Designer Brands has acquired Topo Athletic in a transaction that allows the DSW parent company to gain a foothold in the premium athletic and outdoor footwear categories. Topo’s Founder and CEO Tony Post will continue to helm the company in the chief leadership role and report to Bill Jordan, President of Designer Brands.
Post, who founded the 10-year-old Topo brand, is a former competitive runner and footwear industry veteran. Prior to founding Topo, he spent 15 years with The Rockport Company, where he served as the company’s SVP of Product and Marketing. Post also worked with Vibram USA for 11 years, becoming the company’s President and CEO, managing the U.S. sole business and launching Vibram Five Fingers.
“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,” said Jordan in a statement. “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.”
“Topo’s focus on helping people achieve healthy lifestyle goals aligns perfectly with Designer Brands’ mission to inspire self-expression,” said Post in a statement. “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.”
In July 2022, Designer Brands added Le TIGRE 360 Global to its roster through an investment and licensing agreement. Under the agreement, the company was named as Le TIGRE’s exclusive designer and producer, and the brand’s footwear is sold primarily through DSW and The Shoe Company stores and ecommerce channels. The Le TIGRE wholesale business is managed through letigreglobal.com.
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