Senior executives at parent Genesco told analysts last week that Journey’s is continuing to see its fashion-forward customers gravitating more to casual footwear offerings and away from fashion athletic styles. Journeys experienced an “uneven” first quarter, including a 16 percent decline in revenues, due to inventory flow but had its strongest month in April. First quarter revenues were up 5 percent and adjusted operating income was 14 percent higher than in Q1/19, before the Covid-19 pandemic commenced.

Overall, Genesco’s Q1 profit slipped 44 percent to $4.9 million from $8.9 million for the period ended April 30. Revenues were off 3.3 percent to $520.7 million from $538.7 million. Elsewhere at the company, the Johnston & Murphy Group generated a 46 percent topline improvement to $71.0 million and a profit of $550,000 against a loss of $3.2 million. The “well above expectation” results were attributed to the unit’s shift to more “everyday life wear” that is attracting more 35-year-olds and under. 

Period operating profit at GCO’s Licensed Brands division rose 48 percent to $3.8 million on a 5 percent sales increase to $47.1 million. The unit recently acquired the Starter and Etonic footwear licenses. 

Genesco is currently anticipating 1 to 3 percent sales growth in FY23 with H2 results coming in stronger than in H1.