joining the a and I'm recovering did Patrick, from to pleased welcome results, second quarter to in the substantial by highlighted significant report quarter debt you, long-term a that to our and today. These Thank expansion, from on enabled expense team difficult EBITDA delivered and our flow margin team us by inventory reductions, those the and in strong call job accomplishments operations, plan thoughtful cash first second fantastic us growth quarter. reductions. beat
Sales volumes improved significantly quarter. during the second
quarter. the January months, reporting four and on report days through reporting included for traditional calendar our This calendar year XX XXXX. as second within calendar Importantly, to April we results going fewer impacted move a substantially three will periods. June our traditional by were Previously, results four-week we forward, quarter X, our
was declined quarter's our in Excluding a basis, the of the prior sales the over year-over-year improvement calendar, impact X.X% an XX.X%. of on sales decline reporting change which
product campaigns through launches. meaningfully, a new marketing accelerated sales of combination second year April effective more ago versus non-licensed sales DTC the quarter, our and period, up June driven than direct-to-consumer XX% with recent the During by
U.S. are remained goods and soft inventories sales Our retail channel elevated. still and sporting
similar optimistic We markets sentiment consumers about We are driven by to cautiously brands recent with and changing and in leading in believe in our labor environment. this of in stability a continue slowdown resonate will inflation. housing improved consumer starts portfolio diverse recreational increases the
as normalization the we Operationally, chain particularly expenses. sequential of in have a last points us between a year the supply the cost which and operating challenges inventory, entering quarter with channel wholesale mix the that product inventories to move margin opportunities reductions in more price anticipate gross first faced we second second into expense restocking capitalize leverage, on to further basis lessen, discipline, continued should lower Improved freight favorable improvement XXXX. season. half to respect position of and We XXX holiday year, resulted this
of control, As positions we before, focus we Strategically, in a on market-leading remain combination key on build working improved highly to continue capital balance cost innovative management and focused development to categories. optimization. product growth in investing sheet
our Carbon acceptance through the range Consumer new new of range second fast-growing Technology. Raw these and Evoke that and included our market pickleball the patented our sold Mayhem has ThermoFused paddles production runs. as paddles, initial which well utilize as exceeded exciting and Malice expectations quickly panels performance the example, For for we pickleball during improve launch a playability of quarter, This of enthusiasts. launched carbon-based Premier
of this successful strong also double-digit launch year. We significant to accelerating second pickleball quarter the category manufacturing a in sales growth to demand. meet despite shorter This contributed are the year-over-year our
followers who basketballs gained a skills ability. and improve of media social play-making million unique coach announce have story to range to Gorilla interested skills. pleased ball-handling and efficiency basketball an weighted also designed Johnny with collaborated brand are are of that in HandleLife and accounts our has Stephene, ball Founder Johnny's launch to We the handling his over X amazing NBA
to training the League, excited effective coming We an game. HandleLife innovative consumers assortment will quarters, American Academy improve particularly provides launching initially in cornhole over this Outdoors. about of which bags, with collaboration, new are We're licensed boards their Cornhole other categories at products and also Sports several and launch tools key new which
and For August thrilling South be XX World Cornhole in Sports will X, cornhole some Rock which the July and please tune Hill, American competition, to Network. on through from will in layer Championships, Carolina League the ESPN CBS held
navigate an demand the of cost we environment, fortified the challenging we maintaining sheet. know importance As and balance appropriate structure
maximizing flow. optimizing our structure on cost cash focus to continue and We
As in remainder quarter margins on by of and great have remain operational year. continue through through We track expenses. annual to reducing the costs fixed trend gross million lower results, $X.X and highlighted our our we our already strides made in the achieve savings by expect cost to to costs second improving our lowering
facility We continue focused Mexico to of carry end divesting of on this by remain the ongoing the expense operations our XXXX. and
year-to-date on services severance related to divestiture. approximately $XXX,XXX spent professional have We and this expenses
As previously sharply the optimal to on due more use our cash of quarter XXX%, conversion working flow. hand. Cash exceeded including second continue to during focused on the mentioned, primarily improved we be cash capital management,
further As drive generation, utilize inventory Difficulty], should reduce cash our our we debt. which [Technical we additional levels to will
leverage quarter, X.Xx. At our the second was end of the net
leverage to However, between and X.Xx our targeted X.Xx. committed to our remain we reducing range
our priorities the our focus of our acquisitions, built net tightly including value-creating a Along dividend. control with debt to continue discretionary business leverage, and years long-term of have expenditures. remain we payment on lowering number capital with While spending, current reduction we our over capital allocation
work navigating also do that to support competitively a consumers remain positioned our quarter, team we across ensuring a our second our and brands. quarter improved and the macro the partners quarter loyal dedication to retail current responding good of hard our Entering by while team proud key environment, the I'm to job to great third continues with first metrics. performance of most delivering a in disappointing
to shareholder build while loyalty, that quarter. updating with long-term next consumer creating you exceptional progress experiences all all our forward continue to brand creating will We look We focus on value.
I'll that, his prepared over to call Stephen With remarks. the turn for
