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Designer Brands Inc. (DBI) is a leading global designer, producer, and retailer of footwear and accessories. The company operates through a combination of retail stores, e-commerce platforms, and wholesale channels, offering a wide range of products that cater to diverse consumer preferences. DBI's portfolio includes both owned and licensed brands, with a strategic focus on integrating its retail and brand portfolio businesses to enhance customer experiences and expand its product offerings.
- U.S. Retail Segment - Operates under the DSW Designer Shoe Warehouse banner, focusing on direct-to-consumer sales through U.S. stores and the e-commerce platform www.dsw.com.
- Canada Retail Segment - Operates under The Shoe Company and DSW banners, engaging in direct-to-consumer sales through Canadian stores and e-commerce platforms www.theshoecompany.ca and www.dsw.ca.
- Brand Portfolio Segment - Generates revenue through wholesale distribution, private-label design services, and direct-to-consumer e-commerce platforms such as www.vincecamuto.com, www.keds.com, www.keds.ca, and www.topoathletic.com. Includes equity investments in ABG-Camuto, LLC (40% ownership) and Le Tigre 360 Global LLC (33.3% ownership), as well as licensing rights for brands like Jessica Simpson, Lucky Brand, and Hush Puppies. Recent acquisitions include Topo Athletic LLC (79.4% ownership) and Keds, expanding DBI's offerings in athletic and casual footwear.
| Name | Position | External Roles | Short Bio | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Douglas M. Howe ExecutiveBoard | Chief Executive Officer and Director | N/A | Douglas M. Howe has been serving as the CEO of Designer Brands Inc. since 2023. | View Report → |
Andrea O'Donnell Executive | Executive Vice President and President of Camuto LLC | N/A | Andrea O'Donnell joined DBI in January 2024, focusing on cost reduction and brand strategy. | |
Deborah L. Ferrée Executive | Vice Chair and Chief Product Officer | N/A | Deborah L. Ferrée has been with DBI since 1997, contributing significantly to product strategy and brand growth. | |
Jared A. Poff Executive | Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, and Chief Administrative Officer | N/A | Jared A. Poff joined DBI in January 2015 and has held various financial leadership roles, currently serving as EVP, CFO, and CAO. | |
Laura T. Denk Executive | Executive Vice President and President of DSW Shoe Warehouse, Inc. | N/A | Laura T. Denk joined DBI in July 2023, focusing on product assortment and vendor relationships. | |
Allan J. Tanenbaum Board | Independent Director | Of Counsel to Taylor English Duma, LLC; General Counsel and Managing Partner of Equicorp Partners, LLC; Board of Directors of Medallion Financial Corporation | Allan J. Tanenbaum has been a director at DBI since 2005, bringing legal and governance expertise. | |
Elaine J. Eisenman Board | Director | Managing Director of Saeje Advisors LLC; President of the New England Chapter of the Private Directors Association; Founding Member of the Women Corporate Directors Foundation | Elaine J. Eisenman has been a Director at DBI since 2008, with a focus on human resources and governance. | |
Harvey L. Sonnenberg Board | Independent Director | N/A | Harvey L. Sonnenberg has been an Independent Director at DBI since 2005, with a background in accounting and governance. | |
Jay L. Schottenstein Board | Executive Chairman of the Board | CEO of American Eagle Outfitters, Inc.; Chairman and CEO of Schottenstein Stores Corporation; Chairman of Schottenstein Realty LLC; Manager of Schottenstein RVI, LLC | Jay L. Schottenstein has been serving as the Executive Chairman of the Board at DBI since 2005. | |
Joanna T. Lau Board | Director | CEO of Lau Technologies Inc.; Board of Trustees of RPT Realty | Joanna T. Lau has been a director at DBI since 2008, with extensive experience in technology and investment. | |
Joanne Zaiac Board | Independent Director | N/A | Joanne Zaiac has been serving as an independent director at DBI since 2016, with expertise in marketing and digital media. | |
John W. Atkinson Board | Class III Director | Consultant for KPMG | John W. Atkinson joined the DBI Board in 2024, bringing extensive audit and financial expertise. | |
Peter S. Cobb Board | Independent Director | Founder and Former Executive Vice President of eBags | Peter S. Cobb has been a director at DBI since 2017, with a background in e-commerce and retail. | |
Richard A. Paul Board | Independent Director | CEO and Founder of KLUTCH Sports Group; Head of Sports at United Talent Agency; Board of Directors at Funko, Inc.; Board of Trustees of LACMA; Minority partner of The SpringHill Company | Richard A. Paul joined the DBI Board in 2022, known for his brand-building expertise in sports. |
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Given that your boot business was down 27% in the third quarter , significantly more than the 15% decline you had planned for , and considering that boots represent an even higher percentage of your business in the fourth quarter , how confident are you that reducing seasonal penetration and "de-weatherizing" your business will not adversely impact sales in future periods?
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With your top 8 brands accounting for approximately 40% of total sales and none of them close to 10% individually , and given that these brands were up 27% in the third quarter , how are you addressing the potential risk of overreliance on a concentrated group of brands, particularly in the athleisure category, and what steps are you taking to diversify your assortment?
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Your adjusted net interest expense increased to $11.6 million in the third quarter from $8.8 million last year due to higher debt levels and interest rates , and you executed your biggest share repurchase of the year at $50.6 million. Given the challenging macro environment and softer-than-expected performance , how are you balancing debt management with shareholder returns, and what is your strategy for navigating interest expense and liquidity risks moving forward?
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You reported an effective tax rate of 54.8% on adjusted results in the third quarter, up from 34.6% last year. Can you explain the factors contributing to this significant increase in the effective tax rate, and how should investors anticipate your tax rate impacting net earnings in future quarters?
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Despite substantial investments in marketing, including achieving 67 billion earned media impressions and a new brand strategy partnership , sales have remained relatively in line with projections , and you've seen only a slight uptick in margins due to being less promotional. How are you evaluating the effectiveness of your marketing spend in driving sales and margin improvements, and what measurable returns are you expecting from these initiatives in a challenging consumer environment?
Notable M&A activity and strategic investments in the past 3 years.
| Company | Year | Details |
|---|---|---|
Rubino | 2024 | The Rubino acquisition closed on April 8, 2024, at a purchase price between $16.1 million and $16.7 million, including up to $1.5 million in contingent consideration, and was funded through available cash and borrowings; it added key assets like inventories, operating lease assets, and intangible tradenames to expand the Canada Retail segment into Quebec. |
Keds Business | 2023 | The Keds business acquisition was completed on February 4, 2023, for $127.3 million in cash, acquiring the brand, inventory, and a large e-commerce network, which strategically enhanced DBI’s Owned Brands portfolio and international distribution capabilities, with additional adjustments for contingent considerations and acquisition costs. |
shoes.com | 2022 | In Q1 2022, Designer Brands acquired the rights to the shoes.com tradename for $4.9 million, recorded as a 15-year definite-lived intangible asset, as part of its strategy to expand its digital presence and create new partnership and distribution channels. |
Recent developments and announcements about DBI.
8-K Filings
8-K Filing
·4 days agoOther EventsView full 8-K filing →Designer Brands Inc. announced a quarterly cash dividend of $0.05 per share for Class A and B common shares. Record date is March 28, 2025, with payment scheduled for April 11, 2025.