Earnings from Operations
Retail gross earnings as a percent of net sales were 67.5% and 66.2% in the second quarters of 2024 and 2023, respectively. For the six months ended June 30, retail gross earnings were 66.2% of net sales in both 2024 and 2023.
Selling and administrative expenses for the Retail segment consist primarily of freight, advertising expense, employee costs, rent and occupancy costs. Retail selling and administrative expenses were $4.4 million, or 58% of net sales, for the quarter compared to $4.0 million, or 52% of net sales, in last year’s second quarter. For the six months ended June 30, Retail selling and administrative expenses totaled $9.5 million, or 55% of net sales, in 2024 versus $8.6 million, or 52% of net sales, in 2023. The quarter and year-to-date increases were primarily due to higher web advertising and freight costs. This year’s web advertising expenses increased largely due to the reallocation of certain expenditures historically charged to our Wholesale segment that primarily benefit our websites.
Retail operating earnings were $0.7 million for the quarter, down 35% from $1.1 million in last year’s second quarter. For the six months ended June 30, 2024, Retail operating earnings totaled $2.0 million, down 15% compared to record operating earnings of $2.4 million last year. The three and six-month earnings decreases were due to the higher web expenses this year.
Other
Operating results reported in the “other” category historically included our retail and wholesale businesses in Australia, South Africa, and Asia Pacific (collectively, “Florsheim Australia”). We ceased operations in the Asia Pacific region in 2023 and are in the final stages of winding down that business. As a result, the 2024 operating results of the “other” category primarily reflect that of Australia and South Africa.
Net sales of Florsheim Australia were $6.1 million in the second quarter of 2024, down 23% from $7.9 million in the second quarter of 2023. For the year-to-date period, Florsheim Australia’s net sales declined $3.8 million, or 25%, from the same period one year ago. The quarter and year-to-date decreases were largely due to the closing of our Asia Pacific operations. Sales in Australia were also down due to three fewer retail stores operating during the quarter and year-to-date periods, compared to the same periods of 2023, the mid-year 2023 loss of a sizeable wholesale customer, and a challenging environment at retail.
Florsheim Australia’s gross earnings were 62.0% of net sales for the quarter and 62.4% of net sales in last year’s second quarter. For the six months ended June 30, Florsheim Australia’s gross earnings as a percent of net sales were 61.2% and 61.5% in 2024 and 2023, respectively.
Florsheim Australia’s operating earnings for the three-month period were $0.2 million in 2024 and $0.3 million in 2023. For the six months ended June 30, 2024, its operating losses totaled $0.3 million, down from operating earnings of $0.6 million in the same period one year ago. The three and six-month decreases were mainly due to lower sales this year.
Other income and expense
Interest income totaled $1.0 million in the second quarter of 2024 compared to $0.2 million in last year’s second quarter. For the six months ended June 30, interest income was $1.9 million in 2024 and $0.3 million in 2023. The increases in 2024 were due to interest earned on higher cash balances in the U.S. and Canada this year. Interest expense decreased $0.1 million and $0.5 million during the three and six months ended June 30, 2024, compared to the same periods of 2023. Last year’s quarter and year-to-date interest expense was incurred on outstanding debt balances during those periods, which have since been paid off.
Other expense, net, totaled $0.1 million and $0.2 million in the second quarters of 2024 and 2023, respectively. For the six months ended June 30, other expense, net, totaled $0.2 million in 2024 and $0.3 million in 2023.
The effective income tax rates for the three months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023 were 25.1% and 26.2%, respectively. For the six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, the effective tax rate was 25.9% in both periods. The 2024 and 2023 effective tax rates differed from the federal rate of 21% primarily because of state taxes.
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
Our primary sources of liquidity are cash and our revolving line of credit. During the first six months of 2024, we generated $17.7 million of cash from operations compared $43.6 million in the same period one year ago. The decrease in 2024 was primarily due to changes in operating assets and liabilities, principally accounts receivable and inventory.