Designer Brands is now in the running—literally. The parent company of DSW has acquired Topo Athletic (Topo), makers of running, outdoor, walking and casual styles. Topo’s founder and CEO, Tony Post, will join the company as CEO of the brand, reporting to Bill Jordan, president of Designer Brands.
“Topo represents another exciting growth opportunity for Designer Brands and further propels us to our goal of doubling sales of our Owned Brands by 2026,” states Jordan. “Tony Post’s visionary leadership reminds us why the best athletic shoes must deliver a better experience, so our customers become passionate about our brands. We are confident Topo will continue to strengthen our Owned Brands portfolio and help extend our reach around the world.”
“Topo’s focus on helping people achieve healthy lifestyle goals aligns perfectly with Designer Brands’ mission to inspire self-expression,” says Post. “We found synergy with their management team from our first meeting. They understand our brand mission, they support our strategy and focus around specialty retail and they’re excited about our growing global footprint. Nothing really changes in our strategy, distribution direction or the management team. Designer Brands brings a deep set of resources that will help Topo continue to grow, innovate and deliver a better experience for our customers for years to come.”
Prior to launching Topo in 2012, Post was senior vice president of product and marketing at The Rockport Company, then served as CEO of Vibram USA, managing both the U.S. sole business and introducing Vibram FiveFingers. This experience and DNA for innovation makes Topo a strong fit for Designer Brands’ approach to growth. Topo further diversifies the company’s portfolio of Owned Brands, which includes Vince Camuto, Jessica Simpson, Crown Vintage, Mix No. 6, Lucky Brand and Kelly & Katie, comprising six of the top 50 fashion brands at Designer Brands and will now grow in the athletic and athleisure space with Topo and the company’s recently announced LeTigre acquisition. With more than 30 million customers in its loyalty programs, more than 700 points of distribution and three online platforms that total more than $1 billion in sales, Designer Brands aims to better control its own destiny with exclusive brands. The company’s most recent year-over-year quarterly sales saw an increase of 25 percent in Owned Brands and 33 percent within its DTC channels.
Topo Athletic Ultraventure 3 trail runners.
