RYU Apparel Reports Third Quarter 2018 Results, Highlighting 64% Revenue Increase and 58% Gross Profit Margin

VANCOUVER, Nov. 26, 2018 /CNW/ - RYU Apparel Inc. (TSXV: RYU, OTCQB: RYPPF) ("RYU" or the "Company"), creator of urban athletic apparel, is pleased to report its financial results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018.

Revenue in the third quarter of 2018 was $1,223,524, 64% higher than the same period in 2017, and revenue in the first nine months of 2018 was $3,274,011, 77% higher than the same period in 2017. RYU's financial results have been encouraging with continued sales growth in 2018 and a 58% gross profit margin for the quarter.

In Canadian dollars	Three months ended September 30, (unaudited)		Nine months ended September 30, (unaudited)
	2018	2017	2018	2017
Revenue	$1,223,524	$745,226	$3,274,011	$1,853,460
Gross profit	$710,545	$338,789	$1,734,126	$852,821
Gross profit %	58%	45%	53%	46%

Marcello Leone, CEO, commented: "We are encouraged with our eleventh consecutive quarter of growth. This is a confirmation that our brand, in its early stage, continues to gain traction. With nine stores operating by the end of this fiscal year and potentially more to follow in 2019, we hope our shareholders take the time to experience the RYU brand, whether in-store or online, and continue to build the community of Respect Your Universe."

During the nine months ended September 30, 2018, the Company achieved the following milestones:

• The Company raised $20 million, strengthened its balance sheet and created a solid foundation for growth.
  
  
• The Company was able to normalize its supply chain and invest strategically in its omni-channel retail and e-commerce platforms for growth. The new RYU.com is slated to open in the fourth quarter of 2018.
  
  
• The Company's first US retail store location opened on August 2, 2018 in Venice, California.
  
  
• RYU's expansion plan is on target to have nine stores by the end of 2018. Construction continues at its retail stores in Brooklyn, New York, Newport Beach, California and Sherway Gardens in Toronto.
  
  
• The Company significantly invested in world-class talent to design, innovate and expand its product categories for growth.
  
  
• RYU secured new strategic wholesale accounts with Nordstrom, Equinox Canada, Rise by We, and Steve Nash Fitness World & Sports Club that align with its brand value proposition.
  
  
• RYU was selected as a finalist for the World Retail Awards in two categories: Retail Start Up of the Year and Social Media Campaign of the Year (#RYUOneMoreRep). The Company was honoured to be one of only two Canadian companies that qualified as finalists at the World Retail Awards.
  
  
• The Company's new global advertising and branding campaign orchestrated by THRSXTY/Exposure, '#YourUniverse', launched in August 2018 in conjunction with RYU's first US store opening in Venice, California.
  
  
• On October 8th, 2018, RYU's common shares started trading on the OTCQB Marketplace under the trading symbol OTCQB: RYPPF. The Company provided this platform to its existing and prospective US shareholders to align its corporate structure with its business expansion in the US retail marketplace.
  
  
• The Company implemented a new point of sale system at all retail store locations in September 2018. This investment enables scalable growth over the next several years.

Outlook for the rest of 2018:

• The Company will see its business infrastructure come together through a series of IT integrations from the design stage of its products through to the end user experience.
  
  
• The Company is preparing to launch a number of new product categories over the next 12 to 18 months to complement RYU's existing 'hero' and 'core' programs.

For a greater understanding of our business, operations and results, readers are encouraged to review the Company's unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial statements for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, including the notes thereto, and the corresponding management's discussion and analysis, each of which is available under the Company's profile on www.sedar.com.

For regular updates on RYU Apparel visit: http://ryu.com.

About RYU
Respect Your Universe is an award winning urban athletic apparel and accessories brand engineered for the fitness, performance and lifestyle of athletically minded men and women. Innovatively designed without compromise and tailored for fit, comfort, and durability, RYU exists to facilitate human performance. For more information, visit: http://ryu.com. 

On Behalf of the Board

RYU APPAREL INC.
"Marcello Leone"
Marcello Leone, CEO, President and Chairman of the Board
Tel: [phone]

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

This news release contains forward-looking information that involve various risks and uncertainties regarding future events. Such forward-looking information can include without limitation statements based on current expectations involving a number of risks and uncertainties and are not guarantees of future performance of the Company, such as statements that: (i) the opening of the Company's first three USA retail store locations and the launch of its new RYU.com website will take place by the end of 2018; (ii) the Company's business infrastructure will come together in 2018 through a series of IT integrations; (iii) the new RYU.com is slated to open in the fourth quarter of 2018; (iv) the Company is preparing to launch a number of new product categories over the next 12 to 18 months to complement its existing 'hero' and 'core' programs; (v) the expansion plan is to have nine stores open by the end of 2018; and (vi) the store locations under construction have target openings during the fourth quarter of 2018. There are numerous risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results and the Company's plans and objectives to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking information, including the ability of the company to finance operations, the ability of the management team to execute on its business plan, risks in the apparel industry in general, and delays and risks associated with renovating and opening new store locations. Actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information. These and all subsequent written and oral forward-looking information are based on estimates and opinions of management on the dates they are made and are expressly qualified in their entirety by this notice. Except as required by law, the Company does not intend to update these forward-looking statements.

SOURCE RYU Apparel Inc.

Investor Relations: Contact: Anna Brazier, Investor Relations, 1-844-535-2880, [email protected], www.ryu.com; For Media inquiries, contact: Candace Fremder (Global PR), Account Director, [email protected]; Samantha Detwiler (Canada PR), Jane Gill PR - Account Manager, [phone] ext. 28, [email protected]