for excess and obsolete inventory and actual results has been insignificant. As of January 28, 2012, our reserve for obsolescence was $170,000.
Impairments - In accordance with the provisions of FASB ASC 360, “Property, Plant, and Equipment”, we evaluate the recoverability of the carrying amounts of long-lived assets whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable. This review includes the evaluation of individual underperforming retail stores and assessing the recoverability of the carrying value of the assets related to such stores. Future cash flows are projected for the remaining lease life. The key assumptions used to determine the estimated cash flows for these stores include net sales and gross margin performance, payroll and related items, occupancy costs and other costs to operate. If the estimated future cash flows are less than the carrying value of the assets, the Company records an impairment charge equal to the difference, if any, between the assets’ fair value and carrying value.
We have not made any material changes in our impairment loss assessment methodology in the financial periods presented. Additionally, we do not believe that there will be a material change in the estimates or assumptions we use to calculate long-lived asset impairment losses. However, if actual results are not consistent with our estimates and assumptions used in estimating future cash flows and asset fair values, we may be exposed to losses that could be material.
Depreciation - Approximately 30% of our assets at January 28, 2012, represent investments in property and equipment. Determining appropriate depreciable lives requires judgments and estimates.
•
We utilize the straight-line method of depreciation and a variety of depreciable lives. Furniture, fixtures and equipment are generally depreciated over 5 years. Computer software and equipment is depreciated over 3-7 years. Leasehold improvements are amortized over the shorter of the useful lives of the assets or the original non-cancelable lease term. Our lease terms typically range from 5 to 10 years.
•
To the extent we replace or dispose of fixtures or equipment prior to the end of its assigned depreciable life, we could realize a loss or gain on the disposition. To the extent our assets are used beyond their assigned depreciable life, no depreciation expense is being realized. We reassess the depreciable lives in an effort to reduce the risk of significant losses or gains arising from either the disposition of our assets or the utilization of assets with no depreciation charges.
Insurance reserves - Workers’ compensation, general liability and employee medical insurance programs are partially self-insured. It is our policy to record a self-insurance liability using estimates of claims incurred but not yet reported or paid, based on historical claims experience and trends. As of January 28, 2012, our self-insurance reserve estimates totaled $3.8 million, of which $1.2 was reflected as a current liability in accrued expenses and $2.6 million was reflected as a noncurrent liability in other liabilities on the consolidated balance sheet. As of January 29, 2011, $700,000 was reflected as a current liability in accrued expenses and $2.4 million was reflected as a noncurrent liability in other liabilities on the consolidated balance sheet. The assumptions made by management in estimating our self-insurance reserves include consideration of historical cost experience, judgments about the present and expected levels of cost per claim and retention levels. We utilize various methods, including analyses of historical trends and actuarial methods, to estimate the cost to settle reported claims, and claims incurred, but not yet reported. As we obtain additional information and refine our methods regarding the assumptions and estimates we use to recognize liabilities incurred, we will adjust our reserves accordingly. In recent years, we have experienced unfavorable claims development, particularly related to workers compensation, and have adjusted our estimates accordingly.
Actuarial methods are used to develop estimates of the future ultimate claim costs based on the claims incurred as of the balance sheet date. Management believes that the various assumptions developed and actuarial methods used to determine our self-insurance reserves are reasonable and provide meaningful data and information that management uses to make its best estimate of our exposure to these risks. Arriving at these estimates, however, requires a significant amount of subjective judgment by management; and, as a result, these estimates are uncertain and our actual exposure may be different from our estimates. For example, changes in our assumptions about health care costs, the severity of accidents, the average size of claims and other factors could cause actual claim costs to vary materially from our assumptions and estimates, causing our reserves to be understated or overstated. For instance, a 10% change in our self-insurance liability would have affected net income by approximately $380,000 for fiscal 2011.
Income taxes - We record income tax liabilities utilizing known obligations and estimates of potential obligations. A deferred tax asset or liability is recognized whenever there are future tax effects from existing temporary differences and operating loss and tax credit carryforwards. We record a valuation allowance to reduce deferred tax assets to the balance that is more likely than not to be realized. We must make estimates and judgments on future taxable income, considering feasible tax planning strategies and taking into account existing facts and circumstances, to determine the proper valuation allowance. When we determine that deferred tax assets could be realized in greater or lesser amounts than recorded, the asset balance and income statement reflects the change in the period such determination is made. Due to changes in facts and circumstances and the estimates and judgments that are involved in determining the proper valuation allowance, differences between actual future events and prior estimates and judgments could result in adjustments to this valuation allowance. We use an estimate of our annual effective tax rate at each interim period based on the facts and circumstances available at that time while the actual effective tax rate is calculated at year-end. During fiscal 2009, as a result of generating positive operating performance, we were able to reverse $5.4 million of previously established valuation allowance against deferred tax assets. At January 30, 2010, there was no remaining valuation allowance against our deferred tax assets.
Additionally, our income tax returns are periodically audited by U.S. federal and state tax authorities, which include questions regarding our tax filing positions including the timing and amount of deductions and the allocation of income among various tax jurisdictions. In evaluating the tax exposures associated with our filing positions, we record reserves for probable exposures. We adjust our tax contingencies reserve and income tax provision in the period in which actual results of a settlement with tax authorities differs from our established reserve, the statute of limitations expires for the relevant tax authority to examine the tax position or when more information becomes available. Our tax contingencies reserve contains uncertainties because management is required to make assumptions and to apply judgment to estimate the exposures associated with our various filing positions and whether or not the minimum requirements for recognition of tax benefits have been met. We do not believe that there is a reasonable likelihood that there will be a material change in the reserves established for tax benefits not recognized. Although we believe our judgments and estimates are reasonable, actual results could differ, and we may be exposed to losses or gains that could be material. A 10% change in our unrecognized tax benefit reserve at January 28, 2012 would have affected net earnings by approximately $54,000 in fiscal 2011.
Stock-based compensation - We have stock-based compensation plans which include incentive and non-qualified stock options, restricted stock units, and an employee stock purchase plan. See Note 7, Employee Benefit Plans, to the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 8, Financial Statements and Supplementary Data, of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, for a complete discussion of our stock-based compensation programs. We recognize stock-based compensation expense based on the fair value of the respective awards. We estimated the fair value of our stock option awards as of the grant date based upon a Black-Scholes-Merton option pricing model. We estimate the fair value of our restricted stock units as of the grant date utilizing the average market price of our stock on that date. The compensation expense associated with these awards is recorded in the consolidated statements of income with a corresponding credit to common stock.
The Black-Scholes-Merton option pricing model requires the input of highly subjective assumptions. These assumptions include estimating the length of time employees will retain their stock options before exercising them (“expected term”) and the estimated volatility of our common stock price over the expected term. Changes in the subjective assumptions can materially affect the estimate of fair value of stock-based compensation and consequently, the related amount recognized in the consolidated statements of income.
We update our assumptions at each grant date. Historically, there have not been significant changes in our estimates or assumptions used to determine stock-based compensation expense. However, in fiscal 2010, we did experience a significant increase in the estimated fair value of awards granted ($11.30 per share in 2010 compared to $5.29 per share in 2009) because of the increase in our stock price during 2010 when compared to previous years and the related impact to the computation of fair value. Consequently, if actual results are not consistent with our estimates or assumptions, we may be exposed to changes in stock-based compensation expense that could be material. A 10% change in our stock-based compensation expense for the year ended January 28, 2012, would have affected net earnings by approximately $0.3 million.
Item 7A.
Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosure About Market Risk
As of January 28, 2012, we had no outstanding borrowings under our revolving credit facility. We did not borrow from our credit facility during fiscal 2011, nor do we expect any borrowings during fiscal 2012.
We were not engaged in any foreign exchange contracts, hedges, interest rate swaps, derivatives or other financial instruments with significant market risk as of January 28, 2012.
Item 8.
Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data
The financial statements and schedules are listed under Item 15(a) and filed as part of this annual report on Form 10-K.
The supplementary financial data is set forth under Item 7 of this annual report on Form 10-K.
Item 9.
Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure
None
Item 9A.
Item 9A. Controls and Procedures
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
We have established and maintain disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports that we file or submit under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) is recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. We carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures as of January 28, 2012. Based on that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of January 28, 2012.
Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a and 15d- 15(f) under the Exchange Act). Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, we carried out an evaluation of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of January 28, 2012 based on the Internal Control - Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (“COSO”). Based on this evaluation, our management concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was effective as of January 28, 2012.
Attestation Report of the Registered Public Accounting firm
Ernst & Young LLP, the independent registered public accounting firm that audited our financial statements included elsewhere in this Form 10-K, has issued an attestation report on our internal control over financial reporting. That report appears in Item 15 of Part IV in this Form 10-K and is incorporated by reference to this Item 9A.
Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
There have been no changes in internal controls over financial reporting identified in connection with the foregoing evaluation that occurred during our last fiscal quarter that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
Item 9B.
Item 9B. Other Information
None.
PART III
Item 10.
Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers, and Corporate Governance
Information concerning directors, appearing under the caption “Board of Directors” in our Proxy Statement (the “Proxy Statement”) to be filed with the SEC in connection with our Annual Meeting of Shareholders scheduled to be held on May 30, 2012; information concerning executive officers, appearing under the caption “Item 1. Business - Executive Officers of Kirkland’s” in Part I of this annual report on Form 10-K; information concerning our nominating and audit committees, appearing under the caption “Information About the Board of Directors” in our Proxy Statements; and information under the caption “Other Matters - Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance” in the Proxy Statement are incorporated herein by reference in response to this Item 10.
The Board of Directors has adopted a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics applicable to our directors, officers and employees, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, which has been posted on the “Investor Relations” section of our web site. We intend to satisfy the amendment and waiver disclosure requirements under applicable securities regulations by posting any amendments of, or waivers to, the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics on our web site.
Item 11.
Item 11. Executive Compensation
The information contained in the sections titled “Executive Compensation” and “Information About the Board of Directors - Board of Directors Compensation” in the Proxy Statement is incorporated herein by reference in response to this Item 11.
Item 12.
Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters
The information contained in the section titled “Security Ownership of Kirkland’s - Ownership of Management and Certain Beneficial Owners” in the Proxy Statement, with respect to security ownership of certain beneficial owners and management, is incorporated herein by reference in response to this Item 12.
Equity Compensation Plan Information
Item 13.
Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence
Information contained in the section titled “Related Party Transactions” in the Proxy Statement is incorporated herein by reference in response to this Item 13.
The information contained in the section titled “Information About the Board of Directors - Board Independence” in the Proxy Statement is incorporated herein by reference in response to this Item 13.
Item 14.
Item 14. Principal Accountant Fees and Services
The information contained in the section titled “Other Matters- Audit Fees” in the Proxy Statement is incorporated herein by reference in response to this Item 14.
PART IV
Item 15.
Item 15. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules
(a) 1. Financial Statements
The financial statements set forth below are filed on the indicated pages as part of this annual report on Form 10-K.
Reports of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of January 28, 2012 and January 29, 2011
Consolidated Statements of Income for the 52 Weeks Ended January 28, 2012, January 29, 2011 and January 30,
Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity for the 52 Weeks Ended January 28, 2012, January 29, 2011 and January 30, 2010
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the 52 Weeks Ended January 28, 2012, January 29, 2011 and January 30, 2010
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
The Board of Directors and Shareholders of Kirkland’s, Inc.
We have audited Kirkland’s, Inc.’s internal control over financial reporting as of January 28, 2012, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (the COSO criteria). Kirkland’s, Inc.’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting, and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting included in the accompanying Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit.
We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
In our opinion, Kirkland’s, Inc. maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of January 28, 2012, based on the COSO criteria.
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the consolidated balance sheets of Kirkland’s, Inc. as of January 28, 2012 and January 29, 2011, and the related consolidated statements of income, shareholders’ equity and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended January 28, 2012, of Kirkland’s, Inc. and our report dated April 12, 2012 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.
/s/ Ernst & Young LLP
Memphis, Tennessee
April 12, 2012
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
The Board of Directors and Shareholders of Kirkland’s, Inc.
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Kirkland’s, Inc. as of January 28, 2012 and January 29, 2011, and the related consolidated statements of income, shareholders’ equity and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended January 28, 2012. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of Kirkland’s, Inc. as of January 28, 2012 and January 29, 2011, and the consolidated results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended January 28, 2012, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), Kirkland’s, Inc.’s internal control over financial reporting as of January 28, 2012, based on criteria established in Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission and our report dated April 12, 2012 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.
/s/ Ernst & Young LLP
Memphis, Tennessee
April 12, 2012
KIRKLAND’S, INC.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
KIRKLAND’S, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
KIRKLAND’S, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
KIRKLAND’S, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
KIRKLAND’S, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Note 1 - Description of Business and Significant Accounting Policies
Kirkland’s, Inc. (the “Company”) is a specialty retailer of home décor and gifts in the United States with 309 stores in 30 states as of January 28, 2012. The consolidated financial statements of the Company include the accounts of Kirkland’s, Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiaries Kirkland’s Stores, Inc., Kirkland’s DC, Inc., Kirkland’s Texas, LLC, and Kirklands.com, LLC. Significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated.
The preparation of the consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from the estimates and assumptions used.
Changes in estimates are recognized in the period when new information becomes available to management. Areas where the nature of the estimate makes it reasonably possible that actual results could materially differ from amounts estimated include, but are not limited to impairment assessments on long-lived assets, asset retirement obligations, inventory reserves, self-insurance reserves, income tax liabilities, stock-based compensation, gift card breakage, customer loyalty program accruals and contingent liabilities.
Fiscal year - The Company’s fiscal year is comprised of the 52 or 53-week period ending on the Saturday closest to January 31. Accordingly, fiscal 2011 represented the 52 weeks ended on January 28, 2012, fiscal 2010 represented the 52 weeks ended on January 29, 2011, and fiscal 2009 represented the 52 weeks ended on January 30, 2010.
Cash equivalents - Cash and cash equivalents consist of cash on deposit in banks and investments with maturities of 90 days or less at the date of purchase.
Cost of sales and inventory valuation - Cost of sales includes costs of product purchased from vendors, including inbound freight, receiving costs, inspection costs, warehousing costs, internal transfer costs, outbound freight, inventory damage and shrinkage, discounts associated with the customer loyalty program, payroll and overhead associated with our distribution facility and its network and store occupancy costs. The Company’s inventory is stated at the lower of cost or market, net of reserves and allowances, with cost determined using the average cost method with average cost approximating current cost. The Company estimates the amount of shrinkage that has occurred through theft or damage and adjusts that amount to actual at the time of its physical inventory counts which occur throughout the fiscal year. The Company also evaluates the cost of inventory by category and class of merchandise in relation to the estimated sales price. This evaluation is performed to ensure that inventory is not carried at a value in excess of the amount expected to be realized upon the sale of the merchandise.
Vendor allowances - The Company receives various payments and allowances from vendors, including rebates and other credits. The amounts received are subject to the terms of vendor agreements, which generally do not state an expiration date, but are subject to ongoing negotiations that may be impacted in the future based on changes in market conditions and changes in the profitability, quality, or sell-through of the related merchandise. For all such vendor allowances, the Company records the vendor funds as a reduction of inventories. As the related inventory is sold, such allowances and credits are recognized as a reduction to cost of sales.
Property and equipment - Property and equipment are stated at cost. Depreciation is computed on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of the respective assets. Furniture, fixtures and equipment are generally depreciated over five years. Leasehold improvements are amortized over the shorter of the useful life of the asset or the expected lease term, typically ranging from five to 10 years. Maintenance and repairs are expensed as incurred and improvements are capitalized. Gains or losses on the disposition of fixed assets are recorded upon disposal.
Cost of internal use software - The Company capitalizes the cost of computer software developed or obtained for internal use. Capitalized computer software costs consist primarily of payroll-related and consulting costs incurred during the application development stage. The Company expenses costs related to preliminary project assessments, research and development, re-engineering, training and application maintenance as they are incurred. Capitalized software costs are depreciated on a straight-line basis over an estimated life of three to seven years upon being placed in service. At the end of fiscal years 2011 and 2010, property and equipment included capitalized computer software currently under development of $8.0 million and $6.2 million, respectively.
Asset retirement obligations - The Company recognizes a liability for the fair value of required asset retirement obligations (“ARO”) when such obligations are incurred. The Company’s AROs are primarily associated with leasehold improvements which, at the end of a lease, the Company is contractually obligated to remove in order to comply with the lease agreement. At the inception of a lease with such conditions, the Company records an ARO liability and a corresponding capital asset in an amount equal to the estimated fair value of the obligation. The liability is estimated based on various assumptions requiring management’s judgment and is accreted to its projected future value over time. The capitalized asset is depreciated using the convention for depreciation of leasehold improvement assets. Upon satisfaction of the ARO conditions, any difference between the recorded ARO liability and the actual retirement costs incurred is recognized as an operating gain or loss in the consolidated statements of income. As of January 28, 2012 and January 29, 2011, the liability for asset retirement obligations was approximately $248,000 and $264,000, respectively.
Impairment of long-lived assets - The Company evaluates the recoverability of the carrying amounts of long-lived assets whenever events or changes in circumstances dictate that their carrying value may not be recoverable. This review includes the evaluation of individual underperforming retail stores and assessing the recoverability of the carrying value of the assets related to the store. Future cash flows are projected for the remaining lease life. If the estimated future cash flows are less than the carrying value of the assets, the Company records an impairment charge equal to the difference, if any, between the assets’ fair value and carrying value.
Insurance reserves - Workers’ compensation, general liability and employee medical insurance programs are partially self-insured. It is the Company’s policy to record a self-insurance liability using estimates of claims incurred but not yet reported or paid, based on historical claims experience and actuarial methods. Actual results can vary from estimates for many reasons, including, among others, inflation rates, claim settlement patterns, litigation trends and legal interpretations. The Company monitors its claims experience in light of these factors and revises its estimates of insurance reserves accordingly. The level of insurance reserves may increase or decrease as a result of these changing circumstances or trends.
Customer loyalty program - The Company has established a private-label credit card program for its customers. The card program is operated and managed by a third-party bank that assumes all credit risk with no recourse to the Company. All cardholders are automatically enrolled in a loyalty program whereby cardholders earn loyalty points in return for making purchases in the Company’s stores. Attaining specified loyalty point levels results in the issuance of discount certificates to the cardholder. The Company accrues for the expected liability associated with the discount certificates issued as well as the accumulated points that have not yet resulted in the issuance of a certificate adjusted for expected redemption rates. This liability is included as a component of accrued expenses on the consolidated balance sheet and the changes to the liability are included within cost of sales on the consolidated statements of income.
During the fourth quarter of fiscal 2011, the Company terminated the relationship with its third-party bank service provider. As a result of this termination, the Company reversed $1.2 million ($752,000 after tax), or $0.04 per diluted share, of the accrual related to the loyalty program. The effect of this reversal is included as a credit to cost of sales. During the first quarter of fiscal 2012, the Company launched a similar program with a new provider.
Deferred rent - Many of the Company’s operating leases contain predetermined fixed escalations of minimum rentals during the initial term. Additionally, the Company does not typically pay rent during the construction period for its new stores. For these leases, the Company recognizes the related rental expense on a straight-line basis over the life of the lease commencing with the date of initial access to the leased space, and records the difference between amounts charged to operations and amounts paid as a liability. The cumulative net excess of recorded rent expense over lease payments totaled $7.8 million, of which $771,000 was reflected as a current liability in accrued expenses and $7.0 million was reflected as a noncurrent liability in deferred rent on the consolidated balance sheet as of January 28, 2012. As of January 29, 2011, $750,000 was reflected as a current liability in accrued expenses and $5.9 million was reflected as a noncurrent liability in deferred rent on the consolidated balance sheet.
The Company also receives incentives from landlords in the form of construction allowances. These construction allowances are recorded as deferred rent and amortized as a reduction to rent expense over the lease term. As of January 28, 2012, the unamortized amount of construction allowances totaled $32.2 million, of which $4.9 million was reflected as a current liability in accrued expenses and $27.3 million was reflected as a noncurrent liability in deferred rent on the consolidated balance sheet. As of January 29, 2011, $6.2 million was reflected as a current liability in accrued expenses and $21.4 million was reflected as a noncurrent liability in deferred rent on the consolidated balance sheet.
Revenue recognition - The Company recognizes revenue at the time of sale of merchandise to customers in its stores. E-commerce revenue is recorded when orders are shipped. Net sales include the sale of merchandise, net of estimated returns and exclusive of sales taxes.
Revenues from gift cards are recognized as revenue when tendered for payment. While the Company honors all gift cards presented for payment, the Company determines the likelihood of redemption to be remote for certain gift card balances due to long periods of inactivity. The Company uses the Redemption Recognition Method to account for breakage for unused gift card amounts where breakage is recognized as gift cards are redeemed for the purchase of goods based upon a historical breakage rate. In these circumstances, to the extent the Company determines there is no requirement for remitting card balances to government agencies under unclaimed property laws, such amounts are recognized in the consolidated statement of income as breakage revenue. The Company recognized approximately $1.1 million, $581,000 and $518,000 in gift card breakage during fiscal 2011, fiscal 2010 and fiscal 2009, respectively. During fiscal 2011, the Company revised its breakage rate upwards to better reflect historical breakage trends.
Compensation and benefits - Compensation and benefits includes all store and corporate office salaries and wages and incentive pay as well as stock compensation, employee health benefits, 401(k) plan benefits, deferred compensation benefits, social security and unemployment taxes.
Stock-based compensation - Stock-based compensation includes expenses associated with stock option grants, restricted stock grants, and other transactions under the Company’s stock plans. The Company recognizes compensation expense for its stock-based payments based on the fair value of the awards. The expense is recorded on a straight-line basis over the vesting period within compensation and benefits in the consolidated statements of income. See “Note 7 - Employee Benefit Plans” for further discussion.
Other operating expenses - Other operating expenses consist of such items as insurance, advertising, utilities, property taxes, supplies, travel, losses on disposal of assets and various other store and corporate expenses.
Preopening expenses - Preopening expenses, which consist primarily of payroll and occupancy costs, are expensed as incurred.
Advertising expenses - Advertising costs are expensed in the period in which the related activity first takes place. These expenses include costs associated with specific marketing campaigns, e-mail communications, social media, public relations, in-store collateral and signage, and other expenses related to the in-store experience. Total advertising expense was $4.9 million, $4.0 million and $2.2 million for fiscal years 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively.
Income taxes - Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized based on the differences between the financial statement and the tax law treatment of certain items. Realization of certain components of deferred tax assets is dependent upon the occurrence of future events. The Company records valuation allowances to reduce its deferred tax assets to the amount it believes is more likely than not to be realized. These valuation allowances can be impacted by changes in tax laws, changes to statutory tax rates, and future taxable income levels and are based on the Company’s judgment, estimates, and assumptions regarding those future events. In the event the Company were to determine that it would not be able to realize all or a portion of the net deferred tax assets in the future, the Company would increase the valuation allowance through a charge to income tax expense in the period that such determination is made. Conversely, if the Company were to determine that it would be able to realize its deferred tax assets in the future, in excess of the net carrying amounts, the Company would decrease the recorded valuation allowance through a decrease to income tax expense in the period that such determination is made.
The Company provides for uncertain tax positions and the related interest and penalties, if any, based upon management’s assessment of whether a tax benefit is more likely than not to be sustained upon examination by tax authorities. The Company recognizes interest and penalties accrued related to unrecognized tax benefits in income tax expense. To the extent the Company prevails in matters for which a liability for an unrecognized tax benefit is established or is required to pay amounts in excess of the liability, the Company’s effective tax rate in a given financial statement period may be affected.
The Company’s income tax returns are audited by state and federal authorities; and, the Company is typically engaged in various tax examinations at any given time. Tax contingencies often arise due to uncertainty or differing interpretations of the application of tax rules throughout the various jurisdictions in which the Company operates. The contingencies are influenced by items such as tax audits, changes in tax laws, litigation, appeals and experience with previous similar tax positions. The Company regularly reviews its tax reserves for these items and assesses the adequacy of the amount recorded. The Company evaluates potential exposures associated with its various tax filings by estimating a liability for uncertain tax positions based on a two-step process. The first step is to evaluate the tax position for recognition by determining if the weight of available evidence indicates that it is more likely than not that the position will be sustained on audit, including resolution of related appeals or litigation processes, if any. The second step requires estimation and measurement of the tax benefit as the largest amount that is more than 50% likely to be recognized upon settlement.
Sales and use taxes - Governmental authorities assess sales and use taxes on the sale of goods and services. The Company excludes taxes collected from customers in its reported sales results. Such amounts are reflected as accrued expenses until remitted to the taxing authorities.
Use of estimates - The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of certain assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingencies at the date of the financial statements and the related reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Concentrations of risk - Most of the Company’s merchandise is purchased through vendors in the United States who import the merchandise manufactured primarily in China. However, the Company believes alternative merchandise sources could be procured over a relatively short period of time.
Fair value of financial instruments - The carrying amount of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, other current assets and accounts payable approximate fair value because of their short maturities.
Earnings per share - Basic earnings per share is computed by dividing net income by the weighted average number of shares outstanding during each period presented, which excludes non-vested restricted stock. Diluted earnings per share is computed by dividing net income by the weighted average number of shares outstanding plus the dilutive effect of stock equivalents outstanding during the applicable periods using the treasury stock method. Diluted earnings per share reflects the potential dilution that could occur if options to purchase stock were exercised into common stock. Stock options that were not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share because to do so would have been antidilutive were approximately 288,000 shares, 193,000 shares and 251,000 shares for fiscal 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively.
Comprehensive income - Comprehensive income does not differ from the consolidated net income presented in the consolidated statements of income.
Operating segments - The Company has determined that each of its stores is an operating segment. The operating performance of all stores has been aggregated into one reportable segment. The Company’s operating segments are aggregated for financial reporting purposes because they are similar in each of the following areas: economic characteristics, class of consumer, nature of products and distribution methods. Revenues from external customers are derived from merchandise sales, and the Company does not rely on any major customers as a source of revenue. Across its store base, the Company operates one store format under the Kirkland’s name in which each store offers the same general mix of merchandise with similar categories and similar customers. The Company believes that disaggregating its operating segments would not provide meaningful additional information.
Reclassifications - Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to confirm to current year classification. The Company has separately stated the tax benefit from exercise of stock options and vesting of restricted stock, as well as the net shares settlement of stock options and restricted stock, in both the Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity and Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows. The Company has separately stated cash received for landlord construction allowances in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.
Note 2 - Property and Equipment
Property and equipment is comprised of the following (in thousands):
Note 3 - Accrued Expenses
Accrued expenses are comprised of the following (in thousands):
Note 4 - Income Taxes
The Company’s income tax expense is computed based on the federal statutory rates and the state statutory rates, net of related federal benefit. Income tax expense consists of the following (in thousands):
Income tax expense differs from the amount computed by applying the statutory federal income tax rate to pre-tax income. A reconciliation of income tax expense at the statutory federal income tax rate to the amount provided is as follows (in thousands):
Income tax expense in fiscal 2010 included a benefit of $1.0 million related to an adjustment to the Company’s prior year income tax provision. This benefit was slightly offset by an adjustment of approximately $200,000 to the state tax rate applied to the Company’s deferred tax assets.
Deferred income taxes reflect the net tax effects of temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts used for income tax purposes. Significant components of the Company’s deferred tax assets and liabilities are as follows (in thousands):
Future utilization of the deferred tax assets is evaluated by the Company and any valuation allowance is adjusted accordingly. The Company had previously recorded a valuation allowance against its deferred tax assets associated with net operating losses in past fiscal years. As a result of an improvement in the Company’s operating performance, the Company was able to reverse $5.4 million of the valuation allowance during fiscal 2009. At January 29, 2011, there was no remaining valuation allowance against the Company’s deferred tax assets.
The Company and one or more of its subsidiaries file income tax returns in the U.S. federal jurisdiction and various state and local jurisdictions. The Company is no longer subject to U.S. federal income tax examinations by authorities for years prior to 2007. With few exceptions, the Company is no longer subject to state and local income tax examinations for years prior to 2005. The Company has no ongoing U.S. federal, state or local income tax examinations.
A reconciliation of the beginning and ending amount of unrecognized tax benefits is as follows:
Included in the January 28, 2012 balance and January 29, 2011 balance is $538,000 of unrecognized tax benefits that, if recognized, would decrease the Company’s effective tax rate.
The Company accrues interest on unrecognized tax benefits as a component of income tax expense. Penalties, if incurred, would be recognized as a component of income tax expense. The Company had $247,000 and $186,000 accrued for the payment of interest and penalties associated with unrecognized tax benefits at January 28, 2012 and January 29, 2011, respectively.
Note 5 - Senior Credit Facility
On August 19, 2011, the Company entered into an Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of August 19, 2011 (the “Credit Agreement”), with Bank of America, N.A. as administrative agent and collateral agent, and the lenders named therein (the “Lenders”). The Credit Agreement increased the Company’s senior secured revolving credit facility from $45 million to $50 million and extended the maturity date to August 2016. Borrowings under the facility bear interest at an annual rate equal to LIBOR plus a margin ranging from 175 to 225 basis points with no LIBOR floor. Additionally, a fee of 0.375% per annum is assessed on the unused portion of the facility.
Pursuant to the Credit Agreement, borrowings are subject to certain conditions and contain customary events of default, including, without limitation, failure to make payments, a cross-default to certain other debt, breaches of covenants, breaches of representations and warranties, a change in control, certain monetary judgments and bankruptcy and ERISA events. Upon any such event of default, the principal amount of any unpaid loans and all other obligations under the Credit Agreement may be declared immediately due and payable. The maximum availability under the facility is limited by a borrowing base formula which consists of a percentage of eligible inventory and eligible credit card receivables, less reserves.
Also on August 19, 2011, the Company entered into an Amended and Restated Security Agreement, dated as of August 19, 2011 with its Lenders. Pursuant to the Security Agreement, the Company pledged and granted to the administrative agent, for the benefit of itself and the secured parties specified therein, a lien on and security interest in all of the rights, title and interest in substantially all of the Company’s assets to secure the payment and performance of the obligations under the Credit Agreement.
The Company entered into the Credit Agreement and the Security Agreement to amend and restate the previous Loan and Security Agreement, dated as of October 4, 2004 (the “Loan and Security Agreement”) and amended on August 6, 2007, between the Company and the Lenders. The Loan and Security Agreement and the amendment thereto have been previously filed with the Securities Exchange Commission.
As of January 28, 2012, the Company was in compliance with the covenants in the facility and there were no outstanding borrowings under the credit facility, with approximately $29.4 million available for borrowing.
Note 6 - Long-Term Leases
The Company leases retail store facilities, corporate office space, warehouse facilities and certain equipment under operating leases with terms ranging up to 15 years and expiring at various dates through 2025. Most of the retail store lease agreements include renewal options and provide for minimum rentals and contingent rentals based on sales performance in excess of specified minimums. Rent expense, including extra charges under operating leases, was approximately $40,252,000, $37,406,000 and $39,931,000 in fiscal years 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively. Contingent rental expense was approximately $219,000, $98,000 and $63,000 for fiscal years 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively.
Future minimum lease payments under all operating leases with initial terms of one year or more are as follows: $45,169,000 in 2012; $42,079,000 in 2013; $38,324,000 in 2014; $34,779,000 in 2015; $28,533,000 in 2016 and $83,366,000 thereafter.
Note 7 - Employee Benefit Plans
Stock-based compensation - Stock-based compensation includes stock option grants, restricted stock unit grants, and other transactions under the Company’s equity plans. Total stock-based compensation expense (a component of compensation and benefits) was approximately $3.1 million, $2.7 million and $1.3 million for fiscal years 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively.
In July 2002, the Company adopted the Kirkland’s, Inc. 2002 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2002 Plan”). The 2002 Plan provides for the award of restricted stock, restricted stock units (“RSUs”), incentive stock options, non-qualified stock options and stock appreciation rights with respect to shares of common stock to employees, directors, consultants and other individuals who perform services for the Company. The 2002 Plan is authorized to provide awards for up to a maximum of 2,500,000 shares of common stock. Options issued to employees under the 2002 Plan have maximum contractual terms of 10 years and generally vest ratably over 3 or 4 years. Restricted stock units granted to employees vest on the third anniversary of the grant date, and are convertible into common stock on the date of vesting. Options issued to non-employee directors vest immediately on the date of the grant. Restricted stock units granted to non-employee directors vest on the first anniversary of the grant date.
As of January 28, 2012, options to purchase 1,315,024 shares of common stock were outstanding under the 2002 Plan at exercise prices ranging from $2.03 to $19.06 per share. As of January 28, 2012, there were 179,000 RSUs outstanding under the 2002 Plan with fair value grant prices ranging from $12.33 to $19.06 per share. Shares reserved for future stock-based grants under the 2002 Plan approximated 533,000 at January 28, 2012.
The Company allows for the settlement of vested stock options on a net share basis (“net settled stock options”), instead of settlement with a cash payment (“cash settled stock options”), if so desired by the holder. With net settled stock options, the employee does not surrender any cash or shares upon exercise. Rather, the Company withholds the number of shares to cover the option exercise price and the minimum statutory tax withholding obligations from the shares that would otherwise be issued upon exercise. The settlement of vested stock options on a net share basis results in fewer shares issued by the Company.
As of January 28, 2012, there were 1,037,524 outstanding in-the-money options. The aggregate intrinsic value of in-the-money options outstanding and options exercisable as of January 28, 2012 was approximately $5.5 million and $5.0 million, respectively. The weighted average grant date fair value of options granted during fiscal 2011, fiscal 2010 and fiscal 2009 were $12.31, $11.30 and $5.29, respectively. The intrinsic value of options exercised was $1.3 million in fiscal 2011, $2.9 million in fiscal 2010 and $1.0 million in fiscal 2009. At January 28, 2012, unrecognized stock compensation expense related to the unvested portion of outstanding stock options and restricted stock units was approximately $4.5 million, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 1.4 years.
Stock option activity for the year ended January 28, 2012, was as follows:
The fair value of each option is recorded as compensation expense on a straight-line basis over the applicable vesting period. The Company has estimated the fair value of all stock option awards as of the date of the grant by applying the Black-Scholes multiple-option pricing valuation model. The application of this valuation model involves assumptions that are judgmental and highly sensitive in the determination of compensation expense. The weighted average for key assumptions used in determining the fair value of options granted in fiscal years 2011, 2010 and 2009 and a summary of the methodology applied to develop each assumption are as follows:
Expected price volatility - The expected price volatility is a measure of the amount by which the stock price has fluctuated or is expected to fluctuate. The Company uses actual historical changes in the market value of its stock to calculate the volatility assumption as it is management’s belief that this is the best indicator of future volatility. The Company calculates daily market value changes to the date of grant over a period beginning one year following the Company’s initial public offering date. An increase in the expected volatility will increase compensation expense.
Risk-free interest rate - The risk-free interest rate is the U.S. Treasury rate for the week of the grant having a term equal to the expected life of the option. An increase in the risk-free interest rate will increase compensation expense.
Expected lives - The expected life is the period of time over which the options granted are expected to remain outstanding. The Company uses the “simplified” method found in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 107 to estimate the expected life of stock option grants. Options granted have a maximum term of ten years. An increase in the expected life will increase compensation expense.
Forfeiture rate - The forfeiture rate is the estimated percentage of options granted that are expected to be forfeited or canceled before becoming fully vested. This estimate is based on historical experience of similar grants. An increase in the forfeiture rate will decrease compensation expense. The Company’s forfeiture estimate has a minimal effect on expense as the majority of the stock-based awards vest quarterly.
Dividend yield - The Company has not paid a dividend on its common stock for each of the last three fiscal years. The addition or increase of a dividend will decrease compensation expense.
Restricted stock units - The Company periodically grants restricted stock units for a fixed number of shares to various employees and directors. The RSUs granted to directors become 100% vested on the first anniversary of the grant date. The RSUs granted to employees become 100% vested on the third anniversary of the grant date, provided the employee has remained in continuous service with the Company through that date. The fair value of the RSUs is equal to the closing price of the Company’s common stock on the date of the grant. The Company granted 89,000, and 114,000 RSUs during fiscal 2011 and 2010, respectively. The weighted average grant date fair value of the RSUs granted during fiscal 2011 and 2010 was $12.33 and $19.31, respectively. There were no restricted stock units granted during fiscal 2009. Compensation expense for RSUs during fiscal 2011, 2010 and 2009 was approximately $1.1 million, $957,000 and $265,000, respectively. As of January 28, 2012, there was approximately $1.5 million of unrecognized compensation expense related to RSUs which is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 1.6 years.
RSU activity in each of the periods indicated were as follows:
Employee stock purchase plan - In July 2002, the Company adopted an Employee Stock Purchase Plan (“ESPP”). Under the ESPP, full-time employees who have completed twelve consecutive months of service are allowed to purchase shares of the Company’s common stock, subject to certain limitations, through payroll deduction, at 85% of the fair market value. The Company’s ESPP is authorized to issue up to 500,000 shares of common stock. During fiscal 2011, 2010 and 2009, there were 29,204, 24,185 and 30,704 shares of common stock, respectively, issued to participants under the ESPP, with approximately 102,000 shares remaining under the original authorization.
401(k) savings plan - The Company maintains a defined contribution 401(k) employee benefit plan, which covers all employees meeting certain age and service requirements. Up to 6% of the employee’s compensation may be matched at the Company’s discretion, subject to statutory limitations. For all fiscal years presented, this discretionary percentage was 50% of an employee’s contribution subject to Plan maximums. The Company’s matching contributions were approximately $402,000, and $400,000 and $422,000 in fiscal 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively. The Company has the option to make additional contributions to the Plan on behalf of covered employees; however, no such contributions were made in fiscal 2011, 2010, or 2009.
Deferred compensation plan - Effective March 1, 2005, the Company adopted The Executive Non-Qualified Excess Plan (the “Deferred Compensation Plan”). The Deferred Compensation Plan is available for certain employees whose benefits under the 401(k) Savings Plan are limited due to provisions of the Internal Revenue Code. The Company’s matching contributions to this Plan were approximately $60,000, $69,000 and $55,000 in fiscal years 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively.
Note 8 - Commitments and Contingencies
Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentration of risk are primarily cash and cash equivalents. The Company places its cash and cash equivalents in insured depository institutions and limits the amount of credit exposure to any one institution within the covenant restrictions imposed by the Company’s debt agreements.
The Company is involved in various routine legal proceedings incidental to the conduct of our business. The Company believes that any resulting liability from existing legal proceedings, individually or in the aggregate, will not have a material adverse effect on its operations or financial condition.
During fiscal 2009, the Company recognized a reduction of approximately $920,000, or $0.03 per diluted share, in other operating expenses as a result of reversing an obligation related to a contingent matter for which the statute of limitations had expired.
Note 9 - Related Party Transactions
In July 2009, the Company entered into a Vendor Agreement with a related party vendor to purchase merchandise inventory. The vendor is considered a related party because one of its principals is the spouse of the Company’s Vice President of Merchandising. During fiscal 2011, the Company’s purchases from this vendor totaled approximately $25.1 million, or 12% of total merchandise purchases. During fiscal 2010, the Company’s purchases from this vendor totaled approximately $20.9 million, or 11% of total merchandise purchases. During fiscal 2009, the Company’s purchases from this vendor totaled approximately $3.5 million, or 2% of total merchandise purchases. Included in cost of sales for fiscal years 2011, 2010, and 2009 were $22.5 million, $18.5 million, and $1.1 million, respectively related to this vendor. Payable amounts outstanding to this vendor were approximately $1.9 million as of January 28, 2012, $1.5 million as of January 29, 2011 and $800,000 as of January 30, 2010. The Company’s payable terms with this vendor are consistent with the terms offered by other vendors in the ordinary course of business.
Note 10 - Stock Repurchase Program
On August 19, 2011, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized a stock repurchase plan providing for the purchase in the aggregate of up to $40 million of the Company’s outstanding common stock from time to time until February 2013. Through January 28, 2012, the Company had repurchased and retired a total of approximately 2.0 million shares at an aggregate cost of $23.4 million, leaving $16.6 million remaining under the original authorization. Subsequent to January 28, 2012, the Company has
repurchased and retired approximately 114,000 shares of common stock at an aggregate cost of $1.7 million.
3. Exhibits: (see (b) below)
(b) Exhibits.
The following is a list of exhibits filed as part of this annual report on Form 10-K. For exhibits incorporated by reference, the location of the exhibit in the Company’s previous filing is indicated in parentheses.
* Incorporated by reference.
+ Management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
KIRKLAND’S, INC.
By:
/s/ ROBERT E. ALDERSON
Robert E. Alderson
President and Chief Executive Officer
Date: April 12, 2012
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
KIRKLANDS, INC.
INDEX OF EXHIBITS FILED WITH THIS ANNUAL REPORT ON 10-K