Berkshire Hathaway retail sales rise 4.7 in 2011

Retail sales at Berkshire Hathaway increased by 4.7 percent on y-o-y basis, for the full year 2011 and stood at $3.1 billion in 2011. Pre-tax earnings rose 21 percent to $239 million.

The company’s retail segment includes business in home furnishings, with four business units and business in the jewellery segment with jewelers Borsheims, Helzberg Diamonds and Ben Bridge. And last year delivered higher revenues and pre-tax earnings for each of the jewellery businesses.

As was in 2010, Warren Buffett will once again be behind the jewellery counter at the company’s Borsheims jewellery outlet, to promote sales, reports say. The CEO will be seen behind the counter on May 6, at the time of the company’s annual shareholder meeting, reports say. Last year this effort of Mr. Buffett drew good sales and the same is expected this year also, with Mr. Buffett offering buyers his ‘Crazy Warren’ price during the time he is behind the counter.

Berkshire Hathaway closed last year with total company revenues touching $143.69 billion with a 5.5 percent increase on y-o-y basis. Net earnings of Berkshire Hathaway dropped 21 percent to almost $10.3 billion.