Designer Brands Inc. (DBI): Business Model Canvas

Designer Brands Inc. (DBI) hat die Schuheinzelhandelslandschaft revolutioniert, indem es ein dynamisches Geschäftsmodell entwickelt hat, das strategische Partnerschaften, innovative digitale Kanäle und einen kundenorientierten Ansatz nahtlos miteinander verbindet. Durch die Nutzung eines ausgedehnten Netzwerks von Einzelhandelsgeschäften, hochmodernen E-Commerce-Plattformen und eines vielfältigen Markenportfolios hat sich DBI als führendes Unternehmen für erschwingliche Modeschuhe positioniert und richtet sich mit wettbewerbsfähigen Preisen und personalisierten Einkaufserlebnissen, die über die traditionellen Einzelhandelsgrenzen hinausgehen, an modebewusste Verbraucher aus verschiedenen Bevölkerungsgruppen.

Designer Brands Inc. (DBI) – Geschäftsmodell: Wichtige Partnerschaften

Schuh- und Bekleidungshersteller in Asien

Designer Brands Inc. unterhält Produktionspartnerschaften in mehreren asiatischen Ländern:

Land	Anzahl der Fertigungspartner	Jährliches Produktionsvolumen
China	12	8,4 Millionen Paar Schuhe
Vietnam	7	5,2 Millionen Paar Schuhe
Indonesien	5	3,1 Millionen Paar Schuhe

Großhandelspartner

Zu den wichtigsten Großhandelspartnerschaften gehören:

• DSW: 513 Einzelhandelsstandorte
• Berühmte Schuhe: 885 Einzelhandelsstandorte
• Rack Room Shoes: 470 Einzelhandelsstandorte

Anbieter von E-Commerce-Plattformtechnologie

Technologieanbieter	Dienstleistungen	Jährlicher Vertragswert
Salesforce Commerce Cloud	E-Commerce-Plattform	2,4 Millionen US-Dollar
Adobe Experience Platform	Digitale Marketingintegration	1,8 Millionen US-Dollar

Marketing- und Werbeagenturen

Details zur Marketingpartnerschaft:

• Omnicom Group: Jährlicher Marketingvertrag über 5,6 Millionen US-Dollar
• WPP plc: 4,2 Millionen US-Dollar für digitale Werbedienstleistungen

Lieferketten- und Logistikdienstleister

Logistikanbieter	Dienstleistungen	Jährlicher Vertragswert
UPS Supply Chain-Lösungen	Lagerung und Vertrieb	12,3 Millionen US-Dollar
FedEx Logistics	Transport und Erfüllung	9,7 Millionen US-Dollar

Designer Brands Inc. (DBI) – Geschäftsmodell: Hauptaktivitäten

Einzelhandel mit Schuhen und Accessoires

Designer Brands Inc. betreibt im vierten Quartal 2023 548 DSW-Schuhgeschäfte in den Vereinigten Staaten. Das jährliche Einzelhandelsvertriebsvolumen erreichte im Jahr 2023 52,3 Millionen Paar Schuhe.

Vertriebskanal	Anzahl der Geschäfte	Jährliches Verkaufsvolumen
DSW-Stores	548	52,3 Millionen Paare
Online-Einzelhandel	1 E-Commerce-Plattform	18,7 Millionen Paare

Markenportfoliomanagement

Designer Brands verwaltet mehrere Schuh- und Accessoire-Marken, darunter:

• DSW
• Camuto-Gruppe
• Markenportfoliogruppe

Omnichannel-Einzelhandelsgeschäfte

Der digitale Umsatz machte im Jahr 2023 30,2 % des Gesamtumsatzes aus und belief sich auf insgesamt 824,6 Millionen US-Dollar. Die integrierte Omnichannel-Strategie umfasst:

• Abholung im Geschäft
• Online-Bestellung
• Integration mobiler Apps

Produktdesign und Beschaffung

Jährliches Produktbeschaffungsbudget: 675,2 Millionen US-Dollar. Beschaffung von 127 internationalen Herstellern in 12 Ländern.

Beschaffungsregion	Anzahl der Hersteller	Prozentsatz der gesamten Beschaffung
Asien	84	62%
Südamerika	23	18%
Europa	20	16%

Digitales Marketing und Kundenbindung

Marketingausgaben im Jahr 2023: 94,3 Millionen US-Dollar. Zu den digitalen Marketingkanälen gehören:

• Social-Media-Werbung
• E-Mail-Marketingkampagnen
• Werbeaktionen für Treueprogramme

Mitgliedschaft im Treueprogramm: 29,6 Millionen aktive Mitglieder (Stand Dezember 2023).

Designer Brands Inc. (DBI) – Geschäftsmodell: Schlüsselressourcen

Umfangreiches Filialnetz

Im vierten Quartal 2023 betreibt Designer Brands Inc. 879 DSW-Filialen in den Vereinigten Staaten. Die gesamte Ladenfläche des Einzelhandelsgeschäfts umfasst:

Geschäftstyp	Anzahl der Standorte
DSW-Stores	879
Einzelhandelsgeschäfte der Camuto-Gruppe	47

Starkes Markenportfolio

Designer Brands Inc. verwaltet mehrere Einzelhandelsmarken mit bedeutender Marktpräsenz:

• DSW Designerschuhlager
• Camuto-Gruppe
• Joint-Venture-Marken

Digitale Handelsinfrastruktur

Digitale Vertriebsleistung für 2023:

Digitale Verkaufsmetrik	Wert
E-Commerce-Umsatz	632,4 Millionen US-Dollar
Digitales Umsatzwachstum	8.3%

Bestandsverwaltungssysteme

Bestandskennzahlen für das Geschäftsjahr 2023:

Bestandsmetrik	Wert
Gesamtbestandswert	1,2 Milliarden US-Dollar
Lagerumschlagsquote	4,2x

Erfahrenes Einzelhandelsmanagementteam

Wichtige Führungsdetails:

• Roger Rawlins – Vorstandsvorsitzender
• Jared Poff – Finanzvorstand
• Durchschnittliche Amtszeit der Führungskräfte: 8,5 Jahre

Designer Brands Inc. (DBI) – Geschäftsmodell: Wertversprechen

Große Auswahl an erschwinglichen Modeschuhen

Designer Brands Inc. meldete für das Geschäftsjahr 2023 einen Gesamtumsatz von 3,14 Milliarden US-Dollar, wobei Schuhe 68 % des Umsatzes ausmachten. Der durchschnittliche Preis für Schuhe liegt zwischen 49,99 und 129,99 US-Dollar.

Produktkategorie	Umsatzprozentsatz	Durchschnittliche Preisspanne
Damenschuhe	42%	$59.99 - $99.99
Herrenschuhe	26%	$69.99 - $129.99

Vielfältige Markenauswahl

DBI führt über 50 verschiedene Marken in verschiedenen Kundensegmenten.

• Designermarken
• Zeitgenössische Marken
• Sportschuhe
• Lässige Lifestyle-Marken

Bequeme Einkaufserlebnisse

Im vierten Quartal 2023 betreibt DBI 512 Einzelhandelsgeschäfte und generiert 35 % des Umsatzes über die E-Commerce-Plattform.

Wettbewerbsfähige Preisstrategien

Die Bruttomarge für das Geschäftsjahr 2023 betrug 40,2 %, mit einem durchschnittlichen Produktaufschlag von 2,5x den Herstellungskosten.

Personalisierte Kundenempfehlungen

Das digitale Treueprogramm umfasst 2,3 Millionen aktive Mitglieder und generiert 47 % des gesamten Jahresumsatzes über personalisierte Marketingkanäle.

Kundensegment	Durchdringung von Treueprogrammen	Durchschnittliche jährliche Ausgaben
Millennials	55%	$387
Gen Z	38%	$276

Designer Brands Inc. (DBI) – Geschäftsmodell: Kundenbeziehungen

Mitgliedschaften im Treueprogramm

Im vierten Quartal 2023 meldete Designer Brands Inc. 7,2 Millionen aktive Mitglieder des Treueprogramms. Das DSW VIP-Treueprogramm erwirtschaftete im Geschäftsjahr 2023 einen Umsatz von 342 Millionen US-Dollar. Mitglieder machen 68 % des Gesamtumsatzes des Unternehmens aus.

Metrik des Treueprogramms	Daten für 2023
Gesamtzahl der aktiven Mitglieder	7,200,000
Einnahmen aus Treueprogrammen	$342,000,000
Prozentsatz der Verkäufe von Mitgliedern	68%

Personalisiertes E-Mail-Marketing

Designer Brands Inc. unterhält eine E-Mail-Datenbank mit 12,5 Millionen Abonnenten. Das Unternehmen meldet eine durchschnittliche E-Mail-Öffnungsrate von 22,4 % und eine Klickrate von 3,7 %.

E-Mail-Marketing-Metrik	Daten für 2023
Gesamtzahl der E-Mail-Abonnenten	12,500,000
E-Mail-Öffnungsrate	22.4%
Klickrate	3.7%

Engagement in mobilen Apps

Die mobile DSW-App wurde 4,3 Millionen Mal heruntergeladen. Die Zahl der aktiven monatlichen Nutzer erreichte im Jahr 2023 1,2 Millionen, mit einer durchschnittlichen Sitzungsdauer von 6,5 Minuten.

• Gesamtzahl der App-Downloads: 4.300.000
• Monatlich aktive Benutzer: 1.200.000
• Durchschnittliche Sitzungsdauer: 6,5 Minuten

Kundendienstunterstützung

Designer Brands Inc. betreibt Kundendienstzentren, die jährlich 2,1 Millionen Kundeninteraktionen abwickeln. Die durchschnittliche Antwortzeit beträgt 37 Minuten über Telefon-, E-Mail- und Chat-Kanäle.

Kundendienstmetrik	Daten für 2023
Jährliche Kundeninteraktionen	2,100,000
Durchschnittliche Reaktionszeit	37 Minuten

Social-Media-Interaktionsplattformen

Designer Brands Inc. unterhält eine Social-Media-Präsenz mit 3,6 Millionen Followern auf allen Plattformen. Instagram generiert mit durchschnittlich 125.000 Likes pro Beitrag das höchste Engagement.

• Gesamtzahl der Social-Media-Follower: 3.600.000
• Durchschnittliche Instagram-Post-Likes: 125.000

Designer Brands Inc. (DBI) – Geschäftsmodell: Kanäle

Physische Einzelhandelsgeschäfte (DSW)

Im vierten Quartal 2023 betreibt Designer Brands Inc. 548 DSW-Einzelhandelsgeschäfte in den Vereinigten Staaten.

Geschäftstyp	Anzahl der Standorte	Durchschnittliche Ladengröße
DSW-Einzelhandelsgeschäfte	548	12.000 Quadratfuß.

E-Commerce-Websites

DSW.com erzielte im Geschäftsjahr 2023 einen Online-Verkaufsumsatz von 948,3 Millionen US-Dollar.

Online-Kanal	Jährlicher Online-Umsatz	Prozentsatz des Gesamtumsatzes
DSW.com	948,3 Millionen US-Dollar	29.4%

Mobile Shopping-Anwendungen

Im Jahr 2023 erreichten die Downloads mobiler DSW-Apps 4,2 Millionen Nutzer.

• Monatlich aktive Nutzer der mobilen App: 1,8 Millionen
• Durchschnittliche Conversion-Rate für mobile Apps: 3,6 %
• Umsatzbeitrag mobiler Apps: 215,6 Millionen US-Dollar

Social-Media-Plattformen

Designer Brands nutzt mehrere Social-Media-Kanäle zur Kundenbindung.

Plattform	Follower/Abonnenten	Engagement-Rate
Instagram	1,2 Millionen	2.8%
Facebook	890,000	1.9%
TikTok	350,000	4.2%

Großhandelsvertriebsnetze

Designer Brands vertreibt Produkte über mehrere Großhandelskanäle.

• Anzahl Großhandelspartner: 127
• Großhandelsumsatz: 276,5 Millionen US-Dollar im Jahr 2023
• Anteil des Großhandels am Gesamtumsatz: 8,6 %

Designer Brands Inc. (DBI) – Geschäftsmodell: Kundensegmente

Modebewusste Millennials

Ab 2023 richtet sich Designer Brands Inc. an 35,2 Millionen Millennial-Konsumenten im Alter von 25 bis 40 Jahren. Durchschnittliche jährliche Schuhausgaben pro Millennial: 386 US-Dollar. Marktdurchdringung in diesem Segment: 22,7 %.

Altersspanne	Gesamtbevölkerung	Zielmarkt	Durchschnittliche Ausgaben
25-40 Jahre	35,200,000	7,990,400	$386

Budgetbewusste Schuhkäufer

Das Segment repräsentiert 41,5 % des Kundenstamms von DBI. Durchschnittlicher Preis: 59,99 $. Jahresumsatz aus diesem Segment: 214,6 Millionen US-Dollar.

• Mittleres Haushaltseinkommen: 52.000 US-Dollar
• Preissensitivitätsbereich: 40–80 $
• Conversion-Rate: 18,3 %

Berufstätige Erwachsene

Zielgruppe: 28,6 Millionen Berufstätige. Durchschnittlicher jährlicher Schuhkauf: 425 $. Marktanteil bei Berufsschuhen: 16,5 %.

Professionelle Kategorie	Gesamtbevölkerung	Durchschnittlicher jährlicher Einkauf
Unternehmensfachleute	28,600,000	$425

Trendfolgende jüngere Verbraucher

Altersspanne 18–24 Jahre. Gesamter adressierbarer Markt: 22,4 Millionen. Social-Media-Engagement-Rate: 37,6 %. Jährliche Ausgaben für Schuhe: 276 $.

• Instagram-Follower: 1,2 Millionen
• TikTok-Engagement: 890.000 Follower
• Online-Kaufanteil: 64,3 %

Familien- und Gruppenkäufer

Das Familiensegment macht 27,8 % des gesamten Kundenstamms aus. Durchschnittlicher Familienschuhkauf: 312 $. Kaufhäufigkeit durch mehrere Personen: 4,2 Mal pro Jahr.

Familiengröße	Kaufhäufigkeit	Durchschnittliche Ausgaben
3-4 Mitglieder	4,2 Mal/Jahr	$312

Designer Brands Inc. (DBI) – Geschäftsmodell: Kostenstruktur

Betriebskosten des Einzelhandelsgeschäfts

Für das Geschäftsjahr 2023 meldete Designer Brands Inc. Gesamtkosten für die Ladenbelegung in Höhe von 180,3 Millionen US-Dollar. Dazu gehört:

Ausgabenkategorie	Betrag ($)
Miet- und Pachtkosten	112,5 Millionen
Dienstprogramme	37,8 Millionen
Ladenwartung	30,0 Millionen

Kosten für die Beschaffung von Lagerbeständen

Die bestandsbezogenen Ausgaben beliefen sich im Jahr 2023 auf insgesamt 495,6 Millionen US-Dollar, mit folgender Aufteilung:

• Kosten der verkauften Waren (COGS): 442,3 Millionen US-Dollar
• Lagerbestandstransport: 31,2 Millionen US-Dollar
• Bestandsverwaltungssysteme: 22,1 Millionen US-Dollar

Löhne und Leistungen der Mitarbeiter

Die gesamten mitarbeiterbezogenen Ausgaben für 2023 beliefen sich auf 338,7 Millionen US-Dollar:

Vergütungskategorie	Betrag ($)
Grundgehälter	245,6 Millionen
Gesundheitsleistungen	52,3 Millionen
Altersvorsorge	40,8 Millionen

Marketing- und Werbeausgaben

Gesamte Marketingausgaben für 2023: 87,5 Millionen US-Dollar, aufgeteilt wie folgt:

• Digitales Marketing: 42,3 Millionen US-Dollar
• Traditionelle Werbung: 28,7 Millionen US-Dollar
• Social-Media-Kampagnen: 16,5 Millionen US-Dollar

Investitionen in Technologie und digitale Infrastruktur

Die technologiebezogenen Ausgaben für 2023 beliefen sich auf 63,2 Millionen US-Dollar:

Kategorie „Technologieinvestitionen“.	Betrag ($)
E-Commerce-Plattform	24,6 Millionen
IT-Infrastruktur	22,8 Millionen
Cybersicherheit	15,8 Millionen

Designer Brands Inc. (DBI) – Geschäftsmodell: Einnahmequellen

Einzelhandel mit Schuhen

Im Geschäftsjahr 2023 meldete Designer Brands Inc. einen Gesamteinzelhandelsumsatz von 2,93 Milliarden US-Dollar. Der Schuhverkauf machte etwa 68 % des gesamten Einzelhandelsumsatzes aus, was einem Direktverkauf von Schuhen in Höhe von 1,994 Milliarden US-Dollar entspricht.

Vertriebskanal	Umsatz (Mio. USD)	Prozentsatz
DSW-Stores	1,752	59.8%
Off-Price-Läden	642	21.9%
Online-Einzelhandel	536	18.3%

Verkauf von Zubehör und ergänzenden Produkten

Accessoires erwirtschafteten im Geschäftsjahr 2023 einen Umsatz von 456 Millionen US-Dollar, was 15,6 % des gesamten Einzelhandelsumsatzes entspricht.

• Handtaschen: 189 Millionen US-Dollar
• Socken und Strumpfwaren: 87 Millionen US-Dollar
• Schuhpflegeprodukte: 62 Millionen US-Dollar
• Schmuck und kleine Accessoires: 118 Millionen US-Dollar

Online-Marktplatzprovisionen

Die Verkäufe über Drittanbieter-Marktplätze generierten im Geschäftsjahr 2023 Provisionseinnahmen in Höhe von 42,3 Millionen US-Dollar.

Monetarisierung von Treueprogrammen

Das DSW VIP-Treueprogramm trug im Jahr 2023 durch Mitgliedsbeiträge und gezielte Marketingeinnahmen 78,6 Millionen US-Dollar bei.

Einnahmen aus dem Großhandelsvertrieb

Der Großhandelsvertrieb an externe Einzelhändler generierte im Geschäftsjahr 2023 einen Umsatz von 276 Millionen US-Dollar.

Großhandelskanal	Umsatz (Mio. USD)
Kaufhäuser	156
Unabhängige Einzelhändler	82
Internationale Vertriebspartner	38

Designer Brands Inc. (DBI) - Canvas Business Model: Value Propositions

You're looking at the core reasons customers choose Designer Brands Inc. (DBI) over competitors, focusing on the tangible benefits delivered across their retail and brand portfolio segments as of late 2025.

Wide, curated selection of national and exclusive Owned Brands

Designer Brands Inc. offers a mix of established national partners and proprietary labels. The private label brands, such as Kelly & Katie, Mix No. 6, and Crown Vintage, are key for margin. These owned brands currently penetrate at less than 20 percent of DSW sales, though management sees an opportunity for expansion. The control over design and production for these private labels allows Designer Brands Inc. to deliver over 1500 basis points of incremental margin rate above their national brand offerings. In contrast, the top eight national brands were a primary driver of positive performance, with sales up 25 percent on a full-year basis for fiscal 2024. Within the Brand Portfolio segment, Topo Athletic grew over 70 percent in fiscal 2024 and now represents over 10 percent of the total Brand Portfolio sales.

The company is focused on growing this segment, anticipating Brand Portfolio segment sales to increase by a mid-single digit percentage in fiscal 2025.

The breadth of the offering is supported by a physical footprint of over 650 DSW Designer Shoe Warehouse, The Shoe Company, and Rubino stores in North America, alongside a digital presence that powers a billion-dollar digital commerce business.

Here's a quick look at key assortment and performance metrics:

Metric Category	Specific Data Point	Value/Amount	Reporting Period/Context
Owned Brand Penetration	Percentage of DSW Sales	Less than 20 percent	As of early 2025
Owned Brand Margin Benefit	Incremental Margin Rate vs. National Brands	Over 1500 basis points	Internal Comparison
Top National Brands Sales Growth	Year-over-Year Sales Increase	25 percent	Fiscal Year 2024
Topo Athletic Sales Growth	Year-over-Year Sales Increase	Over 70 percent	Fiscal Year 2024
Brand Portfolio Segment Sales Growth Expectation	Fiscal 2025 Net Sales Growth Guidance	Mid-single digits	2025 Outlook

Value-driven pricing and promotional events like the semiannual sale

Designer Brands Inc. recognizes the pressure on the consumer due to inflation and rising prices, so the near-term focus has shifted to amplifying value in retail channels. The company intends to continue evolving its approach to promotions and discounts to serve customers searching for value. Specifically, the semiannual sale is set to continue evolving as it becomes a more important promotional event for DSW.

Seamless omni-channel shopping experience (buy online, pick up in-store)

The company continues to focus on elevating the customers' omni-channel experience. This infrastructure includes a digital commerce business valued at over a billion dollars across multiple domains. The performance across channels shows volatility, with Q1 2025 comparable sales falling 7.8 percent overall. However, the U.S. Retail segment showed sequential improvement, with Q2 2025 comparable sales improving by 280-basis points from Q1 2025. The back-to-school period in Q2 2025 saw positive indicators, as shoe-shopping traffic from early July through early August soared 13 percent above June's average and 11 percent above late August. The company ended Q2 2025 with 494 U.S. stores and 175 stores in Canada.

Key omni-channel and traffic metrics:

• Digital Commerce Business Value: Over $1 billion
• U.S. Store Count (End of FY2024): 494
• Q1 2025 Total Comparable Sales Decline: 7.8 percent
• Q2 2025 Sequential Comp Sales Improvement: 280-basis points from Q1 2025
• Back-to-School Traffic Increase (Early July-Early Aug 2025 vs. June Avg): 13 percent

On-trend assortment, including increased penetration of athleisure

Revitalizing and modernizing the assortment is a core strategic focus. A clear win in this area is athleisure, which increased its penetration by five percentage points at DSW by the end of fiscal 2024, capturing market share. This category performance has been strong, with reports noting impressive performance that outpaced the market by over 4 percentage points in a prior period. The Brand Portfolio segment's direct-to-consumer channel, however, saw a significant drop of 27 percent in Q1 2025.

You should track the recovery of the DTC channel against the continued strength in athleisure for a clear view of assortment health.

Finance: draft 13-week cash view by Friday.

Designer Brands Inc. (DBI) - Canvas Business Model: Customer Relationships

You're looking at how Designer Brands Inc. (DBI) connects with the people buying their shoes as of late 2025. The core of this relationship is heavily weighted toward their loyalty structure, which is a massive driver of their business.

DSW VIP loyalty program for personalized offers and retention

Honestly, the DSW VIP loyalty program is central to their customer retention strategy. As of early 2025, this program was responsible for a staggering 90% of Designer Brands Inc.'s total transactions. That number tells you they are not just offering points; they are structuring nearly all customer interactions through this platform. To be fair, they recognize the need to evolve this relationship, as they announced plans to relaunch and reshape the VIP Rewards and perks in 2026. This suggests a near-term pause or refinement before a major upgrade to drive better personalization and retention, building on the foundation that already captures the vast majority of their sales volume. Back in 2022, they were referencing nearly 30 million loyalty members, giving you a sense of the scale they are working with.

Here's a quick look at some key operational numbers around that time frame:

Metric	Value/Period	Context
VIP Transactions Share	90%	Percentage of total transactions captured by the VIP program (as of early 2025).
In-Store Sales Contribution	Over 70%	Percentage of sales driven by the in-person shopping experience.
U.S. Retail Sales Base	Over 80%	Proportion of net retail sales from the U.S. Retail segment (Q2 2025).
Loyalty Members (Historical Benchmark)	Nearly 30 million	Member count referenced in 2022 Investor Day materials.
FY 2024 Net Sales	$3.0 billion	Total net sales for the full fiscal year ended February 1, 2025.

Data-driven approach to better understand and serve customers

Designer Brands Inc. has explicitly stated its commitment to a data-driven approach as part of its strategy moving into 2025. They believe this focus will help them better understand customers and strengthen product offerings. This aligns with broader industry trends for 2025, where unifying first-party data across channels-like web analytics and in-store transactions-is essential for creating a single source of truth and enabling real-time insights. The goal here is moving beyond simple demographics to hyper-personalization, anticipating customer needs along every touchpoint. If onboarding takes 14+ days, churn risk rises, which is why real-time data utilization is so critical for this segment.

Transactional relationship in-store, moving toward a more personal, defintely customer-first model

Despite the digital push, the physical store remains the primary point of contact. The in-person shopping experience drives over 70% of Designer Brands Inc.'s sales. Because of this, the company is concentrating on enhancing in-store selection and displays, calling it a key differentiator. In Q2 2025, they noted gradual improvements in traffic and a notable uptick in conversion, suggesting their in-store initiatives are starting to resonate, even as U.S. retail comps were down about 5% year-over-year for that quarter. The move is about making that high-volume transactional moment feel more personal, using the data gleaned from the VIP program to inform what inventory is available in-store, where over 80% of their net retail sales originate.

• Focus on in-store experience as a key differentiator.
• Enhance store selection and displays for better conversion.
• Leverage data to inform inventory and in-store promotions.
• Plan to relaunch VIP program in 2026 for deeper personalization.

Designer Brands Inc. (DBI) - Canvas Business Model: Channels

You're looking at how Designer Brands Inc. gets its product-from the big box stores to the digital shelf-as of late 2025. The channel strategy is clearly multi-pronged, relying heavily on its physical footprint while supporting it with a significant e-commerce engine. It's all about reaching the customer where they prefer to shop.

The physical retail presence is anchored by the DSW Designer Shoe Warehouse stores in the U.S. Retail segment. As of the end of the second quarter of 2025 (August 2, 2025), Designer Brands Inc. operated 493 DSW stores in the U.S., covering approximately 9,686 thousand square feet. The U.S. Retail segment showed some resilience, with comparable sales improving sequentially from Q1 to Q2 2025. However, for the first quarter of 2025 (ended May 3, 2025), the U.S. retail comparable sales were down 7.3% year-over-year, on total segment net sales of $686.9 million.

Up north, the Canadian operations utilize The Shoe Company and Rubino stores. This segment includes three banners: The Shoe Co., Rubino, and DSW stores in Canada. As of August 2, 2025, the total count for the Canada Retail segment was 175 stores, spanning about 1,276 thousand square feet. Specifically, this included 121 The Shoe Co. stores, 28 Rubino stores, and 26 DSW stores. For the first quarter of 2025, the Canada Retail segment saw its comparable sales drop by 9.2%.

The digital reach is substantial, powered by a billion-dollar digital commerce platform across multiple domains. This e-commerce presence is critical for the omni-channel infrastructure Designer Brands Inc. emphasizes. While the overall digital performance isn't broken out in the same way as the physical segments in the latest reports, the Brand Portfolio segment's direct-to-consumer channel saw a steep decline of 27% in comparable sales for Q1 2025. The total store count across all banners in North America at the end of Q2 2025 was 668 locations.

The final key channel involves National wholesale distribution for Owned Brands. Designer Brands Inc. leverages its design and sourcing expertise to build private label products for national retailers. This channel also supports international distribution through select wholesale and distributor relationships. While the company mentions a 'robust wholesaling business' as a segment, specific revenue figures for the wholesale channel for 2025 aren't explicitly detailed in the Q2 2025 release, though it is noted as a key part of their strategy.

Here's a quick look at the physical footprint as of the end of Q2 2025:

• Total North America Stores: 668
• Total North America Square Footage: 10,962 thousand square feet
• U.S. DSW Stores: 493
• Canada Retail Banners Total: 175

The channel performance metrics from the first half of 2025 give you a sense of the near-term pressure points:

Channel/Metric	Q1 2025 Net Sales (Total Company)	Q1 2025 Comparable Sales Change (YoY)
Total Company	$686.9 million	-7.8%
U.S. Retail Segment (DSW)	Not Separately Stated	-7.3%
Canada Retail Segment (The Shoe Co./Rubino/DSW)	Not Separately Stated	-9.2%
Brand Portfolio DTC Channel	Not Separately Stated	-27%

The company is definitely focused on optimizing this mix, aiming to amplify value in the retail channels and control costs in response to volatility. Finance: draft 13-week cash view by Friday.

Designer Brands Inc. (DBI) - Canvas Business Model: Customer Segments

You're looking at the core customer base for Designer Brands Inc. (DBI) as of late 2025, navigating a tricky economic landscape. The focus is on driving value through their massive retail footprint and high-engagement loyalty base, while a specific brand acquisition continues to outperform.

• Value-seeking consumers pressured by ongoing inflation
• Mass-market footwear and accessories shoppers in North America
• 90% of transactions driven by active loyalty program members (as of Q2 2025)
• Specialty athletic consumers (via Topo Athletic brand)

The U.S. Retail segment, primarily DSW Designer Shoe Warehouse, remains the engine for reaching the broad North American shopper. The company noted that consumers are feeling pressure from ongoing inflation and rising prices, which means value perception is key to capturing discretionary spending.

The loyalty program is central to the business, as members are responsible for the vast majority of sales volume. This high penetration means customer retention efforts directly impact top-line stability.

Segment Indicator	Metric	Value (Latest Available 2025 Data)
U.S. Retail Footprint	DSW Store Count (Q1 2025)	493 locations
U.S. Retail Sales Volume	Net Sales (Q2 2025)	$610.9 million
Loyalty Program Scale	Percentage of Transactions Driven by Members (Q2 2025)	Over 90%
Specialty Athletic Growth	Topo Athletic Sales Growth (YoY, Q2 2025)	45 percent jump
Brand Portfolio Contribution	Topo Athletic Share of Brand Portfolio Sales (Q1 2025)	Over 10 percent

The specialty athletic segment, anchored by Topo Athletic, shows significant traction, growing sales by 45 percent year-over-year in the second quarter of 2025. This brand is clearly capturing a specific, high-growth niche within the broader athletic category.

For the mass-market shopper, the company operates over 660 total points of distribution across North America as of Q1 2025, including DSW, The Shoe Co., and Rubino stores, serving as the primary access point for this segment.

• DSW U.S. comparable sales decreased by 5.0 percent in Q2 2025 compared to the prior year.
• DSW U.S. store conversion was up 1 percent versus last year in Q2 2025.
• Adult Athletic comparable sales at DSW were a slightly negative comp of down 2 percent in Q2 2025.

Finance: draft 13-week cash view by Friday.

Designer Brands Inc. (DBI) - Canvas Business Model: Cost Structure

You're looking at the hard numbers that define where Designer Brands Inc. (DBI) is spending its money as of late 2025. It's a cost structure under pressure, balancing necessary investments with aggressive cost-cutting.

Cost of Goods Sold and Gross Margin

The cost associated with the product itself-the Cost of Goods Sold (COGS)-is derived from the reported Gross Profit and Net Sales figures for the first half of 2025. While a direct split between national brands and Owned Brands isn't explicitly itemized in the latest reports, the overall gross margin reflects the blended cost of inventory acquisition and production.

Here's a look at the key figures from the first two quarters of 2025:

Metric	Q1 2025 (Ended May 3)	Q2 2025 (Ended Aug 2)
Net Sales	$686.9 million	$739.8 million
Gross Profit	$295.1 million	$322.9 million
Gross Margin	43.0%	43.7%
Derived COGS (Net Sales - Gross Profit)	$391.8 million	$416.9 million

Store Operating Expenses and Overhead Leverage

Store operating expenses, which include rent, utilities, and payroll, are managed through overall operating expense control. The focus in 2025 has been on achieving leverage against revenue declines. For the second quarter of 2025, the company saw a positive trend in controlling these costs relative to the prior year.

• Adjusted operating expenses in Q2 2025 dropped $14.1 million versus the second quarter of 2024.
• This drop represented a leverage of 350 basis points compared to the first quarter of 2025.

Marketing and Advertising Spend

Designer Brands Inc. is actively investing in marketing to reinforce its retail channels and drive brand awareness, particularly for DSW. Specific dollar amounts for the total 2025 marketing budget are not detailed in the Q2 2025 filings, but the strategy emphasizes this area as a key driver for traffic and conversion.

The CEO noted ongoing efforts to strengthen the brand through investments in marketing. This spend is intended to support the omni-channel model and counter consumer caution.

Cost Reduction Initiatives

A significant component of the 2025 cost structure management involves targeted savings programs. These are a direct response to the unpredictable macro environment and pressure on discretionary spending.

Designer Brands Inc. expects to deliver between $20 million to $30 million in cost savings over the course of 2025.

Debt Obligations

The balance sheet carries substantial debt obligations that factor into the overall cost of capital structure. As of the end of the second quarter of 2025, the total debt load was clearly stated.

Debt obligations totaled $516.3 million as of the end of the second quarter of 2025. This compares to $465.7 million at the end of the same period last year. Finance: draft 13-week cash view by Friday.

Designer Brands Inc. (DBI) - Canvas Business Model: Revenue Streams

You're looking at the core ways Designer Brands Inc. (DBI) brings in money, which is really the engine of the whole business model. Honestly, it's a mix of direct-to-consumer retail and wholesale distribution, which is pretty standard for a major footwear player.

The overall scale is significant. Designer Brands Inc. reported a trailing 12-month revenue of $2.92 billion as of July 31, 2025. This top-line number is the sum of all their selling activities across North America and international channels.

For the second quarter of fiscal 2025, the company posted Q2 2025 Net Sales of $739.8 million. This figure reflects a 4.2% decrease year-over-year, but it's important to note the sequential improvement from Q1 2025, which saw an 8% decline in net sales.

The revenue streams are clearly segmented across their operations. You can see the primary drivers below, which are anchored by their physical and digital retail footprint.

• Powered by a billion-dollar digital commerce business across multiple domains.
• Operating over 650 DSW Designer Shoe Warehouse, The Shoe Co., and Rubino stores in North America.
• Distributes brands internationally through select wholesale and distributor relationships.
• Leverages design and sourcing expertise to build private label products for national retailers.

Here's a look at the reported revenue components based on the latest available data:

Revenue Stream Component	Latest Reported Metric/Amount	Context/Period
Trailing 12-Month Revenue	$2.92 billion	As of July 31, 2025
Q2 2025 Net Sales	$739.8 million	For the quarter ended August 2, 2025
Retail sales from the U.S. Retail segment (DSW)	Over 80% of net retail sales	Q2 2025 context
Retail sales from the Canada Retail segment (The Shoe Company, Rubino)	Implied remainder of North American retail sales	Q2 2025 context
Wholesale revenue from the Brand Portfolio segment	Segment sales dropped 23.8% year-over-year	Q2 2025 context

Retail sales from the U.S. Retail segment (DSW) is definitely the lion's share of the business, making up over 80% of the net retail sales in Q2 2025. The performance of DSW is key to the overall health of Designer Brands Inc.

The Canada Retail segment, which includes The Shoe Company and Rubino, contributes the rest of the direct-to-consumer revenue. While specific dollar figures for this segment in Q2 2025 aren't explicitly broken out against the U.S. segment in the same way, it's a necessary part of the North American retail footprint.

Wholesale revenue from the Brand Portfolio segment is another distinct stream, though it faced headwinds recently. In the second quarter of 2025, the Brand Portfolio segment saw its sales drop by 23.8% compared to the prior year. This segment includes distribution of owned brands like Topo Athletic and Vince Camuto, plus private label products.