1、2019 ANNUAL REPORTDearShareholders,ThispastyearwasanotherstrongyearofgrowthforBootBarn.Wecontinuedtobuildourbrand,strengthentheconnectiontoourcustomerbaseandexpandthereachofourstorestomoreregionsofthecountry.Fromafinancialperspective,theteamdeliveredoutstandingresults.Ourtotalsalesgrewbynearly15%for
2、theyearasweaddednewlocationsandachieved10%growthinsamestoresales.Thissalesgrowthwasaccompaniedbysolidimprovementinmerchandisemarginandresultedinanearly40%growthinoperatingincome.Wefeelfortunatetobeabletocontinuetobuckthetrendintheretailindustrywithourretailstoresnowshowingpositivesamestoresalesgrowt
3、hineachofthelasteightquarters.WearecontinuingtobuildanationalpresencebyfocusingontheexecutionofeachofBootBarnsfourstrategicinitiatives,including:1.DrivingsamestoresalesgrowthOur10%samestoresalesgrowthfortheyearreflectsbroadbasedgrowthacrossnearlyallmerchandisecategoriesandgeographicregions.Ahealthym
4、acroeconomicenvironmentandcontributionsfromtheentireBootBarnteamdrovethesalesincreasesduringtheyear.Ouryearoveryearsalesgrowthinworkapparel,workbootsandwomenswesternapparelwereespeciallystrong.Inourstores,weaddedsalesandcustomerservicetrainingaswellasproducteducationforallofourstoreassociates.Fromam
5、arketingstandpoint,wehavecontinuedtoupgradeourbrandaestheticandfurthersegmentedourcustomersintoourwestern,work,andWonderwestcategoriesinordertoprovideourcustomersmorerelevantmessaging.Wealsoimprovedourproductassortmentasourmerchantsaddednewstyles,broadersizeranges,andgreatermerchandisevariety.2.Stre
6、ngtheningouromnichannelleadershipOverthepastcoupleofyearsweimplementedseveralomnichannelinitiatives,includingtheintegrationofourecommercesitesontoacommonplatformwhileconsolidatingthefulfillmentofinventoryforeachofoursitesintoanupgradedfulfillmentcenterinWichita,Kansas.Thesechangeshaveenabledustooper