Genesco Inc. (NYSE:GCO) announced the formation of the Journeys Global Retail Group. The purpose of the new business group is to unite the Journeys, schuh and Little Burgundy brands. The apparel company said the alignment creates a powerful opportunity across ...

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported total revenue of $474 million for the first quarter, an increase of approximately 4% year-over-year, driven by a 5% growth in comparable sales, marking the third consecutive quarter of positive comps [34][35] - Adjusted gross margin for the quarter was 46.7%, a decline of 90 basis points compared to the previous year, primarily due to a shift towards higher price point but lower margin products [35] - Adjusted earnings per share loss improved by $0.05 year-over-year, with an adjusted diluted loss per share of $2.05 for the quarter compared to a loss of $2.10 last year [38][42] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Journeys led the business with comparable sales up 8%, while Schuh saw a 1% increase, and Johnston and Murphy experienced a 2% decline in comps [34][35] - The company noted that all channels posted positive growth, with store comps improving by 5% and direct comps increasing by 7% [34][36] - Schuh's digital capabilities and e-commerce business remained a key channel, with digital sales growth outpacing store sales in Q1 [19] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The consumer environment was described as choppy, with consumers showing a willingness to shop during specific events like Valentine's Day and Easter, but retreating during quieter periods [5][6] - The UK consumer remains selective, impacting the footwear category and overall purchases [19] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on diversifying its product offerings and strengthening its leadership in premium athletic footwear, with a significant increase in athletic sales contributing to overall growth [25][26] - The strategic growth plan for Journeys includes enhancing product assortments, improving customer experience through store remodels, and leveraging brand partnerships [24][29] - The company is actively mitigating tariff impacts by diversifying suppliers and sourcing from countries with lower tariffs, aiming to reduce dependence on China [12][13] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in navigating the current trade environment and emphasized the importance of compelling footwear and freshness to motivate consumer purchases [8][9] - The company reaffirmed its full-year EPS guidance range of $1.30 to $1.70, despite acknowledging increased uncertainty in the external consumer environment [42][43] - Management highlighted the importance of the back-to-school and holiday shopping periods for driving sales and expressed optimism about the second half of the fiscal year [30][42] Other Important Information - The company ended the quarter with 1,256 total stores, having closed 26 stores and opened 4, resulting in a net reduction of 65 stores year-over-year [40] - Free cash flow for the quarter was negative $120 million, impacted by higher capital spending and inventory growth to meet consumer demand [39][40] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you talk about the impacts of new athletic brand relationships on Q1 comps? - Management noted that existing brands drove the comp, but new brands like HOKA and Saucony had a positive impact, validating Journeys' position in lifestyle running [50][51] Question: How did the vulcanized product category perform? - Management acknowledged pressure on vulcanized products but stated that strength in other brands offset this pressure [53][54] Question: What are the expectations for Journeys in the back half of the year? - Management indicated that while they are lapping more difficult comparisons, they are optimistic about serving a broader market and continuing to strengthen product leadership [67][70] Question: How does the company view recent M&A activity in the footwear landscape? - Management expressed confidence in their positioning, focusing on lifestyle-driven offerings for the teen market, which differs from the performance-focused M&A activity [78][79] Question: What are the expectations regarding gross margins and price increases? - Management discussed the shift towards athletic products impacting margins but emphasized that they do not expect to absorb gross margin reductions due to tariffs [80][81]