CSN Stores' 2010 Sales Up 60% Over 2009

BOSTON, March 12 /PRNewswire/ -- CSN Stores, the No. 3 online retailer of housewares and home furnishings in the U.S., is off to a strong start in 2010.  Total sales for January and February were up 60 percent over sales for the same period in 2009, positioning the company well for more rapid growth.

Founded in 2002, the $250+ million company has 200+ online sites that cover more than 20 different categories, including cookware.com, luggage.com, bedroomfurniture.com, and csnlighting.com. The following categories have contributed most to CSN's 2010 growth so far:

• Fitness Equipment: up 1,200 percent
• Recreation Room Gear: up 350 percent
• Bedding/Mattresses: up 250 percent
• Upholstery: up 150 percent
• Youth/Toys: up 110 percent

While these are among the best performers, most of CSN's other categories, including accents, cookware, luggage, rugs and office furniture, are also exceeding sales expectations. CSN adds more than 10,000 products monthly to its selection, which now covers 1.5 million different products.

"We have invested significantly in our expansion during the recession and the recovery to maximize our growth in 2010 and beyond," said Niraj Shah, CSN Stores' CEO and Co-Founder. "Based on our early numbers this year, the investments are already paying off."

CSN expanded globally into the U.K. and Germany during 2009, and added several new sites both in the U.S. and abroad, including: CSNOffice.com, FlooringSelect.com, AllModernPet.com, CookwareByCSN.co.uk, LightingByCSN.co.uk, WheelchairSelect.com, and KuecheundHaushalt.de to name just a few.

All of CSN Stores' 200+ sites were also redesigned in late 2009 with new features, promotions and links to make CSN's shopping experience even easier and more engaging.  Beyond those investments, CSN was also one of the first e-commerce retailers selected to participate in Walmart.com's Marketplace last August.

To handle its rapid growth, CSN has hired over 150 new staffers over the past year, ranging from seasoned executives to recent college graduates.

CSN's hiring surge continues, as the company is seeking 50 additional professionals over the next few months, including software engineers, financial analysts and customer service representatives. Currently, CSN Stores employs more than 500 people in the U.S., U.K., Ireland and Germany.

SOURCE CSN Stores