Hour Loop Reports Full Year 2022 Results

Demonstrates Strong Revenue Growth Despite Challenging e-Commerce Environment

Provides Full Year 2023 Revenue and Net Income Guidance

REDMOND, Wash., March 31, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Hour Loop, Inc. (NASDAQ: HOUR) (“Hour Loop”), a leading online retailer, announces its financial and operational results for the year ended December 31, 2022.

Financial Highlights for 2022:

• Net revenues increased 52.8% to $95.9 million in 2022, compared to $62.8 million in 2021.
• Net loss totaled $1.5 million, compared to net income of $4.8 million in 2021.
• Cash used in operating activities in 2022 was $11.6 million, compared to cash provided by operating activities of $7.8 million in 2021.
  

Management Commentary

“We are pleased to report our full year 2022 results, in which we delivered great performance in terms of revenue growth,” said Sam Lai, CEO of Hour Loop. “The revenue growth rate for the fourth quarter and full year 2022 were 63.1% and 52.8%, respectively, compared with the year-ago period.”

“However, our gross margin was negatively impacted by the challenging e-commerce environment and intense competition caused by high inventory levels across the industry. Our operating expenses also increased because of increased platform, advertising, and storage fees paid to Amazon, and a significant increase in our labor force. Despite disappointing margins, we believe we’ve built a solid foundation in 2022 to generate strong growth for the years to come. We also plan to make improvements on profitability.”

Looking forward, we’re cautiously optimistic. Despite an uncertain economy, we continue to see strong demand for our products during the first two months of 2023. We are confident in our ability to continue delivering values to our vendors, customers, and shareholders.

Full Year 2022 Financial Results

Net revenues in 2022 were $95.9 million compared to $62.8 million in 2021. The increase was primarily due to continued growth and maturity in our operating model, despite the overall e-commerce traffic slowdown and intense competition.

Gross profit percentage decreased 4.3% to 51.1%, compared to 55.4% of total revenues in the comparable period a year ago. The decrease was a function of heightened inflationary environment causing higher cost of goods sold, increased FBA fees, and intense competition.

Operating expenses increased 73.7% to $50.9 million compared to $29.3 million in the year-ago period. This was a function of increased platform, advertising, and storage fees paid to Amazon, and a significant increase in our labor force.

Net loss in 2022 was $1.5 million, or $0.04 per diluted share, compared to net income of $4.8 million, or $0.14 per diluted share, in 2021. The decrease was driven by increased costs and expenses as a result of the reasons mentioned above.

As of December 31, 2022, the Company had $4.6 million in cash and cash equivalents, compared to $10.6 million as of December 31, 2021. This decrease was driven by the growth of inventory and labor force.

Inventories as of December 31, 2022, were $18.7 million compared to $7.0 million as of December 31, 2021. The Company intentionally invested heavily in inventories for strategic reasons.

Full Year 2023 Financial Outlook

For the full year 2023, the Company is providing guidance for gross revenue to be in the range of $112 million to $122 million, representing 10% to 20% year-over-year growth. The Company expects 2023 net income to be in the range of $0.5 million to $4 million.

About Hour Loop, Inc.
Hour Loop is an online retailer engaged in e-commerce retailing in the U.S. market. It has operated as a third-party seller on www.amazon.com and has sold merchandise on its website at www.hourloop.com since 2013. The Company further expanded its operations to other marketplaces such as Walmart, eBay, and Etsy. To date, the Company has generated practically all its revenue as a third-party seller on www.amazon.com and only a negligible amount of revenue from its own website and other marketplaces. Hour Loop manages more than 100,000 stock-keeping units (“SKUs”). Product categories include home/garden décor, toys, kitchenware, apparel, and electronics. The Company's primary strategy is to bring most of its vendors’ product selections to the customers. It has advanced software that assists the Company in identifying product gaps so it can keep such products in stock year-round including the entirety of the last quarter (holiday season) of the calendar year. In upcoming years, Hour Loop plans to expand its business rapidly by increasing the number of business managers, vendors, and SKUs.

Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains statements that constitute "forward-looking statements" including with respect to the Company's business strategy, product development and industry trends. Forward-looking statements are subject to numerous conditions, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. While the Company believes these forward-looking statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on any such forward-looking statements, which are based on information available to the Company on the date of this release. These forward-looking statements are based upon current estimates and assumptions and are subject to various risks and uncertainties, including, without limitation, those set forth in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, as the same may be updated from time to time. Thus, actual results could be materially different. The Company undertakes no obligation to update these statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, after the date of this release, except as required by law.

Investor Contact
Finance Department
[e-mail]

HOUR LOOP, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
December 31, 2022 and 2021

		December 31,				December 31,
		2022				2021
ASSETS
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents		$	4,562,589			$	10,592,572
Accounts receivable, net			352,379				125,991
Inventory, net			18,801,529				7,041,864
Prepaid expenses and other current assets			741,243				965,298
Total current assets			24,457,740				18,725,725
Property and equipment, net			274,195				15,667
Deferred tax assets			549,320				45,488
Right-of-use lease assets			450,721				30,111
TOTAL ASSETS		$	25,731,976			$	18,816,991
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Current liabilities
Short-term loan		$	652,316			$	-
Accounts payable			11,883,253				9,539,258
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities			1,583,930				1,282,161
Due to related parties			-				5,214,794
Income taxes payable			-				126,333
Operating lease liabilities-current			385,216				-
Total current liabilities			14,504,715				16,162,546
Non-current liabilities
Operating lease liabilities-non-current			64,945				-
Due to related parties			4,329,460				-
Total non-current liabilities			4,394,405				-
Total liabilities			18,899,120				16,162,546
Commitments and contingencies							-
Stockholders’ equity
Preferred stock: $0.0001 par value, 10,000,000 shares authorized, none issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2022 and 2021			-				-
Common stock: $0.0001 par value, 300,000,000 shares authorized, 35,047,828 and 33,300,000 shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively			3,506				3,330
Additional paid-in capital			5,675,320				4,291
Retained earnings			1,177,072				2,654,695
Accumulated other comprehensive loss			(23,042	)			(7,871	)
Total stockholders’ equity			6,832,856				2,654,445
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY		$	25,731,976			$	18,816,991

The accompanying footnotes are an integral part of these audited condensed consolidated financial statements.

HOUR LOOP, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
For the years Ended December 31, 2022 and 2021

		2022				2021
Revenues, net		$	95,930,091			$	62,792,981
Cost of revenues			(46,942,770	)			(27,984,335	)
Gross profit			48,987,321				34,808,646
Operating expenses
Selling and marketing			42,221,425				25,098,497
General and administrative			8,685,254				4,236,000
Total operating expenses			50,906,679				29,334,497
(Loss) income from operations			(1,919,358	)			5,474,149
Other (expenses) income
Other expense			(17,520	)			(12,299	)
Interest expense			(144,479	)			(56,509	)
Other income			141,571				87,637
Total other (expenses) income, net			(20,428	)			18,829
(Loss) income before income taxes			(1,939,786	)			5,492,978
Income tax benefit (expense)			462,163				(709,205	)
Net (loss) income			(1,477,623	)			4,783,773
Other comprehensive loss
Foreign currency translation adjustments			(15,171	)			(4,690	)
Total comprehensive (loss) income		$	(1,492,794	)			4,779,083
Basic and diluted (loss) income per common share		$	(0.04	)			0.14
Weighted-average number of common shares outstanding			34,991,666				33,300,000

The accompanying footnotes are an integral part of these audited condensed consolidated financial statements.

HOUR LOOP, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
For the years Ended December 31, 2022 and 2021

		2022				2021
Cash flows from operating activities
Net (loss) income		$	(1,477,623	)		$	4,783,773
Adjustments to reconcile of net (loss) income to net cash (used in) provided by operating activities:
Depreciation expenses			79,084				448
Noncash lease expenses			310,161				73,343
Noncash forgiven borrowing			-				(27,012	)
Inventory allowance			657,543				(246,593	)
Stockbased Compensation			91,013				-
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable			(226,388	)			90,716
Inventory			(12,417,208	)			(2,433,382	)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets			(352,113	)			(602,911	)
Deferred Tax Assets			(503,832	)			(45,488	)
Accounts payable			2,343,995				6,335,002
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities			175,436				(102,312	)
Operating lease liabilities			(283,244	)			(61,527	)
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities			(11,603,176	)			7,764,057
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of property and equipment			(339,518	)			(16,115	)
Net cash used in investing activities			(339,518	)			(16,115	)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Payments to related parties			138,854				3,023
Repayments from related parties			(1,024,188	)			-
Capital contribution			-				2,800
Distribution to stockholders			-				(2,132,000	)
Proceeds from Issuance of shares			5,580,192				-
Prepaid expenses and other current assets			576,168				-
Proceeds from Short-term debt			652,316				-
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities			5,923,342				(2,126,177	)
Effect of changes in foreign currency exchange rates			(10,631	)			2,743
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents			(6,029,983	)			5,624,508
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the year			10,592,572				4,968,064
Cash and cash equivalents at end of the year		$	4,562,589			$	10,592,572

The accompanying footnotes are an integral part of these audited condensed consolidated financial statements.