Engineering and product development expenses were $110,371 for the three-month period ended September 30, 2024, and $131,415 for the comparable quarter of the prior year, a $21,044 (16.0%) decrease. These expenses decreased primarily due to a reduction in product development costs.
Interest Expense. Our interest expense was $89,642 for the quarter ended September 30, 2024, compared to interest expense of $33,509 for the quarter ended September 30, 2023. Interest expense is dependent upon the total amounts borrowed from the Factor and changes in interest rates during the period as compared to the corresponding period of the prior year.
Net Income (Loss). We reported net income of $576,978 for the quarter ended September 30, 2024, compared to a net loss of $186,425 for the corresponding quarter of the prior fiscal year, a $763,403 (409.5%) increase in net income. Net income increased principally due to the timing of orders to a large retailer as discussed above.
Six Months Ended September 30, 2024 and 2023
Sales. Net sales for the six months ended September 30, 2024, were $11,801,785 compared to $10,416,226 for the comparable six months in the prior period, an increase of $1,385,559 (13.3%). Sales increased principally due to the timing of orders to a large retailer, and due to improvements in deliveries of products, due to the easing of supply chain disruptions in shipping and handling of containers at California ports of entry. While delays in manufacturing and shipping have improved somewhat over the past fiscal year, we continue to experience delays in receiving inventory for sale.
Gross Profit Margin. The gross profit margin is calculated as net sales less cost of goods sold expressed as a percentage of net sales. The Company’s gross profit margin was 26.1% for the period ended September 30, 2024, and 29.0% for the period ended September 30, 2023. Gross margins for the six-month period ended September 30, 2024, decreased principally due to an increase in the allowance for excess and obsolete inventory recorded during the period ended September 30, 2024. Gross margins are also impacted by variations in the mix of products sold and due to continued increases in the cost of certain electronic components.
Expenses. Selling, general and administrative expenses were $2,606,773 for the six months ended September 30, 2024, compared to $2,757,290 for the comparable six months in the prior year. As a percentage of sales, these expenses were 22.1% for the six-month period ended September 30, 2024, and 26.5% for the comparable 2023 period. These expenses decreased as a percentage of net sales principally since selling, general, and administrative expenses do not increase or decrease in direct proportion to changes in sales. These expenses decreased as a dollar amount principally due to the timing of expenditures related to efforts in the current six-month period and the comparable period of the prior year to pursue strategic alternatives and merger activities.
Engineering and product development expenses were comparable at $197,972 for the six months ended September 30, 2024, to $196,378 for the comparable period of the prior year.
Interest Expense. Our interest expense was $134,530 for the six months ended September 30, 2024, compared to interest expense of $84,005 for the six months ended September 30, 2023. Interest expense is dependent upon the total amounts borrowed from the Factor and changes in interest rates during the period as compared to the corresponding period of the prior year.
Net Income (Loss). We reported net income of $134,772 for the six months ended September 30, 2024, compared to a net loss of $21,295 for the corresponding period of the prior fiscal year, an increase in net income of $156,067 (732.9%).
Operating activities used cash of $3,278,163 for the six months ended September 30, 2024. This was primarily due to an increase in accounts receivable and amount due from factor of $3,150,214, and an increase in inventories and prepaid expenses of $1,154,669, and partially offset by an increase in accounts payable and accrued expenses of $888,890 and net income of $134,772. Operating activities provided cash of $650,519 for the six months ended September 30, 2023. This was primarily due to a decrease in accounts receivable and amount due from factor of $534,490, and an increase in accounts payable and accrued expenses and of $1,239,275, and partially offset by an increase in inventories, prepaid expenses of $1,105,053 and a net loss of $21,295.
There were no investing activities for the six months ended September 30, 2024, or 2023.
Financing activities provided cash of $3,447,281 during the six months ended September 30, 2024, which is comprised of borrowings net of repayments to the factor. Financing activities used cash of $547,203 during the six months ended September 30, 2023, which is comprised of repayments net of borrowings from the factor.