Designer Brands Inc. (NYSE: DBI) is a footwear retail and brand company that operates specialty shoe stores across North America and designs, sources, and markets its own footwear brands. Revenue comes from direct retail sales of footwear and accessories through physical stores and e-commerce, supplemented by wholesale and direct-to-consumer sales from its Brand Portfolio segment. As of January 31, 2026, DBI operated 665 stores under three banners: DSW (519 stores), The Shoe Co. (118 stores), and Rubino (28 stores). Net sales were $2.89B in FY2025, down from $3.01B in FY2024. The company is headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, and the Schottenstein Affiliates held approximately 30% of outstanding common shares representing 66% of combined voting power as of January 31, 2026. All Brand Portfolio segment product manufacturing occurs at third-party facilities outside the U.S., with the majority sourced from Asia.

Revenue model

Transactional retail sales of footwear and accessories through physical stores and e-commerce (Retail segment), plus design, sourcing, and direct-to-consumer and wholesale sales of proprietary footwear brands (Brand Portfolio segment). Net sales totaled $2.89B in FY2025 with a gross margin of 43.6%.

Products and services

Footwear and accessories sold through DSW, The Shoe Co., and Rubino store banners, as well as proprietary footwear brands designed and sourced through the Brand Portfolio segment. Products are manufactured at third-party facilities, predominantly in Asia.

Customers and end markets

End consumers purchasing footwear and accessories through North American retail stores and e-commerce channels. No disclosed customer concentration. Payment methods accepted include credit and debit cards, buy now pay later, PayPal, ApplePay, Venmo, and gift cards.

Value-chain role

Vertically integrated across retail and brand ownership. Operates as a direct-to-consumer retailer through physical stores and e-commerce, and as a brand owner sourcing proprietary product from third-party Asian manufacturers. Distribution is handled through owned and leased logistics centers in Columbus, Ohio (625,000 sq ft), Westampton, New Jersey (683,000 sq ft), and Glendale, Arizona (276,000 sq ft).

Geographic exposure

Primary operations across North America. Retail stores in the U.S. and Canada (665 total locations as of January 31, 2026). Primary foreign sourcing office in Dongguan, China. Canadian comparable sales calculated excluding foreign currency translation impact.

Source: SEC 10-K, filed 2026-03-30

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