Zumiez, the retailer of skate and snow clothing and equipment, has released its second-quarter numbers. Interesting.

Revenue rose by 3%, reaching $220.6 million. Not bad. The gross margin improved slightly to 36.2%. However, the operating margin barely remained positive.

It seems they did better than expected. Sales in North America accelerated. A good time for back to school. However, things don't look so good outside of the home.

Zumiez has over 740 stores spread across various countries. They blend the physical with the online. They focus on having unique products and taking care of the customer.

Comparable sales rose by 3.8%. In North America, by 5.6%. The main market holds up, but internationally not so much.

The bosses say that the good result is due to their product strategies and experience. The preliminary figures for the next quarter look good. A 12.3% increase in sales in the first 30 days. Especially in North America.

For the next quarter, they expect sales between $240 and $245 million. The operating margin between 2.5% and 3.5%. Earnings per share of $0.22 to $0.32.

Watch how everything evolves. The international and cost issues are still there. The management insists on its approach, but admits that the economy and politics will influence. We'll see.