Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This report contains certain forward-looking statements with respect to the Company’s outlook for the future. These statements represent the Company's good faith judgment with respect to future events and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially. Such statements can be identified by the use of words such as “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “expects,” “forecasts,” “intends,” “is likely,” “plans,” “predicts,” “projects,” “should,” “will,” or variations of such words, and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements, by their nature, address matters that are, to varying degrees, uncertain. Therefore, the reader is cautioned that these forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties or other factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the risk factors described under Item 1A, “Risk Factors,” of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year-ended December 31,2020.
GENERAL
The Company designs and markets quality and innovative footwear principally for men, but also for women and children, under a portfolio of well-recognized brand names including: Florsheim, Nunn Bush, Stacy Adams, BOGS, Rafters, and Forsake. Inventory is purchased from third-party overseas manufacturers. The majority of foreign-sourced purchases are denominated in U.S. dollars.
The Company has two reportable segments, North American wholesale operations (“Wholesale”) and North American retail operations (“Retail”). In the wholesale segment, the Company’s products are sold to leading footwear, department, and specialty stores, as well as e-commerce retailers, primarily in the United States and Canada. The Company also has licensing agreements with third parties who sell its branded apparel, accessories and specialty footwear in the United States, as well as its footwear in Mexico and certain markets overseas. Licensing revenues are included in the Company’s wholesale segment. The Company’s retail segment consisted of e-commerce businesses and four brick and mortar retail stores in the United States as of June 30, 2021. Retail sales are made directly to consumers on the Company’s websites, or by Company employees.
The Company’s “other” operations include the Company’s wholesale and retail businesses in Australia, South Africa, Asia Pacific (collectively, “Florsheim Australia”) and Europe (“Florsheim Europe”). In late 2020, the Company decided to close Florsheim Europe, and management is in the process of winding down this business. The majority of the Company’s operations are in the United States, and its results are primarily affected by the economic conditions and retail environment in the United States.
EXECUTIVE OVERVIEW
The wholesale business rebounded from the effects of the pandemic in the second quarter of 2021. Customer demand accelerated during the quarter primarily due to vaccinations, stimulus checks, pent-up demand for restocking wardrobes, consumers returning to offices and social events, or a combination of all of the above.
The Company’s legacy brands: Florsheim, Nunn Bush, and Stacy Adams, all bounced back strongly this Spring, with Florsheim being the outstanding performer. With events such as weddings and formal gatherings on the calendar, there was renewed demand in the market for more refined footwear. At the same time, retailers had reduced both their dress and dress-casual style offerings and inventory levels. Florsheim, Nunn Bush and Stacy Adams, all were able to address this void in the market as Weyco Group was one of the few footwear wholesalers that stocked significant inventory. The Company saw both unprecedented sell throughs at the retail levels and corresponding orders at the wholesale levels, as retailers pivoted strongly back to the refined footwear category. The Company should see continued pipeline fill to its retailers throughout the second half of 2021.
While the Company is pleased with the performance of the legacy brands, it also is excited about the breakthroughs it experienced this Spring with casual footwear. The pandemic pushed the Company to accelerate development, delivery, and selling of more causal, athletic-inspired footwear to fit the more relaxed lifestyle trend in apparel that, over the long-term, will continue to grow in importance. Florsheim, Nunn Bush, and Stacy Adams all significantly increased the percentage of purely casual shoes. The consumer has responded well with certain styles being among our top sellers in our direct-to-consumer business. It is our expectation that the Company will continue to grow its casual mix which will complement our strong position in the more refined footwear segment.
BOGS also had an excellent Spring. While second quarter is the smallest shipping period for BOGS, sales were up significantly over both 2020 and 2019. The outdoor footwear market has been robust through the pandemic and the Company continues to see strong retail performance across trade channels. Given the shortages in the outdoor boot market in Fall 2020, management believes that BOGS will