Stratrix
On the Record · Designer Brands

Designer Brands layoffs, on the record

Every job cut, severance charge and restructuring Designer Brands reported in its annual reports, 2024 to 2026, quoted from the filings. Headcount went from approximately 14,000 to approximately 13,000.

Headcount, as reported

Annual reportEmployeesAs of
10-K for 2024approximately 14,000As of February 3, 2024
10-K for 2025approximately 14,000February 1, 2025
10-K for 2026approximately 13,000January 31, 2026

Job cuts, severance and restructuring

  1. Our summaryCompany recorded CEO transition costs including severance tied to the CEO transition, with Roger Rawlins serving as strategic advisor. Cost: $ 8.1 million of CEO transition costs consisting of $ 2.2 million in severance costs, $ 2.8 million in accelerated stock-based compensation (net of stock awards forfeited), and $ 3.1 million in retention stock awards

    Word for word“In conjunction with the CEO transition, we recorded $ 8.1 million of CEO transition costs consisting of $ 2.2 million in severance costs, $ 2.8 million in accelerated stock-based compensation (net of stock awards forfeited), and $ 3.1 million in retention stock awards to certain members of our leadership team and other related professional fees.” 10-K for 2024

  2. Our summaryCompany incurred severance costs, excluding CEO transition severance, across its segments during 2023. During 2023 · Cost: $ 5.1 million ($ 3.4 million, $ 0.2 million and $ 1.5 million for the U.S. Retail, Canada Retail and Brand Portfolio segments, respectively)

    Word for word“Severance- During 2023, we incurred severance costs, excluding the severance related to the CEO transition, of $ 5.1 million ($ 3.4 million, $ 0.2 million and $ 1.5 million for the U.S. Retail, Canada Retail and Brand Portfolio segments, respectively).” 10-K for 2024

  3. Our summaryCompany incurred severance costs, excluding CEO transition severance, across its segments during 2022. During 2022 · Cost: $ 2.8 million ($ 1.8 million, $ 0.2 million and $ 0.8 million for the U.S. Retail, Canada Retail and Brand Portfolio segments, respectively)

    Word for word“During 2022, we incurred severance costs, excluding the severance related to the CEO transition, of $ 2.8 million ($ 1.8 million, $ 0.2 million and $ 0.8 million for the U.S. Retail, Canada Retail and Brand Portfolio segments, respectively).” 10-K for 2024

  4. Our summaryCompany incurred severance costs across its segments during 2021. During 2021 · Cost: $ 3.3 million ($ 1.5 million and $ 1.8 million for the U.S. Retail and Brand Portfolio segments, respectively)

    Word for word“During 2021, we incurred severance costs of $ 3.3 million ($ 1.5 million and $ 1.8 million for the U.S. Retail and Brand Portfolio segments, respectively).” 10-K for 2024

  5. Our summaryCompany reported restructuring and integration costs, impairment charges and CEO transition costs as after-tax charges in 2023. Cost: net after-tax charges of $14.0 million, or $0.22 per diluted share

    Word for word“Net income attributable to Designer Brands Inc. was $29.1 million, or $0.46 per diluted share, which included net after-tax charges of $14.0 million, or $0.22 per diluted share, primarily related to restructuring and integration costs, impairment charges, and CEO transition costs, compared to $162.7 million, or $2.26 per diluted share, last year, which included net after-tax benefits of $29.0 million, or $0.41 per diluted share, primarily related to the change in valuation allowance on deferred tax assets, partially offset by the loss on extinguishment of debt and write-off of debt issuance costs, restructuring and termination costs, impairment charges, and CEO transition costs.” 10-K for 2024

  6. Our summaryIncurred severance costs, excluding CEO transition severance, in each of the three years shown. During 2024, 2023 and 2022 · Cost: $ 5.8 million, $ 5.1 million and $ 2.8 million, respectively

    Word for word“During 2024, 2023 and 2022, we incurred severance costs, excluding the severance related to the CEO transition, of $ 5.8 million, $ 5.1 million and $ 2.8 million, respectively.” 10-K for 2025

  7. Our summaryCarried a severance liability in accrued expenses at fiscal year end and the prior year end. As of February 1, 2025 and February 3, 2024 · Cost: $ 1.3 million and $ 3.9 million, respectively

    Word for word“As of February 1, 2025 and February 3, 2024, we had $ 1.3 million and $ 3.9 million, respectively, of severance liability included in accrued expenses on the consolidated balance sheets.” 10-K for 2025

  8. Our summaryThe company recorded severance costs (not counting CEO transition severance) in 2025, 2024 and 2023, and reported a larger accrued severance liability at year end 2025. During 2025, 2024 and 2023 · Cost: $ 9.8 million, $ 5.8 million and $ 5.1 million

    Word for word“Severance- During 2025, 2024 and 2023, we incurred severance costs, excluding the severance related to the CEO transition, of $ 9.8 million, $ 5.8 million and $ 5.1 million, respectively.” 10-K for 2026
As filedReported in the company's financial data (XBRL), each linked to its filing
Fiscal year endedSeverance costsRestructuring charges
2017-01-28—$4.5 million
2019-02-02$5.6 million—
2020-02-01$3.9 million—
2021-01-30$15.2 million—
2022-01-29$3.3 million—
2023-01-28$2.8 million$3.7 million
2024-02-03$5.1 million$3.7 million
2025-02-01$5.8 million$4.4 million
2026-01-31$9.8 million$4.4 million

Designer Brands has filed no restructuring notice (Form 8-K, Item 2.05) since 2016. Companies file one only for a cut they judge material, so many announced layoffs never appear as one. This page shows what the company reported to the SEC, not news reports or state layoff notices.

Read from Designer Brands’s annual reports (10-K for 2026, 10-K for 2025, 10-K for 2024) and the financial data it files with the SEC, as of 2026-03-30. Every quotation is word for word from the filing linked beside it; how these pages are built and checked. The full record is in its company data sheet.