BUILD-A-BEAR WORKSHOP INC - Quarter Report: 2023 July (Form 10-Q)

FORM 10-Q

PART I-FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. Financial Statements

BUILD-A-BEAR WORKSHOP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(Dollars in thousands, except share and per share data)

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

BUILD-A-BEAR WORKSHOP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

(Dollars in thousands, except share and per share data)

 See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements. 

BUILD-A-BEAR WORKSHOP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(Unaudited)

(Dollars in thousands) 

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

1. Basis of Presentation

The condensed consolidated financial statements included herein are unaudited and have been prepared by Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. and its subsidiaries (collectively, the “Company”) pursuant to the rules and regulations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations. The condensed consolidated balance sheet of the Company as of January 28, 2023 was derived from the Company’s audited consolidated balance sheet as of that date. All other condensed consolidated financial statements contained herein are unaudited and reflect all adjustments which are, in the opinion of management, necessary to summarize fairly the financial position of the Company and the results of the Company’s operations and cash flows for the periods presented. All of these adjustments are of a normal recurring nature. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. Because of the seasonal nature of the Company’s operations, results of operations of any single reporting period should not be considered as indicative of results for a full year. These condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements for the fiscal year ended January 28, 2023, which were included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on April 13, 2023. 

Certain prior period amounts in the notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements have been reclassified to conform to the current period presentation. These reclassifications did not affect net earnings attributable to Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. 

Significant Accounting Policies

The Company's significant accounting policies are summarized in Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements included in its Form 10-K for the year ended January 28, 2023. An update and supplement to these policies is needed for the Company's accounting for credit impairment as a result of a recently adopted accounting standard during the first quarter of fiscal 2023.

Receivables

Receivables consist primarily of amounts due to the Company in relation to wholesale and corporate product sales, franchisee royalties and product sales, tenant allowances, certain amounts due from taxing authorities, receivables due from insurance providers, and licensing revenue. The Company assesses the collectability of all receivables on an ongoing basis by considering its historical credit loss experience, current economic conditions, and other relevant factors. At the beginning of fiscal 2023, the Company adopted ASU No. 2016-13, “Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments.” This ASU requires entities to report “expected” credit losses on financial instruments and other commitments to extend credit rather than the current “incurred loss” model. These expected credit losses for financial assets held at the reporting date are to be based on historical experience, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts. Upon adoption, the Company recognized a charge of $0.8 million to the opening balance of retained earnings which represents a reduction in its account receivable balance associated with expected credit losses.

2. Revenue

Currently, most of the Company’s revenue is derived from retail sales (including from its e-commerce sites) and is recognized when control of the merchandise is transferred to the customer. The Company's disaggregated revenue is fully disclosed as net sales to external customers by reporting segment and by geographic area (See Note 11 — Segment Information for additional information). The Company's direct-to-consumer reporting segment represents 95% of consolidated revenue for the second quarter of fiscal 2023. The majority of these sales transactions were single performance obligations that were recorded when control of merchandise was transferred to the customer.

The following is a description of principal activities from which the Company generates its revenue, by reportable segment.

The Company’s direct-to-consumer segment includes the operating activities of corporately-operated stores, other retail-delivered operations and e-commerce demand (orders generated online to be fulfilled from either the Company's warehouse or its stores). Direct-to-consumer revenue is recognized when control of the merchandise is transferred to the customer and for the Company's online sales, generally upon estimated delivery to the customer. Revenue is measured as the amount of consideration, including any discounts or incentives, the Company expects to receive in exchange for transferring the merchandise. Product returns have historically averaged less than one-half of one percent due to the personalized and interactive nature of its products, where consumers customize their own stuffed animal. The Company has elected to exclude from revenue all collected sales, value added, and other taxes paid by its customers.

The Company’s international franchising segment includes the activities with franchisees who operate store locations in certain countries and includes development fees, sales-based royalties and merchandise, including supplies and fixture sales. The Company's obligations under the franchise agreements are ongoing and include operations and product development support and training, generally concentrated around initial store openings. These obligations are highly interrelated rights that are not distinct in the context of the contract and, therefore, have been accounted for as a single performance obligation and recognized as franchisee sales occur. If the contract includes an initial, one-time nonrefundable development fee, this fee is recognized on a straight-line basis over the term of the franchise agreement, which may extend for periods up to 25 years. The Company classifies these initial, one-time nonrefundable franchise fee contract liabilities as deferred revenue on its consolidated balance sheet. Revenue from merchandise and fixture sales is recognized when control is transferred to the franchisee which generally occurs upon delivery.

The Company also incurs expenses directly related to the startup of new franchises, which may include finder’s fees, legal and travel costs, expenses related to its ongoing support of the franchises and employee compensation. Accordingly, the Company’s policy is to capitalize any finder’s fee, as an incremental cost, and expense all other costs as incurred. Additionally, the Company amortizes these capitalized costs into expense in the same pattern as the development fee's recording of revenue as described previously. These capitalized costs for the thirteen and twenty-six weeks ended July 29, 2023 are not material to the financial statements. 

3. Leases

The majority of the Company's leases relate to retail stores and corporate offices. For leases with terms greater than 12 months, the Company records the related asset and obligation at the present value of lease payments over the term. Most new retail store leases have an original term of a five to ten-year base period and may include renewal options to extend the lease term beyond the initial base period. The extension periods are typically much shorter than the original lease term given the Company's strategic decision to maintain a high level of lease optionality. Some leases also include early termination options, which can be exercised under specific conditions. Additionally, the Company may operate stores for a period of time on a month-to-month basis after the expiration of the lease term. The Company's lease agreements do not contain any material residual value guarantees or material restrictive covenants. Additionally, certain leases contain incentives, such as construction allowances from landlords and/or rent abatements subsequent to taking possession of the leased property.

The table below presents certain information related to the lease costs for operating leases for the thirteen and twenty-six weeks ended July 29, 2023 and July 30, 2022 (in thousands).

Other information

The table below presents supplemental cash flow information related to leases for the thirteen and twenty-six weeks ended July 29, 2023 and July 30, 2022 (in thousands).

As of July 29, 2023 and July 30, 2022, the weighted-average remaining operating lease term was 3.9 years and 4.3 years, respectively, and the weighted-average discount rate was 6.4% and 5.7%, respectively, for operating leases recognized on the Company's condensed consolidated balance sheets.

For the thirteen and twenty-six weeks ended  July 29, 2023 and the thirteen and twenty-six weeks ended  July 30, 2022 the Company did not incur impairment charges against its right-of-use operating lease assets.

Undiscounted cash flows

The table below reconciles the undiscounted cash flows for each of the first five years and total of the remaining years to the operating lease liabilities recorded on the balance sheet (in thousands).

As of July 29, 2023, the Company had additional executed leases that had not yet commenced with operating lease liabilities of $2.3 million. These leases are expected to commence in the third quarter of fiscal 2023 with lease terms of two to ten years.

4. Other Assets

Prepaid expenses and other current assets consist of the following (in thousands):

Other non-current assets consist of the following (in thousands):

5. Accrued Expenses

Accrued expenses consist of the following (in thousands):

6. Stock-based Compensation

On April 14, 2020, the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. (the “Company”) adopted, subject to stockholder approval, the Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. 2020 Omnibus Incentive Plan (the “2020 Incentive Plan”).  On June 11, 2020, the Company’s stockholders approved the 2020 Incentive Plan.   On April 11, 2023, the Board adopted, subject to stockholder approval, the Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. Amended and Restated 2020 Omnibus Incentive Plan (the “Restated 2020 Incentive Plan”).  On June 8, 2023, at the Company’s 2023 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “Annual Meeting”), the Company’s stockholders approved the Restated 2020 Incentive Plan. The Restated 2020 Incentive Plan, which is administered by the Compensation and Development Committee of the Board, permits the grant of stock options (including both incentive and non-qualified stock options), stock appreciation rights, other stock-based awards, including restricted stock and restricted stock units, cash-based awards, and performance awards pursuant to the terms of the Restated 2020 Incentive Plan. The Restated 2020 Incentive Plan will terminate on April 11, 2033, unless earlier terminated by the Board. The total number of shares of the Company’s common stock authorized for issuance under the Restated 2020 Incentive Plan will increase by 800,000 to a maximum  of 1,800,000 since its inception as the 2020 Incentive Plan, subject to customary capitalization adjustments, substitutions of acquired company awards and certain additions of acquired company plan shares, plus shares that are subject to outstanding awards made under the Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. 2017 Omnibus Incentive Plan (the “2017 Plan”) that on or after April 14, 2020 may be forfeited, expire or be settled for cash.

For the thirteen weeks ended July 29, 2023 and July 30, 2022, selling, general and administrative expense included stock-based compensation expense of $0.7 million and $0.6 million, respectively. For the twenty-six weeks ended July 29, 2023 and July 30, 2022 selling, general, and administrative expense included stock-based compensation expense of $1.8 million and $1.3 million, respectively. As of July 29, 2023, there was $2.1 million of total unrecognized compensation expense related to unvested restricted stock awards which is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 1.9 years.

The following table is a summary of the balances and activity for stock options for the twenty-six weeks ended July 29, 2023:

The following table is a summary of the balances and activity related to time-based and performance-based restricted stock for the twenty-six weeks ended July 29, 2023:

The total fair value of shares vested during the twenty-six weeks ended  July 29, 2023 and July 30, 2022 was $2.1 million and $2.0 million, respectively.

The outstanding performance shares as of July 29, 2023 consist of the following:

7. Income Taxes

The Company's effective tax rate was 20.4% and 23.1% for the thirteen and twenty-six weeks ended July 29, 2023 compared to 23.5% and 22.4% for the thirteen and twenty-six weeks ended July 30, 2022. The 2023 and 2022 effective tax rates differed from the statutory rate of 21% primarily due to state income tax expense partially offset by the tax impact of equity awards vesting. In addition, in the second quarter of fiscal 2023 and 2022, the Company remains in a full valuation allowance in certain foreign jurisdictions.

8. Stockholders’ Equity

The following table sets forth the changes in stockholders’ equity (in thousands) for the thirteen weeks ended July 29, 2023 and July 30, 2022 (in thousands):

(1) - Additional paid-in capital (“APIC”)

(2) - Accumulated other comprehensive loss (“AOCI”)

The following table sets forth the changes in stockholders’ equity (in thousands) for the twenty-six weeks ended July 29, 2023 and July 30, 2022 (in thousands):

(1) - Additional paid-in capital (“APIC”)

(2) - Accumulated other comprehensive loss (“AOCI”)

For the thirteen and twenty-six weeks ended July 29, 2023, the Company recorded credit impairment charges of $0.8 million on trade receivables into retained earnings as a result of the adoption of ASC 326 - Credit Impairment. 

During the first fiscal half of 2023, the Company utilized $8.1 million in cash to repurchase 394,321 shares under its $50.0 million program that was authorized by its Board of Directors on August 31, 2022. The Company's Board of Directors also authorized a special cash dividend of $1.50 per share that was paid on April 6, 2023, to all stockholders of record as of March 23, 2023, following a $1.25 per share special cash dividend declared on November 30, 2021.

9. Income per Share

The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted net income per share (in thousands, except share and per share data):

In calculating the diluted income per share for the thirteen and twenty-six weeks ended July 29, 2023, there were 56,191 and 32,630 shares of common stock, respectively, that were outstanding at the end of the period that were not included in the computation of diluted income per share due to their anti-dilutive effect. For the thirteen and twenty-six weeks ended July 30, 2022, there were 89,558 and 137,137 shares of common stock, respectively, that were outstanding at the end of the period that were not included in the computation of diluted income per share due to their anti-dilutive effect.

10. Comprehensive Income

The difference between comprehensive income or loss and net income or loss is the result of foreign currency translation adjustments on the balance sheets of subsidiaries whose functional currency is not the U.S. dollar. The accumulated other comprehensive income balance on  July 29, 2023 and July 30, 2022 was comprised entirely of foreign currency translation. For the thirteen weeks ended July 29, 2023 and July 30, 2022, the Company had no reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive income.

11. Segment Information 

The Company’s operations are conducted through three operating segments consisting of direct-to-consumer (“DTC”), commercial and international franchising. The DTC segment includes the operating activities of corporately-operated locations and other retail delivery operations in the U.S., Canada, Ireland and the U.K., including the Company’s e-commerce sites and temporary stores. The commercial segment includes the Company’s transactions with other businesses, mainly comprised of licensing the Company’s intellectual properties for third-party use and wholesale activities. The international franchising segment includes the licensing activities of the Company’s franchise agreements with store locations in select countries in Asia, Australia, the Middle East, Africa, and South America. The operating segments have discrete sources of revenue, different capital structures and different cost structures. These operating segments represent the basis on which the Company’s chief operating decision maker regularly evaluates the business in assessing performance, determining the allocation of resources and the pursuit of future growth opportunities. Accordingly, the Company has determined that each of its operating segments represent a reportable segment. The three reportable segments follow the same accounting policies used for the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

Following is a summary of the financial information for the Company’s reportable segments (in thousands):

The Company’s reportable segments are primarily determined by the types of products and services that they offer. Each reportable segment may operate in many geographic areas. Revenues are recognized in the geographic areas based on the location of the customer or franchisee. The following schedule is a summary of the Company’s sales to external customers and long-lived assets by geographic area (in thousands):

12. Contingencies

In the normal course of business, the Company is subject to legal proceedings, government inquiries and claims, and other commercial disputes. If one or more of these matters has an unfavorable resolution, it is possible that the results of operations, liquidity or financial position of the Company could be materially affected in any particular period. The Company accrues a liability for these types of contingencies when it believes that it is both probable that a liability has been incurred and that it can reasonably estimate the amount of the loss. Gain contingencies are recorded when the underlying uncertainty has been settled.

Assessments made by the U.K. customs authority in 2012 were appealed by the Company, which has paid the disputed duty, strictly under protest, pending the outcome of the continuing dispute, and this is included in receivables, net in the DTC segment. The U.K. customs authority contested the Company's appeal. Rulings by the First Tier Tribunal in  November 2019 and Upper Tribunal in  March 2021 held that duty was due on some, but not all, of the products at issue. The Company petitioned the Court of Appeal for permission to appeal certain elements of the Upper Tribunal decision and, in early November 2021, a judge granted the Company's petition for permission to appeal those elements of the Upper Tribunal decision on some, but not all, of the grounds of appeal that the Company had put forward. An appeal was heard by the Court of Appeal during the first quarter of fiscal 2022, and the Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal in the third quarter of fiscal 2022. During the fourth quarter of fiscal 2022, the UK Supreme Court declined to hear the appeal. The Company is engaging with the customs authority to attempt to resolve all outstanding issues following the application of the determined principles. The case will return to the lower tribunal for a final ruling if outstanding issues cannot be resolved. The Company maintains a provision against the related receivable, based on a current evaluation of collectability, using the latest facts available in the dispute. As of July 29, 2023, the Company had a gross receivable balance of $4.7 million and a reserve of $3.7 million, leaving a net receivable of $1.0 million. The Company believes that the outcome of this dispute will not have a material adverse impact on the results of operations, liquidity, or financial position of the Company.

In  August 2021, a putative class action lawsuit was filed against Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc., asserting claims under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (the "TCPA") alleging that the Company continued to send marketing text messages to mobile phone numbers registered on the National Do Not Call Registry after allegedly opting-out of receiving them. Statutory damages under the TCPA are assessed at $500 per violation (i.e. per text message), and up to $1,500 per violation if the violation was knowing or willful. The Company has reached a settlement with the Plaintiff and an insurance carrier which, if the settlement receives final approval by the Court, is not expected to result in a significant expense for the Company.

Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

Cautionary Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

The following Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, and we undertake no obligation to update these statements except as required by the federal securities laws. Our actual results may differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, those detailed under the caption “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 28, 2023, as filed with the SEC, and include the following:

Overview

Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc., a Delaware corporation, was formed in 1997 as a mall-based, experiential specialty retailer where children and their families could create their own stuffed animals. Over the last 25 years, Build-A-Bear has become a brand with high consumer awareness and positive affinity with over 225 million furry friends made by guests. We are leveraging this brand strength to strategically evolve our brick-and-mortar retail footprint beyond traditional malls with a versatile range of formats and locations including tourist destinations, expand into international markets primarily via a franchise model, and broaden the total addressable market beyond children by adding teens and adults with entertainment/sports licensing, collectible and gifting offerings. Build-A-Bear's pop-culture and multi-generational appeal have also played a key role in our digital transformation which includes a meaningful e-commerce/omni-channel business that has delivered sustained growth, engaging consumer loyalty program and robust digital marketing and content capabilities with industry-leading partners. As of July 29, 2023, we had 351 corporately-operated stores globally and 6 seasonal locations, 76 partner-operated locations operating through our "third-party retail" model in which we sell our products on a wholesale basis to other companies that then, in turn, execute our retail experience, and 64 international franchised stores under the Build-A-Bear Workshop brand. In addition to these stores, we sell products on our company-owned e-commerce sites and third-party marketplace sites, our franchisees sell products through sites that they manage as well as other third-party marketplace sites and other parties sell products on their sites under wholesale agreements.

We operate in three segments that share the same infrastructure, including management, systems, merchandising and marketing, and generate revenues as follows:

Selected financial data attributable to each segment for the thirteen and twenty-six weeks ended July 29, 2023 and July 30, 2022 are set forth in the notes to our condensed consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

Business Update

Build-A-Bear Workshop offers interactive entertainment experiences via both physical and e-commerce engagement, targeting a range of consumer segments and purchasing occasions through digitally-driven, diversified omnichannel capabilities. We operate a vertical retail channel with stores that feature a unique combination of experience and product in which guests can "make their own stuffed animals" by participating in the stuffing, fluffing, dressing, accessorizing, and naming of their teddy bears and other stuffed animals. We also operate e-commerce sites that focus on gift-giving, collectible merchandise and licensed products that appeal to consumers that have an affinity for characters from a range of licensed properties. Over the last 25 years, Build-A-Bear has become a brand with high consumer awareness and positive affinity. We believe there are opportunities to leverage this brand strength, pop-culture status and multi-generational appeal and generate incremental revenue and profits through licensing our intellectual properties through content and entertainment development for kids and adults while also offering products at wholesale and in non-plush consumer categories through outbound licensing agreements with leading manufacturers.

We seek to provide outstanding guest service and experiences across all channels and touch points including our retail locations, our e-commerce sites, our mobile sites and apps as well as traditional, digital and social media. We believe the hands-on and interactive nature of our experience locations, our personal service model and engaging digital shopping experiences result in guests forming an emotional connection with our brand which has multi-generational appeal that captures today’s zeitgeist including desire for engaging experiences, personalization and “DIY” while being recognized as trusted, giving, and a part of pop culture.

Retail Stores:

Corporately-Operated Locations:

The table below sets forth the number of Build-A-Bear Workshop corporately-operated stores in North America and Europe for the periods presented:

As of July 29, 2023, 47% of our corporately-operated stores were in an updated Discovery format. We also expect to close certain stores in accordance with natural lease events as an ongoing part of our real estate management and day-to-day operational plans. The future of our retail store fleet may include expansion into more non-traditional locations, including concourse format shops and by expansion in other locations outside of traditional malls.

Third-Party Retail Locations:

The number of third-party retail locations opened and closed for the periods presented below is summarized as follows:

Through our partner-operated third-party retail model, there were 76 stores in operation at the end of the second quarter of fiscal 2023 with relationships that included Carnival Cruise Line, Great Wolf Lodge Resorts, Landry's, Beaches Family Resorts, and Kalahari. This model is capital light for us, with the partner company building out and operating the workshops including providing the real estate location and covering the cost of labor and inventory, which is purchased on a wholesale basis. These locations are heavily weighted to the hospitality industry, which allow us to further advance our focus on experience location expansion in non-traditional and tourist areas, as well as shop-in-shop arrangements within other retailers’ stores.

International Franchise Stores:

Our first franchisee location was opened in November 2003. All franchised stores have similar signage, store layout, merchandise characteristics and guest experience as our corporately-operated stores. As of July 29, 2023, we had 5 master franchise agreements, which typically grant franchise rights for a particular country or group of countries, covering an aggregate of 8 countries.

The number of franchised stores opened and closed for the periods presented below are summarized as follows:

In the ordinary course of business, we anticipate signing additional master franchise agreements in the future and terminating other such agreements. We source fixtures and other supplies for our franchisees from China which significantly reduces the capital and lowers the expenses required to open franchises. We are leveraging new formats that have been developed for our corporately-operated locations such as concourses and shop-in-shops with our franchisees.

Results of Operations

The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, selected income statement data expressed as a percentage of total revenues, except where otherwise indicated. Percentages will not total due to cost of merchandise sold being expressed as a percentage of net retail sales, commercial revenue, international franchising, respectively, as well as immaterial rounding:

BUILD-A-BEAR WORKSHOP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

(Unaudited)

Thirteen weeks ended July 29, 2023 compared to thirteen weeks ended July 30, 2022

Total revenues. Consolidated revenues increased 8.5%, primarily fueled by increased retail transactions in North American brick-and-mortar stores driven by an increase in consumer traffic, as well as growth in the commercial and international franchising segments' revenue.    

Net retail sales for the thirteen weeks ended July 29, 2023 were $103.5 million, compared to $95.9 million for the thirteen weeks ended July 30, 2022, an increase of $7.6 million, or 7.9%, compared to the prior year period. The components of this increase are as follows (dollars in thousands):

The retail revenue increase was primarily the result of an increase in sales from corporately-operated retail locations through growth in the number of transactions, as our traffic continues to significantly outpace reported national retail traffic data, as well as an increase in digital demand.

Commercial revenue was $5.0 million for the thirteen weeks ended July 29, 2023 compared to $4.1 million for the thirteen weeks ended July 30, 2022. The $0.9 million increase is primarily the result of increased sales volume from our commercial accounts through our partner-operated third-party retail model.

International franchising revenue was $0.8 million for the thirteen weeks ended July 29, 2023 compared to $0.7 million for the thirteen weeks ended July 30, 2022. The $0.1 million increase is primarily due to an overall increase in sales from franchisees.

Retail gross margin. Retail gross margin dollars increased $8.3 million to $55.8 million from $47.5 million for the thirteen weeks ended July 30, 2022. The retail gross margin rate increased 440 basis points compared to the prior year primarily driven by lower freight costs, as expected, and leverage of fixed occupancy costs compared to the fiscal 2022 second quarter.

Selling, general and administrative. SG&A expenses were $48.3 million, or 44.2% of consolidated revenue, for the thirteen weeks ended July 29, 2023, compared to $42.3 million, or 42.0% of consolidated revenue, for the thirteen weeks ended July 30, 2022. The increase in overall expense was driven by higher wages due to inflation, the planned addition of talent, and other investments to support future growth.

Provision for income taxes. Income tax expense was $2.1 million with a tax rate of 20.4% for the thirteen weeks ended July 29, 2023 as compared to $1.8 million with a tax rate of 23.5% for the thirteen weeks ended July 30, 2022. In the first half of fiscal 2023 and 2022, the effective tax rate differed from the statutory rate of 21% primarily due to state income tax expense partially offset by the tax impact of equity awards vesting. In addition, the Company remains in a full valuation allowance in certain foreign jurisdictions.

Twenty-six weeks ended July 29, 2023 compared to twenty-six weeks ended July 30, 2022

Total revenues. Consolidated revenues increased 4.9%, primarily driven by a 6.2% increase in North America and partially offset by a 4.5% decrease in Europe. The overall revenue growth was primarily fueled by increased retail transactions in North American brick-and-mortar stores driven by an increase in consumer traffic, as well as growth in the commercial and international franchising segments' revenue.    

Net retail sales for the twenty-six weeks ended July 29, 2023 were $215.6 million, compared to $208.8 million for the twenty-six weeks ended July 30, 2022, an increase of $6.8 million, or 3.3%, compared to the prior year period. The components of this increase are as follows (dollars in thousands):

The retail revenue increase was primarily the result of an increase in sales from corporately-operated retail locations through growth in the number of transactions, as our traffic continues to significantly outpace national retail traffic data, offset by a decline in web demand due to the timing of product launches. The negative foreign currency translation effect is due to the British Pound and the Canadian dollar weakening against the US dollar compared to the fiscal 2022 first half. This negative foreign currency effect has, in turn, decreased European revenue compared to the fiscal 2022 first half.

Commercial revenue was $11.7 million for the twenty-six weeks ended July 29, 2023 compared to $8.3 million for the twenty-six weeks ended July 30, 2022. The $3.4 million increase is primarily the result of increased sales volume from our commercial accounts through our partner-operated third-party retail model.

International franchising revenue was $2.0 million for the twenty-six weeks ended July 29, 2023 compared to $1.2 million for the twenty-six weeks ended July 30, 2022. The $0.8 million increase is primarily due to an overall increase in sales from franchisees.

Retail gross margin. Retail gross margin dollars increased $10.1 million to $116.9 million from $106.8 million for the twenty-six weeks ended July 30, 2022. The retail gross margin rate increased 310 basis points compared to the prior year primarily driven by lower freight costs, as expected, and leverage of distribution costs compared to the fiscal 2022 first half.

Selling, general and administrative. SG&A expenses were $94.0 million, or 41.0% of consolidated revenue, for the twenty-six weeks ended July 29, 2023, compared to $85.9 million, or 39.3% of consolidated revenue, for the twenty-six weeks ended July 30, 2022. The increase in overall expense was driven by higher wages due to inflation, the planned addition of talent, and other investments to support future growth.

Provision for income taxes. Income tax expense was $6.9 million with an effective tax rate of 23.1% for the twenty-six weeks ended July 29, 2023 as compared to $5.8 million with an effective tax rate of 22.4% for the twenty-six weeks ended July 30, 2022. In the second quarter of fiscal 2023 and 2022, the effective tax rate differed from the statutory rate of 21% primarily due to state income tax expense partially offset by the tax impact of equity awards vesting. In addition, the Company remains in a full valuation allowance in certain foreign jurisdictions.

EBITDA for the thirteen weeks ended July 29, 2023 increased $2.8 million to $13.5 million from $10.7 million for the thirteen weeks ended July 30, 2022. EBITDA for the twenty-six weeks ended July 29, 2023 increased $3.8 million from $ 32.1 million from the twenty-six weeks ended July 30, 2022 The increase in EBITDA is primarily driven by a decrease in freight costs coupled with an increase in consolidated revenues, allowing for a leverage of merchandise and distribution costs compared to the prior period.

Seasonality and Quarterly Results

Our operating results for one period may not be indicative of results for other periods, and may fluctuate significantly because of a variety of factors, including, but not limited to: (1) changes in general economic conditions (including as a result of the pandemic) and consumer spending patterns; (2) changes in store operations in response to the pandemic apart from its effect on the general economy, including temporary store closures required by local governments; (3) increases or decreases in our existing store and e-commerce sales; (4) fluctuations in the profitability of our stores; (5) the timing and frequency of the sales of licensed products tied to major theatrical releases (including the cancellation or delay of such releases due to the pandemic or other external factors) and our marketing initiatives, including national media and other public relations events; (6) changes in foreign currency exchange rates; (7) the timing of new store openings, closings, relocations and remodeling and related expenses; (8) changes in consumer preferences; (9) the effectiveness of our inventory management; (10) the actions of our competitors or mall anchors and co-tenants; (11) seasonal shopping patterns and holiday and vacation schedules; (12) disruptions in store operations due to civil unrest; and (13) weather conditions.

The timing of store closures, relocations, remodels, openings and re-openings may result in fluctuations in quarterly results based on the revenues and expenses associated with each store location. Expenses related to store closings are typically incurred in stages: when the decision is made to close the store typically associated with a lease event such as an expiration or lease triggered clause; when the closure is communicated to store associates; and at the time of closure. We typically incur most preopening costs for a new store in the three months immediately preceding the store’s opening.

Because our retail operations include toy products which have sales that historically peak in relation to the holiday season as part of our revenue model, our sales have historically been highest in our fourth quarter. The timing of holidays and school vacations can impact our quarterly results. We cannot provide assurance that this will continue to be the case. In addition, for accounting purposes, the quarters of each fiscal year consist of 13 weeks, although we will have a 14-week quarter approximately once every six years. For example, the 2023 fiscal fourth quarter will have 14 weeks.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

As of July 29, 2023, we had a consolidated cash balance of $32.6 million, 85% of which was domiciled within the U.S. Historically, our cash requirements have been primarily for the relocation and remodeling of existing stores in our new design, opening of new stores, investments in information technology infrastructure and working capital. Over the past several years, we have met these requirements through capital generated from cash flow provided by operations.

A summary of our operating, investing and financing activities is shown in the following table (dollars in thousands):

Operating Activities. Cash provided by operating activities increased $25.1 million for the twenty-six weeks ended July 29, 2023, as compared to the twenty-six weeks ended July 30, 2022. This increase in cash from operating activities was primarily driven by a decrease in cash spent on inventory purchases, as in the prior year, we proactively and strategically accelerated the timing of our order placement to mitigate the inflationary pressures experienced in the first half of fiscal 2022, coupled with increased sales volume, resulting in higher net income. 

Investing Activities. Cash used in investing activities increased $2.1 million for the twenty-six weeks ended July 29, 2023 as compared to the twenty-six weeks ended July 30, 2022. This increase in cash used in investing activities was primarily driven by an increase in spending on capital expenditures related to information technology projects and new store openings.

Capital Resources: We have a revolving credit and security agreement with PNC Bank, as agent, that provides for a secured revolving loan in aggregate principal of up to $25.0 million, subject to a borrowing base formula. As of July 29, 2023, borrowings under the agreement bore interest at (a) a base rate determined under the agreement, or (b) the borrower's option, at a rate based on SOFR, plus in either case a margin based on average undrawn availability as determined in accordance with the agreement. As of July 29, 2023, our borrowing base was $25.0 million. As a result of a $250,000 letter of credit outstanding against the line of credit, approximately $24.7 million was available for borrowing as of July 29, 2023. We had no outstanding borrowings as of July 29, 2023. 

Most of our corporately-operated retail stores are located within shopping malls and all are operated under leases classified as operating leases. Our leases in North America have shifted to shorter term leases to provide flexibility in aligning stores with market trends. Our leases typically require us to pay personal property taxes, our pro rata share of real property taxes of the shopping mall, our own utilities, repairs and maintenance in our store, a pro rata share of the malls’ common area maintenance and, in some instances, merchant association fees and media fund contributions. Many leases contain incentives to help defray the cost of construction of a new store. Typically, a portion of the incentive must be repaid to the landlord if we choose to terminate the lease prior to its contracted term. In addition, some of these leases contain various restrictions relating to change in control of our company. Our leases also subject us to risks relating to compliance with changing mall rules and the exercise of discretion by our landlords on various matters, including rights of termination in some cases. Rents are invoiced monthly and paid in advance.

Our leases in the U.K. and Ireland typically have terms of ten years and generally contain a provision whereby every fifth year the rental rate can be adjusted to reflect the current market rates. The leases typically provide the lessee with the first right for renewal at the end of the lease. We may also be required to make deposits and rent guarantees to secure new leases as we expand. Business rates also change according to government time schedules to reflect current market rental rates for the locations we lease. Rents are invoiced monthly or quarterly and paid in advance.

Capital spending through the twenty-six weeks ended July 29, 2023 totaled $6.1 million for information technology projects and new store openings, and we expect to spend approximately $15 to $20 million on capital expenditures in fiscal 2023.

Total inventory at quarter end was $66.3 million, a decrease of $21.4 million from the end of the fiscal 2022 second quarter. We are comfortable with the composition and level of our inventory.

We have various contractual or other obligations, including operating lease commitments and obligations under deferred compensation plans. As of July 29, 2023, we had purchase obligations totaling approximately $83.7 million, of which $27.2 million are due in the next 12 months. We believe our operating cash flows are sufficient to meet our material cash requirements for at least the next 12 months.

We utilized $8.1 million in cash to repurchase 394,321 shares during the twenty-six weeks ended July 29, 2023. As of September 7, 2023, we have $35.3 millionavailable under the current $50.0 million stock repurchase program adopted on August 31, 2022.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

None.

Inflation

Global inflation is well above recent levels and global interest rates have risen in an effort to curb inflation. The impact of inflation on the Company's business operations was seen throughout fiscal 2022 and continued to adversely affect our business in fiscal 2023, mainly through rising store labor costs. However, we continue to take mitigating actions, such as select strategic price increases on highly sought-after products, and leveraging distribution costs. We expect the inflationary pressures experienced thus far in fiscal 2023 to continue throughout the rest of fiscal 2023, specifically through wage increases but also anticipate a reduction of freight costs compared to the prior year. We continue to monitor the impact of inflation on our business operations on an ongoing basis and may need to adjust our prices further to mitigate the impacts of changes to the rate of inflation during 2023 or in future years. Future volatility of general price inflation and the impact of inflation on costs and availability of materials, costs for shipping and warehousing and other operational overhead could adversely affect our financial results. Inflationary pressures may be exacerbated by higher transportation costs due to war and other geopolitical conflicts, such as the current Russia-Ukraine conflict and tension between China and Taiwan. We cannot provide an estimate or range of impact that such inflations may have on our future results of operations. However, if we are unable to recover the impact of these costs through price increases to our guests, or if consumer spending decreases as a result of inflation, our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows may be adversely affected. In addition, ongoing inflation in product costs may result in lower gross margin rates due to the need to maintain higher inventory reserves.

Critical Accounting Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires the appropriate application of certain accounting policies, which require us to make estimates and assumptions about future events and their impact on amounts reported in our financial statements and related notes. Since future events and their impact cannot be determined with certainty, the actual results will inevitably differ from our estimates. Such differences could be material to the financial statements.

We believe our application of accounting policies, and the estimates inherently required therein, are reasonable. These accounting policies and estimates, including those related to long-lived assets, leases, revenue recognition and income taxes, are reevaluated on an ongoing basis, and adjustments are made when facts and circumstances dictate a change.

Historically, we have found our application of accounting policies to be appropriate, and actual results have not differed materially from those determined using necessary estimates. Our critical accounting policies and estimates are discussed in and should be read in conjunction with our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended January 28, 2023 as filed with the SEC on April 13, 2023, which includes audited consolidated financial statements for our 2022 and 2021 fiscal years. There have been no material changes to the critical accounting estimates disclosed in the 2022 Form 10-K. 

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

See Note 1 to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements — Basis of Presentation — Recent Accounting Pronouncements – Adopted in the Current Year as disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended January 28, 2023 as filed with the SEC on April 13, 2023.

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.

There have been no material changes to our Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk as disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended January 28, 2023 as filed with the SEC on April 13, 2023.

Item 4. Controls and Procedures.

Our management, with the participation of our President and Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, has evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report. Our disclosure controls and procedures are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports filed or submitted under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms and is accumulated and communicated to management, including our certifying officers, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. Based on the foregoing evaluation, our management, including the President and Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of July 29, 2023, the end of the period covered by this Quarterly Report.

It should be noted that our management, including the President and Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, does not expect that our disclosure controls and procedures or internal controls will prevent all error and all fraud. A control system, no matter how well conceived or operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the control system are met. Further, the design of a control system must reflect the fact that there are resource constraints, and the benefits of controls must be considered relative to their costs. Because of the inherent limitations in all control systems, no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, within the Company have been detected. These inherent limitations include the realities that judgments in decision-making can be faulty, and that breakdowns can occur because of simple error or mistake. Additionally, controls can be circumvented by the individual acts of some persons, by collusion of two or more people, or by management override of the controls. The design of any system of controls is based in part upon certain assumptions about the likelihood of future events, and there can be no assurance that any design will succeed in achieving its stated goals under all potential future conditions; over time, controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate. Because of the inherent limitations in a cost-effective control system, misstatements due to error or fraud may occur and not be detected.

Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting. The Company’s management, with the participation of the Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, also conducted an evaluation of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting to determine whether any changes occurred during the period covered by this report that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. During the second quarter fiscal 2023, the Company continued its implementation of new software and control processes to manage inventory at its corporately-operated retail stores within its enterprise resource planning (ERP) system. The transition of this inventory management from the legacy system to the ERP system will occur in phases and is expected to be completed by the end of the third quarter fiscal 2023. This implementation is expected to have minimal effects on the Company's controls and processes over accounting for corporately-operated retail store inventory. Except for the changes to our inventory management process, no other changes in our internal control over financial reporting occurred during the quarter covered by this report that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

PART II – OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1A. Risk Factors

There have been no material changes to our risk factors as disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended January 28, 2023 as filed with the SEC on April 13, 2023.

Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES