Bassett Furniture Industries Inc: Form 10-Q for the period ended Mar 1, 2025

Safe-harbor, forward-looking statements:

This report contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 with respect to the financial condition, results of operations and business of Bassett Furniture Industries, Incorporated and subsidiaries. Such forward-looking statements are identified by use of forward-looking words such as “anticipates”, “believes”, “plans”, “estimates”, “expects”, “aims” and “intends” or words or phrases of similar expression. These forward-looking statements involve certain risks and uncertainties. No assurance can be given that any such matters will be realized. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by such forward-looking statements include:

• fluctuations in the cost and availability of raw materials, fuel, labor, delivery costs and sourced products, including those which may result from supply chain disruptions and shortages and the imposition of new or increased tariffs, retaliatory tariffs, duties and trade limitations with respect to foreign-sourced products
• competitive conditions in the home furnishings industry
• overall retail traffic levels in stores and on the web and consumer demand for home furnishings
• ability of our customers and consumers to obtain affordable credit due to increased interest rates
• the profitability of the stores (independent licensees and Company-owned retail stores) which may result in future store closings
• the risk of additional asset impairment charges arising from the ongoing efforts to consolidate our retail warehouses.
• ability to implement our Company-owned retail strategies and realize the benefits from such strategies
• effectiveness and security of our information technology systems and possible disruptions due to cybersecurity threats, including any impacts from a network security incident; and the sufficiency of our insurance coverage, including cybersecurity insurance
• future tax legislation, or regulatory or judicial positions
• ability to efficiently manage the import supply chain to minimize business interruption
• concentration of domestic manufacturing, particularly of upholstery products, and the resulting exposure to business interruption from accidents, weather and other events and circumstances beyond our control

Additionally, other risks that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by such forward-looking statements are set forth in Part I, Item 1A. Risk Factors in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended November 30, 2024.

You should keep in mind that any forward-looking statement made by us in this report or elsewhere speaks only as of the date on which such forward-looking statement is made. New risks and uncertainties arise from time to time, and it is impossible for us to predict these events or how they may affect us. We have no duty to, and do not intend to, update or revise the forward-looking statements in this discussion after the date hereof, except as may be required by law. In light of these risks and uncertainties, you should keep in mind that the events described in any forward-looking statement made in this report or elsewhere might not occur.

(Dollars in thousands except share and per share data)

Our fiscal year, which ends on the last Saturday of November, periodically results in a 53-week year instead of the normal 52 weeks. The prior fiscal year ending November 30, 2024 was a 53-week year, with the additional week being included in the first fiscal quarter. Accordingly, the information presented below includes 13 weeks of operations for the quarter ended March 1, 2025 as compared to 14 weeks included in the quarter ended March 2, 2024.

Overview

Bassett is a leading retailer, manufacturer and marketer of branded home furnishings. We were founded in 1902 and incorporated under the laws of Virginia in 1930. Our rich 123-year history has instilled the principles of quality, value, and integrity in everything we do, while simultaneously providing us with the expertise to respond to ever-changing consumer tastes and meet the demands of a global economy.

Approximately 60% of our wholesale sales arise from our network of 87 Company-owned and licensee-owned Bassett Home Furnishings (“BHF”) stores. Our store program is designed to provide a single source home furnishings retail store with a unique combination of stylish, quality furniture and accessories with a high level of customer service. The stores highlight our custom furniture design and manufacturing capabilities, free in-home or virtual design visits (“home makeovers”) and coordinated decorating accessories. Our philosophy is based on building strong long-term relationships with each customer. Salespeople are referred to as “Design Consultants” and are trained to evaluate customer needs and provide comprehensive solutions for their home decor. Until a rigorous training and design certification program is completed, Design Consultants are not authorized to perform in-home or virtual design services for our customers.

Bassett also has a significant traditional wholesale business with more than 1,000 open market accounts. Most of the open market sales are through Bassett Design Centers and Bassett Custom Studios which function as a store within a multi-line store featuring the Company’s custom furniture capabilities. The wholesale business, including the Lane Venture outdoor brand, also services general furniture stores and a growing number of interior design firms through network of over 30 independent sales representatives who have stated geographical territories. These sales representatives are compensated based on a standard commission rate.

We consider our website to be the front door to our brand experience where customers can research our furniture and accessory offerings and subsequently buy online or engage with an in-store design consultant. We introduced a new web platform late in 2023 that leverages world class features including enhanced customer research capabilities and streamlined navigation. We know that we are driving a significant percentage of the retail foot traffic to our store network and our open market customers through engagement with www.bassettfurniture.com (http://www.bassettfurniture.com). Although e-commerce sales continue to be small in relation to in-store sales, we are pleased that we have seen a greater than 20% e-commerce sales increase since the middle of 2024. We will continue to invest in ongoing improvements to the aesthetics and user experience that we provide on our website.

During the fourth quarter of fiscal 2022 we acquired Noa Home Inc. (“Noa Home”). A mid-priced e-commerce furniture retailer headquartered in Montreal, Canada, Noa Home had operations in Canada, Australia, Singapore and the United Kingdom. After nearly two years of operating losses, we concluded during the second quarter of 2024 that Noa Home was not likely to achieve profitability at any time in the foreseeable future and decided to cease operations by selling the inventory in an orderly fashion. As of November 30, 2024, we had substantially completed the liquidation of Noa Home’s assets and liabilities.

We have factories in Newton, North Carolina that manufacture both stationary and motion upholstered furniture for inside the home along with our outdoor furniture offerings. We also have a factory in Martinsville, Virginia that assembles and finishes our custom bedroom and dining offerings. We also own a facility in Haleyville, Alabama where we manufacture aluminum frames for our outdoor furniture.

In addition to the furniture that we manufacture domestically, we source most of our formal bedroom and dining room furniture (casegoods) and certain leather upholstery offerings from several foreign plants, primarily in Vietnam. Approximately 80% of our wholesale revenues are derived from products that are manufactured in the United States using a mix of domestic and globally sourced components and raw materials.

(Dollars in thousands except share and per share data)

Results of Operations – Period ended March 1, 2025 compared with the period ended March 2, 2024:

Consolidated results of operations for the three months ended March 1, 2025 and March 2, 2024 are as follows:

*13 weeks for fiscal 2025 as compared with 14 weeks for fiscal 2024.

Analysis of Quarterly Results:

Total sales revenue for the three months ended March 1, 2025 decreased $4,392 or 5.1% from the prior year period due primarily to the additional week in the prior year quarter. Normalizing the first fiscal quarter of 2024 to adjust for the additional week, sales revenue for the first quarter of fiscal 2025 increased $1,790 or 2.2%.

Gross margins for the three months ended March 1, 2025 increased 170 basis points over the prior year period primarily due to improved margins in the wholesale segment.

Selling, general and administrative (“SG&A”) expenses as a percentage of sales for the three months ended March 1, 2025 decreased 150 basis points from 2024 primarily due to the benefit of cost reductions implemented during the second half of fiscal 2024.

(Dollars in thousands except share and per share data)

Segment Information

We have strategically aligned our business into two reportable segments as defined in ASC 280, Segment Reporting, and as described below:

• Wholesale. The wholesale home furnishings segment is involved principally in the design, manufacture, sourcing, sale and distribution of furniture products to a network of Bassett stores (Company-owned and licensee-owned retail stores) and independent furniture retailers. Our wholesale segment includes our wood and upholstery operations, which includes Lane Venture.
• Retail – Company-owned stores. Our retail segment consists of Company-owned stores and includes the revenues, expenses, assets and liabilities and capital expenditures directly related to these stores and the Company-owned distribution network utilized to deliver products to our retail customers.

In addition to the two reportable segments described above, we include our remaining business activities and assets in a reconciling category known as Corporate and other. This category includes the shared costs of corporate functions such as treasury and finance, information technology, accounting, human resources, legal and others, including certain product development and marketing functions benefitting both wholesale and retail operations. In addition to property and equipment and various other assets associated with the shared corporate functions, the identifiable assets of Corporate and other include substantially all of our cash and our investments in CDs. We consider our corporate functions to be other business activities and have aggregated them with any of our operating segments that do not meet the requirements to be reportable segments. As of and for the period ended March 2, 2024, the only such operating segment included in Corporate and other is Noa Home, which was acquired on September 2, 2022, subsequently closed during fiscal 2024 and substantially liquidated as of November 30, 2024. All sales reported in our Corporate and other category during fiscal 2024 were attributable to Noa Home, which generated substantially all of its sales outside of the United States.

Inter-company net sales elimination represents the elimination of wholesale sales to our Company-owned stores. Inter-company income elimination includes the embedded wholesale profit in the Company-owned store inventory that has not been realized. These profits will be recorded when merchandise is delivered to the retail consumer. The inter-company income elimination also includes rent paid by our retail stores occupying Company-owned real estate.

(Dollars in thousands except share and per share data)

Reconciliation of Segment Results to Consolidated Income (Loss) Before Income Taxes

To supplement the financial measures prepared in accordance with GAAP, we present gross profit by segment inclusive of the effects of intercompany sales by our wholesale segment to our retail segment. Because these intercompany transactions are not eliminated from our segment presentations and because we do not present gross profit as a measure of segment profitability in the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements, the presentation of gross profit by segment is considered to be a non-GAAP financial measure. In addition, certain special gains or charges as well as non-operating income and expenses are included in consolidated income (loss) before income taxes are not included in the measures of segment profitability. The reconciliation of this non-GAAP financial measure to the most directly comparable financial measure calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP is presented below along with the effects of various other intercompany eliminations on our consolidated results of operations.

Notes to segment consolidation table:

(1) Represents the elimination of sales from our wholesale segment to our Company-owned BHF stores.

(2) Represents the elimination of purchases by our Company-owned BHF stores from our wholesale segment, as well as the change for the period in the elimination of intercompany profit in ending retail inventory.

(3) Represents the elimination of rent paid by our retail stores occupying Company-owned real estate.

(Dollars in thousands except share and per share data)

Wholesale Segment

Results for the wholesale segment for the three months ended March 1, 2025 and March 2, 2024 are as follows:

(1) Gross profit at the segment level is considered a Non-GAAP financial measure due to the included effects of intercompany transactions. Refer to the reconciliation of gross profit by segment to consolidated gross profit presented under the Reconciliation of Segment Results to Consolidated Results of Operations above.

*13 weeks for fiscal 2025 as compared with 14 weeks for fiscal 2024.

Wholesale sales by major product category are as follows:

*13 weeks for fiscal 2025 as compared with 14 weeks for fiscal 2024.

Analysis of Quarterly Results – Wholesale

Net sales for the three months ended March 1, 2025 decreased $1,773 or 3.2% from the prior year period due primarily to the additional week in the prior year quarter. Normalizing the first fiscal quarter of 2024 to adjust for the additional week, sales revenue for the first quarter of fiscal 2025 increased $2,134 or 4.2%, consisting of a 6.1% increase in shipments to our retail store network, a 2.2% decrease in shipments to the open market, and an 11% increase in Lane Venture shipments. Gross margins for the three months ended March 1, 2025 increased 250 basis points over the prior year due primarily to improved margins in our Bassett Custom Upholstery business from manufacturing efficiency gains, increased margins in our Lane Venture operations due to improved customer mix and improved margins in the Bassett Leather business. SG&A expenses as a percentage of sales decreased 150 basis points primarily due to the benefit of cost reductions implemented during the second half of fiscal 2024.

Wholesale Backlog

Wholesale backlog at March 1, 2025 was $19,515 as compared to $21,750 at November 30, 2024 and $19,491 at March 2, 2024.

(Dollars in thousands except share and per share data)

Retail – Company-owned Stores Segment

Results for the retail segment for the periods ended March 1, 2025 and March 2, 2024 are as follows:

(1) Gross profit at the segment level is considered a Non-GAAP financial measure due to the included effects of intercompany transactions. Refer to the reconciliation of gross profit by segment to consolidated gross profit presented under the Reconciliation of Segment Results to Consolidated Results of Operations above.

*13 weeks for fiscal 2025 as compared with 14 weeks for fiscal 2024.

Retail sales by major product category are as follows:

(1) Includes the sale of goods other than Bassett-branded products, such as accessories and bedding, and also includes the sale of furniture protection plans.

*13 weeks for fiscal 2025 as compared with 14 weeks for fiscal 2023.

Analysis of Quarterly Results - Retail

Net sales for the three months ended March 1, 2025 decreased $460 or 0.9% from the prior year period. Written sales (the value of sales orders taken but not delivered) declined 2.1% from the first quarter of 2024. Normalizing the first fiscal quarter of 2024 to adjust for the additional week, sales revenue for the first quarter of fiscal 2025 increased $3,380 or 6.8% over the prior year period while written sales increased 5.4%. Gross margin for the three months ended March 1, 2025 declined 80 basis points over the prior period due to lower margins for both in-line and clearance goods as we have become slightly more aggressive in cycling through unproductive inventory. SG&A expenses as a percentage of sales for the three months ended March 1, 2025 decreased 370 basis points primarily due to the benefit of cost reductions implemented during the second half of fiscal 2024 coupled with lower advertising and marketing costs and efficiency gains in our warehouse and delivery operation.

Retail Backlog

Retail backlog at March 1, 2025 was $36,143 compared to $37,053 at November 30, 2024 and $31,307 at March 2, 2024.

(Dollars in thousands except share and per share data)

Corporate and Other

In addition to the two reportable segments discussed above, we include our remaining business activities and assets in a reconciling category known as Corporate and other, which includes the shared costs of various corporate functions along with any operating segments that do not meet the requirements to be reportable segments. Therefore, prior to fiscal 2025, Noa Home was included within the Corporate and other reconciling category and accounted for all of the sales and gross profit within this reconciling category. Revenues, costs and expenses of Corporate and other for the periods ended March 1, 2025 and March 2, 2024 are as follows:

*40 weeks for fiscal 2024 as compared with 39 weeks for fiscal 2023.

Analysis of Quarterly Results – Corporate and Other

Sales and gross profit declined from the prior year period due to the closure and liquidation of Noa Home during fiscal 2024. The $2,422 decrease in SG&A expenses was primarily due to closure of Noa Home and decreased corporate overhead spending from better expense management, including the benefit of cost reductions implemented during the second half of fiscal 2024.

Other Items Affecting Net Income (Loss)

Interest Income

Interest income for the three months ended March 1, 2025 was $559 compared to $756 for the three months ended March 2, 2024. The decline from the prior year period is primarily due to lower balances of interest-bearing cash and cash equivalents, as well as lower average rates earned on our cash and cash equivalents and investments in CDs compared to the preceding year.

Other Loss, Net

Other loss, net, for the three months ended March 1, 2025 was $459 compared to $104 for the three months ended March 2, 2024. The net change from the prior year period was primarily due to higher costs associated with Company-owned life insurance.

Income Taxes

We calculate an anticipated effective tax rate for the year based on our annual estimates of pretax income or loss and use that effective tax rate to record our year-to-date income tax provision. Any change in annual projections of pretax income or loss could have a significant impact on our effective tax rate for the respective quarter.

Our effective tax rate was 27.4% for the three months ended March 1, 2025. The effective rate for the three months ended March 1, 2025 differs from the federal statutory rate of 21% primarily due to the effects of state income taxes and various permanent differences.

Our effective tax rate was 30.0% for the three months ended March 2, 2024. The effective rate for the three months ended March 2, 2024 differs from the federal statutory rate of 21% primarily due to increases in the valuation allowance placed on deferred tax assets associated with Noa Home, the effects of state income taxes and various permanent differences.

(Dollars in thousands except share and per share data)

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Cash Flows

Cash used in operations for the first quarter of fiscal 2025 was $52 compared to cash used in operations of $7,739 for the first quarter of fiscal 2024, representing an improvement of $7,687 in cash flows from operations. This increase was primarily the result of improved operating income and changes in working capital due to the timing impact of expenditures as a result of an additional week in the first quarter of 2024.

Our overall cash position declined $3,489 during the first quarter of 2025. During the first quarter of fiscal 2025, we spent $871 on purchases of property and equipment. We also paid $1,734 in dividends during the first quarter of 2025. We repurchased $721 of shares under our stock repurchase program during the first quarter of 2025 compared to no repurchases in the prior year period. We expect capital expenditures for the full year to range from $8 million to $12 million. As of March 1, 2025, $19,682 remains available for future purchases under our stock repurchase plan. With cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments totaling $56,422 on hand at March 1, 2025, expected future operating cash flows and the availability under our credit line noted below, we believe we have sufficient liquidity to fund operations for the foreseeable future.

Debt and Other Obligations

On May 15, 2024, we entered into the Credit Facility with our bank. This Credit Facility provides for a line of credit of up to $25,000. At March 1, 2025, we had $5,682 outstanding under standby letters of credit against our line. The line bears interest at the One-Month Term Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“One-Month Term SOFR”) plus 1.75% and is secured by our accounts receivable and inventory. Our bank charges a fee of 0.25% on the daily unused balance of the line, payable quarterly. Under the terms of the Credit Facility, Consolidated Minimum Tangible Net Worth shall at no time be less than $120,000. In addition, we must maintain the following financial covenants, measured quarterly on a rolling twelve-month basis and commencing as of the end of the first fiscal quarter after the first date that the used commitment (the sum of any outstanding advances plus standby letters of credit) equals or exceeds $8,250:

• Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio of not less than 1.2 times and
• Consolidated Lease Adjusted Leverage to EBITDAR Ratio not to exceed 3.35 times.

Since our used commitment was less than $8,250 at March 1, 2025, we were not required to test the Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio or the Consolidated Lease Adjusted Leverage to EBITDAR Ratio. Had we been required to test those ratios, we would not have been in full compliance. Consequently, our availability under the Credit Facility is currently limited to an additional $2,568.

We lease land and buildings that are used in the operation of our Company-owned retail stores as well as in the operation of one of our licensee-owned stores, and we lease land and buildings used in our wholesale manufacturing operations. We also lease local delivery trucks used in our retail segment. The present value of our obligations for leases with terms in excess of one year at March 1, 2025 is $101,742 and is included in our accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheet at March 1, 2025. We were contingently liable under licensee lease obligation guarantees in the amount of $4,885 at March 1, 2025. The remaining terms under these lease guarantees extend for six years. See Note 10 to our condensed consolidated financial statements for additional details regarding our lease guarantees.

Investment in Retail Real Estate

We have a substantial investment in real estate acquired for use as retail locations and occupied by Company-owned retail stores. Such real estate is included in property and equipment, net, in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheets and consists of eight properties with an aggregate square footage of 203,465 and a net book value of $23,969 at March 1, 2025.

(Dollars in thousands except share and per share data)

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

There have been no material changes to our critical accounting policies and estimates from the information provided in Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations”, included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended November 30, 2024.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

We utilize stand-by letters of credit in the procurement of certain goods in the normal course of business. In addition, we have guaranteed certain lease obligations of licensee operators for some of their store locations. See Note 10 to our condensed consolidated financial statements for further discussion of lease guarantees, including descriptions of the terms of such commitments and methods used to mitigate risks associated with these arrangements.

Contingencies

We are involved in various legal and environmental matters which arise in the normal course of business. Although the final outcome of these matters cannot be determined, based on the facts presently known, it is our opinion that the final resolution of these matters will not have a material adverse effect on our financial position or future results of operations. See Note 10 to our condensed consolidated financial statements for further information regarding certain contingencies as of March 1, 2025.

We are exposed to market risk from changes in the value of foreign currencies. Substantially all of our imports purchased outside of North America are denominated in U.S. dollars. Therefore, we believe that gains or losses resulting from changes in the value of foreign currencies relating to foreign purchases not denominated in U.S. dollars would not be material to our results from operations in fiscal 2025.

We are exposed to market risk from changes in the cost and availability of raw materials used in our manufacturing processes, principally wood, woven fabric, and foam products. The cost of foam products, which are petroleum-based, is sensitive to changes in the price of oil.

We are also exposed to commodity price risk related to diesel fuel prices for fuel used in our retail segment for home delivery as well as through amounts we are charged for logistical services by our service providers. We manage our exposure to that risk primarily through the application of fuel surcharges to our customers.

We have potential exposure to market risk related to conditions in the commercial real estate market. Our retail real estate holdings of $23,969 at March 1, 2025 for Company-owned stores could suffer significant impairment in value if we are forced to close additional stores and sell or lease the related properties during periods of weakness in certain markets. Additionally, if we are required to assume responsibility for payment under the lease obligations of $4,885 which we have guaranteed on behalf of certain licensees as of March 1, 2025 we may not be able to secure sufficient sub-lease income in the current market to offset the payments required under the guarantees. We are also exposed to risk related to conditions in the commercial real estate rental market with respect to the right-of-use assets we carry on our balance sheet for leased retail store locations, manufacturing and warehouse facilities. At March 1, 2025, the unamortized balance of such right-of-use assets used in continuing operations totaled $89,307. Should we have to close or otherwise abandon one of these leased locations, we could incur additional impairment charges if rental market conditions do not support a fair value for the right of use asset in excess of its carrying value.

The Company’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer have evaluated the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(e)) as of the end of the period covered by this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. Based upon their evaluation, the principal executive officer and principal financial officer concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective. There has been no change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting during the Company’s most recent fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

PART II - OTHER INFORMATION

BASSETT FURNITURE INDUSTRIES INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES

(Dollars in thousands except share and per share data)