The Bon-Ton Suffers Slight Sales Drop for June

., which has a location in South Mall, reported that sales dipped in June compared with the same period a year ago, the company announced in a press release Thursday.

Company officials reported that store sales dipped 0.8 percent for June from the previous year while total sales were off 1 percent from $240.8 million to $238.8 million.

Overall, The Bon-Ton's figures are down 0.9 percent year to date from the same point last year.

"June sales were uneven throughout the month," Brendan Hoffman, The Bon-Ton's president and chief executive, said in a statement. "During the Father’s Day promotional period, customers responded favorably when we strengthened our marketing with emphasis on value, which also improved the ease of our customers’ shopping experience."

Hoffman said that "we were disappointed" about sales at the end of the month, saying that they were hurt by the timing of the July 4th holiday and severe storms in some markets.

He did state that some men's items sold strongly, including furnishings, gifts and performance golf sportswear. So did fine jewelry, cosmetics and shoes.

And online business was "excellent," Hoffman said, powered by a double-digit sales increase.

He said, though, that women's sportswear, furniture and sales of children's items dragged down sales figures.

Hoffman said the company would reduce summer inventory and start preparing for back-to-school and other fall merchandise.

The Bon-Ton, which has headquarters in York, operates 272 department stores, including a location at the South Mall in Salisbury Township, Trexlertown and Palmer Park Mall in Palmer Township.