Despite continuing financial woes for Talbots and disappointing sales figures for the Sharper Image - down 2 percent and 33 percent, respectively - February brought growth in direct sales and overall revenue to the publicly traded catalogers/retailers tracked by Multichannel Merchant (via MediaBuyerPlanner). The catalogers/retailers had a 24 percent increase in internet sales, increasing total company sales 4 percent to $1.3 billion.

Sales for Neiman Marcus Direct and Victoria's Secret Direct increased 9 percent and 10 percent, respectively. Men's apparel cataloger/retailer Jos. A. Bank Clothers had a 38 percent increase in its combined internet and catalog sales for the fiscal month. J.C. Penny Co. reported a 4.5 percent increase in direct sales, amounting to $209 million for the month.