Ulta Salon, Cosmetics & Fragrance, Inc. has announced sales results for the seven-week holiday period from November 15, 2009 to January 2, 2010. This time period corresponds with the company’s holiday marketing initiatives and represents the seven full weeks beginning the week before Thanksgiving through the end of the week following Christmas.

Total net sales for the seven-week holiday period were $262.2 million, an 18.2% increase from the prior year holiday period of $221.9 million. Comparable store sales for the holiday period increased 7.9%, as compared to a 5.8% decrease during the same period in the prior year, resulting in a two year comparable store sales increase of 2.1%.

Lyn Kirby, Ulta’s president and chief executive officer, stated: “The combination of dynamic marketing, compelling offerings and enticing value drove an 8.8% increase in customer traffic which led to a better-than-expected performance for the holiday season. The period also benefited from a less promotional gift-giving environment across retail versus last year, especially in apparel. As a result, we improved our merchandise margin and leveraged our marketing spend as a percentage of net sales, as compared to last year. Based on our holiday results, we have raised our fourth quarter expectations for sales and earnings.”

Driven by favorable holiday sales, the company is increasing its fourth quarter fiscal 2009 outlook provided in conjunction with its third quarter fiscal 2009 results on December 3, 2009.

The company currently expects fourth quarter fiscal 2009 net sales in the range of $388 million to $392 million, as compared to its previous guidance for fourth quarter fiscal 2009 net sales in the range of $362 million to $376 million. Fourth quarter fiscal 2008 net sales were $341.4 million. Comparable store sales for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2009 are currently expected to increase in a range of 4% to 5%, as compared to its previous expectation for fourth quarter fiscal 2009 comparable store sales in the range of a decrease of 3% to an increase of 1% and versus fourth quarter fiscal 2008 comparable store sales decrease of 5.5%.