Question-and-Answer Session
Operator
(Operator instructions). Our first question comes from the line of Doug Ruth with Lennox Financial.
Doug Ruth – Lenox Financial
Congratulations to the whole team there that -- that you really exceeded my expectations. That was really a beautiful report.
Geoff Eisenberg
Thanks, Doug.
Doug Ruth – Lenox Financial
Could you talk some about the inventory and your possible inventory goals for the rest of the year or possibly through the next year?
Geoff Eisenberg
Well, we don't really communicate actual inventory budgets, but we are trying to expand inventory to fulfill the customer segments that we think we should pursue. We're trying to make our inventory more efficient. We're trying to have the quality of it be very high.
We're trying to have the obsolete discontinued, et cetera, segment of it become a continuingly smaller portion of it. We're trying to increase our fill rates, so when customers come in to shop or they shop online or they shop on the phone that we fulfill their needs immediately. So, we have a lot of initiatives related to maximizing our investment in inventory for the benefit of the customer, but we don't really have any numbers that we have to offer. Does that approach your question?
Doug Ruth – Lenox Financial
Yes, I understand. Is it reasonable to think overall that you might be able to focus the inventory lower, or can you not comment on that?
Geoff Eisenberg
We can't really comment on it. We've taken a lot of improvement over the last 18 months or so, and it's in pretty good shape.
Doug Ruth – Lenox Financial
Okay. And can you talk some about the footprint of the stores and what you were thinking about international and how that might change in the future?
Geoff Eisenberg
What we think larger stores are better for customers, and so we will open larger stores. We'll continue to replace smaller stores in markets with larger stores, and we expect to do that wherever we operate. We do it on a market-specific basis, but we have a very long range plan, so we're going to execute it.
Doug Ruth – Lenox Financial
What kind of feedback are we getting on the second international store? Were you pleased with the initial results?
Geoff Eisenberg
Yes.
Doug Ruth – Lenox Financial
Okay.
Geoff Eisenberg
Turkey is a good market for us where West Marine is well known over there. And we believe we can add value to Turkish boaters, retail, wholesale, et cetera, and so, yes, we're extremely happy.
- To read the full transcript on Seeking Alpha, click here »
