Designer Brands news and archive

Designer Brands and Pensole Lewis College inaugurate black-owned footwear factory

Designer Brands, an American footwear and accessory designer, producer and retailer, and Pensole Lewis College of Business and Design (PLC) opened the doors to one of the first black-owned footwear factories in the US this Monday, called ‘JEMS by Pensole’. The factory is located in New Hampshire and marks the brand’s apex of its two million...

ManagementFeatured

Designer Brands acquires Keds brand from Wolverine Worldwide

Designer Brands Inc. has completed the acquisition of Keds from Wolverine Worldwide. "Our growing strength in owned Brands is evident, given that just twelve months ago, the athleisure category was a massive white space opportunity for us, and we now control high-quality brands across multiple price points," said Doug Howe, incoming chief...

Report

Designer Brands outlines CEO transition plan

Fashion conglomerate Designer Brands has announced a planned CEO transition process, set to come into effect April 1, 2023. President of DSW Doug Howe has been named as the company’s new incoming CEO, succeeding Roger Rawlins, who will be stepping down from the position and exiting the group’s board of directors. Rawlins will continue to work...

ManagementFeatured

Doug Howe to succeed Roger Rawlins as CEO of Designer Brands

Designer Brands Inc. has announced a planned CEO transition process. The company's board has appointed Doug Howe, president of DSW, to succeed Roger Rawlins as the new chief executive officer, effective April 1, 2023. After April 1, 2023, the company said, Rawlins will continue to work with the company for a twelve-month period in a strategic...

Report

Designer Brands buys footwear retailer Topo Athletic

Designer Brands has bought Topo Athletic, a retailer specialising in footwear for running, walking, and hiking. The acquisition will expand Designer Brands’ presence in the “hyper-important” athletic and athleisure space, the company said Monday, and follows its acquisition of LeTigre, which sits in the same category. The cost of the deal was...

ManagementFeatured

Designer Brands lowers profit outlook

US fashion retailer Designer Brands has cut its full-year profit outlook as it saw a slight uptick in sales in the third quarter of the year. Net sales in the three months to October 29 rose 1.4 percent to 865 million dollars. On a comparable basis, sales were up 3 percent. Net income in the third quarter fell to 45.2 million dollars from 80.2...

Management | Featured

Designer Brands appoints Rich Paul and Tami Fersko as independent directors

Designer Brands Inc. has announced two new appointments to its board of directors. On November 17, 2022, the company said in a release, Rich Paul and Tami J. Fersko, were appointed to the Designer Brands board as independent directors, effective immediately. Fersko was also named a member of both the audit committee and the nominating and...

Report

Designer Brands reports increase in Q2 profit, sales

US fashion retailer Designer Brands has reported a 5.1 percent increase in sales in the second quarter of the year. In the three months to July 30, net sales came in at 859.3 million dollars, up from 817.3 million dollars a year earlier. On a comparable basis, sales were up 6.2 percent. Net income increased to 46.2 million dollars from 42.9...

Report

Designer Brands Q1 comparable sales increase by 15.3 percent

For the three months ended April 30, 2022, Designer Brands Inc. reported net sales increase of 18.1 percent to 830.5 million dollars and comparable sales increase of 15.3 percent. Gross profit for the quarter increased to 275.7 million dollars and gross margin as a percentage of net sales was 33.2 percent as compared to 30.7 percent last year....

Report

Designer Brands appoints new president of DSW Designer Shoe Warehouse

Footwear retailer Designer Brands has announced the appointment of Doug Howe to president of DSW Designer Shoe Warehouse, one of its retail concepts, as well as to the role of executive vice president of Designer Brands. At DSW, Howe will be responsible for day-to-day leadership of the company, overseeing its direct-to-consumer channels while...

Report

Designer Brands sets revenues target of 4 billion dollars for FY26

Designer Brands Inc. expects to reach a revenue target of 4 billion dollars by fiscal 2026. The company said in a release that it anticipates achieving gross profit margin of 35 percent, operating margin of 9 percent improving over 200 basis points, EPS range of 2.75 dollars to 2.85 dollars and generation of over 1 billion dollars of cash from...

Report

Designer Brands' Q4 comparable sales increase by 36.9 percent

Fourth quarter net sales at Designer Brands Inc. increased 35 percent to 822.6 million dollars, while comparable sales increased by 36.9 percent. Gross profit increased to 254.2 million dollars and gross margin as a percentage of net sales was 30.9 percent compared to 22.2 percent for 2020 and 24.8 percent for the fourth quarter of 2019....