dbi-20220831
0001319947false00013199472022-08-312022-08-31

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): August 31, 2022
Designer Brands Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
     
Ohio 001-32545 31-0746639
(State or other Jurisdiction of Incorporation) (Commission File Number) (IRS Employer Identification No.)
   
810 DSW Drive, Columbus, Ohio
 43219
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (614) 237-7100
 
 N/A
(Former name or former address if changed since last report.)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each classTrading Symbol(s)Name of each exchange on which registered
Class A Common Shares, without par valueDBINew York Stock Exchange
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).
Emerging growth company

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange
Act.    ☐





Item 2.02 Results of Operations and Financial Condition.

On August 31, 2022, Designer Brands Inc. (the "Company") issued a press release announcing its consolidated financial results for the quarter ended July 30, 2022. A copy of the press release is attached as Exhibit 99.1 hereto and incorporated by reference herein. The Company also posted an infographic, dated August 31, 2022, on the "Investors" section of its investor relations website (investors.designerbrands.com/investor-relations). Copies of the press release and infographic are furnished herewith as Exhibit 99.1 and Exhibit 99.2, respectively. Information on the Company’s website is not, and will not be deemed to be, a part of this Current Report on Form 8-K or incorporated into any other filings the Company may make with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Pursuant to General Instruction B.2 of Current Report on Form 8-K, the information in this Item 2.02, including Exhibit 99.1 and Exhibit 99.2, is being furnished and shall not be deemed to be "filed" for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or otherwise subject to the liability of such section. Furthermore, the information in this Item 2.02 shall not be deemed to be incorporated by reference into the filings of the Company under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d) Exhibits.
Exhibit Number Description
 
104Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document).



Signature  
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
 
Designer Brands Inc.
By:/s/ Michelle C. Krall
Michelle C. Krall
Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary
Date:August 31, 2022



Exhibit 99.1

Designer Brands Inc. Reports Second Quarter 2022 Financial Results
Comparable sales up 6.2% on top of comparable sales of 84.9% for the second quarter of 2021
Net sales from our Owned Brands increased 40.4% over the same period last year
Six of our Owned Brands would fall within the top 50 fashion footwear brands in the second quarter
Full year 2022 diluted EPS guidance raised to a range of $2.05 to $2.15 from $1.90 to $2.00

COLUMBUS, Ohio, August 31, 2022 - Designer Brands Inc. (NYSE: DBI) (the "Company" and "Designer Brands"), one of the world's largest designers, producers, and retailers of footwear and accessories, announced financial results for the three months ended July 30, 2022.

Roger Rawlins, Chief Executive Officer, stated, "Our second quarter was a continuation of the strength we have seen in both our direct-to-consumer and wholesale channels and we were pleased with our topline results. We are seeing this trend continue into the third quarter as our back-to-school season, a new holiday period for Designer Brands, has been performing well, supported by an increased assortment of athletic and kid’s products.

"We continue to successfully execute against our long-term plan to double sales of our Owned Brands by 2026 while maintaining sales of our top National Brand partners. The recent addition of Le Tigre to our portfolio of brands, coupled with our recently announced partnership with Reebok, supports our plan to build a very relevant and highly demanded Owned Brands assortment. Our brand building strategy continues to drive strong financial results and has enabled us to repurchase 7.8 million common shares in the second quarter. As we look forward, we are well-positioned for the back half of the year and are confident in our ability to deliver our updated 2022 guidance."




Second Quarter Operating Results (all comparisons are to the second quarter of 2021)
Net sales increased 5.1% to $859.3 million.
Comparable sales increased 6.2%.
Gross profit increased to $295.7 million versus $284.7 million last year, and gross margin as a percentage of net sales was 34.4% as compared to 34.8% last year.
Reported net income was $46.2 million, or diluted earnings per share ("EPS") of $0.62.
Adjusted net income was $46.1 million, or adjusted diluted EPS of $0.62.

Liquidity Highlights
Cash and cash equivalents totaled $50.8 million at the end of the second quarter of 2022 compared to $46.5 million at the end of the same period last year, with $157.7 million remaining available for borrowings under our senior secured asset-based revolving credit facility ("ABL Revolver"). Debt totaled $387.4 million at the end of the second quarter of 2022 compared to $247.1 million at the end of the same period last year. We anticipate receiving approximately $160.0 million in the near future from the Internal Revenue Service as a result of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act.
The Company ended the quarter with more normalized inventory levels of $694.0 million compared to $504.3 million at the same period last year with accelerated receipts to support fall season demand.

Return to Shareholders
During the second quarter of 2022, Designer Brands repurchased 7.8 million Class A common shares (10.8% of Class A and Class B common shares at the beginning of the quarter) at an aggregate cost of $105.8 million under its share repurchase program.
During the six months ended July 30, 2022, we repurchased 9.4 million Class A common shares (12.8% of Class A and Class B common shares at the beginning of the fiscal year) at an aggregate cost of $128.5 million, with $206.4 million of Class A common shares that remain authorized under the program as of July 30, 2022.
A dividend of $0.05 per share of Class A and Class B common shares will be paid on October 6, 2022 to shareholders of record at the close of business on September 22, 2022.




Store Openings and Closings
During the second quarter of 2022, we closed 4 stores in the U.S. and 2 stores in Canada with no new stores opened, resulting in a total of 506 U.S. stores and 138 Canadian stores as of July 30, 2022. In May 2022, we opened our new "Warehouse Reimagined" format at a Houston-area DSW store.

Updated 2022 Financial Outlook
The Company is updating the following guidance for the full year 2022:
MetricPrevious GuidanceCurrent Guidance
Designer Brands Comparable Sales GrowthMid-single digitsMid-single digits
Diluted EPS$1.90 - $2.00$2.05 - $2.15

Webcast and Conference Call
The Company is hosting a conference call today at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time. Investors and analysts interested in participating in the call are invited to dial 1-888-317-6003, or the international dial-in, 1-412-317-6061, and reference conference ID number 0992621 approximately ten minutes prior to the start of the conference call. The conference call will also be broadcast live over the internet and can be accessed through the following link:
https://app.webinar.net/92W8GVxERKJ

For those unable to listen to the live webcast, an archived version will be available via the same website address until September 1, 2022. A replay of the teleconference will be available by dialing the following numbers:
U.S.: 1-877-344-7529
Canada: 1-855-669-9658
International: 1-412-317-0088
Passcode: 8228598




About Designer Brands
Designer Brands is one of the world’s largest designers, producers and retailers of the most recognizable footwear brands and accessories, transforming and defining the footwear industry by inspiring self-expression across every facet of its enterprise. Through its portfolio of world-class owned brands, led by the industry-setting Vince Camuto brand, Designer Brands delivers on-trend footwear and accessories through its robust direct-to-consumer omni-channel infrastructure, featuring a billion-dollar digital commerce business and nearly 650 stores across the U.S. and Canada. Its retailing operations under the DSW Designer Shoe Warehouse and The Shoe Company banners deliver current, in-line footwear and accessories from most of the largest national brands in the industry and hold leading market share positions in key product categories across Women’s, Men’s and Kid’s in the U.S. and Canada. Designer Brands also distributes its owned brands through select wholesale relationships while leveraging its design and sourcing expertise to build private label product for national retailers. Designer Brands is also committed to being a difference maker in the world, taking steps forward to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion in the footwear industry and supporting our global community and the health of our planet through donating more than six million pairs of shoes to the global non-profit Soles4Souls. More information can be found at www.designerbrands.com.

Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995
Certain statements in this press release may constitute forward-looking statements and are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. You can identify these forward-looking statements by the use of forward-looking words such as "outlook," "could," "believes," "expects," "potential," "continues," "may," "will," "should," "would," "seeks," "approximately," "predicts," "intends," "plans," "estimates," "anticipates," or the negative version of those words or other comparable words. These statements are based on the Company's current views and expectations and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause actual results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. These factors include, but are not limited to: risks and uncertainties related to the ongoing coronavirus ("COVID-19") pandemic, any future COVID-19 resurgence, and any other adverse public health developments; risks that recent inflationary pressures, including higher freight costs, could have on our results of operations and customer demand based on pricing actions and operating measures taken to mitigate the impact of inflation; uncertain general economic conditions, including inflation and supply chain



pressures, domestic and global political and social conditions and the potential impact of geopolitical turmoil or conflict, and the related impacts to consumer discretionary spending; our ability to execute on our long-term strategic plans; our ability to anticipate and respond to fashion trends, consumer preferences, and changing customer expectations; our ability to maintain strong relationships with our vendors, manufacturers, licensors, and retailer customers; risks related to losses or disruptions associated with our distribution systems, including our distribution centers and fulfillment center and stores, whether as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, reliance on third-party providers, or otherwise; our reliance on our loyalty programs and marketing to drive traffic, sales, and customer loyalty; risks related to cyber security threats and privacy or data security breaches or the potential loss or disruption of our information systems; our ability to protect our reputation and to maintain the brands we license; our competitiveness with respect to style, price, brand availability, and customer service; risks related to our international operations, including international trade, our reliance on foreign sources for merchandise, exposure to political, economic, operational, and compliance and other risks, and fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates; our ability to comply with privacy laws and regulations, as well as other legal obligations; risks associated with climate change and other corporate responsibility issues; and uncertainties related to future legislation, regulatory reform, policy changes, or interpretive guidance on existing legislation. Risks and other factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from our forward-looking statements are described in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 29, 2022 and in our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. All forward-looking statements speak only as of the time when made. Except as may be required by law, the Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise the forward-looking statements included in this press release to reflect any future events or circumstances.



DESIGNER BRANDS INC.
SEGMENT RESULTS
(unaudited)

Net Sales
Three months ended
(dollars in thousands)July 30, 2022July 31, 2021Change
Amount% of Segment Net SalesAmount% of Segment Net SalesAmount%
Segment net sales:
U.S. Retail$734,063 83.5 %$723,093 87.0 %$10,970 1.5 %
Canada Retail78,284 8.9 %57,585 6.9 %20,699 35.9 %
Brand Portfolio66,351 7.6 %50,529 6.1 %15,822 31.3 %
Total segment net sales878,698 100.0 %831,207 100.0 %47,491 5.7 %
Elimination of intersegment net sales(19,379)(13,872)(5,507)39.7 %
Consolidated net sales$859,319 $817,335 $41,984 5.1 %

Six months ended
(dollars in thousands)July 30, 2022July 31, 2021Change
Amount% of Segment Net SalesAmount% of Segment Net SalesAmount%
Segment net sales:
U.S. Retail$1,436,808 82.8 %$1,343,751 86.7 %$93,057 6.9 %
Canada Retail134,599 7.8 %98,189 6.3 %36,410 37.1 %
Brand Portfolio163,807 9.4 %107,956 7.0 %55,851 51.7 %
Total segment net sales1,735,214 100.0 %1,549,896 100.0 %185,318 12.0 %
Elimination of intersegment net sales(45,352)(29,406)(15,946)54.2 %
Consolidated net sales$1,689,862 $1,520,490 $169,372 11.1 %






Net Sales by Brand Category
(in thousands)U.S. RetailCanada RetailBrand PortfolioEliminationsConsolidated
Three months ended July 30, 2022
Owned Brands:(1)
Direct-to-consumer$147,877 $ $7,793 $ $155,670 
External customer wholesale and commission income  39,179  39,179 
Intersegment wholesale and commission income  19,379 (19,379) 
Total Owned Brands147,877  66,351 (19,379)194,849 
National brands586,186    586,186 
Canada Retail(2)
 78,284   78,284 
Total net sales$734,063 $78,284 $66,351 $(19,379)$859,319 
Three months ended July 31, 2021
Owned Brands:(1)
Direct-to-consumer$102,152 $— $5,437 $— $107,589 
External customer wholesale and commission income— — 31,220 — 31,220 
Intersegment wholesale and commission income— — 13,872 (13,872)— 
Total Owned Brands102,152 — 50,529 (13,872)138,809 
National brands620,941 — — — 620,941 
Canada Retail(2)
— 57,585 — — 57,585 
Total net sales$723,093 $57,585 $50,529 $(13,872)$817,335 
Six months ended July 30, 2022
Owned Brands:(1)
Direct-to-consumer$287,032 $ $14,320 $ $301,352 
External customer wholesale and commission income  104,135  104,135 
Intersegment wholesale and commission income  45,352 (45,352) 
Total Owned Brands287,032  163,807 (45,352)405,487 
National brands1,149,776    1,149,776 
Canada Retail(2)
 134,599   134,599 
Total net sales$1,436,808 $134,599 $163,807 $(45,352)$1,689,862 
Six months ended July 31, 2021
Owned Brands:(1)
Direct-to-consumer$185,418 $— $10,890 $— $196,308 
External customer wholesale and commission income— — 67,660 — 67,660 
Intersegment wholesale and commission income— — 29,406 (29,406)— 
Total Owned Brands185,418 — 107,956 (29,406)263,968 
National brands1,158,333 — — — 1,158,333 
Canada Retail(2)
— 98,189 — — 98,189 
Total net sales$1,343,751 $98,189 $107,956 $(29,406)$1,520,490 

(1)     Owned Brands refers to those brands we have rights to sell through ownership or license arrangements.
(2)    We currently do not report the Canada Retail segment net sales by brand categories.




Comparable Sales
Three months endedSix months ended
July 30, 2022July 31, 2021July 30, 2022July 31, 2021
Change in comparable sales:
U.S. Retail segment2.7 %94.3 %7.8 %74.5 %
Canada Retail segment47.3 %14.6 %44.8 %12.6 %
Brand Portfolio segment - direct-to-consumer channel43.3 %10.6 %31.5 %8.6 %
Total 6.2 %84.9 %10.4 %68.1 %

Store Count
(square footage in thousands)July 30, 2022July 31, 2021
Number of StoresSquare FootageNumber of StoresSquare Footage
U.S. Retail segment - DSW stores506 10,237 515 10,491 
Canada Retail segment:
The Shoe Company stores113 596 116 611 
DSW stores25 496 27 536 
138 1,092 143 1,147 
Total number of stores644 11,329 658 11,638 

Gross Profit
Three months ended
(dollars in thousands)
July 30, 2022July 31, 2021Change
Amount% of Segment Net SalesAmount% of Segment Net SalesAmount%Basis Points
Segment gross profit:
U.S. Retail$251,143 34.2 %$256,893 35.5 %$(5,750)(2.2)%(130)
Canada Retail30,974 39.6 %18,768 32.6 %12,206 65.0 %700 
Brand Portfolio12,294 18.5 %8,533 16.9 %3,761 44.1 %160 
Total segment gross profit294,411 33.5 %284,194 34.2 %10,217 3.6 %(70)
Net recognition of intersegment gross profit1,259 487 772 
Consolidated gross profit$295,670 34.4 %$284,681 34.8 %$10,989 3.9 %(40)




Six months ended
(dollars in thousands)
July 30, 2022July 31, 2021Change
Amount% of Segment Net SalesAmount% of Segment Net SalesAmount%Basis Points
Segment gross profit:
U.S. Retail$484,210 33.7 %$450,006 33.5 %$34,204 7.6 %20 
Canada Retail49,847 37.0 %29,603 30.1 %20,244 68.4 %690 
Brand Portfolio36,136 22.1 %20,459 19.0 %15,677 76.6 %310 
Total segment gross profit570,193 32.9 %500,068 32.3 %70,125 14.0 %60 
Net recognition of intersegment gross profit1,222 724 498 
Consolidated gross profit$571,415 33.8 %$500,792 32.9 %$70,623 14.1 %90 

Intersegment Eliminations
Three months ended
(in thousands)July 30, 2022July 31, 2021
Recognition (elimination) of intersegment activity:
Net sales recognized by Brand Portfolio segment$(19,379)$(13,872)
Cost of sales:
Cost of sales recognized by Brand Portfolio segment12,554 9,707 
Recognition of intersegment gross profit for inventory previously purchased that was subsequently sold to external customers during the current period8,084 4,652 
$1,259 $487 


Six months ended
(in thousands)July 30, 2022July 31, 2021
Recognition (elimination) of intersegment activity:
Net sales recognized by Brand Portfolio segment$(45,352)$(29,406)
Cost of sales:
Cost of sales recognized by Brand Portfolio segment30,723 20,642 
Recognition of intersegment gross profit for inventory previously purchased that was subsequently sold to external customers during the current period15,851 9,488 
$1,222 $724 



DESIGNER BRANDS INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(unaudited and in thousands, except per share amounts)

Three months endedSix months ended
July 30, 2022July 31, 2021July 30, 2022July 31, 2021
Net sales$859,319 $817,335 $1,689,862 $1,520,490 
Cost of sales(563,649)(532,654)(1,118,447)(1,019,698)
Gross profit295,670 284,681 571,415 500,792 
Operating expenses(228,690)(224,385)(452,116)(425,199)
Income from equity investments2,435 2,290 4,380 3,998 
Impairment charges(1,816)(1,174)(2,888)(1,174)
Operating profit67,599 61,412 120,791 78,417 
Interest expense, net(2,752)(8,072)(5,704)(16,886)
Loss on extinguishment of debt and write-off of debt issuance costs — (12,862)— 
Non-operating income (expenses), net37 (244)43 562 
Income before income taxes64,884 53,096 102,268 62,093 
Income tax provision(18,671)(10,236)(29,873)(2,207)
Net income$46,213 $42,860 $72,395 $59,886 
Diluted earnings per share$0.62 $0.55 $0.96 $0.78 
Weighted average diluted shares73,942 77,619 75,369 77,271 




DESIGNER BRANDS INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(unaudited and in thousands)

July 30, 2022January 29, 2022July 31, 2021
ASSETS
Current Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents$50,799 $72,691 $46,458 
Receivables, net204,880 199,826 199,371 
Inventories694,010 586,429 504,316 
Prepaid expenses and other current assets51,558 55,270 53,616 
Total current assets1,001,247 914,216 803,761 
Property and equipment, net242,147 256,786 271,401 
Operating lease assets646,062 647,221 676,665 
Goodwill93,655 93,655 93,655 
Intangible assets, net 20,237 15,527 15,905 
Equity investments61,957 55,578 55,149 
Other assets37,134 31,651 29,513 
Total assets$2,102,439 $2,014,634 $1,946,049 
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current Liabilities
Accounts payable$337,543 $340,877 $299,322 
Accrued expenses210,469 215,812 222,055 
Current maturities of long-term debt — 62,500 
Current operating lease liabilities192,130 202,228 190,853 
Total current liabilities740,142 758,917 774,730 
Long-term debt387,441 225,536 184,569 
Non-current operating lease liabilities588,064 593,429 645,136 
Other non-current liabilities25,844 24,356 30,502 
Total shareholders' equity360,948 412,396 311,112 
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity$2,102,439 $2,014,634 $1,946,049 




DESIGNER BRANDS INC.
NON-GAAP RECONCILIATIONS
(unaudited and in thousands, except per share amounts)

Three months endedSix months ended
July 30, 2022July 31, 2021July 30, 2022July 31, 2021
Operating expenses$(228,690)$(224,385)$(452,116)$(425,199)
Non-GAAP adjustments:
Restructuring expenses992 1,094 1,606 2,836 
Target acquisition costs 5,333  5,333 
Adjusted operating expenses$(227,698)$(217,958)$(450,510)$(417,030)
Operating profit$67,599 $61,412 $120,791 $78,417 
Non-GAAP adjustments:
Restructuring expenses992 1,094 1,606 2,836 
Target acquisition costs 5,333  5,333 
Impairment charges1,816 1,174 2,888 1,174 
Total non-GAAP adjustments2,808 7,601 4,494 9,343 
Adjusted operating profit$70,407 $69,013 $125,285 $87,760 
Net income$46,213 $42,860 $72,395 $59,886 
Non-GAAP adjustments:
Restructuring expenses992 1,094 1,606 2,836 
Target acquisition costs 5,333  5,333 
Impairment charges
1,816 1,174 2,888 1,174 
Loss on extinguishment of debt and write-off of debt issuance costs — 12,862 — 
Foreign currency transaction losses (gains)(37)244 (43)(562)
Total non-GAAP adjustments before tax effect2,771 7,845 17,313 8,781 
Tax effect of non-GAAP adjustments(735)(1,871)(4,374)(2,179)
Valuation allowance change on deferred tax assets(2,135)(5,395)(2,495)(13,577)
Total adjustments, after tax(99)579 10,444 (6,975)
Adjusted net income$46,114 $43,439 $82,839 $52,911 
Diluted earnings per share$0.62 $0.55 $0.96 $0.78 
Adjusted diluted earnings per share$0.62 $0.56 $1.10 $0.68 

Non-GAAP Measures
To supplement amounts presented in our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements determined in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States ("GAAP"), the Company uses certain non-GAAP financial measures, including adjusted operating expenses, adjusted operating profit, adjusted net income, and adjusted diluted earnings per share as shown in the table above. These measures adjust for the effects of: (1) restructuring expenses; (2) target acquisition costs; (3) impairment charges; (4) loss on extinguishment of debt and write-off of debt issuance costs; (5) foreign currency transaction losses (gains); (6) the net tax effect of



such items; and (7) the change in the valuation allowance on deferred tax assets. The unaudited reconciliation of adjusted results should not be construed as an alternative to the reported results determined in accordance with GAAP. These financial measures are not based on any standardized methodology and are not necessarily comparable to similar measures presented by other companies. The Company believes these non-GAAP measures provide useful information to both management and investors to increase comparability to prior periods by adjusting for certain items that may not be indicative of core operating measures and to better identify trends in our business. The adjusted financial results are used by management to, and allow investors to, evaluate the operating performance of the Company on a comparable basis, when reviewed in conjunction with the Company’s GAAP statements. These amounts are not determined in accordance with GAAP and therefore should not be used exclusively in evaluating the Company’s business and operations.

Comparable Sales Performance Metric
We consider the change in comparable sales from the same previous year period, a primary metric commonly used throughout the retail industry, to be an important indicator of the performance of our retail and direct-to-consumer businesses. We include in our comparable sales metric stores in operation for at least 14 months at the beginning of the fiscal year. Stores are added to the comparable base at the beginning of the year and are dropped for comparative purposes in the quarter in which they are closed. Comparable sales include stores temporarily closed as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic as management continues to believe that this metric is meaningful to monitor our performance. Comparable sales also include e-commerce sales. Comparable sales for the Canada Retail segment exclude the impact of foreign currency translation and are calculated by translating current period results at the foreign currency exchange rate used in the comparable period of the prior year. Comparable sales for the Brand Portfolio segment include the direct-to-consumer e-commerce site www.vincecamuto.com. The calculation of comparable sales varies across the retail industry and, as a result, the calculations of other retail companies may not be consistent with our calculation.

CONTACT: Stacy Turnof, [email protected]

Any statements in this infographic that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements and are made by Designer Brands, Inc. (the “Company”) pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based on the Company’s current expectations and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results, performance or achievements to materially differ from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements because of factors discussed in this infographic and in the risk factors section identified in our annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 29, 2022, as amended, and in our other reports and filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company undertakes no obligation to revise the forward-looking statements included in this infographic to reflect any future events or circumstances, except as may be required by law. Shifted assortment to be more inclusive of growth categories like Kid’s and Athletic products Planned inventories aggressively to pursue back-to-school customers Optimized marketing based on geographic school calendars According to NPD, DSW outpaced the rest of the footwear market by 5 percentage points in Kid’s Footwear in Q2 2022, based on dollar sales. Clearance sales were up, as planned, 5% in the quarter compared to down 5% in the first quarter, as a result of our strategic focus on regaining that lapsed customer Well-positioned to capitalize on the historical peak demand period and for the back half of the year * Internal data ** Source: The NPD Group/Retail Tracking Service, Fashion Footwear, U.S. Dollar Sales, 3 months ending July 2022 vs. prior year Raised diluted EPS guidance for the third time this year to a range of $2.05 to $2.15, from the range provided at 1Q22 Earnings of $1.90 to $2.00 Repurchased 7.8 million shares in 2Q22 Repurchased 9.4 million shares YTD Dividend of $0.05 per share to be paid on 10/06/22 Key Factors: Share repurchase activity Better than anticipated 2Q22 results ~73 million weighted average diluted shares for FY 2022 to LY* vs. 2021 to LY*