REI 08全年销售额上涨6.9%并计划在09年新增5家专卖店
　　REI公布了2008年全年的财政收入状况。08全年REI的销售额达14亿美元，同期相比上涨了6.9%。受金融危机影响，经营收入同期相比下降了7360万美元，07全年为 1.065亿美元。净收入为1450万美元，同期相比下降了65%，07全年为4140万美元。网络销售和目录销售的销售额同期相比上涨了14.2%，而专卖店的销售额同期相比上涨了0.3%。
　　由于受目前金融危机的影响，REI正式宣布裁减员工61名，裁员人数不到总数的2%。此外，105家REI店还裁减了钟点工。对于裁减人员，REI给他们一些遣散费，再就业援助，并列入员工援助项目。
　　REI总裁兼首席执行官Sally Jewell表示，“REI在08年取得了良好的业绩,主要归功于第四季度的良好表现，11和12月是具有挑战的两个月份。对于09年，我们主要根据顾客的需要来规划、减少支出以及延迟或取消一些项目，并加强投资，用于09年开设5家专卖店和销售系统的升级。”
　　REI还给成员分红，08年收入中的7270万美元分给370万活跃的成员。Sally Jewell对此表示，“尽管08全年的净收入同期相比有所下降，但我们还是给成员分红，我们要在长期内谨慎经营，这样，成员们便得到更多的实惠。支持他们享受户外的乐趣以及加强下一代参与户外。”
REI FY08 Profits Plunge 65%
REI announced plans to eliminate 61 full-time jobs, mostly at its Kent headquarters and Sumner distribution center, due to a "significant business slowdown in the final months of 2008 and continued projected weakness in 2009." Net income tumbled 65% to $14.5 million from $41.4 million in 2007
The co-op’s operating income for 2008 decreased 31% to $73.6 million from $106.5 million in the prior year due to the "challenging economic climate." REI reported sales rose 6.9% to $1.4 billion in 2008. The Seattle-based retailer’s direct sales channel, which includes online and catalog sales, grew by 14.2% while comp store sales increased by 0.3% in 2008.

The company said the elimination of 61 full-time jobs represents less than 2% of its full-time workforce. The positions are primarily located in its Kent-based headquarters, and the Sumner, Wash. distribution center. In addition, a number of part-time, hourly positions were eliminated on a store-by-store basis in about half of the company’s 105 retail stores and in the Sumner, WA Distribution center. The job eliminations were part of a companywide effort to scale to 2009’s difficult business climate.

"REI posted positive results for the year because of strong performance prior to the fourth quarter," said Sally Jewell, REI’s president and CEO. "November and December were very challenging months and our business plan for 2009 is generally flat to last year. While we are financially strong and free of the debt that has challenged so many businesses, we must plan accordingly to this drop in customer demand. This unfortunately means that we must reduce expenses and staffing to align with projected lower sales and workload demands."

Jewell noted the expense management plans include deferring raises for headquarters and management staff, hiring only critical staff positions, and the delay or elimination of some projects and programs.

Full-time employ