Overall retail conditions were fairly spotty throughout most of our fourth quarter
Robert H. Spilman, Jr., president and chief executive officer

Bassett Furniture Industries  (BSET) announced today that sales for the fourth quarter of 2004 were $80.1 million, down 3% from fourth quarter 2003 levels. The company said this reflects the continued transition from traditional channels of distribution to the Company's Bassett Furniture Direct (BFD) stores.

For the year, 2004 sales of $315.7 million, were basically flat with 2003 sales levels. Shipments to the BFD channel were up $20.3 million or 13% over 2003, offsetting attrition in other channels (including a $10.6 million decrease with JCPenney and a $9.7 million decrease with smaller independent furniture stores). Sales to BFD stores were 60% of total wholesale shipments in 2004 compared to 53% in 2003.

The Bassett Furniture Direct retail store program continues to grow with 116 stores in operation at the end of 2004. The Company expects licensees to open 20 to 25 additional BFD stores in fiscal year 2005, spread fairly evenly throughout the year. The Company expects sales growth from these stores will outpace sales attrition from other channels in 2005.

Fourth quarter 2004 operating income was lower than fourth quarter 2003 operating earnings due to the sales decline, costs associated with closing the Company's former wood manufacturing facility in Macon, Ga., and to inventory LIFO reserve adjustments (related to inventory level reductions) in 2003 which did not occur in 2004. Other income improved in the fourth quarter of 2004 compared to the fourth quarter of 2003 primarily due to the performance of the Company's investment portfolio and gains from sales of investments in 2004.

The 2004 full year earnings improvement resulted from a combination of BFD sales growth, an increased mix of imported product and improved retail performance from LRG and the Company-owned BFD stores. The retail improvement was primarily due to a reduction in selling, general, and administrative expenses, resulting from actions taken in 2003 that lowered the expense structure of these stores.

"Overall retail conditions were fairly spotty throughout most of our fourth quarter and as a result we did not achieve our targeted sales or operating earnings for the quarter," said Robert H. Spilman, Jr., president and chief executive officer. "For the year, we were pleased with the improvement in our retail results, the growth of our import division, and the growth of our BFD store program," continued Spilman. "The success of new product introductions in bedroom, dining, juvenile, and leather were instrumental to our improvement in 2004. We expect to see continued earnings improvement in 2005 through a combination of the 20 to 25 new BFD stores that will open this year, initiatives in place to improve our domestic wood business, and the continued growth of our import division. Additionally, we believe our manufacturing capacity is now aligned with our BFD business and with current demand. Our primary focus in 2005 will be continuing to improve every aspect of our BFD store program."

The Company increased inventories $10.8 million during the year to support the introduction of new collections and provide better service levels for key imported items. The 2004 increase follows an $11 million decrease in inventories in 2003. For the year, the Company utilized over $11 million in cash, reflecting in part the increased inventories and the Company's ongoing support of its quarterly dividend. Additionally, the proceeds of selling former manufacturing properties were reinvested in the business, primarily in retail real estate. The Company also increased its investment portfolio during the year.

Bassett also announced that its Board of Directors has declared a regular quarterly dividend of $.20 per share payable on March 1, 2005, to shareholders of record on February 14, 2005, and announced that its annual meeting for stockholders has been scheduled for February 22, 2005.