Lawson Products Inc. (NASDAQ: LAWS), Chicago, IL, reported sales for the third quarter of $68.2 million, an increase of 0.4 percent compared to the same period a year ago. Profit was $601,000, compared to a year-ago loss of $1.3 million.
Michael DeCata, president and CEO, said this was the first quarter Lawson realized a year-over-year sales increase in nine quarters. "We will continue to focus our efforts on sales growth including adding to our sales force. During the quarter we added 11 sales representatives putting us on track to finish the year with more than 800 active sales reps," DeCata said.
For the first nine months, sales were $203.8 million, a decrease of 2.3 percent compared to the same period a year ago. Net loss for the period was $2.2 million, compared to a year-ago loss of $64.3 million.