Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Adjusted earnings per share for Q1 2025 were $0.22, down from $0.88 in the previous year [29] - Total sales for Q1 2025 were $614.2 million, a decline of 6.8% year over year, which was below expectations of a 5% to 6% decline [26][27] - Consolidated gross margin decreased to 45.4%, down 150 basis points compared to last year [27] - Operating earnings were $12.2 million, resulting in an operating margin of 2% [28] Business Segment Data and Key Metrics Changes - Brand Portfolio sales declined by 6.9%, with gross margin at 43.8%, down 280 basis points due to lower initial margins and higher markdown reserves [27][28] - Famous Footwear sales decreased by 6.3%, with comparable sales down 4.6%, but e-commerce sales increased by 2.5% [20][21] - The Brand Portfolio's lead brands, including Sam Edelman and Allen Edmonds, represented about 60% of sales and 80% of operating earnings [12] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The Brand Portfolio gained market share in women's fashion footwear despite overall sales declines [11] - Famous Footwear gained 0.5 points of market share in shoe chains within the kids category [21] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company plans to reduce SG&A expenses by $15 million annually through structural cuts [7][34] - An acquisition of Stuart Weitzman is expected to enhance the company's premium positioning and direct-to-consumer presence [19] - The company is focusing on optimizing sourcing strategies and managing inventory levels in response to tariff impacts [9][32] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management acknowledged a challenging operating environment and emphasized the need to drive growth and profitability [6][7] - There is cautious optimism regarding back-to-school preparations, with no major cancellations reported [40] - The company is suspending guidance due to the volatile environment but is seeing improving retail trends [33][34] Other Important Information - Inventory levels increased by 8.1% year over year, with a significant portion attributed to the upcoming launch of the Jordan brand [30] - Cash flow from operations was negative $5.7 million due to lower net income and higher inventory levels [30] Q&A Session Summary Question: How are you thinking about the prices of your portfolio brands moving into the summer and fall? - The company is making selective price increases, starting with fall receipts, and is managing this in real-time with key partners [38][39] Question: What adjustments are being made for the $15 million in strategic expense cutting? - The reductions are permanent and structural, expected to begin in the third quarter, with $7.5 million in savings for the back half of the year [43][44] Question: How is the Jordan launch performing? - Early trends for the Jordan launch are encouraging, with strong sell-throughs in men's and boys' categories [56][57] Question: What is the impact of tariffs on the business? - The company is managing tariff-related challenges through factory concessions and selective price increases, but the situation remains fluid [32][60] Question: How should we think about inventory reserves and customer credit issues moving forward? - The company believes it has adequately reserved for spring product markdowns and is closely monitoring customer credit ratings [62][63]