Designer Brands, owner of Designer Shoe Warehouse, confirmed that the company underwent layoffs last week.
The company did not answer questions regarding the number of employees or departments impacted. Designer Brands also did not comment on questions regarding whether employees were offered severance or other benefits, but did state that the company’s priority “is to support affected associates with the resources they need during this transition.”
“We took actions to simplify our organizational structure, reduce complexity, and improve speed and accountability,” a company spokesperson said in a statement to Retail Dive. “These changes strengthen our ability to execute, manage costs, and create long-term value for our customers, our teams and our business. Unfortunately, this means some associates were impacted. These are difficult decisions.”
In its latest earnings, Designer Brands reported net sales decreased 3.2% year over year to $752.4 million, while comparable sales decreased by 2.4%. Net income in Q3 increased over 46% compared to the year-ago quarter to $19.3 million.
CEO Doug Howe stated during a third-quarter earnings call that the company is focused on both its customer and product.
“We are working to drive growth by scaling private label, building a more profitable wholesale model and investing in strategic growth brands,” Howe said. “Our customer remains at the center of everything we do and we remain focused on delivering an expansive assortment of relevant products to exceed expectations across footwear categories.”
This fall, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Administrative Officer Jared Poff announced his departure from Designer Brands after a decade with the company. Controller and Principal Accounting Officer Mark Haley is serving as interim principal financial officer as the company continues its search for a permanent CFO.
