Why Designer Brands Is Closing its Corporate Offices for One Day

Designer Brands Inc. (DBI) will close its corporate office on Friday so 1,200 employees worldwide can volunteer with nonprofit and community organizations as part of the firm’s second annual Step Up and Serve day.

DBI staff have the option of cleaning schoolyards, packing hygiene kits, mentoring high school students and supporting local nonprofits in Columbus, the greater New York area, Boston, and Toronto. Staff at international offices that include China, Vietnam, and Brazil will be able to participate in volunteer work on Oct. 9. Remote workers can participate virtually through SuitUp, which pairs Designer Brands employees with high school students to solve a real business case, the shoe retailer said. All corporate employees also have the option of volunteering independently with organizations that they already support in their communities.

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The volunteer program that began last year was aimed at putting two of the company’s value, “We Do What’s Right” and “We Belong,” into action, as well as give employees a chance to work alongside each other and build connections outside their day-to-day work. DBI employees across the U.S., Canada, India and China last year logged more than 1,000 volunteer hours.

DBI’s chief executive officer said that the response last year on how much the workers “valued the chance to give back together” was an indication that the volunteer work was something that the company should continue to do. “Step and Serve gives us a chance to support our communities, work alongside one another and build stronger connections across our teams,” Howe said. “Bringing it back was an easy decision.”

DBI’s executive leadership team will lead volunteer sites and work alongside corporate employees. Howe will volunteer with DBI staff at the Boys & Girls Club of Central Ohio.

According to the company, The DBI Foundation will contribute $73,400 to participating organizations, with grants raging from $3,000 to $12,000. DBI also will provide $900 in DSW gift cards to Harlem Link Charter School to support students and families. In addition, DBI employees in China will donate more than 500 pairs of shoes to women in need in their local communities. Overall, this year’s DBI Foundation grants support organizations focused on education, food access, basic needs, youth development and neighborhood improvement.

DBI is not the only shoe company who believes in giving back. In fact, the footwear industry is among the most generous in the fashion sector.

This past June, the Two Ten Foundation’s annual gala drew 750 people and raised nearly $650,000 to fund emergency relief, hardship and education programs to help people who work in the U.S. shoe industry. In July, Crocs and Famous Footwear partnered to offer a back-to-school limited edition clog. Priced at $49.99, 20 percent of proceeds from every purchase was earmarked to benefit foster kids through the Ticket to Dream Foundation. Nordstrom in August said it will be hosting 20 shoe delivery events across 17 markets to give 50,000 kids new sneakers as part of its 16th Annual Shoes That Fit campaign from Aug. 3 through Oct. 3 and from Nov. 11 through Jan. 3, 2027.

And later this month on Oct. 18, Skechers’ will again host its Pier to Pier Friendship Walk to support children with special needs, public education and Skechers’ national college scholarship program. Also upcoming are two events from Shoes for a Cure, the organization that has raised over $65 million to support breast cancer research. The events are Shoes for a Cure Miami from Oct. 15 to 18 at the Miami Design District and Shoes for a Cure New York from Oct. 21 to 25 at the Chelsea Market.

And there were the two charitable donations this month from Nike cofounder Phil Knight and his wife Penny, pledging $1 billion to the University of Oregon to build a new college of engineering and a $1.1 billion gift to the Providence St. Vincent Medical Center and the Providence Heart Institute to created the state’s first hospital dedicated to women’s health and help advance the next generation of cardiovascular treatment and care.

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