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Chico's FAS, Inc. Reports Record April Sales [FZQXYQJ]

* April Sales Up 18.6% Over April Last Year

FORT MYERS, Fla., May 4 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Chico's FAS, Inc.
(NYSE: CHS) today reported April sales results for the four-week period ended
April 29, 2006, increased 18.6% to $136.0 million from $114.7 million reported
for the prior year's four-week period ended April 30, 2005. Comparable store
sales for the Company-owned stores increased 5.4% for the four-week period
ended April 29, 2006, compared to the same four-week period last year.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20030428/CHICOLOGO )

Total sales for the first quarter ended April 29, 2006, increased 19.8% to
$392 million from $327 million for the same period a year ago. Comparable
store sales for the Company-owned stores increased 6.6% for the thirteen-week
period compared to the same thirteen-week period last year.

Scott A. Edmonds, President and CEO, commented, "Although on an overall
chain-wide basis same store sales continued to be in the mid single digit
range in April and in the first quarter of fiscal 2006, largely as a result of
the performance of our WH|BM brand, we are somewhat disappointed with our
performance at the Chico's brand for these periods. While our low single
digit positive same store sales for Chico's may seem acceptable after nine
consecutive years of double digit increases, we certainly think we can do
better. We've taken a hard look at the quarter and we believe we have
identified several merchandise misses within the Chico's brand that
contributed to a performance that was below our expectations. During the
month and quarter, we probably needed more color, certain additional novelty
products, and some specially targeted offerings for our Chico's brand cold
weather stores which experienced significantly lower same store sales results
than did the warm weather stores. We think we have addressed most of these
issues going forward and thus continue to believe that the core Chico's brand
should be able to deliver a mid single digit same store sales increase for the
balance of the year."

Mr. Edmonds continued, "Although the Chico's brand same store sales were
not up to our expectations, the Chico's brand gross margin actually exceeded
our expectations and this, coupled with the strong mid 30% same store sales
performance of the WH|BM brand, means that the first quarter should be in the
range of a strong $.28 or low $.29 cents earnings per share. This range takes
into account the impact of the required expensing of our options which we
estimate will have had the effect of reducing our earnings by approximately
$.02 cents per share."

The Company is a specialty retailer of private label, sophisticated,
casual-to-dressy clothing, intimates, complementary accessories, and other
non-clothing gift items. The Company operates 796 women's specialty stores,
including stores in 47 states, the District of Columbia, the U.S. Virgin
Islands and Puerto Rico operating under the Chico's, White House | Black
Market, Soma by Chico's and Fitigues names. The Company owns 508 Chico's
front-line stores, 31 Chico's outlet stores, 205 White House | Black Market
front-line stores, 8 White House | Black Market outlet stores, 19 Soma by
Chico's stores, 11 Fitigues front-line stores and 1 Fitigues outlet store;
franchisees own and operate 13 Chico's stores.


Executive Contacts:

Charles J. Kleman
Chief Financial Officer
Chico's FAS, Inc.
[phone]

F. Michael Smith
Vice President
Investor and Community Relations
Chico's FAS, Inc.
[phone]

SOURCE Chico's FAS, Inc.

Charles J. Kleman, Chief Financial Officer, [phone], or F. Michael
Smith, Vice President, Investor and Community Relations, [phone], both
of Chico's FAS, Inc.
04May06 11:15 GMT
Symbols:
us;CHS
Source PRN PR Newswire