Trans World Entertainment reported that sales in its Trends category were up 44% in Q2, a big jump from the 30% growth it was seeing late last year (see “Trend Comps Up 30% for TWE”).  The category, which includes licensed merchandise and comics, is taking over a big percentage of the square footage in F.Y.E. stores, replacing video and music, which are both declining rapidly (down 7.9% and 8.7% in the quarter, respectively).  Trends now account for 20% of TWE sales, the company reported.

Featured Trends properties in F.Y.E. stores currently include WWE, Star Wars, Walking Dead, Minions, and Doctor Who. 

With increases in Trends and smaller increases in electronics, TWE was able to get its comp store sales to flat for Q2, but overall sales went down 6.2% because the company cut its store count to 308 from 327 at the same time last year. 

TWE cut its loss for the quarter dramatically, from $5.1 million in Q2 2014 to $3 million in Q2 this year.