What’s in a name? Apparently not a lot if you walk into Designer Shoe Warehouse, according to Credit Suisse. An analysis by the bank found that of the 196 brands the store carries, designer shoes accounted for only 1.05% of shelf space.
“We are cautious on DSW’s ability to excite customers looking for a deep selection of off-price designer footwear,” the firm said in a recent report. “As a result, we believe the concept has lost one of its key differentiating features and the attraction point for repeat visits.”
Shoppers looking for high-end shoes at a discount price have to wade through brands such as Skechers, Nike and Kelley & Katie to find any Gucci or Hugo Boss (the only designer brands DSW offers). That’s not likely to help the company turn around its downward same-store sales trend.