EX-99.1

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (May 23, 2013) — Kirkland’s, Inc. (NASDAQ: KIRK) today reported financial results for the 13-week period ended May 4, 2013.

Net sales for the 13 weeks ended May 4, 2013, increased 3.5% to $101.2 million compared with $97.8 million for the prior-year quarter. Comparable store sales, including e-commerce sales, for the first quarter of fiscal 2013 decreased 2.3% compared with a decrease of 1.2% in the prior-year quarter. Kirkland’s opened 1 store and closed 7 during the first quarter of fiscal 2013, bringing the total number of stores to 317 at quarter end.

The Company reported net income of $1.8 million, or $0.10 per diluted share, for the first quarter of fiscal 2013 compared with net income of $2.0 million, or $0.10 per diluted share, for the first quarter of fiscal 2012 and previous net income guidance of $0.02 to $0.05 per diluted share.

Robert Alderson, Kirkland’s President and Chief Executive Officer, said, “Although we had a slow start to February consistent with our cautious outlook for the first half of the year, we experienced an improvement in trends later in the quarter. The better sales and margin performance in the latter weeks of the quarter exceeded our expectations and has modestly improved our outlook. However, there is still much work to do in firmly establishing a positive merchandising trend as well as leveraging our ongoing investments in technology, growing e-commerce, improving traffic, focusing on tight expense controls and executing our new branding initiatives.”


Store Base:		For the 52-week period ending February 1, 2014 (“fiscal 2013”), the Company expects to open approximately 25 new stores and close approximately 15 stores. New store openings will be weighted more toward the second and third quarters of the year, while closings will be weighted more toward the first half of the year.
Sales:		Total sales for the 52-week fiscal 2013 are expected to increase approximately 3% to 5% compared with 53-week fiscal 2012. This level of total sales performance implies comparable store sales results of flat to a slight increase for fiscal 2013.
Margins:		Based on the current outlook, inbound freight costs should be higher for the second quarter, but improve in the second half of the year offsetting the negative first half margin impact. A strict focus on operating expense controls, combined with a more conservative store opening plan, should position the Company to better leverage any upside to its current revenue projections. However, the Company expects investments in key personnel, as well as modest increases in marketing and e-commerce expenses to offset some of the expense efficiencies.


Earnings:		Based on the above assumptions, the Company expects fiscal 2013 earnings per share to be in the range of $0.75 to $0.85. The Company expects its full year effective tax rate to be approximately 38.5%.
Cash Flow:		Capital expenditures in fiscal 2013 are estimated to range between $20 million and $23 million. Based on the above assumptions, the Company expects to be cash flow positive in fiscal 2013.

Second Quarter Fiscal 2013 Outlook
For the second quarter ending August 3, 2013, the Company expects a net loss of $0.08 to $0.11 per diluted share compared with a net loss of $0.11 per share in the prior-year quarter. Net sales are expected to be $97 million to $98 million, with a nominal decrease to a nominal increase in comparable store sales. The Company expects to open approximately 6 stores and close approximately 5 stores during the quarter.

Investor Conference Call and Web Simulcast
Kirkland’s will host a conference call at 11:00 a.m. ET today to discuss the first quarter results. The number to call for the interactive teleconference is (212) 231-2919. A replay of the conference call will be available through Thursday, May 30, 2013, by dialing (402) 977-9140 and entering the confirmation number, 21646240.

A live broadcast of Kirkland’s quarterly conference call will be available online at the Company’s website www.kirklands.com under Investor Relations or http://www.videonewswire.com/event.asp?id=93882 on May 23, 2013, beginning at 11:00 a.m. ET. The online replay will follow shortly after the call and continue for one year.

About Kirkland’s, Inc.
Kirkland’s, Inc. was founded in 1966 and is a specialty retailer of home décor in the United States. Although originally focused in the Southeast, the Company has grown beyond that region and currently operates 315 stores in 35 states. The Company’s stores present a broad selection of distinctive merchandise, including framed art, mirrors, candles, lamps, picture frames, accent rugs, garden accessories and artificial floral products. The Company’s stores also offer an extensive assortment of gifts, as well as seasonal merchandise. More information can be found at www.kirklands.com.

Forward-Looking Statements
Except for historical information contained herein, the statements in this release are forward-looking and made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which may cause Kirkland’s actual results to differ materially from forecasted results. Those risks and uncertainties include, among other things, the competitive environment in the home décor industry in general and in Kirkland’s specific market areas, inflation, product availability and growth opportunities, seasonal fluctuations, and economic conditions in general. Those and other risks are more fully described in Kirkland’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on April 18, 2013. Kirkland’s disclaims any obligation to update any such factors or to publicly announce results of any revisions to any of the forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect future events or developments.

KIRKLAND’S, INC.
UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)


	13-Week Period Ended
	May 4,		April 28,
	2013		2012
Net sales	$	101,233	$	97,788
Cost of sales		61,827		59,319

Gross profit		39,406		38,469
Operating expenses:
Operating expenses		32,779		32,284
Depreciation		3,791		3,015

Operating income		2,836		3,170
Other (income) expense, net		6		(3	)

Income before income taxes		2,830		3,173
Income tax expense		1,057		1,218

Net income	$	1,773	$	1,955

Earnings per share:
Basic	$	0.10	$	0.11

Diluted	$	0.10	$	0.10

Shares used to calculate earnings per share:
Basic		17,083		18,269

Diluted		17,433		18,772

KIRKLAND’S, INC.
UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS
(dollars in thousands)


	May 4, 2013		February 2, 2013		April 28, 2012
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	74,111	$	67,797	$	73,162
Inventories, net		47,889		49,577		47,484
Income taxes receivable		1,015		—		—
Deferred income taxes		1,638		1,602		1,725
Other current assets		6,576		9,370		8,118

Total current assets		131,229		128,346		130,489
Property and equipment, net		76,964		78,499		61,414
Non-current deferred income taxes		—		—		1,150
Other assets		1,680		1,559		1,496

Total assets	$	209,873	$	208,404	$	194,549

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	$	20,933	$	21,642	$	18,050
Income taxes payable		—		520		1,931
Other current liabilities		21,719		21,009		18,637

Total current liabilities		42,652		43,171		38,618
Non-current deferred income taxes		3,057		3,128		—
Deferred rent and other long-term liabilities		43,778		44,230		38,633

Total liabilities		89,487		90,529		77,251

Net shareholders’ equity		120,386		117,875		117,298

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity	$	209,873	$	208,404	$	194,549

KIRKLAND’S, INC.
UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(dollars in thousands)


	13-Week Period Ended
	May 4, 2013			April 38, 2012
Net cash provided by (used in):
Operating activities	$	8,561		$	(2,733	)
Investing activities		(2,322	)		(4,109	)
Financing activities		75			(3,119	)

Cash and cash equivalents:
Net increase (decrease)		6,314			(9,961	)
Beginning of period		67,797			83,123

End of period	$	74,111		$	73,162


Contact:		W. Michael Madden Senior Vice President & CFO (615) 872-4800		Tripp Sullivan Corporate Communications, Inc. (615) 324-7335