Vera Bradley, Inc. - Annual Report: 2022 (Form 10-K)
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
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FORM 10-K
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| ☒ | ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 | ||||
For the Fiscal Year Ended January 29, 2022
OR
| ☐ | TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 | ||||
For the Transition Period From to
Commission File Number: 001-34918
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VERA BRADLEY, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
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| Indiana | 27-2935063 | |||||||
| (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) | (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) | |||||||
12420 Stonebridge Road, Roanoke, Indiana | 46783 | |||||||
| (Address of principal executive offices) | (Zip Code) | |||||||
(877) 708-8372
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
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Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
| Title of Each Class | Trading Symbol(s) | Name of each exchange on which registered | ||||||
| Common Stock, without par value | VRA | NASDAQ Global Select Market | ||||||
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
None
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Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes ☐ No ☒
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act. Yes ☐ No ☒
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes x No ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). Yes x No ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
| Large accelerated filer | ☐ | Accelerated filer | ☒ | |||||||||||||||||
| Non-accelerated filer | ☐ | Smaller reporting company | ☐ | |||||||||||||||||
| Emerging growth company | ☐ | |||||||||||||||||||
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed a report on and attestation to its management’s assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C. 7262(b)) by the registered public accounting firm that prepared or issued its audit report. ☒
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ☐ No ☒
The aggregate market value of the registrant’s voting common stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant as of July 31, 2021 was $290,069,878.
The registrant had 32,523,703 shares of its common stock outstanding as of March 22, 2022.
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DOCUMENT INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE:
Portions of the registrant’s definitive proxy statement for the 2022 Annual Meeting of Shareholders are incorporated by reference into Part III of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Vera Bradley, Inc. intends to file such proxy statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Regulation 14A not later than 120 days after its fiscal year ended January 29, 2022.
Forward-Looking Statements
This annual report contains forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties. All statements other than statements of historical or current fact included in this report are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include references to our current expectations and projections relating to our financial condition, results of operations, plans, objectives, strategies, future performance, and business. You can identify forward-looking statements by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. These statements may include words such as “anticipate,” “estimate,” “expect,” “project,” “plan,” “intend,” “believe,” “may,” “might,” “will,” “should,” “can have,” and “likely” and other words and terms of similar meaning in connection with any discussion of the timing or nature of future operating or financial performance or other events. For example, all statements we make relating to our estimated and projected earnings, revenues, costs, expenditures, cash flows, growth rates, and financial results, our plans and objectives for future operations, growth, initiatives, or strategies, or the expected outcome or impact of pending or threatened litigation are forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those that we expected, including:
•public health pandemics, including the continued outbreak of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) and actions to contain the spread of the virus by governmental or other actors;
•possible inability to successfully implement our long-term strategic plans;
•possible declines in our comparable sales;
•possible inability to maintain and enhance our brands;
•possible failure of our multi-channel distribution model;
•possible adverse changes in general economic conditions and their impact on consumer confidence and consumer spending, including political unrest, social unrest, acts of war and terrorism, impacts related to variants of the COVID-19 outbreak, and other related matters;
•possible inability to predict and respond in a timely manner to changes in consumer demand;
•possible inability to successfully open new stores and/or operate current stores as planned;
•possible loss of key management or design associates or inability to attract and retain the talent required for our business;
•possible data security or privacy breaches or disruptions in our computer systems or website;
•possible disruptions in our supply chain;
•possible new or increased tariffs on our products and continued increases in inbound and outbound freight expense that could lead to increased product costs and lower profit margins; and
•possible inability to successfully implement integration strategies related to the Pura Vida business and possible inability to derive expected benefits from or to successfully integrate any future business acquisition.
We derive many of our forward-looking statements from our operating plans and forecasts, which are based upon detailed assumptions. While we believe that our assumptions are reasonable, we caution that it is difficult to predict the impact of known factors, and it is impossible for us to anticipate all factors that could affect our actual results.
For a discussion of the above-described risks and other risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in our forward-looking statements, please refer to “Risk Factors” in Item 1A of this report.
We caution you that the risks and uncertainties identified by us may not be all of the factors that are important to you. Furthermore, the forward-looking statements included in this report are made only as of the date hereof. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by law.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
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PART I
In this Form 10-K, references to “Vera Bradley, Inc.” or the “Company” refer to Vera Bradley, Inc. and its subsidiaries, including Vera Bradley Designs, Inc. and Creative Genius, LLC. References to “Vera Bradley” relate to the Vera Bradley stand-alone brand and references to “Pura Vida” relate to the Pura Vida stand-alone brand, except where the context requires otherwise or where otherwise indicated. The Company utilizes a 52-53 week fiscal year ending on the Saturday closest to January 31. The fiscal years ended January 29, 2022 (“fiscal 2022”), January 30, 2021 (“fiscal 2021”) and February 1, 2020 (“fiscal 2020”) were each 52-week periods. The fiscal year ending January 28, 2023 (“fiscal 2023”) will also be a 52-week period.
Item 1. Business
Our Company
Vera Bradley, Inc. operates two unique lifestyle brands – Vera Bradley and Pura Vida. We believe Vera Bradley and Pura Vida are complementary businesses, both with devoted, emotionally-connected, and multi-generational female customer bases; alignment as causal, comfortable, affordable, and fun brands; positioning as “gifting” and socially-connected brands; strong, entrepreneurial cultures; a keen focus on community, charity, and social consciousness; multi-channel distribution strategies; and talented leadership teams aligned and committed to the long-term success of their brands.
In July 2019, Vera Bradley, Inc. acquired a 75% interest in Creative Genius, Inc., which operates under the name Pura Vida Bracelets (“Pura Vida”). Pura Vida results are consolidated within the Company’s financial statements beginning on July 17, 2019, the first full day following the acquisition.
Beginning in the second quarter of fiscal 2020, the Company has included an additional segment for Pura Vida due to its acquisition. As a result, the Company now has three reportable segments: Vera Bradley Direct (“VB Direct”), Vera Bradley Indirect (“VB Indirect”), and Pura Vida. For financial information about our reportable segments, refer to Note 17 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements set forth in Part II, “Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data,” of this report.
Our Brands
Vera Bradley
Vera Bradley is a leading designer of women’s handbags, luggage and other travel items, fashion and home accessories, and unique gifts. Founded in 1982 by friends Barbara Bradley Baekgaard and Patricia R. Miller, the brand is known for its innovative designs, iconic patterns, and brilliant colors that inspire and connect women. The reportable segments within the Vera Bradley brand are VB Direct and VB Indirect.
VB Direct. The VB Direct business consists of sales of Vera Bradley products through Vera Bradley full-line and factory outlet stores in the United States; e-commerce sites verabradley.com and verabradley.ca; the Vera Bradley online outlet site; and typically the Vera Bradley annual outlet sale in Fort Wayne, Indiana. As of January 29, 2022, the Company operated 70 full-line stores and 75 factory outlet stores. The annual outlet sale was cancelled in 2020, 2021, and 2022 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
VB Indirect. The VB Indirect business consists of sales of Vera Bradley products to approximately 1,800 specialty retail locations, substantially all of which are located in the United States; sales to department stores, national accounts, third-party e-commerce sites, and third-party inventory liquidators; and royalties recognized through licensing agreements related to the Vera Bradley brand.
Pura Vida
Pura Vida, based in La Jolla, California, is a digitally native lifestyle brand that we believe deeply resonates with its loyal consumer following. The Pura Vida brand has a differentiated and expanding offering of bracelets, jewelry, and other lifestyle accessories. The Pura Vida segment represents revenues generated through the Pura Vida websites, www.puravidabracelets.com, www.puravidabracelets.eu, and www.puravidabracelets.ca and through the distribution of Pura Vida-branded products to wholesale retailers and department stores, substantially all of which are located in the United States, as well as through its first retail store which opened in August 2021. Refer to Note 14 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements set forth in Part II, “Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data,” of this report for additional information regarding the Pura Vida acquisition.
Our History
When they were traveling together, Fort Wayne, Indiana friends Barbara Bradley Baekgaard and Patricia Miller realized there was a lack of stylish travel accessories in the market. Within weeks, the friends created Vera Bradley, named after Ms. Bradley Baekgaard’s mother, and began manufacturing and marketing their distinctive products. The founders, together with past and present members of the executive management team, have been instrumental in our growth and success.
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The passion for design and customer service established by our founders has driven our Company for nearly 40 years and remains the cornerstone of Vera Bradley, Inc. today. Ms. Baekgaard retired from Vera Bradley operations in 2017 but continues to serve on the Board of Directors and as a brand ambassador. Ms. Miller retired in October 2012 as our National Spokesperson and in August 2019 from the Board of Directors.
In July 2019, Vera Bradley, Inc. acquired a majority interest in Pura Vida.
Similar to the Vera Bradley brand, Pura Vida was founded by two friends, Griffin Thall and Paul Goodman. Thall and Goodman, from Southern California, where traveling through Costa Rica in 2010 and crossed paths with two bracelet artisans. Thall and Goodman asked the artisans to make 400 bracelets to take home with them.
Upon returning to San Diego, Thall and Goodman placed the bracelets in a bowl at a local boutique. Within days, the bracelets sold out and customers were asking for more. Thall and Goodman quickly recognized the significance of these simple string bracelets. They were more than just ordinary locally-crafted bracelets; they symbolized a movement valuing the simple things in life. So, Pura Vida, which means “pure life” in Spanish and is a philosophy that encourages the appreciation of life’s simple treasures, was born.
We believe Pura Vida is a great strategic fit for Vera Bradley and that the two companies have combined to make Vera Bradley, Inc. a unique lifestyle company.
Enterprise Vision and Growth Strategies
We are committed to being a purpose-driven, multi-brand, stable-growth company, generating strong cash flow. We are positioned to continue to invest in our two lifestyle brands; seek out accretive acquisitions of other cash-generating, purpose-driven brands over time; and return capital to shareholders.
During fiscal 2022, we focused on four key strategies to further enhance our brands and strengthen our operations. Our accomplishments related to these strategies are as follows:
•We continued to drive our digital-first strategy. We made strategic organizational shifts and investments to pivot us to a digital-first company, evolving into a customer-centric, data-driven, technology-enabled, and digitally-focused enterprise which we believe allows us to effectively engage with our customers and offer a seamless shopping experience. Over one-third of our consolidated revenues are now generated from e-commerce sales, and excluding our factory stores, over half of our total company sales are driven by e-commerce.
•We further enhanced our product innovation pipeline, collaborations, and category extensions. We continue to build our Vera Bradley and Pura Vida lifestyle brands to attract new customers and increase share of wallet with existing customers.
•We continued to build our community through marketing. Both brands are working to engage, diversify, and grow their customer bases through analytics; targeted marketing; and environmental, social, and governance (“ESG”) efforts.
•We further evolved our distribution channels. We are continually looking for new ways to reach our customers and to reinvent the shopping experience in the ever-changing retail environment; the future for both brands will be a combination of digital and brick and mortar.
Product, Marketing, and Distribution Strategies
Vera Bradley
Product. We have identified three key franchise businesses – Everyday, Travel, and Youth/Campus where we can offer our customers thoughtful solutions that we believe will propel our future growth. We will continue to look for opportunities to expand into relevant new categories that reflect our brands and signature attributes of comfortable, casual, affordable, and fun. We will also continue to use licenses and strategic partnerships as appropriate to expand our product categories.
In fiscal 2022 we saw year-over-year growth in our traditional cotton, Recycled Cotton, Performance Twill, and ReActive fabrications, and continued traction on our Factory Ultralight collection. We also continued product collaborations with several iconic brands, including Harry Potter™, Disney, and Crocs. In fiscal 2022, we launched our collaboration with Classic Accessories for our first-ever outdoor collection. We are planning another year of brand collaborations in fiscal 2023 that we believe engage existing and new customers, increase brand awareness, generate media attention, and provide Vera Bradley the opportunity to strategically test and enter into new product categories.
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Distribution Channels. Vera Bradley products are available through our Direct channel including full-line and factory outlet stores, online through verabradley.com, verabradley.ca and our online outlet site, and typically our Vera Bradley annual outlet sale, as well as through the Indirect channel including department and specialty retail stores, national accounts, third-party e-commerce sites, and third-party inventory liquidators. We continue to focus on tightly integrating our multi-channel business by strengthening and right-sizing both our Direct and Indirect distribution channels.
We are continuing to improve the profitability of our full-line store portfolio by re-balancing our existing fleet through select closures along with identifying future market opportunities. We will continue to focus on our highest-potential stores by enhancing the customer experience and will continue to develop and test new formats; however, we have currently suspended full-line store growth. In fact, we have closed 44 underperforming full-line stores since the beginning of fiscal 2018 and forecast that we will close additional full-line stores, although this remains a fluid process. We opened six new factory outlet stores in fiscal 2022 and plan to open five new factory outlet stores in fiscal 2023.
We continue to focus on enhancing and reinventing the customer experience in our full-line stores, and certain digital shopping additions that gained popularity during the pandemic have remained popular, such as appointment selling, buy-online/pick-up in-store, and curbside pickup.
Over the long-term, we have prioritized digital as the primary revenue growth driver for Vera Bradley, making major strategic shifts and investments to pivot us to a digital-first company; however, we are enabling her to shop in a seamless manner and want her to shop where and how she wants to shop. Stores continue to be an integral part of this omni-channel strategy. During fiscal 2021, we converted our e-commerce platform to Shopify Plus. This conversion was part of our overall IT project called Project Novus, which also replaced our ERP, POS, Business Intelligence, and Order Management systems. These changes decreased the complexity of our systems and provided us with a technology platform to help us make quick, data-based, informed decisions, which we believe will further enhance the customer experience and help us achieve our growth objectives.
Our Vera Bradley online outlet flash sales allowed us to continue to sell clearance merchandise in a more discreet manner, reducing clearance activity on verabradley.com and in our full-line stores. In fiscal 2022, we had over 52 million visits to our website and our online outlet site.
In our Indirect channel, we will continue to expand our digital marketplaces such as Amazon, as we focus on meeting customers where they are in their shopping.
Our department store relationships allow us to expose our brand to new customers and showcase new product assortments. We are currently in approximately 300 department store locations. In the department stores, we continue to work on enhancing our brand presentation and profitability.
The specialty retail channel is the heritage of our business and remains important to us. We continue to add select accounts while discontinuing unproductive accounts. While the specialty retail business is a smaller percentage of our total revenue base, we are working to stabilize it by assisting retailers with optimizing their businesses.
Marketing. Marketing and brand positioning are both critical elements as we continue to engage new consumers and strengthen our bond with existing customers.
Our investments in customer data science and business analytics have continued to position us well, allowing us to collect and analyze data and respond to customer changes and adjust marketing spend on a real-time basis and in an agile way. Our goal is to drive our performance through marketing and community engagement.
We are continually focused on looking for new ways to creatively engage our customers, grow brand awareness, and introduce new customers to our brands in a cost-effective manner, but that is becoming more challenging and expensive for both of our brands.
Since the Company’s 2019 acquisition of Pura Vida, Pura Vida has shared its digital expertise with Vera Bradley and helped Vera Bradley enhance its digital effectiveness. Vera Bradley’s marketing platform will continue to be a blend of digital and more traditional channels, such as direct mail, email, quality media placements, PR, and targeted TV ads. Our marketing efforts are increasingly reflective of our ongoing commitment to diversity and inclusion.
We will continue to drive social media engagement by employing more user-generated content, growing our influencer and ambassador programs, further enhancing social storytelling and social selling, expanding Facebook Live and Reels, and growing TikTok engagement.
Under the umbrella of VB Cares, we reinforced our position as a total stakeholder-focused and socially-conscious organization and continued to strengthen our community support and charitable initiatives that are meaningful to our customers and that make a significant impact on those in need, particularly women and children. In fiscal 2022, efforts included supporting the
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Vera Bradley Foundation for Breast Cancer, New Hope Girls, and our national “Blessings in a Backpack” program. We will continue our VB Cares focus.
Pura Vida
Product. Pura Vida offers products mostly in the accessories category, primarily bracelets, with the balance of products in other jewelry categories such as rings and necklaces. These products are created with the “pura vida” lifestyle and aesthetic in mind, slowing down and living life to the fullest. During fiscal 2022, Pura Vida expanded into new product categories, such as apparel. Nearly 50% of the Pura Vida business is comprised of jewelry categories other than bracelets, such as rings, anklets, and necklaces. We believe these product categories highlight the brand's lifestyle appeal which we believe will continue to be a key driver of growth. Charity bracelets remained popular, reaching over $4.0 million in lifetime charitable contributions to more than 200 charities.
During fiscal 2022, we entered into high-profile product collaborations, including Hello Kitty, Disney, and Harry Potter, bringing new customers to our brand.
Distribution Channels. Our Pura Vida products are available on our websites, www.puravidabracelets.com, www.puravidabracelets.eu, and www.puravidabracelets.ca. Pura Vida is a digitally native brand and continuing to develop our websites and transmit the “pura vida” lifestyle through our digital storefront is a key distribution strategy. Pura Vida’s website immerses visitors in the brand, its products, and its social mission.
We also distribute Pura Vida products through select wholesale accounts throughout the U.S. and Europe. We will continue to target some larger accounts for growth which we expect to help build the Pura Vida brand.
During fiscal 2022, we added Pura Vida shop-in-shops to 23 Vera Bradley full-line stores and completed the roll-out of the Pura Vida charity bracelet program to all Vera Bradley full-line and factory stores. We opened our first Pura Vida retail location in San Diego in August 2021 and have plans to open additional retail locations in fiscal 2023. Additional Pura Vida stores will likely be in tourist, coastal, and/or college towns with established customer bases.
The San Diego store is allowing us to showcase the Pura Vida lifestyle with a full array of existing products and new product innovations, especially as we expand into new product categories such as apparel. Stores will play an important role going forward in new customer acquisition as we continue to diversify our marketing platforms.
Marketing. The Pura Vida digital marketing strategy is anchored in innovative and effective ways to connect with our customers, including partnerships with select individuals who we believe encapsulate the brand’s identity and serve as natural extensions of the Pura Vida marketing strategy. These partnerships translate into authentic, user-generated content that we can repurpose as ads, e-mail campaigns, and our own social media content.
Since spring of fiscal 2022, there has been a significant shift in social and digital media effectiveness due to the Apple IDFA (identifier for advertisers) update impacting direct-to-consumer companies, including Pura Vida. We are in the process of strengthening our internal marketing and data analytics talent at Pura Vida. Our team has continued to work diligently to dive deeper into customer analytics and build a more diverse and balanced marketing program through growing our SMS subscriber base, onboarding a new email marketing agency, and spreading a portion of our marketing resources to new platforms such as TikTok, podcasts, and YouTube. As digital marketing becomes more expensive, Vera Bradley will be able to assist Pura Vida with more traditional marketing channels, such as direct mail and e-mail.
Pura Vida remains one of the most highly-engaged brands in the accessories space, surpassing the 2.0 million mark of followers on Instagram and is consistently listed as one of the most engaged jewelry brands on Instagram. Pura Vida continued to rank among the top of the industry for our Net Promoter and Customer Satisfaction Scores.
To date, over 150,000 micro-influencers have been on-boarded, and reliance on micro-influencers is a key part of Pura Vida’s strategy. Micro-influencers are brand ambassadors who showcase Pura Vida products on their social media channels in exchange for commission. We plan to continue to build upon the influencer program, particularly focusing on individuals with the greatest number of followers.
Our Product Release Strategy
Vera Bradley. We typically introduce new collections monthly. Each launch typically consists of one to three signature cotton-quilted prints, as well as other fabrications including Performance Twill, Re-Active, and microfiber, some of which are also available in solid colors. These collections of prints and solids are incorporated into the designs of a wide range of products, including bags, accessories, and travel items. These collections typically include classic styles, updates to existing designs, and new product introductions.
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To keep our assortment current and fresh, and to focus our inventory investments on our best performers, we discontinue prints and fabrications as necessary. We sell our remaining inventory of retired products primarily through our websites (including our online outlet site), factory outlet stores, typically our annual outlet sale, and third-party liquidators.
Pura Vida. We introduce new Pura Vida products seasonally, approximately three times a year (spring, summer, and fall). We release curated product assortments multiple times per season that each embody a trend that we believe resonates with our customer base. Each product launch collection typically consists of 50 to 100 SKUs. We offer a mix of seasonally inspired designs and next generation designs of core bestsellers. In April 2021, we launched our Pura Vida apparel collection of shirts and hoodies and plan to further expand apparel in fiscal 2023 with new silhouettes and materials.
Our Products
The following chart presents net revenues generated by each of the Company’s product categories and other revenues as a percentage of our total net revenues for fiscals 2022, 2021, and 2020.
| Fiscal Year Ended | ||||||||||||||||||||
| January 29, 2022 | January 30, 2021 | February 1, 2020 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Accessories | 34.5 | % | 35.1 | % | 31.3 | % | ||||||||||||||
| Bags | 32.0 | % | 28.2 | % | 35.9 | % | ||||||||||||||
| Travel | 17.5 | % | 15.3 | % | 21.9 | % | ||||||||||||||
| Home | 8.6 | % | 7.3 | % | 7.2 | % | ||||||||||||||
| Apparel/Footwear | 4.7 | % | 11.1 | % | 1.2 | % | ||||||||||||||
Other (1) | 2.7 | % | 3.0 | % | 2.5 | % | ||||||||||||||
| Total | 100.0 | % | 100.0 | % | 100.0 | % | ||||||||||||||
(1)Includes primarily stationery, licensing, freight, merchandising, and gift card breakage revenue.
Bags. Bags are a core part of our product offerings and are the primary component of every seasonal assortment. The category consists of classic and new styles developed by our product development team. Our bag product category includes items such as totes, crossbodies, satchels, clutches, backpacks, baby bags, and lunch bags. Bags play a prominent role in our visual merchandising, and we showcase the different fabrications, patterns, colors, and features of each bag.
Accessories. Accessories include Vera Bradley-branded fashion accessories such as wallets, wristlets, eyeglass cases, scarves, various technology accessories, as well as Pura Vida-branded accessories such as bracelets, rings, and necklaces. We believe our accessories are attractively priced and allow the consumer to include some color in her wardrobe. Our product development teams consistently update the accessories assortment based on consumer demand and fashion trends.
Travel. Our travel product category includes rolling luggage, cosmetics, travel and packing accessories, and travel bags which includes our iconic duffel and weekend bags. The first Vera Bradley product offering included duffel bags, which have consistently been strong performers. We believe their popularity, as well as the appeal of our other travel items, results from our vibrant designs, functional styles, and lightweight fabrications.
Apparel/Footwear. Our apparel and footwear category includes sleepwear, footwear, cotton face masks, outerwear, socks, scarves, and Pura Vida tees and hoodies. Cotton face mask sales began during fiscal 2021 at both Vera Bradley and Pura Vida.
Home. Our home category includes textiles, including throw blankets, beach towels, and comforters, as well as items such as mugs and tumblers.
Product Development
Vera Bradley. We have implemented a fully integrated and cross-functional product development process that aligns design, trend and market research, merchandising, planning, sales, marketing, and sourcing. We believe product development is a core capability that makes our products unique and that our designs and aesthetics set our products apart and drive customer loyalty. Our design and product development teams combine an understanding of the desires of our target customers, with knowledge of upcoming color, material, consumer, and fashion trends to design new collections, as well as new product categories.
We typically begin the development stage of our products in the Vera Bradley portfolio twelve to eighteen months in advance of their release. The development of each new pattern includes the design of a primary print and sometimes a secondary coordinating print. All print development is managed by our internal print design team. Once developed, we generally copyright
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our patterns as appropriate. We believe that great design is not only central to our products, but also is a fundamental part of our brand development and growth strategies.
Our design team works to ensure that new collections contain an assortment of products and styles that are in line with both trends and customer desires and regularly updates classic styles to enhance functionality. Our team monitors fashion trends and customer needs by typically attending major trend and industry shows in Europe, Asia, and the United States, subscribing to trend monitoring services, and engaging in comparison shopping.
Our product development team works closely with our marketing and merchandising teams to gather consumer insights through a variety of methodologies, including seasonal market research, in-store testing, scheduled interviews, and online and in-person surveys conducted by our internal team. Our work is also informed in part by market data analysis provided through our membership in industry services and organizations. The design and product development teams work to ensure that we offer products that are constructed to meet our design, function, construction, and quality standards in a cost-effective manner. We believe that, with our cross-functional, collaborative approach, we are able to introduce and market our products in a way that clearly communicates the Vera Bradley brand.
In addition to products developed in-house, we also pursue brand extensions through strategic partnerships, licensing agreements, and brand collaborations. We currently have licenses in place for eyewear; collegiate (NCAA); bedding; technology accessories; stationery/drinkware; sleepwear and loungewear; certain footwear; female shaving products; outdoor furniture, accessories, and décor; wallpaper and luxury vinyl tile; and pickle ball racquets and accessories. We also have licensing agreements with Disney Consumer Products, Warner Brothers Consumer Products, Peanuts Worldwide, and certain U.S. Military forces. We will continue to look for the right strategic partners and licensees that can augment the brand and provide established distribution networks for certain categories of business.
Pura Vida. Pura Vida continues to develop new styles and re-invent existing styles. We have a cross-functional team that aligns product development with merchandising to strategically manage the design process. Our cross-functional team attends trade shows and performs market research to develop what we believe will be on-trend products that communicate and emulate the “pura vida” lifestyle. We also pursue brand extensions through licensing agreements and we have partnered with Shark Week, Warner Brothers Consumer Products, Disney Consumer Products, Sanrio, and other companies that are consistent with our brand.
Marketing
We believe that the growth of our brands and our business is influenced by our ability to introduce and sell our merchandise in a way that clearly conveys the Vera Bradley and Pura Vida brand personalities. We use marketing as a critical tool in our efforts to promote our brands.
Vera Bradley
Retention Advertising. We communicate with our established customers consistently throughout the year with regular e-mails, social media, and notifications, as well as seasonal direct mail related to the Vera Bradley brand. Our retention advertising is geared to keeping Vera Bradley top of mind with our customers, rewarding our customers, and providing them with news of our seasonal launches, new product introductions, and VB Cares initiatives.
New Customer Acquisition Advertising. We primarily employ digital (i.e., display banner, mobile, geo-targeting, and pre-roll video) advertising to increase overall brand awareness and attract new customers.
Public Relations and Product Placement. Vera Bradley has received considerable editorial exposure in the press, with mentions in Oprah Daily, In Style, People, Elle, WWD, Cosmopolitan, Good Housekeeping, and Forbes. In addition, we have expanded our public relations efforts to reach popular online influencers and bloggers.
Product placement of Vera Bradley products in feature-length films and on prime-time television shows remains strong with television placements in The Neighbors, Blackish, American Housewife, The Neighborhood, Mom, Ozark, The Blacklist, and Chicago Fire. Movie placements include: Don’t Look Up, Black Friday, Arthur the King, Jurassic World, Moxie, and The Prom.
Partnerships. During fiscal 2022, under the umbrella of VB Cares, we reinforced our position as a total stakeholder-focused and socially-conscious organization and continued to strengthen our community support and charitable initiatives that are meaningful to our customers and that make a significant impact on those in need, particularly women and children. Efforts included supporting the Vera Bradley Foundation for Breast Cancer, our national “Blessings in a Backpack” program, New Hope Girls, and Free Mom Hugs, among others.
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Social Media and Online Marketing. We use online marketing and social networking sites as tools to increase brand awareness and drive traffic to verabradley.com and to our Vera Bradley stores. Vera Bradley can be found on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, Pinterest, and YouTube.
For Vera Bradley, we have captured approximately 6.5 million active customer e-mail addresses in our online customer file, with many of these customers providing age, occupation, and location data. This information provides us with deeper insight into the products and categories that are of the highest interest to our customers, and allows us to better target our customers with appropriate messages. As of January 29, 2022, we had approximately 2.0 million Facebook fans and approximately 70,000 Twitter followers. Our Instagram has grown to approximately 560,000 followers and is our most highly engaged social medium. In addition, we often partner with brand-right bloggers to promote our products.
Direct Mail. Vera Bradley mailers are a vehicle for promoting the Vera Bradley brand and product portfolio. Each mailer is sent to a targeted customer mailing list. We believe our direct mail medium generates excitement and awareness about the Vera Bradley brand and allows us to reach both new and loyal customers in their homes.
Pura Vida
Our marketing effectiveness for the e-commerce channel was negatively impacted by the Apple IDFA update in fiscal 2022. This update negatively impacted our social media advertising and tracking, particularly Facebook and Instagram, which have been our primary marketing vehicles for growing the brand. We are putting additional resources in place to address this situation in fiscal 2023 with new data warehousing initiatives to maximize our first-party data and customer retention. In addition, as previously mentioned, we are continuing to diversify our marketing program by adding new marketing channels and leveraging SMS and email marketing more than in the past.
Retention Advertising. We connect with our established customers with regular emails, affiliate marketing, SMS marketing, and social media marketing. Our retention advertising focuses on informing Pura Vida customers of new product launches, exclusive offers, inventory restocks of best sellers, upselling subscription products, promoting referral and loyalty rewards, and the latest Pura Vida news.
New Customer Acquisition Advertising. Pura Vida focuses on digital advertising through Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Google, Snapchat, and Pinterest to acquire new customers. We are consistently testing new audiences, channels, creative ads, and promotions to maximize our return on paid media spend.
Ambassador Program. We have a grassroots program of brand ambassadors who drive customers to our website and generate buzz in local communities, digitally through their social media channels, in person through events, and through word of mouth. This program helps us reach our customers in a peer-to-peer fashion, similar to word of mouth marketing. We acquire these brand ambassadors through advertising on Instagram and Snapchat, as well as regular promotion through our organic and retention channels.
Influencer Marketing. We have tiers of small to large sized influencers across various key markets and demographic profiles. We work with macro influencers on product collaborations and campaigns, and foster organic relationships with them through photoshoots, trips, and events which we believe drives organic growth for the brand. We have also built a network of micro influencers through our gifted program who post for our brand in exchange for product and exposure on our social channels.
Charity Collaborations. We actively partner with charities to donate to causes that are important to our customers. To date, we have donated over $4.0 million to various charities around the world.
Events Marketing. To reach our existing customers in person, to acquire new customers, and to expose customers to the experiential aspect of our brand, we have hosted several successful events at our flagship retail store in San Diego that opened in fiscal 2022. We have additional opportunities to expand our event marketing to include new retail stores as they open.
Seasonality
Because Vera Bradley and Pura Vida products are frequently given as gifts, we have historically realized, and expect to continue to realize, higher sales and operating income in the fourth quarter of our fiscal year, which includes the holiday months of November and December. In addition, our products are popular during back-to-school periods of August and September. Fluctuations in sales and operating income in any fiscal quarter are affected by the timing of seasonal wholesale shipments and other events affecting retail sales.
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Channels of Distribution
We distribute our Vera Bradley products through our VB Direct and VB Indirect segments and Pura Vida products primarily through e-commerce and wholesale retailers. This multi-channel distribution model is designed to enable operational flexibility and maximizes the methods by which we can access potential customers.
Vera Bradley Direct Segment
Full-Line Stores. We have developed a retail presence through our full-line stores, all located in the United States, which provides us with a format to showcase our brand and the full array of Vera Bradley products. As of January 29, 2022, we operated 70 full-line stores averaging approximately 1,900 square feet per store. Our sales associates are passionate about our products and customer service, which, we believe, translates into a superior shopping experience.
Factory Outlet Stores. Our factory outlet stores are a vehicle for selling factory exclusive styles, as well as retired merchandise at discounted prices, while maintaining brand integrity. Typically, approximately 95% of the merchandise found in our factory outlet stores consists of factory exclusive styles, although supply chain challenges in fiscal 2022 caused inventory levels of factory exclusive styles to fall below this level. Factory outlet stores are an integral part of our distribution strategy, as this format provides an additional channel of distribution for our products and enables us to better target value-oriented customers. Our factory outlet stores average approximately 3,400 square feet per store and we expect to invest approximately $0.5 million per new store, consisting of inventory, pre-opening costs, and build-out costs, less tenant-improvement allowances. As of January 29, 2022, we operated 75 factory outlet stores, all located in the United States.
Store Location Selection Strategy. Our store location decisions for both full-line and factory outlet stores are made based upon our comprehensive retail strategy that includes actual and planned penetration in both Indirect and Direct segments, as well as existing e-commerce demand. At this time, we do not believe all geographical markets have been fully penetrated by our distribution channels, although we have temporarily suspended full-line store growth and forecast that we will close additional full-line stores. We believe that long-term expansion of our store base will increase brand awareness and reinforce our brand image by contributing to our omni-channel retail strategy. In addition to analyzing store economics, we pay particular attention to the location within the shopping center, the size and shape of the space, and co-tenancies. Along with seeking co-tenants that we believe share our target customer, we seek a balanced mix of moderate and high-end retailers to encourage high levels of traffic.
Store Operations. The focus of our store operations is providing consumers with a comfortable and memorable shopping experience. We strive to make the experience interactive through special store events, such as showcasing newly launched products or celebrating our namesake’s birthday. Our customer service philosophy emphasizes friendly service, merchandise knowledge, and passion for the brand. Consequently, an essential requirement for the success of our stores is our ability to attract, train, and retain talented, highly motivated district managers, store managers, and sales associates.
E-Commerce. In 2006, we began selling our products through the verabradley.com website. The objective of verabradley.com is to provide both a mechanism for marketing directly to consumers and a storefront where consumers can find the entire full-line Vera Bradley collection. During fiscal 2021, we re-platformed our website to become more streamlined, nimble, and efficient in our technology platform and business processes. Since 2018, we have also operated an online outlet site to reduce clearance sales from verabradley.com. We had approximately 52 million visits to verabradley.com and our online outlet site during fiscal 2022.
Annual Outlet Sale. We have not held our annual outlet sale for the past two years as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. We have also cancelled our calendar year 2022 sale. Our annual outlet sale is typically held in the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum Exposition Center in Fort Wayne, Indiana each spring. The annual outlet sale is an important tradition for Vera Bradley, has many loyal followers, and is an opportunity for us to sell our retired merchandise at discounted prices in a brand-right fashion. We will be assessing the feasibility of future annual outlet sales in calendar 2023 and beyond.
Vera Bradley Indirect Segment
As of January 29, 2022, we sold our products in approximately 1,800 specialty retail locations, as well as department stores, national accounts, third-party e-commerce sites, and third-party inventory liquidators, as well as through licensing agreements. In fiscal 2012, we launched our products in the department store channel. We are currently in approximately 300 department store locations.
The top 25% of our specialty retailers account for approximately 80% of total specialty retailer revenue. No single Indirect retailer represented more than 10% of consolidated net revenues in fiscal 2022, with the top ten Indirect retailers, representing in the aggregate approximately 55% of total Indirect segment net revenues. The majority of our Indirect retailers have been customers for over five years.
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Indirect Sales Force
We believe that having a combination of an in-house field sales force and a third-party agency, covering certain geographies, results in a more consistent brand presentation and messaging, enhanced support for our Indirect customers, and a more predictable, scalable, and cost-efficient business model. As of January 29, 2022, our in-house sales team consisted of approximately 25 full-time sales consultants.
In addition to acquiring new and growing existing accounts, our sales consultants serve as a support center for our Indirect customers by assisting and educating them in areas such as merchandising and visual presentation, marketing the brand, product selection, and inventory management. Our visual merchandising program provides our sales consultants with a framework to guide our Indirect customers regarding optimal product placement and display that is intended to reinforce the message that our brand is distinctive.
Pura Vida Segment
E-Commerce. Pura Vida is a digitally native brand and the e-commerce storefront continues to be the primary source of revenues for the Pura Vida business. The e-commerce site also includes a monthly bracelet and jewelry subscription club. The subscription club is a mechanism to continue to build brand loyalty and stimulate higher retention.
Wholesale. The Pura Vida wholesale channel is comprised primarily of specialty stores including Tilly’s, The Buckle, The Paper Store, Ron Jon Surf Shops, Hallmark stores, Nordstrom, and Dillards, among others. Pura Vida also has a presence on Amazon through a third-party wholesaler. We have a combination of in-house and external sales personnel who work with our wholesale retailers regarding order fulfillment and compilation.
Retail. Pura Vida has one retail store location in San Diego, California, which opened in fiscal 2022. The Company expects to open approximately three additional retail store locations in fiscal 2023.
Manufacturing and Supply Chain Model
During fiscal 2022 for the Vera Bradley brand, we faced significant supply chain disruptions that caused delivery delays, as well as inbound and outbound freight cost increases. Surges in demand for shipping containers has caused the cost per container to rise significantly. In addition, the surge in imports has caused delays in getting ships into ports and congestion once the containers arrive at the ports. Oftentimes, this has added several weeks of delays to our deliveries. We are continuing to work diligently to mitigate the situation, including shortening the product development timeline and adding inventory coverage, but we expect shipping delays and freight expense increases to continue for the near future.
We have also been impacted by higher tariffs from previously duty-free countries, where we source products, as a result of the Generalized System of Preferences (“GSP”) duty-free status expiring at the end of calendar year 2020. We cannot guarantee if or when the GSP duty-free status will be reinstated or, if reinstated, retro-actively applied by Congress.
Vera Bradley
Our multi-country manufacturing and supply chain model is designed to achieve efficient, timely, and accurate order fulfillment while maintaining appropriate levels of inventory.
Our manufacturing and sourcing strategy is part of the larger cross-functional product development process. The overall objective for our sourcing team is to build and sustain collaborative partnerships throughout our supply chain, with a focus on identifying appropriate countries and partners to manufacture our products while maintaining and focusing on flexibility. Our sourcing team leverages its expertise in negotiation, relationship management, flexibility, and change management to maintain a strong, diverse global supply chain. Our sourcing team also focuses on achieving the right balance of production sites and countries of origin to mitigate the risk of concentrated production, including potential incremental tariffs. To continue to assist in this risk mitigation, our sourcing team reduced our Vera Bradley production in China from over 50% in fiscal 2019 to approximately 15% in fiscal 2022.
We strive to maintain the appropriate balance of inventory to enable us to provide a high level of service to our customers, including prompt and accurate delivery of our products at a reasonable cost. We believe that we have an active and nimble sales and operations planning process that helps us balance the supply and demand issues that we encounter in our business, optimize our inventory levels, and anticipate inventory needs. We have also integrated our Vera Bradley planning, forecasting, and segmentation processes under one function called Merchandise Planning and Allocation.
Approximately half of Vera Bradley product sales are cotton-based. Our other fabrics include primarily fleece, polyester, and microfiber. We source our raw materials from various suppliers in Asia, with the majority coming from China and South Korea. Our global sourcing team works with select suppliers enabling us to optimize the mix of cost, lead time, quality, and reliability
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within our global supply network. We actively mitigate raw materials price increases through purchasing at advantageous times and periods. All of our suppliers must comply with our quality standards, and we use only a limited number of pre-approved suppliers who have demonstrated a commitment to delivering the highest quality products. We are continually updating our factory audit process and building a better compliance program to ensure our vendor code of conduct is met. In fact, in fiscal 2022 we moved from internal factory audits to partnering with BetterWork to conduct the audits. BetterWork brings diverse groups together (governments, global brands, factory owners, unions, and workers) to improve working conditions in the garment industry and make the sector more competitive. These audits encompass both the Vera Bradley and Pura Vida brands. In April 2016, we opened an office in Hong Kong to lead the global supply chain in Asia, including the oversight of sourcing and procurement.
The majority of our Vera Bradley finished goods, not sourced through licenses or strategic partners, are manufactured by a variety of global manufacturers located primarily in Cambodia, Vietnam, Indonesia, and China. We discontinued manufacturing in Myanmar in mid-2021. With the oversight of our office in Hong Kong and our independent contractors, we believe these financial benefits have been realized without sacrificing the level of quality inherent in our products or service to our customers.
Pura Vida
Pura Vida products are sourced primarily from El Salvador, as well as China, Guatemala, Cambodia, Indonesia, and India. We have continued an active supply chain diversification process to ensure a focus on maintaining flexibility and to help mitigate the risk of concentrated production, similar to the Vera Bradley supply chain.
When determining the size of orders placed with our manufacturers, we take into account forward-looking demand, lead times for specific products, current inventory levels, and minimum order quantity requirements. Overseas production has resulted in substantial cost savings and a reduction of capital investment.
Distribution Centers
Vera Bradley owns a 428,500 square-foot distribution center in Roanoke, Indiana. This automated, computerized facility allows Vera Bradley employees to receive information directly from the order-collection center and quickly identify the products and quantities necessary to fulfill a particular order. The facility’s technology enables us to accurately process and pack orders, as well as track shipments and inventory. We believe that our systems for the processing and shipment of orders from our distribution center have enabled us to improve our overall customer service through enhanced order accuracy and reduced turnaround time; however, we continue to make technology and automation enhancements to our distribution center processes to promote optimal output.
Vera Bradley products are shipped primarily via third-party common carriers to our stores, our Indirect retailers, and directly to our customers who purchase through our website. We believe we are positioned well to support the order fulfillment requirements of our business, including business generated through our website.
Pura Vida products for the U.S. e-commerce site and wholesale accounts are distributed primarily through a third-party provider in Tijuana, Mexico. Pura Vida also distributes product through a third-party provider in the Netherlands and Canada, which supports European and Canadian e-commerce operations, respectively. To support international e-commerce sales, we are exploring a potential provider in Asia in the future.
Management Information Systems
We believe that high levels of automation and technology are essential to maintain our competitive position. We maintain computer hardware, applications, and networks to enhance and accelerate the design process, to support the sale and distribution of our products to our customers, and to improve the integration and efficiency of our operations. Our information systems are designed to provide, among other things, enterprise class business management, comprehensive order processing for all commerce channels, production, accounting, and management information and analytics for the product development, retail, sales, marketing, distribution, finance, and human resources functions of our business. In fiscal 2021 at Vera Bradley, we migrated our ERP, POS, Business Intelligence, and Order Management systems to cloud-based platforms streamlining and simplifying our work and providing for additional capabilities such as mobile POS and multi-company operations on the same platform. We completed our ERP migration during fiscal 2022 for Pura Vida, so that our entire enterprise is on a unified technology platform. We continue to assess our on-premise and cloud-based technology solutions in an effort to ensure we have the optimal solutions for our business. In fiscal 2023, we are implementing a new suite of inventory planning tools to optimize full line assortments, localized assortments, pricing and promotion planning, and inventory positions.
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Competition
For both Vera Bradley and Pura Vida, we face strong competition in each of the product lines and markets in which we compete. We believe that all of our products are in similar competitive positions with respect to the number of competitors they face and the level of competition within each product line. Due to the number of different products we offer, it is not practicable for us to quantify the number of competitors we face. Our products compete with other branded products within their product categories and with private label products sold by retailers. Moreover, the general availability of contract manufacturing allows new entrants to relatively easily access the markets in which we compete, which may increase the number of competitors and adversely affect our competitive position and our business. We compete against other independent retailers, department stores, catalog retailers, gift retailers, and Internet businesses that engage in the retail sale of similar products.
The market for handbags and accessories, in particular, is highly competitive. Our competitors include not only established companies that are expanding their production and marketing of handbags and accessories, but also frequent new entrants to the market. We directly compete with wholesalers and direct sellers of branded handbags and accessories.
In varying degrees, depending on the product category involved, we compete on the basis of design (aesthetic appeal), quality (construction), function, price point, distribution, and brand positioning. We believe that our primary competitive advantages are consumer recognition of our brands, customer loyalty and engagement, product development expertise, and our widespread presence through our multi-channel distribution model. Some of our competitors have achieved significant recognition for their brand names or have substantially greater financial, distribution, marketing, and other resources than we do. Further, we may face new competitors and increased competition from existing competitors as we expand into new markets and increase our presence in existing markets.
Copyrights and Trademarks
For Vera Bradley, the development of new patterns includes the design of primary and secondary prints. Once developed, we generally copyright our patterns as appropriate. We currently have approximately 1,200 copyrights related to the Vera Bradley business.
We also own the material trademark rights used in connection with the production, marketing, and distribution of all of our products, both in the United States and in the other countries in which our products are principally sold. Our trademarks include “Vera Bradley” and “Pura Vida.” We aggressively police our trademarks and copyrights and pursue infringers and counterfeiters both domestically and internationally. Our trademarks will remain in existence for as long as we continue to use and renew them in advance of their expiration dates. We have no material patents.
Human Capital
Equal employment opportunities are available to all persons at Vera Bradley, Inc. without regard to race, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, age, color, religion, creed, national origin, ancestry, mental or physical disability, medical condition, genetic information, military or veteran status or any other category protected under applicable federal, state, or local law. We put this standard into practice through our hiring, training, and an annual affirmative action program.
As of January 29, 2022, we had approximately 2,490 employees. Of the total, approximately 1,775 were engaged in Vera Bradley retail selling positions; approximately 325 were engaged in Vera Bradley distribution, sourcing and quality functions; approximately 60 were engaged in Vera Bradley product design; approximately 50 were involved in the Pura Vida business; and approximately 280 were engaged in corporate support and administrative functions. None of our employees are represented by a union. We believe that our relations with our employees are good, and we have never encountered a significant work stoppage other than as related to temporary stoppages necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Project Quilt. In fiscal 2021, we launched our Company-wide diversity and inclusion initiative, Project Quilt, to continue to enhance diversity, equality, and inclusion, focusing on three key areas – the Associate Experience, the Customer Experience, and the Community Experience.
Engagement. Vera Bradley believes it is critical to engage its different stakeholders in order to understand their views, values, and ideas and to design a more responsible environment for all involved. This stakeholder group includes associates. The Company engages its associates through surveys, town halls, and focus groups. Collectively, the Company's success is based upon the unique value of each person's contributions. Our long term success depends on talented and engaged associates.
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Every year, we conduct an associate engagement survey in order to better understand our associates’ insights into our Company’s strengths and opportunities. In 2021, we once again had outstanding participation, with approximately 80% of our associates sharing their candid feedback. Our 2021 overall engagement score was once again above average in all categories compared to peer companies with some categories in the upper quartile compared to peer companies. The feedback gave us insight into improvement opportunities and was instrumental in decisions we made to shape, strengthen, and improve our Company. As a result of the survey feedback, over the last several years we have made meaningful improvements to benefits, career development, compensation, mental health and wellness programs, and our facilities. We believe listening to our associates’ feedback provided through the annual Engagement Surveys continually strengthens our corporate culture.
Pay and Benefits. The Company offers competitive pay packages that include market-competitive base and hourly compensation, healthcare, a 401(k) savings plan that typically includes a Company contribution match, paid time off (including for volunteer work), paid family leave, matching gifts program, and an Employee Assistance Program.
Leadership Programs. Our associates are our biggest asset and when they win, we all win. We recognize everyone in the Company has the ability to lead by example and influence others in a positive way that ultimately provides meaningful value and will make us stronger. Our long-term initiative, Leaders by Design, encourages our associates to grow as leaders through
new associate orientation and onboarding, formal training programs, mentorship programs, job shadowing and career-pathing programs and development, including THE LEADERSHIP CHALLENGE®, a globally recognized, research-based leadership development program designed to enhance leadership effectiveness.
Associate Safety. Associate safety and well-being is of paramount importance to our Company. We have a comprehensive Safety Manual that emphasizes our high standard of safety throughout all operations of the organization. The Safety Manual
addresses a variety of topics including reporting injuries, OSHA compliance and emergency procedures (related to workplace violence, active shooters, severe weather and blood-borne pathogens, among others). Policies are routinely communicated and training is provided to associates as appropriate.
Government Regulation
Many of our imported products are subject to existing or potential duties or tariffs that may limit the quantity of products that we may import into the United States and other countries or impact the cost of such products. Customs duties have not comprised a material portion of the total cost of a majority of our products. In addition, we are subject to foreign governmental regulation and trade restrictions, including U.S. retaliation against prohibited foreign practices, with respect to our product sourcing and international sales operations.
We are subject to federal, state, local, and foreign laws and regulations governing environmental matters, including the handling, transportation, and disposal of our products and our non-hazardous and hazardous substances and wastes, as well as emissions and discharges into the environment, including discharges to air, surface water, and groundwater. Failure to comply with such laws and regulations could result in costs for corrective action, penalties, or the imposition of other liabilities. Compliance with environmental laws and regulations has not had a material effect upon our capital expenditures, earnings, or competitive position. If we violate any laws or regulations, however, it could have a material adverse effect on our business or financial performance.
Information About Our Executive Officers
The following table sets forth certain information concerning each of our executive officers:
| Name | Age | Position(s) | ||||||||||||
| Robert Wallstrom | 56 | Chief Executive Officer, President and Director, Vera Bradley, Inc. | ||||||||||||
| John Enwright | 49 | Chief Financial Officer, Vera Bradley, Inc. | ||||||||||||
| Mark C. Dely | 46 | Chief Administrative & Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary, Vera Bradley, Inc. | ||||||||||||
| Daren Hull | 48 | Brand President, Vera Bradley | ||||||||||||
| Kevin Korney | 52 | Chief Merchandising Officer, Vera Bradley | ||||||||||||
| Beatrice Mac Cabe | 43 | Chief Creative Officer, Vera Bradley | ||||||||||||
| Stephanie Scheele | 45 | Chief Purpose & Communication Officer, Vera Bradley, Inc. | ||||||||||||
| Mary Beth Trypus | 56 | Chief Revenue Officer, Vera Bradley | ||||||||||||
| Paul Goodman | 33 | Co-founder, Pura Vida | ||||||||||||
| Griffin Thall | 35 | Co-founder, Pura Vida | ||||||||||||
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Robert Wallstrom has served as our Chief Executive Officer, President and Director since November 2013. Prior to joining Vera Bradley, Mr. Wallstrom served as President of Saks Fifth Avenue’s OFF 5TH division from 2007 until November 2013. Previously, he was Group Senior Vice President and General Manager of Saks’ flagship New York store from 2002 to 2007, where he articulated a vision to return the store to its luxury heritage and dramatically improve merchandising, service, and the in-store experience.
John Enwright joined the Company in May 2014 as our Senior Director of Financial, Planning and Analysis and was soon promoted to Vice President, Financial, Planning and Analysis. Mr. Enwright was named Chief Financial Officer in April 2017. Prior to joining Vera Bradley, Mr. Enwright spent 15 years with Tiffany & Co. in various financial roles of increasing responsibility, including most recently as Director of Financial, Planning and Analysis.
Mark C. Dely joined the Company in August 2016 as our Vice President, Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary and was promoted to also serve as the Chief Administrative Officer in September 2017. Between January 2013 and August 2016, Mr. Dely served as Senior Vice President, Chief Legal Officer, General Counsel and Secretary of Fred’s, Inc., a publicly-traded retailer and pharmacy with locations throughout the Southeast. From July 2007 to December 2012, Mr. Dely was Vice President and Divisional General Counsel of the Franchise Services Group for The ServiceMaster Company, where he managed the legal function for the Company's global franchise businesses. Mr. Dely’s additional experience includes being the first in-house counsel for NYSE-listed seed and agricultural-biotech company, Delta & Pine Land Company. Mr. Dely began his legal career at New York law firm Fried Frank, LLP.
Daren Hull was promoted to Vera Bradley Brand President in February 2021 with a focus on building customer engagement and expanding revenue while cultivating the ethos of the Vera Bradley brand. Prior to this, Mr. Hull served as our Chief Customer Officer since July 2018 where he was responsible for all sales, marketing, and digital initiatives. Prior to joining Vera Bradley, Mr. Hull served as Senior Vice President, Stores and West Elm Digital for Williams-Sonoma, a consumer retailer of cookware and tools, electrics, entertainment-related, and other products, where he evolved the technology and customer experience from November 2016 until July 2018. Between November 2015 and September 2016, he served as Chief Operating Officer of Outdoor Voices where, among other things, he developed the team, process, programs, and infrastructure to drive revenue growth. Between July 2015 and November 2015 he served as SVP Global eCommerce, Head of Disruptive Innovation at PepsiCo and between January 2012 and April 2015, he served as General Manager for MyHabitat at Amazon. Mr. Hull gained additional experience with L'Oreal and Guthy-Renker.
Kevin Korney has served as our Chief Merchandising Officer since January 2018. Prior to joining Vera Bradley, Mr. Korney served as Vice President, Global Merchandising for Converse, a shoe, apparel and accessories manufacturer and distributor, where he introduced the Global Merchandising function in June 2015. Between November 2012 and June 2015, he served as Senior Divisional Merchandise Manager for Fossil. From July 2011 to November 2012, he served as the General Merchandise Manager for Dallas Cowboys Merchandising and from September 2006 to March 2009, he served as Global Vice President within various Merchandising and Creative functions at The Walt Disney Company. Mr. Korney gained prior experience with Nautica, Ralph Lauren, and Gap.
Beatrice Mac Cabe joined the Company in January 2016 as our Vice President – Design and was promoted to her current post as Chief Creative Officer in September 2017. From 2013 until joining Vera Bradley, Ms. Mac Cabe served as Vice President, Chief Creative Director at Fossil where she directed the design process from initial concept for lifestyle categories. From 2012 to 2013 she was Design and Merchandising Director, Private Brand Accessories for JC Penney and from 2011 to 2012 she was Creative Director, Handbags for Vince Camuto. Ms. Mac Cabe gained prior design and brand development experience at other fashion brands including Diane von Furstenberg, John Galliano in Paris, and Marni in Milan.
Stephanie Scheele was named Chief Purpose and Communications officer in 2021. Before that, Ms. Scheele was Vera Bradley’s Chief Marketing Officer from April 2018 until 2021. Prior to April 2018, Ms. Scheele served as our Vice President – Marketing Strategy and Operations since 2015, leading the insights and customer database programs and overseeing the marketing strategy team. Ms. Scheele has spent over 15 years with Vera Bradley in various roles of increasing responsibility.
Mary Beth Trypus joined the Company in May 2016 as our Vice President – Global Wholesale Sales and was promoted to Chief Sales Officer in March 2018 and then to Chief Revenue Officer in March 2021. In her current role, she is responsible for all revenue channels including retail, wholesale, and e-commerce, as well as customer service. From September 2015 to May 2016, Ms. Trypus consulted for accessories start-ups and non-profit businesses where she developed brand architecture, defined the financial structure, and engineered sales and customer acquisition strategy. From August 2014 to August 2015, she was Executive Vice President Sales and Marketing for Bulova Corporation where she drove marketing strategy and revenue growth across a multi-brand watch portfolio in the wholesale and e-commerce channels. From March 2011 to July 2014, Ms. Trypus was Senior Vice President Sales and Planning at Nine West Group in the handbag division and held prior leadership positions at Liz Claiborne, Inc. and May Department Stores.
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Paul Goodman and Griffin Thall co-founded Pura Vida and continue to lead the Pura Vida operations from its corporate headquarters in La Jolla, California. The have each been with Pura Vida since its founding in 2010.
Available Information
Our Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K, and all amendments to these reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 are available free of charge on our website, www.verabradley.com, as soon as reasonably practicable after they are filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). No information contained on our website is intended to be included as part of, or incorporated by reference into, this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
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Item 1A. Risk Factors
You should carefully consider all of the information in this report, including the following factors, which could materially affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations in future periods. The risks described below are not the only risks that we face. Additional risks not currently known to us, or that we currently deem to be immaterial, also may materially adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations in future periods.
Risks Related to the COVID-19 Pandemic
The outbreak of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), or events related thereto, may continue to cause significant disruptions in our revenue streams, operations, global supply chain and other facets of our business, which may continue to adversely impact our results of operations, financial condition, and share price.
Our operations are currently subject to significant disruptions as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic has resulted in travel restrictions both domestically and internationally, community and self-quarantines, certain factory closures or reduced operations, as well as mall closures and reduced mall operating hours. We temporarily closed our retail stores on March 19, 2020. On May 5, 2020, we began to reopen our retail stores in a phased approach, with all stores open as of the end of fiscal 2021. Despite the reopening of our retail stores, we have experienced, and may continue to experience, significantly reduced traffic, demand, and sales. Further, new variants of the virus and new and evolving guidance and mandates from governments and public health officials, may necessitate additional closures to some, or all, of our retail stores, the stores of our Indirect segment partners and Pura Vida wholesale retailers, or otherwise detrimentally impact aspects of our operations. The pandemic has also and may continue to reduce consumers' willingness and ability to travel to major cities and vacation destinations in which some of our stores are located.
Although not material as of the date of this filing, COVID-19 has led to temporary factory closures and production and logistics constraints due to workforce availability, as well as global supply chain challenges such as vessel and container shortages and port congestion. As a result of the aforementioned restrictions, or other related factors, we have experienced and may continue to experience delayed shipments and increased shipping costs for some of our fiscal 2023 merchandise. We may also be adversely impacted should the pandemic compromise operations at our corporate headquarters and distribution center located in Roanoke, Indiana.
The extent of the pandemic’s continued impact on our results of operations, financial condition, and share price will likely depend on future developments including, but not limited to, the duration of the spread of the outbreak, including the potential for spikes in the number of COVID-19 cases in future periods, including as may be related to the spread of new virus variants; mitigation activities undertaken by governments and the general public; the overall economic impacts of quarantines and business closures; and current, and potentially long-term, changes in consumer behavior.
As a result of the above-mentioned factors, the Company’s liquidity, results of operations, and financial condition have been, and are likely to continue to be, adversely impacted.
Measures to mitigate COVID-19 impacts to our business may result in additional risk exposure or prove ineffectual. For example, we have and may continue to incur additional interest costs associated with borrowings under our Credit Agreement. We may also from time to time use air freight as a shipping method to expedite the receipt of certain inventory, causing us to incur additional freight costs.
Our management team continues to focus on mitigating the risk of the COVID-19 pandemic. This may result in less time to concentrate on other areas of the business, including operations, than prior to the pandemic and may cause increased risks to our ability to effectively manage our business operations if conditions related to the pandemic were to continue or worsen.
Risks Related to Our Business Operations and Industry
If we are unable to successfully implement our long-term strategic plans and growth strategies, our future operating results could suffer.
The success of our long-term strategic plan and growth strategies, alone or collectively, will depend on various factors, including the appeal of our product designs, retail presentation to consumers, effectiveness of our marketing initiatives, expense saving initiatives, competitive conditions, and economic conditions. There is no assurance that we will be able to successfully implement our strategic plan and growth strategies. If we are unsuccessful in implementing some or all of our strategies or initiatives, our future operating results could be adversely impacted.
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Changes in general economic conditions, and their impact on consumer confidence and consumer spending, could adversely impact our results of operations.
Our performance is subject to general economic conditions and their impact on levels of consumer confidence and consumer spending. Consumer confidence and consumer spending may be influenced by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, fluctuating interest rates and credit availability, changing fuel and other energy costs, fluctuating commodity prices, levels of unemployment and consumer debt levels, changes in net worth based on market conditions, general uncertainty regarding the overall future economic environment, political turmoil, and weather and weather-related phenomena. Consumer purchases of discretionary items, including our merchandise, generally decline during periods when disposable income is adversely affected or there is economic uncertainty, and these occurrences could adversely impact our results of operations. In the event that the U.S. economy worsens, or if there is a decline in consumer-spending levels or other unfavorable conditions, including inflation, we could experience lower than expected net revenues, which could force us to delay or slow the implementation of our growth strategies and adversely impact our results of operations.
Our inability to predict and respond in a timely manner to changes in consumer demand could adversely affect our net revenues and results of operations.
Our success depends on our ability to gauge the fashion tastes of our customers and to provide merchandise that satisfies consumer demand in a timely manner. Our products must appeal to a broad range of consumers whose preferences cannot be predicted with certainty and are subject to rapid change. We cannot assure you that we will be able to develop appealing patterns, styles, and collections or meet changing consumer demands in the future. If we misjudge the market for our products, we may be faced with significant excess inventories for some products and missed opportunities for other products. In addition, changes to our product assortment and to our available fabrications, as well as the availability and breadth of pattern assortment may not gain consumer acceptance. Merchandise misjudgments could adversely impact our net revenues and results of operations.
We may experience declines in comparable sales and there can be no guarantee that the strategic initiatives we are implementing to improve our results will be successful.
We may not be able to regain the levels of comparable sales that we have experienced in the past, and comparable sales may also further deteriorate. If our future comparable sales fail to meet market expectations, then the price of our common stock could decline. Also, the aggregate results of operations of our stores have fluctuated in the past and will fluctuate in the future. Numerous factors influence comparable sales, including fashion trends, competition, national and regional economic conditions, the COVID-19 pandemic, pricing, inflation, the timing of the release of new merchandise and promotional events, changes in our merchandise mix, marketing programs, changes in consumer shopping trends, site selection strategy, and weather conditions. These factors may cause our comparable sales results to be lower in the future than in recent periods or lower than expectations, either of which could result in a decline in the price of our common stock.
If our multi-channel distribution model is not successful, our business and results of operations may suffer.
We currently sell our Vera Bradley-branded products into two segments: Direct to consumers through Vera Bradley full-line and factory outlet stores in the United States, verabradley.com and verabradley.ca, the Vera Bradley online outlet site, and typically the Vera Bradley annual outlet sale in Fort Wayne, Indiana; and through our Vera Bradley Indirect wholesale business which consists of sales to specialty retail locations, department stores, national accounts, third-party e-commerce sites, third-party inventory liquidators, as well as royalties recognized through licensing agreements related to the Vera Bradley brand. We currently sell our Pura Vida-branded products direct to consumers through our e-commerce websites, puravidabracelets.com, puravidabracelets.eu, and puravidabracelets.ca, through wholesale retailers, and through our first retail store opened in August 2021. These channels are sometimes in direct competition and sales through these channels may not be incremental to total sales. If our omni-channel distribution model is unsuccessful, our business, financial condition, and results of operations could be materially adversely affected.
We may not be able to successfully open new stores and/or operate new and current stores as planned, which could adversely impact our results of operations.
Our long-term future growth prospects include our ability to successfully open new stores and operate new and current Vera Bradley and Pura Vida stores. In recent years, however, Vera Bradley comparable store sales have declined. Consequently, the rate at which we have opened new stores has slowed and we do not currently plan to open any new full-line stores during fiscal 2023. We have closed a total of 44 underperforming full-line stores and one underperforming factory outlet store since the beginning of fiscal 2018 and forecast that we will close additional full-line stores. We plan to open additional Vera Bradley
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factory outlet stores and Pura Vida retail stores during fiscal 2023. We will continue to evaluate our plans for store openings in future years in light of demand and store performance.
Our ability to successfully open and operate stores depends on many factors, including our ability to:
•identify suitable store locations, the availability of which may be uncertain;
•negotiate acceptable lease terms, including desired tenant improvement allowances;
•hire, train, and retain store personnel and management;
•assimilate new store personnel and management into our corporate culture;
•source and manufacture inventory; and
•successfully integrate new stores into our existing operations and information technology systems.
The success of new store openings may also be affected by our ability to initiate marketing efforts in advance of opening our first store in a particular region. Additionally, we will incur pre-opening costs and we may encounter initial losses while new stores commence operations, which could strain our resources and adversely impact our results of operations.
Our business depends on strong brands. If we are unable to execute our marketing strategies, intended to enhance our brands, then revenues and our results of operations could be adversely impacted.
We believe that the brand images that we have developed have contributed significantly to the success of our business. We also believe that enhancing the Vera Bradley and Pura Vida brands through our marketing strategies is critical to maintaining and expanding our customer base. Enhancing our brands and implementing our marketing strategies may require us to make substantial investments in areas such as product design, store operations, store design, community relations, and marketing. These investments might not succeed. If we are unable to successfully execute our brand strategies, our results of operations could be adversely impacted.
Closing stores could result in significant costs to us.
We have closed a total of 44 underperforming full-line stores and one underperforming factory outlet store since the beginning of fiscal 2018 and forecast that we will close additional full-line stores. We could, in the future, decide to close additional stores beyond those currently forecasted that are producing losses or that are not as profitable as we expect. If we decide to close any stores before the expiration of their lease terms, we may incur payments to landlords to terminate or “buy out” the remaining term of the lease. We also may incur costs related to the employees at such stores, whether or not we terminate the leases early. Upon any such closure, the closing costs, including fixed assets and inventory write-downs, could adversely affect our results and could adversely affect our cash on hand.
Our ability to attract customers to our stores depends heavily on the success of the shopping centers in which many of our stores are located.
Substantially all of our Vera Bradley Direct stores are located in regional mall shopping centers, and many of our Vera Bradley Indirect customers are also located in regional mall shopping centers. Factors beyond our control impact mall traffic, including public health pandemics such as COVID-19, general economic conditions, and consumer spending levels. Consumer spending and mall traffic have been depressed in recent years. As a result, mall operators have faced increasing operational and financial difficulties. The increasing inability of mall “anchor” tenants and other area attractions to generate consumer traffic around our stores, the increasing inability of mall operators to attract “anchor” tenants and maintain viable operations, and the increasing departures of existing “anchor” and other mall tenants due to declines in the sales volume and in the popularity of certain malls as shopping destinations, have reduced and may continue to reduce our sales volume and, consequently, adversely affect our financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows.
We are subject to risks associated with leasing substantial amounts of space, including future increases in occupancy costs.
We lease all of our store locations. We typically occupy our stores under operating leases with terms of ten years. We have been able to negotiate favorable rental rates in recent years due in part to the state of the economy and high vacancy rates within some shopping centers, but there is no assurance that we will be able to continue to negotiate such favorable terms. Some of our leases have early cancellation clauses, which permit the lease to be terminated by us or the landlord if certain sales levels are not met in specific periods or if the shopping center does not meet specified occupancy standards. In addition to requiring future minimum lease payments, some of our store leases provide for the payment of common area maintenance charges, real property insurance, and real estate taxes. Many of our lease agreements have escalating rent provisions over the initial term and any extensions. If we expand our store base, our lease expense and our cash outlays for rent under lease agreements will increase. Our substantial operating lease obligations could have significant negative consequences, including:
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•requiring that a substantial portion of our available cash be applied to pay our rental obligations, thus reducing cash available for other purposes;
•increasing our vulnerability to general adverse economic and industry conditions;
•limiting our flexibility in planning for or reacting to changes in our business or industry; and
•limiting our ability to obtain additional financing.
Any of these consequences could place us at a disadvantage with respect to our competitors. We depend on cash flow from operating activities to pay our lease expenses and to fulfill our other cash needs. If our business does not generate sufficient cash flow from operating activities to fund these expenses and needs, we may not be able to service our lease expenses, grow our business, respond to competitive challenges, or fund our other liquidity and capital needs, which would harm our business.
Additional sites that we lease may be subject to long-term non-cancelable leases if we are unable to negotiate our current standard lease terms. If an existing or future store is not profitable, and we decide to close it, we may nonetheless be committed to perform our obligations under the applicable lease, including paying the base rent for the balance of the lease term. Moreover, even if a lease has an early cancellation clause, we may not satisfy the contractual requirements for early cancellation under the lease. Our inability to enter new leases or renew existing leases on acceptable terms or be released from our obligations under leases for stores that we close would, in any such case, affect us adversely.
Our failure to effectively compete with other retailers for sales could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows.
The market for bags, accessories, travel items and our other products is increasingly competitive. Our competitive challenges include:
•attracting customer traffic;
•sourcing and manufacturing merchandise efficiently;
•competitively pricing our products and achieving customer perception of value;
•maintaining favorable brand recognition and effectively marketing our products to consumers in diverse market segments;
•developing designs that appeal to a broad range of demographic and age segments;
•developing high-quality products;
•offering attractive promotional incentives while maintaining profit margins; and
•establishing and maintaining good working relationships with our wholesale retailers.
In our Vera Bradley Indirect business and Pura Vida wholesale business, we compete with numerous manufacturers, importers, and distributors of handbags, accessories, and other products for the limited space available for the display of such products to the consumer. In our Vera Bradley Direct business and Pura Vida e-commerce business, we compete against other gift and specialty retailers, department stores, catalog retailers, and Internet businesses that engage in the retail sale of similar products. Moreover, the general availability of contract manufacturing allows new entrants easy access to the markets in which we compete, which may increase the number of competitors and adversely affect our competitive position and our business.
In addition, in light of a continued difficult consumer environment, pricing is a significant driver of consumer choice in our industry and we regularly engage in price competition, particularly through our promotional programs, which impacts our margins. To the extent that we decrease our promotional activity, our ability to maintain sales levels may be impacted.
Our wholesale business could suffer as a result of decisions by our wholesale retailers to decrease or eliminate the amount of merchandise purchased from us.
We do not enter into long-term agreements with any of our wholesale retailers. Instead, we enter into a number of purchase order commitments with our customers for each of our lines every season. A decision by a significant number of wholesale retailers, whether motivated by competitive conditions, operational or financial difficulties, reduced access to capital, or otherwise, to decrease or eliminate the amount of merchandise purchased from us or to change their manner of doing business with us could adversely impact our results of operations. Although we recommend retail sale prices for our products to our wholesale retailers, we typically do not provide dealer allowances or other economic incentives to support those prices. Possible promotional pricing or discounting by wholesale retailers in response to softening retail demand could have a negative effect on our brand image and prestige, which might be difficult to counteract.
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Bankruptcies or other operational or financial difficulties of our wholesale retailers could adversely impact our business.
We sell our wholesale merchandise primarily to specialty retail and department stores across the United States and extend trade credit based on an evaluation of each wholesale retailer’s financial condition, usually without requiring collateral. Perceived or actual financial difficulties of a customer could cause us to curtail or eliminate business with that customer or could decrease demand for our products by that customer. Pending the resolution of a relationship with a financially troubled wholesale retailer, we might assume credit risk that we would otherwise avoid relating to our receivables from that customer. Inability to collect on accounts receivable from our wholesale retailers would adversely impact our results of operations.
Risks Related to Global Sourcing and Distribution
We rely on various contract manufacturers to produce all of our products and generally do not have long-term contracts with our manufacturers.
Our various contract manufacturers produce all of our products. We generally do not enter into long-term formal written agreements with our manufacturers and instead transact business with each of them on an order-by-order basis. In the event of a disruption in our contract manufacturers’ systems, we may be unable to locate alternative manufacturers of comparable quality at an acceptable price, or at all. Identifying a suitable manufacturer is an involved process that requires us to become satisfied with the prospective manufacturer’s quality control, responsiveness and service, financial stability, labor practices, and environmental compliance. Any delay, interruption, or increased cost in the manufactured products that might occur for any reason, such as the lack of long-term contracts or regulatory requirements and the loss of certifications, power interruptions, fires, hurricanes, war, health pandemics such as COVID-19, or threats of terrorism, could affect our ability to meet customer demand for our products, adversely affect our net revenues, increase our cost of sales, and hurt our results of operations. In addition, manufacturing disruption could injure our reputation and customer relationships, thereby harming our business.
We rely on various suppliers to supply a significant majority of our raw materials.
We generally do not enter into long-term formal written agreements with our suppliers and typically transact business with each of them on an order-by-order basis. In the event of a significant disruption in the supply of fabrics or raw materials from our current sources, we may not be able to locate alternative suppliers of materials of comparable quality at an acceptable price, or at all. In such a case, we could have difficulty meeting consumer demand and net revenues could be adversely impacted.
We rely on a limited number of distribution facilities for the products we sell.
Distribution operations for Vera Bradley-branded products are currently concentrated in a single, company-owned distribution center in Roanoke, Indiana. Pura Vida-branded products are primarily distributed from one third-party distribution center in Tijuana, Mexico.
Any significant disruption in the operation of these facilities due to natural disaster or severe weather, or events such as fire, accidents, power outages, system failures, or other unforeseen causes, could devalue or damage a significant portion of our inventory and could adversely affect our product distribution and sales until such time as we could secure alternative facilities. In addition to the aforementioned events, the COVID-19 pandemic could cause disruptions in our distribution operations if we were to temporarily suspend operations, or if we are unable to obtain the staffing levels required to effectively operate the facilities. If we encounter difficulties with our distribution facilities or other problems or disasters arise, we cannot ensure that critical systems and operations will be restored in a timely manner or at all, and this would have a material adverse effect on our business. In addition, growth could require us to further expand our current facilities, which could affect us adversely in ways that we cannot predict.
The cost of raw materials could increase our cost of sales and cause our results of operations to suffer.
Fluctuations in the price, availability, and quality of fabrics or other raw materials used to manufacture our products, as well as the price for labor, marketing, and transportation, could have adverse impacts on our cost of sales and our ability to meet our customers’ demands. In particular, fluctuations in the price of cotton, our primary raw material, could have an adverse impact on our cost of sales. In addition, because a key component of our products is petroleum-based, the cost of oil affects the cost of our products. Upward movement in the price of oil in the global oil markets would also likely result in rising fuel and freight prices, which could increase our shipping costs. In the future, we may not be able to pass all or a portion of higher costs on to our customers.
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Our business is subject to the risks inherent in global sourcing and manufacturing activities.
We source our Vera Bradley fabrics primarily from manufacturers in China and South Korea and outsource the production of a significant majority of our products to companies in Asia. We source our Pura Vida components primarily from Asia and outsource the production of products primarily to El Salvador. We are subject to the risks inherent in global sourcing and manufacturing, including, but not limited to:
•exchange rate fluctuations and trends;
•availability of raw materials;
•compliance with labor laws and other foreign governmental regulations;
•compliance with U.S. import and export laws and regulations;
•disruption or delays in shipments;
•loss or impairment of key manufacturing sites;
•product quality issues;
•political unrest;
•natural disasters, acts of war and terrorism, changing macroeconomic trends, public health emergencies (such as COVID-19), and other external factors over which we have no control; and
•quotas, duties, tariffs, or other trade restrictions or regulations.
Significant disruption of manufacturing for any of the above reasons could interrupt product supply and, if not remedied in a timely manner, could have an adverse impact on our results of operations. Additionally, we do not have complete oversight over our contract manufacturers. Violation of labor or other laws by those manufacturers, or the divergence of a contract manufacturer’s labor or other practices from those generally accepted as ethical in the United States or in other markets in which we may in the future do business, could also draw negative publicity for us and our brands, diminishing the value of our brands and reducing demand for our products.
Our ability to source our products at favorable prices, or at all, could be harmed, with adverse effects on our results of operations, if new trade restrictions are imposed or if existing trade restrictions become more burdensome.
A significant majority of our Vera Bradley and Pura Vida products are currently manufactured for us in Asia and Central America, respectively. The United States and the countries in which our products are produced have imposed and may impose additional quotas, duties, tariffs, or other restrictions or regulations or may adversely adjust prevailing quotas, duties, or tariffs. Countries impose, modify, and remove tariffs and other trade restrictions in response to a diverse array of factors, including global and national economic and political conditions, which make it impossible for us to predict future developments regarding tariffs and other trade restrictions. Trade restrictions, which include embargoes, safeguards, and customs restrictions, could increase the cost or reduce the supply of products available to us or could require us to modify our supply chain organization or other current business practices, any of which could harm our results of operations.
We rely on independent transportation providers for substantially all of our product shipments.
We currently rely on independent transportation service providers for substantially all of our product shipments. Our utilization of these delivery services, or those of any other shipping companies that we may elect to use, is subject to risks, including increases in fuel prices, which would increase our shipping costs, employee strikes and inclement weather, which may impact the shipping company’s ability to provide delivery services sufficient to meet our shipping needs.
If for any reason we were to change shipping companies, we could face logistical difficulties that might adversely affect deliveries, and we would incur costs and expend resources in the course of making the change. Moreover, we might not be able to obtain terms as favorable as those received from the service providers that we currently use, which in turn would increase our costs. We also would face shipping and distribution risks and uncertainties associated with any expansion of our distribution facilities and related systems.
Losses or disruptions associated with our distribution systems could have a material adverse effect on our business and operations.
Our operating results depend on the orderly operation of our receiving and distribution functions, which also depends on our vendors' adherence to our shipping and receiving schedules. We may not anticipate all of the changing demands that our operating activities may impose on our receiving and distribution functions. There may also be events that are beyond our
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control that could cause delays in these functions, including but not limited to, public health pandemics such as COVID-19 and other catastrophic events, changing macroeconomic trends, and general disruptions or delays in shipping and receiving.
In addition, we rely on the flow of our goods through worldwide ports on a consistent basis. Disruption at the ports could create significant risks to our business, particularly if the occurrence is during a peak import time. For example, COVID-19 has resulted in a shortage of shipping containers, the lack of available shipping vessels, capacity constraints, and a general shipping backlog. If we experience significant delays in our receipt of product, we may experience an increase in freight costs, unanticipated inventory shortages, and missed sales opportunities which could adversely affect our financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows.
Risks Related to the Acquisition of Pura Vida
The Pura Vida acquisition may not be successful in achieving intended benefits and may disrupt current operations.
We acquired a majority interest in Creative Genius, Inc. or “Pura Vida,” on July 16, 2019. This acquisition poses a number of potential integration risks that may result in negative consequences to our business, financial condition, and results of operations. These risks include, but are not limited to:
•failure of the business to perform as planned following the acquisition to achieve anticipated revenue or profitability targets;
•the assimilation and retention of employees, including key employees;
•higher than expected costs and/or a need to allocate resources to manage unexpected operating difficulties;
•diversion of the attention and resources of management or other disruptions to current operations;
•retaining key customers and suppliers;
•retaining required regulatory approvals, licenses, and permits;
•the assumption of liabilities of the acquired business not identified during due diligence; and
•other unanticipated issues, expenses, and liabilities.
Because a significant portion of Pura Vida’s total assets are represented by goodwill, indefinite-lived intangible assets, and definite-lived intangible assets, we could be required to write off some or all of this goodwill and other intangibles, which may adversely affect the company’s financial condition and results of operations.
We used the purchase method of accounting to account for the acquisition of a majority interest in Pura Vida consummated on July 16, 2019. A portion of the purchase price for this business is allocated to identifiable tangible and intangible assets and assumed liabilities based on estimated fair values at the date of acquisition. Goodwill is measured indirectly as the excess of the sum of (1) the consideration transferred (including contingent consideration, if any) and (2) the fair value of any noncontrolling interest in the acquiree over the net assets acquired and liabilities assumed. The purchase price allocation resulted in a goodwill value of $44.3 million and a value of $61.7 million related to other intangible assets. The carrying value of these assets as of January 29, 2022, was $44.3 million and $44.2 million, respectively. When the Company performs impairment tests, it is possible that the carrying value of goodwill or other intangible assets could exceed their implied fair value and therefore would require adjustment. Such adjustment would result in a charge to operating income in that period. Once adjusted, there can be no assurance that there will not be further adjustments for impairment in future periods.
The Put/Call Agreement between the Company, certain of its subsidiaries, and Creative Genius, Inc. may require us to purchase the remaining 25% interest in the Pura Vida business.
On July 16, 2019, as contemplated by the Interest Purchase Agreement, the Company and certain of its subsidiaries and the owners of the remaining twenty-five percent (25%) ownership interest in Pura Vida (the “Sellers”) which was not acquired by the Company (the “Remaining Pura Vida Interest”) entered into a Put/Call Agreement (the “Put/Call Agreement”). Pursuant to the Put/Call Agreement, and subject to the terms and conditions thereof, the Sellers have the right to sell all of the Remaining Pura Vida Interest to the Company, and the Company has the right to purchase all of the Remaining Pura Vida Interests from Sellers, in each case generally at any time following the fifth anniversary of the closing date of the transaction until the tenth anniversary thereof. In the event of a change in control of the Company, the parties may exercise a portion of their put and call rights prior to the fifth anniversary of the closing date (as defined in the Put/Call Agreement).
The execution of the Sellers right to require us to purchase the Remaining Pura Vida Interest may represent a significant financial obligation that could have a material adverse impact on our liquidity, results of operations, and financial condition.
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Risks Related to Information Technology and Security
A data security or privacy breach could damage our reputation and our relationships with our customers, expose us to litigation risk and adversely affect our business.
We remain dependent on information technology systems and networks, including the Internet, for a significant portion of our sales, primarily through our e-commerce operations and credit card transaction authorization and processing. We are also responsible for storing data relating to our customers and employees and rely on third parties for the operation of our e-commerce websites and for the various social media tools and websites we use as part of our marketing strategy. As part of our normal course of business, we often collect, retain, and transmit certain sensitive and confidential customer information, including the transmission of credit card information, over public networks. There is a significant concern by consumers and employees over the security of personal information transmitted over the Internet, consumer identity theft and user privacy. Despite the security measures we currently have in place, our facilities and systems and those of our third-party service providers may be vulnerable to security breaches, acts of vandalism, computer viruses, misplaced or lost data, programming and/or human errors, ransomware or other similar events. Any electronic or physical security breach involving the misappropriation, loss or other unauthorized disclosure of confidential or personally identifiable information, including penetration of our network security, whether by us or by a third-party, could disrupt our business, severely damage our reputation and our relationships with our customers, expose us to risks of litigation and liability and adversely affect our business and results of operations. We do not control third-party service providers and cannot guarantee that electronic or physical computer break-ins and security breaches will not occur in the future. Any perceived or actual unauthorized disclosure of personally identifiable information regarding our customers or website visitors could harm our reputation and credibility, reduce our e-commerce net sales, impair our ability to attract website visitors, and reduce our ability to attract and retain customers. We may also incur significant costs in complying with the various applicable state, federal, and foreign laws regarding unauthorized disclosure of personal information.
Our business could suffer if our computer systems and websites are disrupted or cease to operate effectively.
We are dependent on our computer systems to record and process transactions and manage and operate our business, including in designing, marketing, manufacturing, importing, tracking and distributing our products, processing payments, and accounting for and reporting results. We also utilize an automated replenishment system to facilitate the processing of basic replenishment orders, the movement of goods through distribution channels, and the collection of information for planning and forecasting. In addition, we have e-commerce websites in the U.S., Europe, and Canada. Given the complexity of our business and the significant number of transactions that we engage in, it is imperative that we maintain constant operation of our computer hardware and software systems. Despite our preventive efforts, including back-up systems, our systems are vulnerable from time to time to damage or interruption from, among other things, security breaches, computer viruses or power outages. Any material disruptions in our information technology systems could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
During the second quarter of fiscal 2020, we began a two-year process of re-platforming our enterprise resource planning and other key information systems to become more streamlined, nimble, and efficient in our technology platform and business processes. We continue to assess our on premise and cloud-based technology solutions in an effort to ensure we have the optimal solutions for our business. However, there are risks and uncertainties related to this re-platforming that could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations, including, among other things, the integration into our processes and procedures, system disruptions, and change management.
We are exposed to business risks as a result of our e-commerce operations.
We operate e-commerce stores at www.verabradley.com, which includes an online outlet site we created in fiscal 2018, www.verabradley.ca, www.puravidabracelets.com, www.puravidabracelets.eu, and www.puravidabracelets.ca. Expanding our e-commerce business is one of the key objectives of our business strategy. Our e-commerce operations are subject to numerous risks, including unanticipated operating problems, reliance on third-party computer hardware and software providers, system failures and the need to invest in additional computer systems. Specific risks include: (i) diversion of sales from our stores; (ii) rapid technological change; (iii) liability for e-commerce content; and (iv) risks related to the failure of the computer systems that operate the websites and their related support systems, including from computer viruses, telecommunication failures and electronic break-ins and similar disruptions. Internet operations involve risks which may be beyond our control that could have a direct material adverse effect on our operating results, including: (i) price competition involving the items we intend to sell; (ii) the entry of our vendors into the Internet business in direct competition with us; (iii) the level of merchandise returns experienced by us; (iv) governmental regulation; (v) e-commerce security breaches involving unauthorized access to our systems and/or customer information; (vi) credit card fraud; and (vii) competition and general economic conditions specific to the Internet, e-commerce, and the accessories industry. Our inability to effectively address these risks and any other risks that
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we face in connection with our Internet operations could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations, and/or cash flows.
Risks Related to Tax and Valuation Matters
Fluctuations in our tax obligations and effective tax rate may result in volatility of our operating results and stock price.
We are subject to income taxes in many U.S. and certain foreign jurisdictions. We record tax expense based on our estimates of future payments, which includes reserves for uncertain tax positions in multiple tax jurisdictions. At any one time, many tax years are subject to audit by various taxing jurisdictions. Further, possible changes in federal, state, local, and non-U.S. tax laws bearing upon our revenues, income, property, or other aspects of our operations or business would, if enacted, affect our results of operations in ways and to a degree that we cannot currently predict.
We have recorded asset impairment charges in the past and we may record material asset impairment charges in the future.
Quarterly, we assess whether events or changes in circumstances have occurred that indicate the carrying value of long-lived asset groups may not be recoverable. If we determine that the carrying value of long-lived asset groups are not recoverable, we will be required to record impairment charges relating to those assets. For example, our assessments during fiscal years 2022 and 2021 indicated that operating losses or insufficient operating income existed at certain retail stores, with a projection that the operating losses or insufficient operating income for those locations would continue. As such, we recorded non-cash charges of $0.1 million and $7.4 million during fiscal years 2022 and 2021, respectively, within selling, general, and administrative expenses in the consolidated statements of operations to write down the carrying values of these stores' long-lived asset groups to their estimated fair values.
Our quarterly evaluation of store assets includes consideration of current and historical performance and projections of future profitability. The profitability projections rely upon estimates made by us, including store-level sales, gross margins, and direct expenses, and, by their nature, include judgments about how current strategic initiatives will impact future performance. If we are not able to achieve projected key financial metrics for any reason, including if any of the strategic initiatives we implement do not result in significant improvements in our current financial performance trend, this would indicate that the value of our long-lived assets was not recoverable and we would incur additional impairment of assets in the future.
In the event we record additional impairment charges, this could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition.
Risks Related to Legal Matters
There are claims made against us from time to time that can result in litigation or regulatory proceedings, which could distract management from our business activities and result in significant liability or damage to the images associated with our brands.
We increasingly face the risk of litigation and other claims against us. Litigation and other claims may arise in the ordinary course of our business and include employee claims, custom and duty claims, commercial disputes, intellectual property issues, product-oriented allegations, and slip and fall claims. Often these cases raise complex factual and legal issues, which are subject to risks and uncertainties and which could require significant management time. Litigation and other claims against us could result in unexpected expenses and liability, as well as materially adversely affect our operations and our reputation.
Our inability or failure to protect our intellectual property or our infringement of other’s intellectual property could have a negative impact on our operating results.
We believe that our registered copyrights, registered and common law trademarks, and other proprietary rights have significant value and are critical to our ability to create and sustain demand for our products. The actions taken by us to establish and protect our proprietary rights may not be adequate to prevent imitation of our products or infringement of our rights by others. The legal regimes of some foreign countries, particularly China, may not protect proprietary rights to the same extent as the laws of the United States, and it may be more difficult for us to successfully challenge the use of our proprietary rights by others in these countries. The inability to protect our copyrights, trademarks, and other proprietary rights could adversely impact our results of operations. Any litigation regarding our proprietary rights could be time consuming and costly.
We are also subject to the risk that claims will be brought against us for infringement of the intellectual property rights of third parties, seeking to block the sale of our products claimed to violate their intellectual property rights or to receive payment of monetary amounts related thereto. Although we have not been inhibited from selling our products in connection with intellectual property disputes, intellectual property-related obstacles may arise as we expand our product lines and extend our brands as well as the geographic scope of our sales and marketing. In particular, we may be subject to copyright infringement
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claims for which we may not be entitled to indemnification from our suppliers. In addition, in recent years, companies in the retail industry, including us, have been subject to patent infringement claims from non-practicing entities, or “patent trolls.” Any infringement or other intellectual property claim made against us, whether or not it has merit, could be time-consuming and result in costly litigation. As a result, any such claim, or the combination of multiple claims, could have a material adverse effect on our operating results. If we are required to stop using any of our registered or nonregistered trademarks, our sales could decline and, consequently, our business and results of operations could be adversely affected.
General Risk Factors
Our results of operations could suffer if we lose key management or design associates or are unable to attract and retain the talent required for our business.
Our performance depends largely on the efforts and abilities of our senior management and product development teams. These executives and design associates have substantial experience in our business and have made significant contributions to our growth and success. Although we have entered into an employment agreement with our Chief Executive Officer, we may not be able to retain his services or those of other key individuals in the future. The unexpected loss of services of key employees could have adverse impacts on our business and results of operations. We may also need to attract and retain additional qualified employees and develop, train, and manage an increasing number of management-level, sales, and other employees. Competition for qualified employees is intense. We may not be able to attract and retain employees as needed in the future.
Our results of operations could suffer if we are unable to attract and retain retail and distribution center employees required for our business.
We must attract, motivate, and retain a sufficient number of qualified retail and distribution center employees. Historically, competition for talent in these positions has been intense and turnover is generally high, both of which have been amplified by the COVID-19 pandemic. If we are unable to attract and retain such employees with the necessary skills and experience, we may not achieve our objectives and our financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows could be adversely impacted.
Our results of operations are subject to quarterly fluctuations, which could adversely affect the market price of our common stock.
Our quarterly results of operations may fluctuate significantly as a result of a variety of factors, including, among other things:
•timing of new store openings and store closings;
•net revenues and profits contributed by new stores;
•increases or decreases in store traffic and comparable sales;
•shifts in the timing of holidays, particularly in the United States and China;
•changes in our merchandise mix;
•timing of marketing campaigns or promotions;
•timing of sales to Vera Bradley and Pura Vida wholesale retailers; and
•timing of new pattern and collection releases and new product introductions.
Any quarterly fluctuations that we report in the future may not match the expectations of market analysts and investors. This could cause the trading price of our common stock to fluctuate significantly.
We may be subject to unionization, work stoppages, slowdowns, or increased labor costs.
Currently, none of our employees are represented by a union. Nevertheless, our employees have the right at any time under the National Labor Relations Act to organize or affiliate with a union. If some or all of our workforce were to become unionized, our business could be exposed to increased risk of work stoppages and slowdowns. In addition, if the terms of the collective bargaining agreement were significantly more favorable to union workers than our current pay-and-benefits arrangements, our costs would increase and our results of operations would suffer.
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We may suffer negative publicity and our business may be harmed if we need to recall any products we sell.
We have in the past needed to, and may in the future need to, recall products that we determine may present safety issues. If products we sell have safety problems of which we are not aware, or if we or the Consumer Product Safety Commission recall a product sold in our stores, we may suffer negative publicity and, potentially, product liability lawsuits, which could have a material adverse impact on our reputation, financial condition and results of operations or cash flows.
The phaseout of the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR), or the replacement of LIBOR with a different reference rate, may adversely affect interest rates.
The Financial Conduct Authority (the authority that regulates LIBOR) began to phase out LIBOR by the end of 2021 and announced that it would completely phase out LIBOR by June 30, 2023. It is unclear which new methods of calculating interest rates or benchmarks will be adopted. The replacement of LIBOR with an alternative rate or benchmark may adversely affect interest rates and result in higher borrowing costs. This development could materially and adversely affect our results of operations, cash flows and liquidity. We cannot predict the effect of the termination of LIBOR or the establishment and use of alternative rates or benchmarks. We may need to renegotiate our revolving credit facility or incur other indebtedness and the use of an alternative rate or benchmark may negatively impact the terms of such indebtedness. Assuming LIBOR ceases to exist, we may need to amend certain contracts and cannot predict what alternative rate or benchmark would be negotiated. This may result in an increase to our interest expense.
Risks Related to the Securities Markets and Ownership of Our Common Stock
Our stock price may be volatile or may decline regardless of our operating performance, and you may not be able to resell shares at or above the price at which you purchase them.
The market price of our common stock may fluctuate significantly in response to a number of factors, most of which we cannot control, including:
•the continued outbreak of COVID-19 and its adverse impact on the capital markets;
•actions by other shopping mall or lifestyle center tenants;
•weather conditions, particularly during the holiday shopping period;
•unexpected departures of key executives;
•financial projections that we may choose to provide to the public, any changes in these projections or our failure for any reason to meet these projections;
•the public’s response to press releases or other public announcements by us or others, including our filings with the SEC and announcements relating to litigation and other matters;
•speculation about our business in the press or the investment community;
•future sales of our common stock by our significant shareholders, officers, and directors;
•our entry into new markets;
•the impact of wars, hostilities, riots, social unrest or acts of terrorism on trading markets;
•changes in laws or regulations that impact the retail industry;
•strategic actions by us or our competitors, such as acquisitions or restructurings; and
•changes in accounting principles.
These and other factors may result in a lower market price of our common stock, regardless of our actual operating performance.
In addition, the stock markets, including The NASDAQ Global Select Market, have experienced extreme price and volume fluctuations that have affected and continue to affect the market prices of equity securities of many retail companies. In the past, stockholders have instituted securities class action litigation following periods of market volatility. If we were involved in securities litigation, we could incur substantial costs and our resources and the attention of management could be diverted from our business.
Our business could be negatively affected as a result of the actions of activist shareholders.
Over the last few years, proxy contests and other forms of shareholder activism have been directed against numerous public companies in retail businesses. We could become engaged in a consent solicitation, or proxy contest, or experience other
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shareholder activism, in the future. Activist shareholders may advocate for certain governance and strategic changes at our company. In the event of shareholder activism, particularly with respect to matters which our Board of Directors (“Board”), in exercising their fiduciary duties, disagree with or have determined not to pursue, our business could be adversely affected because responding to actions by activist shareholders can be costly and time-consuming, disrupting our operations and diverting the attention of management, and perceived uncertainties as to our future direction may result in the loss of potential business opportunities and may make it more difficult to attract and retain qualified personnel, business partners, and customers.
In addition, if faced with a consent solicitation or proxy contest, we may not be able to respond successfully to the contest or dispute, which would be disruptive to our business. If individuals are elected to our Board with a differing agenda, our ability to effectively and timely implement our strategic plans and create additional value for our shareholders may be adversely affected.
A limited number of shareholders control a significant percentage of the voting power of our common stock, and therefore investors may have diminished ability to determine the outcome of shareholder votes.
Robert Hall, Barbara Bradley Baekgaard, Joan Hall (Mr. Hall’s wife and Ms. Bradley Baekgaard’s daughter), Patricia R. Miller, and P. Michael Miller, directly or indirectly, beneficially own and have the ability to exercise voting control over, in the aggregate, 17.6% of our outstanding shares of common stock as of January 29, 2022. As a result, these shareholders are able to exercise significant influence over all matters requiring shareholder approval, including the election of directors, any amendments to our second amended and restated articles of incorporation, and significant corporate transactions. This concentrated ownership of outstanding common stock may diminish an investor's ability to influence corporate matters, and the interests of these shareholders may not coincide with our interests or interests of investors. As a result, we may take actions that investors do not believe to be in our interests or their interests and that could depress our stock price. In addition, this significant concentration of stock ownership may adversely affect the trading price of our common stock should investors perceive disadvantages in owning shares of common stock in a company that has such concentrated ownership.
Our actual operating results may differ significantly from our guidance, which could cause incongruous fluctuation in our stock price.
From time to time, we provide guidance regarding our future performance that represents our management’s estimates as of the date of release. This guidance, which consists of forward-looking statements, is prepared by our management and is qualified by, and subject to, the assumptions and the other information contained or referred to in the release. Our guidance is not prepared with a view toward compliance with published guidelines of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, and neither our independent registered public accounting firm nor any other independent expert or outside party compiles or examines our guidance and no such person expresses any opinion or any other form of assurance with respect thereto.
Guidance is based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that, while presented with numerical specificity, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, and competitive uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are beyond our control and are based upon specific assumptions with respect to future business decisions, some of which will change. We generally state possible outcomes as high and low ranges which are intended to provide a sensitivity analysis as variables are changed, but are not intended to represent that actual results could not fall outside of the suggested ranges. The principal reason that we release this data is to provide a basis for our management to discuss our business outlook with analysts and investors. We do not accept any responsibility for any projections or reports published by any such persons.
Guidance is necessarily speculative in nature, and it can be expected that some or all of the assumptions of the guidance furnished by us will not materialize or will vary significantly from actual results. Accordingly, our guidance is only an estimate of what management believes is realizable as of the date of release. Actual results will vary from the guidance and the variations may be material. Investors should also recognize that the reliability of any forecasted financial data diminishes the further into the future that the data are forecast. Further, the COVID-19 pandemic could cause a material adverse impact to the Company’s liquidity, results of operations, and financial condition that cannot be predicted.
In light of the foregoing, if investors, analysts, and others fail to review our guidance within the proper context or place undue reliance on our guidance, deviations from such guidance may result in incongruous fluctuation in our stock price.
Anti-takeover provisions in our organizational documents and Indiana law may discourage or prevent a change in control, even if a sale of the Company would be beneficial to our shareholders, which could cause our stock price to decline and prevent attempts by shareholders to replace or remove our current management.
Our second amended and restated articles of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws contain provisions that may delay or prevent a change in control, discourage bids at a premium over the market price of our common stock, harm the market price of our common stock, and diminish the voting and other rights of the holders of our common stock. These provisions include:
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•authorizing our board of directors to issue preferred stock and additional shares of our common stock without shareholder approval;
•prohibiting shareholder action by written consent;
•prohibiting our shareholders from calling a special meeting of shareholders;
•prohibiting our shareholders from amending our amended and restated bylaws; and
•requiring advance notice for raising business matters or nominating directors at shareholders’ meetings.
As permitted by our second amended and restated articles of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws, our board of directors also has the ability, should they so determine, to adopt a shareholder rights agreement, sometimes called a “poison pill,” providing for the issuance of a new series of preferred stock to holders of common stock. In the event of a takeover attempt, this preferred stock would give rights to holders of common stock (other than the potential acquirer) to buy additional shares of our common stock at a discount, leading to the dilution of the potential acquirer’s stake. The adoption of a poison pill, or the board’s ability to do so, can have negative effects such as those described above.
As an Indiana corporation, we are governed by the Indiana Business Corporation Law (as amended from time to time, the “IBCL”). Under specified circumstances, certain provisions of the IBCL related to control share acquisitions, business combinations, and constituent interests may delay, prevent, or make more difficult unsolicited acquisitions or changes of control of us. These provisions also may have the effect of preventing changes in our management. It is possible that these provisions could make it more difficult to accomplish transactions that shareholders might deem to be in their best interest.
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Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments
None.
Item 2. Properties
The following table sets forth the location, use, and size of our distribution, corporate facilities, and showrooms as of January 29, 2022. The leases on the leased properties expire at various times through 2032, subject to renewal options.
| Location | Primary Use | Approximate Square Footage | Leased/Owned | |||||||||||||||||
| Roanoke, Indiana | Vera Bradley corporate headquarters, design center, and showroom | 188,000 | Owned | |||||||||||||||||
| Roanoke, Indiana | Vera Bradley warehouse and distribution | 428,500 | Owned | |||||||||||||||||
| New York, New York | Vera Bradley office and showroom | 3,700 | Leased | |||||||||||||||||
| Hong Kong | Vera Bradley Asia sourcing office | 5,100 | Leased | |||||||||||||||||
| Atlanta, Georgia | Vera Bradley showroom | 5,600 | Leased | |||||||||||||||||
| Dallas, Texas | Vera Bradley showroom | 1,800 | Leased | |||||||||||||||||
| La Jolla, California | Pura Vida corporate headquarters | 7,400 | Leased | |||||||||||||||||
As of January 29, 2022, we also leased 149 store locations in the United States, including three store locations to be opened in fiscal 2023. See below for more information regarding the locations of our open stores as of January 29, 2022.
We consider these properties to be in good condition generally and believe that our facilities are adequate for our operations and provide sufficient capacity to meet our anticipated requirements. The Vera Bradley properties in the above table are used by both the Vera Bradley Direct segment and Vera Bradley Indirect segment, excluding the two standalone showrooms which are used exclusively by the Vera Bradley Indirect segment.
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Store Locations
Vera Bradly. Our Vera Bradley full-line stores are located primarily in high-traffic regional malls, lifestyle centers, and mixed-use shopping centers across the United States. The following table shows the number of Vera Bradley full-line and factory outlet stores we operated in each state as of January 29, 2022:
| State | Total Number of Vera Bradley Full-Line Stores | Total Number of Vera Bradley Factory Outlet Stores | State | Total Number of Vera Bradley Full-Line Stores | Total Number of Vera Bradley Factory Outlet Stores | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Alabama | 1 | 1 | Minnesota | 1 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Arizona | 1 | 1 | Mississippi | — | 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Colorado | 2 | 1 | Missouri | 1 | 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Connecticut | 2 | 1 | Nebraska | — | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Delaware | 1 | 1 | Nevada | — | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Florida | 2 | 9 | New Hampshire | — | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Georgia | 1 | 3 | New Jersey | 7 | 3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Hawaii | 1 | 1 | New York | 5 | 5 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Illinois | 4 | 1 | North Carolina | — | 6 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Indiana | 2 | 2 | Ohio | 3 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Iowa | 1 | 1 | Oklahoma | 2 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Kansas | 1 | 1 | Pennsylvania | 5 | 4 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Kentucky | 1 | 1 | South Carolina | — | 3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Louisiana | 1 | 1 | Tennessee | 2 | 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Maryland | 4 | 1 | Texas | 11 | 7 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Massachusetts | 1 | 1 | Utah | — | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Michigan | 5 | 2 | Virginia | 1 | 3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wisconsin | 1 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Totals | 70 | 75 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Pura Vida. In August 2021, we opened our first Pura Vida full-line retail store in San Diego, California.
We lease all of our stores. Lease terms for our retail stores are generally ten years with options to renew for varying terms. The leases generally provide for a fixed minimum rental plus contingent rent, which is determined as a percentage of sales in excess of specified levels.
Item 3. Legal Proceedings
We may be involved from time to time, as a plaintiff or a defendant, in various routine legal proceedings incidental to the ordinary course of our business. In the ordinary course, we are involved in the policing of our intellectual property rights. As part of our policing program, from time to time we file lawsuits in the United States and abroad, alleging acts of trademark counterfeiting, trademark infringement, trademark dilution, and ancillary and pendent state and foreign law claims. These actions often result in seizure of counterfeit merchandise and negotiated settlements with defendants. Defendants sometimes raise as affirmative defenses, or as counterclaims, the purported invalidity or unenforceability of our proprietary rights.
In August of 2019, Vesi Incorporated (“Vesi”) filed suit against the Company in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio related to the Company’s licensing business and alleging breach of fiduciary duty, unfair competition, defamation, and tortious interference with prospective business relationships. The complaint seeks damages in an amount not less than $10.0 million for punitive damages, attorney fees, prejudgment interest, and any other additional relief. The Company has denied any liability and intends to vigorously defend itself in the case. In November 2019, the Company filed a counterclaim against the principals of Vesi as personal guarantors for monies owed to the Company by Vesi. The Company has filed a motion for summary judgement asking the Court to dismiss all claims with prejudice and grant judgment on its counterclaim. The motion is fully briefed and the Company is awaiting a decision from the Court. At this time, we are not able to estimate a possible loss or range of loss that may result from this matter or to determine whether such loss, if any, would have a material adverse effect on our financial condition or results of operations due to the fact that the Company is vigorously defending itself and management believes that the Company has a number of meritorious legal defenses.
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In April of 2020, Chidimma Igboakaeze filed suit seeking class certification for all current and former hourly-paid employees who worked for the Company within the state of California during the four years preceding the filing until final judgement. The complaint alleged various violations of the California Labor Code related to wages, overtime, meal and rest breaks, non-compliant wage statements and records and other similar allegations related to employment. The Plaintiff also filed a Private Attorney General Act claim with the state of California regarding the same allegations. This case was settled in the first quarter of fiscal 2022 for an immaterial amount.
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosure
Not Applicable
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PART II
Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
Our common stock is listed on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol “VRA”.
As of March 27, 2022, we had approximately 25 registered shareholders of record. The number of shareholders of record is based upon the actual number of shareholders registered at such date and does not include holders of shares in “street name” or persons, partnerships, associations, corporations, or other entities identified in security position listings maintained by depositories.
Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
The following tables detail activity under the 2018 and 2021 Share Repurchase Programs during the thirteen weeks ended January 29, 2022. Refer to Note 13 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements as set forth in Part II, Item 8. of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for additional information regarding our share repurchase programs.
Details regarding the activity under the 2018 Share Repurchase Program during the thirteen weeks ended January 29, 2022 are set forth below. The 2018 Share Repurchase Program expired on December 11, 2021.
| Period | Total Number of Shares Purchased | Average Price Paid per Share | Total Number of Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plans or Programs | Maximum Approximate Dollar Value of Shares that May Yet be Purchased Under the Plans or Programs | |||||||||||||||||||
| October 31, 2021 - November 27, 2021 | 72,769 | $ | 10.47 | 72,769 | $ | 30,059,757 | |||||||||||||||||
| November 28, 2021 - January 1, 2022 | 71,136 | 9.19 | 71,136 | — | |||||||||||||||||||
| January 2, 2022 - January 29, 2022 | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||
| 143,905 | $ | 9.84 | 143,905 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Details regarding the activity under the 2021 Share Repurchase Program during the thirteen weeks ended January 29, 2022 are as follows:
| Period | Total Number of Shares Purchased | Average Price Paid per Share | Total Number of Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plans or Programs | Maximum Approximate Dollar Value of Shares that May Yet be Purchased Under the Plans or Programs | |||||||||||||||||||
| October 31, 2021 - November 27, 2021 | — | $ | — | — | $ | — | |||||||||||||||||
| November 28, 2021 - January 1, 2022 | 200,413 | 8.43 | 200,413 | 48,310,797 | |||||||||||||||||||
| January 2, 2022 - January 29, 2022 | 307,186 | 8.20 | 307,186 | 45,792,026 | |||||||||||||||||||
| 507,599 | $ | 8.29 | 507,599 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Dividends
Our common stock began trading on October 21, 2010, following our initial public offering. Since that time, we have not declared any cash dividends. The payment of dividends is evaluated on a periodic basis.
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Stock Performance Graph
The graph set forth below compares the cumulative shareholder return on our common stock between January 28, 2017, and January 29, 2022, to the cumulative return of (i) the S&P 500 Index and (ii) the S&P 500 Apparel, Accessories, and Luxury Goods Index over the same period. This graph assumes an initial investment of $100 on January 28, 2017, in our common stock, the S&P 500 Index, and the S&P 500 Apparel, Accessories, and Luxury Goods Index and assumes the reinvestment of dividends, if any.
The comparisons shown in the graph below are based on historical data. We caution that the stock price performance presented in the graph below is not necessarily indicative of, nor is it intended to forecast, the potential future performance of our common stock. Information used in the graph was obtained from The NASDAQ Stock Market website. As such, although we believe the information to be accurate, we cannot assure you of its accuracy.
| Company/Market/Peer Group | 1/28/2017 | 2/3/2018 | 2/2/2019 | 2/1/2020 | 1/30/2021 | 1/29/2022 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Vera Bradley, Inc. | $ | 100.00 | $ | 80.43 | $ | 76.38 | $ | 82.58 | $ | 72.84 | $ | 68.19 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| S&P 500 Index | $ | 100.00 | $ | 122.83 | $ | 122.76 | $ | 149.23 | $ | 174.97 | $ | 211.72 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| S&P 500 Apparel, Accessories, and Luxury Goods Index | $ | 100.00 | $ | 127.65 | $ | 118.97 | $ | 109.61 | $ | 107.20 | $ | 105.59 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
You should read the following discussion in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes and the information contained in other sections of this report, particularly under the headings “Risk Factors” and “Business.” This discussion and analysis is based on the beliefs of our management, as well as assumptions made by, and information currently available to, our management. The statements in this discussion and analysis concerning expectations regarding our future performance, liquidity, and capital resources, as well as other non-historical statements in this discussion and analysis, are forward-looking statements. See “Forward-Looking Statements.” These forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, including those described under “Risk Factors.” Our actual results could differ materially from those suggested or implied by any forward-looking statements.
The COVID-19 Pandemic
During fiscal 2021, the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in global travel restrictions, quarantines, and certain factory closures or reduced operations, as well as mall closures and reduced mall operating hours. Although the Vera Bradley and Pura Vida e-commerce operations remained open during this time, the aforementioned items had a material adverse impact on overall consumer demand, traffic, and sales during the period. We took various actions to navigate the pandemic which included, but were not limited to, temporarily closing all Vera Bradley store locations on March 19, 2020; temporarily furloughing 80% of our workforce during the middle of the first quarter; temporarily reducing base compensation for certain associates; preserving cash by drawing on our Credit Agreement, which was repaid during the fourth quarter of the 2021 fiscal year; and managing inventory, rent, and other expenses. During the second quarter of fiscal 2021, we brought back substantially all associates from furlough and began to reinstate portions of the base compensation reductions.
On May 5, 2020, we began to open our Vera Bradley retail stores in a phased approach. All factory and full line stores were opened as of the end of the prior-year, although with reduced hours, lower staffing levels, reduced foot traffic, and greatly enhanced safety protocols.
Our retail stores remained open during fiscal 2022; however, guidance and mandates from governments and public health officials may necessitate closures to some, or all, of our retail stores which we cannot predict. We have also experienced certain global supply chain disruptions due in part to the COVID-19 pandemic further discussed under Supply Chain Disruptions below.
The sales of cotton face masks, coupled with a full year of Pura Vida operations, helped to offset sales declines otherwise associated with Vera Bradley in fiscal 2021. Net revenues from masks represented approximately 2% and 10% of consolidated net revenues for fiscals 2022 and 2021, respectively.
We cannot predict the impact that the COVID-19 pandemic could have on our future liquidity, operating results, and financial condition, but it could have a significant adverse effect on these metrics.
Supply Chain Disruptions
During fiscal 2022 for the Vera Bradley brand, we faced supply chain disruptions that caused delivery delays. We are working diligently to mitigate the situation, but expect shipping delays and inbound and outbound freight expense increases to continue for the near future. We have also been impacted by higher tariffs from previously duty-free countries, where we source products, as a result of the Generalized System of Preferences (“GSP”) duty-free status expiring at the end of calendar year 2020. We cannot guarantee if or when the GSP duty-free status will be reinstated and retro-actively applied by Congress. These matters could have a material adverse effect on our liquidity, operating results, and financial condition.
In the fourth quarter of fiscal 2022, we began initiating strategic price increases across both of our brands to mitigate some of these inflationary and supply chain pressures, and we will continue to implement price increases throughout fiscal 2023.
Executive Summary
Some of our major achievements for fiscal 2022 are as follows:
•In the Vera Bradley product area:
•We accelerated our robust fabric innovation pipeline to develop new fabric offerings and continued to build on our platform of sustainable fabrics. We expanded our full-line Performance Twill and recycled Re-Active collections and our Factory Ultralight fabrication and launched our Cotton ReIMAGINED Collection crafted from 50% recycled and 50% conventional cotton. We are constantly researching and innovating to bring our
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customers more eco-friendly options, with a goal of updating 100% of our fabrics to more sustainable alternatives by 2025.
•We continued another year of high-profile product collaborations with several iconic brands, including Disney, Harry Potter, and Crocs to create and sell limited-edition product collections and launched our collaboration with Classic Accessories for a first-ever outdoor collection.
•We expanded our apparel collection, adding graphic tees, puffer jackets, vests, leggings, and a larger selection of pajamas to our already popular cozy collection of sleepwear and robes.
•In the Vera Bradley distribution area:
•We continued to strengthen and rationalize our store base. We opened six new factory stores and closed five underperforming full-line stores, ending the fiscal year with 70 full-line and 75 factory locations.
•We continued to focus on enhancing and reinventing the customer experience in our full-line stores, and certain digital shopping additions that gained popularity during the pandemic have remained popular, like appointment selling, buy-online/pick-up in-store, and curbside pickup.
•We continued to expand our options for customers to shop.
•We launched our Canadian website as our first international, localized website experience which is managed internally.
•We continue to be excited about alternative payments such as AfterPay, which is driving higher units per transaction and increased sales.
•As sustainability and resale continue to gain traction, so does our partnership with ThredUp, which was launched in early fiscal 2022.
•We added Chewy.com as a new distribution partner for our line of pet products.
•We opened a Vera Bradley store in the LAX airport as part of our travel expansion focus.
•In the Vera Bradley marketing area:
•Our investments in customer data science and business analytics have continued to position us well, allowing us to collect and analyze data and respond to customer changes and adjust marketing spend in an agile way.
•We continue to engage, diversify, and grow our customer base through analytics, targeted marketing, and VB Cares efforts. Vera Bradley’s customer count grew by nearly 15% over last year essentially bringing us back to pre-pandemic levels, and social media followers continue to grow, with Facebook at nearly 2 million, Instagram approaching 600,000, and TikTok climbing.
•Our targeted digital media, traditional media, and public relations efforts drove increased brand awareness and improved earned media, with total media impressions up approximately 140% to slightly over 22 billion for the year.
•Our customer service model and voice of the customer program continued to drive industry-leading customer satisfaction scores.
•Regarding Pura Vida's infrastructure:
•We completed Pura Vida’s ERP integration, so that our entire enterprise is now on a unified technology platform, allowing for enhanced capabilities in sourcing, customer service, CRM, and data analytics.
•We strengthened key merchandising, inventory planning, and customer analytics’ functions at Pura Vida.
•In the Pura Vida Product area:
•We continued to show strength as a lifestyle brand by successfully expanding into new product categories, including shirts, hoodies, and backpacks. This lifestyle appeal will continue to be a key driver of growth.
•We entered into several high-profile product collaborations, including Hello Kitty, Disney, and Harry Potter, bringing new customers to our brand. In addition, we launched our first jewelry collection with Outer Banks star and influencer Madison Bailey, which is appealing to a more diverse customer.
•In the Pura Vida Distribution area:
•Pura Vida opened its first retail store in San Diego’s Westfield UTC Mall in August. Since opening, sales have far surpassed expectations in our San Diego e-commerce business relative to the rest of the country demonstrating the power a retail presence has in driving digital sales, omni-channel loyalty, and spending.
•We continued to add new wholesale partnerships, adding over 400 new accounts in fiscal 2022, exceeding our expectations. In addition, Dillard’s joined Nordstrom as a Pura Vida department store distributor.
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•We added Pura Vida shop-in-shops to 23 full-line Vera Bradley stores and completed our roll out of the Pura Vida charity bracelet program to all Vera Bradley full-line and factory locations.
•In the Pura Vida Marketing area:
•Pura Vida’s social media engagement remains exceptional, as one of the most highly-engaged brands in the accessories space on social media, with over 2.0 million Instagram followers and over 450,000 TikTok followers, a little more than a year after launch.
•Pura Vida continued to rank at the top of the industry for our net promoter and customer satisfaction scores.
•We reinforced our commitment to be a Purpose- and ESG-driven organization.
•In fiscal 2022, Pura Vida completed its B-Corp Impact Assessment, and in February 2022 was awarded the B Corporation Certification.
•We continued to strengthen our community support and charitable efforts under the umbrella of VB Cares, particularly through organizations that can profoundly improve the lives of women and children, including raising $1.5 million to the Vera Bradley Foundation Center for Breast Cancer Research, bringing total contributions to date to $37.5 million, and entering the third consecutive year of partnership with Blessings in a Backpack, raising and donating approximately $750,000 to date, with the help of our customers, to the organization.
•Charity bracelets and other products continued to be an important element of the Pura Vida lifestyle and an important draw for our cause-minded customers. To date, Pura Vida has raised and donated over $4.0 million to a myriad of special causes.
•We amplified our Company-wide diversity and inclusion initiative, Project Quilt, to continue to enhance diversity, equality, and inclusion, focusing on three key areas – the Associate Experience, the Customer Experience, and the Community Experience.
•We further strengthened and diversified our Board of Directors with the addition of Nancy Twine, bringing our female board representation to 60%, making us one of only 8% of the Russell 3000 Index companies with gender-balanced boards according to the 50/50 Women on Boards Gender Diversity Directory™.
Financial Summary
Refer to “The COVID-19 Pandemic” for additional information regarding the impacts of the pandemic on fiscal 2021 financial results.
•Net revenues were $540.5 million in fiscal 2022 compared to $468.3 million in fiscal 2021.
•Vera Bradley Direct (“VB Direct”) segment sales were $354.9 million in fiscal 2022 compared to $289.3 million in fiscal 2021.
•Vera Bradley Indirect (“VB Indirect”) segment sales were $66.0 million in fiscal 2022 compared to $66.5 million in fiscal 2021.
•Pura Vida segment sales were $119.6 million in fiscal 2022 compared to $112.5 million in fiscal 2021.
•Gross profit was $287.9 million (53.3% of net revenue) in fiscal 2022 compared to $265.5 million (56.7% of net revenue) in fiscal 2021. COVID-19-related purchase order cancellations totaled $1.3 million (0.3% of net revenue) during fiscal 2021.
•SG&A expenses were $262.0 million (48.5% of net revenue) in fiscal 2022 compared to $252.6 million (53.9% of net revenue) in fiscal 2021.
•During fiscal 2022, SG&A expenses included $3.1 million of Pura Vida intangible asset amortization and $0.1 million of store asset impairment charges.
•During fiscal 2021, SG&A expenses included $9.2 million of Pura Vida intangible asset amortization and other purchase-related charges; $7.4 million of store asset impairment charges; $2.7 million of charges related to Project Novus; and $0.2 million of COVID-19-related charges.
•Operating income was $26.9 million (5.0% of net revenue) in fiscal 2022 compared to $13.1 million (2.8% of net revenue) in fiscal 2021.
•During fiscal 2022, operating income included $3.1 million of Pura Vida intangible asset amortization and $0.1 million of store asset impairment charges.
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•During fiscal 2021, operating income included $9.2 million of Pura Vida intangible amortization and other purchase-related charges; $7.4 million of store asset impairment charges; $2.7 million of charges related to Project Novus; and $1.5 million of COVID-19-related charges.
•Net income attributable to Vera Bradley, Inc. was $17.8 million in fiscal 2022 compared to $8.7 million in fiscal 2021.
•During fiscal 2022, net income attributable to Vera Bradley, Inc. included $1.8 million of Pura Vida intangible asset amortization and store impairment charges.
•During fiscal 2021, net income attributable to Vera Bradley, Inc. included $5.0 million of Pura Vida intangible asset amortization and purchase-related charges; $4.5 million of store asset impairment charges; $2.1 million of charges related to Project Novus; and $1.1 million of COVID-19-related charges.
•Diluted net income per share was $0.52 in fiscal 2022 compared to $0.26 in fiscal 2021. The aforementioned charges impacted net income per share by $0.05 and $0.38 in fiscal 2022 and 2021, respectively.
•Cash, cash equivalents, and investments were $88.4 million at January 29, 2022 compared to $65.5 million at January 30, 2021.
•Capital expenditures for fiscal 2022 totaled $5.5 million compared to $5.7 million for fiscal 2021.
•Repurchases of common stock for fiscal 2022 totaled $7.7 million, or 0.9 million shares, compared to $2.9 million, or 0.4 million shares, in fiscal 2021.
How We Assess the Performance of Our Business
In assessing the performance of our business, we consider a variety of performance and financial measures.
Net Revenues
Net revenues reflect sales of our merchandise and revenue from distribution and shipping and handling fees, less returns and discounts. Revenues for the VB Direct segment reflect sales through Vera Bradley full-line and factory outlet stores; the Vera Bradley websites verabradley.com and verabradley.ca; and our Vera Bradley online outlet site. There were no sales from our Vera Bradley annual outlet sale in Fort Wayne, Indiana for the past two years as it was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Revenues for the VB Indirect segment reflect sales of Vera Bradley-branded products to specialty retail partners; department stores; national accounts; third-party e-commerce sites; third-party inventory liquidators; and royalties recognized through licensing agreements related to the Vera Bradley brand. Revenues for the Pura Vida segment reflect revenues generated through the Pura Vida websites, www.puravidabracelets.com, www.puravidabracelets.eu, and www.puravidabracelets.ca, through the distribution of Pura Vida-branded products to wholesale retailers, and through Pura Vida's first retail store opened in August 2021.
Comparable Sales
Typically, comparable sales are calculated based upon our stores that have been open for at least 12 full fiscal months and net revenues from our Vera Bradley e-commerce operations. Pura Vida e-commerce operations are included within the Company's comparable sales beginning with the fiscal 2021 third quarter. Pura Vida e-commerce operations include sales from the subscription club. Comparable store sales are calculated based solely upon stores that have been open for at least 12 full fiscal months. Remodeled stores are included in both comparable sales and comparable store sales unless the store was closed for more than one week of the current or comparable prior period, in which case the non-comparable temporary closure periods are not included, or the remodel resulted in a significant change in square footage. Some of our competitors and other retailers calculate comparable or “same store” sales differently than we do. As a result, data in this report regarding our comparable sales and comparable store sales may not be comparable to similar data made available by other companies. Non-comparable sales include sales from stores not included in comparable sales or comparable store sales.
As a result of the temporary closure of all Vera Bradley stores due to COVID-19 during portions of the first and second quarters of fiscal 2021, the Company's fiscal 2022 and fiscal 2021 comparable store sales and comparable sales calculations are not meaningful and therefore are not provided.
Typically, measuring the change in year-over-year comparable sales allows us and our investors to evaluate how our store base and e-commerce operations are performing. Various factors affect our comparable sales, including:
•Overall economic trends;
•Consumer preferences and fashion trends;
•Competition;
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•The timing of our releases of new patterns and collections;
•Changes in our product mix;
•Pricing and level of promotions;
•Amount of store, mall, and e-commerce traffic;
•The level of customer service that we provide in stores and to our on-line customers;
•Our ability to source and distribute products efficiently;
•The number of stores we open and close in any period; and
•The timing and success of promotional and marketing efforts.
Gross Profit
Gross profit is equal to our net revenues less our cost of sales. Cost of sales includes the direct cost of purchased merchandise, distribution center costs, operations overhead, duty, and all inbound freight costs incurred. The components of our reported cost of sales may not be comparable to those of other retail and wholesale companies.
Gross profit can be impacted by changes in volume; fluctuations in sales price; operational efficiencies, such as leveraging of fixed costs; promotional activities, including free shipping; commodity prices, such as for cotton; tariffs; and labor costs.
Selling, General, and Administrative Expenses (“SG&A”)
SG&A expenses include selling; advertising, marketing, and product development; and administrative expenses. Selling expenses include:
•VB Direct business expenses, such as store expenses, employee compensation, and store occupancy and supply costs;
•VB Indirect business expenses consisting primarily of employee compensation and other expenses associated with sales to Indirect retailers; and
•Pura Vida business expenses primarily related to employee compensation.
Advertising, marketing, and product development expenses include employee compensation, media costs, creative production expenses, marketing agency fees, new product design costs, public relations expenses, and market research expenses. A portion of our advertising expenses may be reimbursed by Indirect retailers, and such amount is classified as other income. Administrative expenses include employee compensation for corporate functions, corporate headquarters occupancy costs, consulting and software expenses, and charitable donations. SG&A expenses include intangible asset amortization and store impairment charges.
Other Income, Net
Other income, net primarily includes certain legal settlements and sales tax credits received for timely filings. Fiscal year 2020 included proceeds from the sales of tickets to our annual outlet sale.
Operating Income
Operating income is equal to gross profit less SG&A expenses plus net other income. Operating income excludes interest income, interest expense, and income taxes.
Income Before Income Taxes
Income before income taxes is equal to operating income plus interest income less interest expense.
Net Income
Net income is equal to income before income taxes less income tax expense.
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest
Net income (loss) attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interest represents the operating results of Pura Vida that are not attributable to Vera Bradley, Inc.
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Net Income Attributable to Vera Bradley, Inc.
Net income attributable to Vera Bradley, Inc. is equal to net income less net income (loss) attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interest.
Pura Vida Acquisition
On July 16, 2019, the Company completed its acquisition of a seventy-five percent (75%) ownership interest in Creative Genius, Inc. or Pura Vida (the “Transaction”) in exchange for total cash consideration of approximately $75.0 million. During the third quarter of fiscal 2020, the Company provided additional cash consideration of approximately $3.0 million for a working capital adjustment. The Company also received a working capital reimbursement of $1.0 million during the first quarter of fiscal 2021. Additional measurement period adjustments were recorded for conditions that existed as of the acquisition date. Pura Vida, based in La Jolla, California, is a growing, digitally native, and highly engaging lifestyle brand that deeply resonates with its loyal consumer following. The Pura Vida brand has a differentiated and expanding offering of bracelets, jewelry, and other lifestyle accessories. The Company believes that the acquisition strengthened the Company by providing increased product diversification and future growth opportunities partially as a result of resource and knowledge-sharing.
In accordance with the Interest Purchase Agreement, the Company also agreed to a contingent payment of up to $22.5 million payable during the first quarter of calendar year 2020 based on calendar year 2019 adjusted EBITDA of Pura Vida, as defined in the Interest Purchase Agreement. This contingent payment was made during the first quarter of fiscal 2021 totaling $18.7 million. The Company’s existing available cash, cash equivalents, and investments funded the purchase price due at the closing of the Transaction and subsequent to the closing. There were no transaction costs during fiscals 2022 and 2021. Pre-tax transaction costs totaled $2.7 million for fiscal 2020. These costs are recorded within selling, general, and administrative expenses in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and within corporate unallocated expenses.
Pura Vida has been fully consolidated within our financial statements beginning on July 17, 2019, the first full day following the acquisition. Pura Vida was also added as a reportable segment as a result of the acquisition. Refer to Note 14 to the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements herein for additional information regarding the Pura Vida acquisition.
Impairment Charges
Property, plant, and equipment and lease right-of-use assets (the “asset group” for store-related assets) are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the asset group may not be recoverable. The reviews are conducted at the lowest identifiable level of cash flows. If the estimated undiscounted future cash flows related to the asset group are less than the carrying value, we recognize a loss equal to the difference between the carrying value and the fair value, as further defined in Note 2 to the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements herein. Impairment charges of $0.1 million and $7.4 million were recognized in the fiscal years ended January 29, 2022 and January 30, 2021, respectively, for property, plant, and equipment assets and lease right-of-use assets related to underperforming stores and are included in SG&A expenses in the Consolidated Statements of Operations and in impairment charges in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows. The impairment charges are included in the VB Direct segment. There were no impairment charges recorded during the fiscal year ended February 1, 2020. The COVID-19 pandemic, including the temporary closure of Vera Bradley retail stores beginning in mid-March of fiscal 2021, significantly impacted the Company's operations and cash flows which was the main driver of the impairment charges in fiscal 2021. We are unable to predict the extent of the impact that the COVID-19 pandemic will have on our operations, the economy, or other factors; therefore, it is possible additional impairments could be identified in future periods, and such amounts could be material.
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Results of Operations
The following tables summarize key components of our consolidated results of operations for the last three fiscal years, both in dollars and as a percentage of our net revenues. Fiscal 2020 includes Pura Vida operations beginning on July 17, 2019, the first full business day following the acquisition. Refer to Note 14 to the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements herein for additional information.
Fiscal Year Ended (1) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ($ in thousands) | January 29, 2022 | January 30, 2021 | February 1, 2020 | |||||||||||||||||
| Statement of Income Data: | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Net revenues | $ | 540,453 | $ | 468,272 | $ | 495,212 | ||||||||||||||
| Cost of sales | 252,510 | 202,754 | 223,411 | |||||||||||||||||
| Gross profit | 287,943 | 265,518 | 271,801 | |||||||||||||||||
Selling, general, and administrative expenses (2) | 261,993 | 252,588 | 253,425 | |||||||||||||||||
| Other income | 961 | 135 | 1,098 | |||||||||||||||||
| Operating income | 26,911 | 13,065 | 19,474 | |||||||||||||||||
| Interest expense (income), net | 263 | 1,203 | (1,085) | |||||||||||||||||
| Income before income taxes | 26,648 | 11,862 | 20,559 | |||||||||||||||||
Income tax expense (3) | 6,430 | 1,173 | 5,315 | |||||||||||||||||
| Net income | 20,218 | 10,689 | 15,244 | |||||||||||||||||
| Less: Net income (loss) attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interest | 2,380 | 2,008 | (803) | |||||||||||||||||
| Net income attributable to Vera Bradley, Inc. | $ | 17,838 | $ | 8,681 | $ | 16,047 | ||||||||||||||
| Percentage of Net Revenues: | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Net revenues | 100.0 | % | 100.0 | % | 100.0 | % | ||||||||||||||
| Cost of sales | 46.7 | % | 43.3 | % | 45.1 | % | ||||||||||||||
| Gross profit | 53.3 | % | 56.7 | % | 54.9 | % | ||||||||||||||
| Selling, general, and administrative expenses | 48.5 | % | 53.9 | % | 51.2 | % | ||||||||||||||
| Other income | 0.2 | % | — | % | 0.2 | % | ||||||||||||||
| Operating income | 5.0 | % | 2.8 | % | 3.9 | % | ||||||||||||||
| Interest expense (income), net | — | % | 0.3 | % | (0.2) | % | ||||||||||||||
| Income before income taxes | 4.9 | % | 2.5 | % | 4.2 | % | ||||||||||||||
| Income tax expense | 1.2 | % | 0.3 | % | 1.1 | % | ||||||||||||||
| Net income | 3.7 | % | 2.3 | % | 3.1 | % | ||||||||||||||
| Less: Net income (loss) attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interest | 0.4 | % | 0.4 | % | (0.2) | % | ||||||||||||||
| Net income attributable to Vera Bradley, Inc. | 3.3 | % | 1.9 | % | 3.2 | % | ||||||||||||||
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The following tables present net revenues by operating segment, both in dollars and as a percentage of our net revenues, and Vera Bradley full-line and factory outlet store data for the last three fiscal years:
Fiscal Year Ended (1) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ($ in thousands, except as otherwise indicated) | January 29, 2022 | January 30, 2021 | February 1, 2020 | |||||||||||||||||
| Net Revenues by Segment: | ||||||||||||||||||||
| VB Direct | $ | 354,875 | $ | 289,274 | $ | 347,484 | ||||||||||||||
| VB Indirect | 66,001 | 66,517 | 81,811 | |||||||||||||||||
| Pura Vida | 119,577 | 112,481 | 65,917 | |||||||||||||||||
| Total | $ | 540,453 | $ | 468,272 | $ | 495,212 | ||||||||||||||
| Percentage of Net Revenues by Segment: | ||||||||||||||||||||
| VB Direct | 65.7 | % | 61.8 | % | 70.2 | % | ||||||||||||||
| VB Indirect | 12.2 | % | 14.2 | % | 16.5 | % | ||||||||||||||
| Pura Vida | 22.1 | % | 24.0 | % | 13.3 | % | ||||||||||||||
| Total | 100.0 | % | 100.0 | % | 100.0 | % | ||||||||||||||
| Fiscal Year Ended | ||||||||||||||||||||
| January 29, 2022 | January 30, 2021 | February 1, 2020 | ||||||||||||||||||
Vera Bradley Store Data (4): | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Total stores opened during period | 6 | 6 | 6 | |||||||||||||||||
| Total stores closed during period | (5) | (13) | (11) | |||||||||||||||||
| Total stores open at end of period | 145 | 144 | 151 | |||||||||||||||||
Comparable sales (including e-commerce) increase (5) | NM | NM | 3.4 | % | ||||||||||||||||
| Total gross square footage at end of period | 397,037 | 380,100 | 386,028 | |||||||||||||||||
Average net revenues per gross square foot (6) | $ | 633 | NM | $ | 652 | |||||||||||||||
(1)The Company utilizes a 52-53 week fiscal year ending on the Saturday closest to January 31. Fiscal years 2022, 2021, and 2020 consisted of 52 weeks.
(2)Impairment charges, related to underperforming stores, totaled $0.1 million and $7.4 million during the fiscal years ended January 29, 2022 and January 30, 2021, respectively. There were no impairment charges recorded during the fiscal year ended February 1, 2020.
(3)Includes a $2.8 million tax benefit related to the net operating loss carryback provisions of the CARES Act in fiscal 2021.
(4)Includes Vera Bradley full-line and factory outlet stores.
(5)Comparable sales are calculated based upon stores that have been open for at least 12 full fiscal months and net revenues from e-commerce operations. Increase is reported as a percentage of the comparable sales for the same period in the prior fiscal year. Remodeled stores are included in comparable sales unless the store was closed for a portion of the current or comparable prior period, in which case the non-comparable temporary closure periods are not included, or the remodel resulted in a significant change in square footage. As a result of Vera Bradley retail stores being temporarily closed for approximately half of the first and second quarters of fiscal 2021, comparable sales were not meaningful and were therefore not provided for fiscal years 2022 and 2021.
(6)Dollars not in thousands. Average net revenues per gross square foot are calculated by dividing total net revenues for our stores that have been open at least 12 full fiscal months as of the end of the period by total gross square footage for those stores. Remodeled stores are included in average net revenues per gross square foot unless the store was closed for a portion of the period. As a result of Vera Bradley retail stores being temporarily closed for approximately half of the first and second quarters of fiscal 2021, average net revenues per gross square foot were not meaningful and were therefore not provided for fiscal year 2021.
Fiscal 2022 Compared to Fiscal 2021
Net Revenues
For fiscal 2022, net revenues increased $72.2 million, or 15.4%, to $540.5 million, from $468.3 million for fiscal 2021.
VB Direct. For fiscal 2022, net revenues increased $65.6 million, or 22.7%, to $354.9 million, from $289.3 million for fiscal 2021. The increase primarily resulted from higher store sales in the current-year since in the prior-year the Company’s stores
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temporarily closed, as a result of COVID-19, beginning on March 19, 2020. The stores began to re-open on May 5, 2020 of the prior-year. The increase was partially offset by a decline in mask sales compared to the prior-year period. We also opened six Vera Bradley factory outlet stores over the past 12 months.
VB Indirect. For fiscal 2022, net revenues decreased $0.5 million, or 0.8%, to $66.0 million, from $66.5 million for fiscal 2021. The decline was primarily due to a reduction in mask sales compared to the prior-year period, partially offset by an increase in orders from specialty and certain key accounts in other product categories, largely related to the impacts of COVID-19 in the prior-year period.
Pura Vida. For fiscal 2022, net revenues increased $7.1 million, or 6.3%, to $119.6 million, from $112.5 million for fiscal 2021. Pura Vida wholesale sales increased over the prior-year period, which was impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Our marketing effectiveness for the e-commerce channel was negatively impacted by the Apple IDFA update in the current-year period resulting in a decline in e-commerce sales. This update impacted Facebook and Instagram, which have been our primary marketing vehicles.
Gross Profit
For fiscal 2022, gross profit increased $22.4 million, or 8.4%, to $287.9 million, from $265.5 million for fiscal 2021. As a percentage of net revenues, gross profit decreased to 53.3% for fiscal 2022, from 56.7% for fiscal 2021. Increased shipping expense and incremental expense from the expiration of the GSP duty-free status negatively impacted the gross profit as a percentage of net revenues for the current-year by approximately 145 basis points and 70 basis points, respectively. Higher-margin mask sales benefited the prior-year gross profit as a percentage of net revenues by approximately 200 basis points, which did not recur in the current-year. The prior-year period also included charges for the cancellation of certain purchase orders due to COVID-19, which totaled $1.3 million and negatively impacted gross margin as a percentage of net revenues by 30 basis points.
Selling, General, and Administrative Expenses (“SG&A”)
For fiscal 2022, SG&A expenses increased $9.4 million, or 3.7%, to $262.0 million, from $252.6 million for fiscal 2021. As a percentage of net revenues, SG&A expenses were 48.5% and 53.9% for fiscal 2022 and fiscal 2021, respectively. SG&A expenses related to Vera Bradley and corporate unallocated were $205.8 million compared to $194.7 million in the comparable prior-year period. SG&A expenses related to Pura Vida were $56.2 million compared to $57.9 million in the comparable prior-year period. The increase in consolidated SG&A expenses for fiscal 2022 was primarily due to:
•Vera Bradley initiatives in the prior-year period to reduce expenses in light of COVID-19 including the temporary furlough of certain associates; temporarily reducing the base compensation for all other salaried associates; certain expense reductions associated with the CARES Act retention credit; and reducing other non-payroll expenses including marketing that did not recur in the current-year period; and
•Amortization expense of certain cloud computing costs associated with Project Novus technology enhancements.
The aforementioned increases in SG&A expenses were partially offset by:
•A reduction of $7.3 million of Vera Bradley store impairment charges;
•A $5.9 million reduction of intangible asset amortization associated with the Pura Vida acquisition; and
•A reduction in depreciation expense primarily as a result of legacy software depreciation from the prior-year.
SG&A expenses as a percentage of net revenues decreased primarily due to the aforementioned items, as well as SG&A expense leverage associated with increased sales.
Other Income, Net
For fiscal 2022, net other income increased $0.9 million to $1.0 million, from $0.1 million for fiscal 2021. The increase in net other income was primarily due to legal settlements in the current-year period.
Operating Income
For fiscal 2022, operating income increased $13.8 million, or 106.0%, to $26.9 million from $13.1 million for fiscal 2021. As a percentage of net revenues, operating income was 5.0% and 2.8% for fiscal 2022 and fiscal 2021, respectively. Operating income increased due to the factors described above.
The following table provides additional information about our operating income (in thousands).
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| Fiscal Year Ended | $ Change | % Change | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| January 29, 2022 | January 30, 2021 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Operating Income: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| VB Direct | $ | 73,506 | $ | 48,524 | $ | 24,982 | 51.5 | % | ||||||||||||||||||
| VB Indirect | 20,323 | 24,502 | (4,179) | (17.1) | % | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Pura Vida | 9,519 | 8,031 | 1,488 | 18.5 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Less: Unallocated corporate expenses | (76,437) | (67,992) | (8,445) | 12.4 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Operating income | $ | 26,911 | $ | 13,065 | $ | 13,846 | 106.0 | % | ||||||||||||||||||
VB Direct. For fiscal 2022, operating income increased $25.0 million, or 51.5%. As a percentage of VB Direct segment net revenues, operating income in the VB Direct segment was 20.7% and 16.8% for fiscals 2022 and 2021, respectively. The increase in operating income as a percentage of VB Direct segment net revenues was primarily due to SG&A expense leverage associated with increased sales, partially offset by a decrease in gross margin as a percentage of net revenues as described above and COVID-19-related expense savings from the prior-year period that did not recur. The increase in SG&A expenses caused by the COVID-19-related savings from the prior-year period that did not recur were partially offset by a reduction in store impairment charges and depreciation expense.
VB Indirect. For fiscal 2022, operating income decreased $4.2 million, or 17.1%. As a percentage of VB Indirect segment net revenues, operating income in the VB Indirect segment was 30.8% and 36.8% for fiscals 2022 and 2021, respectively. The decrease in operating income as a percentage of VB Indirect segment net revenues was primarily due to a decrease in gross margin as a percentage of net revenues as described above, partially offset by a decrease in the bad debt provision compared to the prior-year period.
Pura Vida. For fiscal 2022, operating income increased $1.5 million, or 18.5%. As a percentage of Pura Vida segment net revenues, operating income in the Pura Vida segment was 8.0% and 7.1% for fiscals 2022 and 2021, respectively. The increase in operating income as a percentage of Pura Vida net revenues was primarily due to SG&A expense leverage associated with increased sales and a decrease in the intangible asset amortization expense compared to the prior-year period, partially offset by a decrease in gross margin as a percentage of net revenues partly due to channel mix changes as a result of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on wholesale sales in the prior-year period.
Corporate Unallocated. For fiscal 2022, unallocated expenses increased $8.4 million, or 12.4% to $76.4 million from $68.0 million in the prior-year period. The increase in unallocated expenses was primarily due to prior-year period initiatives to reduce expenses in light of COVID-19 that did not recur in the current-year including the temporary furlough of certain associates; temporarily reducing the base compensation for all other salaried associates; and reducing other non-payroll expenses including marketing, as well as amortization expense associated with certain cloud computing costs for Project Novus technology enhancements. These increases in SG&A expense were partially offset by a decrease in depreciation expense, as described above.
Interest Expense, Net
For fiscal 2022, net interest expense totaled $0.3 million compared to net interest expense of $1.2 million in fiscal 2021. Interest expense decreased primarily due to borrowings under the Company's credit agreement during the prior-year period that did not recur in the current-year period.
Income Tax Expense
For fiscal 2022, we recorded income tax expense of $6.4 million at an effective tax rate of 24.1%, compared to income tax expense of $1.2 million at an effective tax rate of 9.9% for fiscal 2021. The effective tax rate increased primarily due to the relative impact of permanent and discrete items in the current-year period compared to the prior-year period, primarily as a result of stock-based compensation, and the relative impact of a $2.8 million tax benefit related to the net operating loss carryback provisions of the CARES Act in the prior-year that did not recur.
Net Income
For fiscal 2022, net income increased $9.5 million, or 89.1%, to $20.2 million from $10.7 million in fiscal 2021 due to the factors described above.
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Net Income Attributable to Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest
For fiscal 2022, net income attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interest was $2.4 million compared to $2.0 million in the prior-year period. This represents the allocation of the Pura Vida net income to the noncontrolling interest. The change in net income was due to the factors described above in the Pura Vida operating segment.
Net Income Attributable to Vera Bradley, Inc.
For fiscal 2022, net income attributable to Vera Bradley, Inc. increased $9.1 million to $17.8 million from $8.7 million in fiscal 2021 due to the factors described in the captions above.
Fiscal 2021 Compared to Fiscal 2020
Refer to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 30, 2021, for a comparison of fiscal 2021 to fiscal 2020 operating results.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
General
Our primary sources of liquidity are cash on hand and cash equivalents, investments, and cash flow from operations. We also have access to additional liquidity, if needed, through borrowings under our $75.0 million asset-based revolving credit agreement (the “Credit Agreement”) which was entered into on September 7, 2018. There was no debt outstanding as of January 29, 2022. Historically, our primary cash needs have been for merchandise inventories; payroll; store rent; capital expenditures associated with operational equipment, buildings, information technology, and opening new stores; and share repurchases. The most significant components of our working capital are cash and cash equivalents, merchandise inventories, accounts receivable, accounts payable, and other current liabilities.
We believe that cash on hand and cash equivalents, cash flows from operating activities, and the availability of borrowings under our Credit Agreement or other financing arrangements will be sufficient to meet working capital requirements and anticipated capital expenditures, and other strategic uses of cash, if any, for the foreseeable future.
Cash Flow Analysis
A summary of operating, investing, and financing activities is shown in the following table (in thousands):
| Fiscal Year Ended | ||||||||||||||||||||
| January 29, 2022 | January 30, 2021 | February 1, 2020 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Net cash provided by operating activities | $ | 39,861 | $ | 20,702 | $ | 20,624 | ||||||||||||||
| Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities | (4,154) | 17,680 | (69,966) | |||||||||||||||||
| Net cash used in financing activities | (11,413) | (24,146) | (14,285) | |||||||||||||||||
Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities
Net cash provided by operating activities consists primarily of net income adjusted for non-cash items, including depreciation, amortization, impairment charges, deferred taxes, and stock-based compensation; and the effect of changes in assets and liabilities.
Net cash provided by operating activities was $39.9 million during fiscal 2022, as compared to $20.7 million during fiscal 2021. The increase in cash provided by operating activities was primarily related to the change in assets and liabilities. The increase in net income of $9.5 million was offset by the change in non-cash items. Changes in assets and liabilities resulting in a source of cash were primarily related to:
•An increase in trade accounts receivable collections, mostly due to the impact of COVID-19 on the prior-year period, partially offset by an increase in Pura Vida accounts receivable as a result of increased wholesale sales;
•A decrease in inventory receipts compared to the prior-year, partially offset by an increase in in-transit inventory due to industry-wide shipping delays;
•Lower prepaid deposits related to Pura Vida inventory purchases and lower payments related to Project Novus expenditures compared to the prior-year; and
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•A change in the income tax receivable due to timing of payments and income compared to the prior-year, which included a benefit associated with the net operating loss carryback provisions of the CARES Act.
Changes in assets and liabilities resulting in a use of cash primarily related to operating leases mostly as a result of payment deferrals in the prior-year, timing of payments, a decrease in rent abatements compared to the prior-year, and store closures.
Net Cash (Used in) Provided by Investing Activities
Investing activities consisted primarily of investments and capital expenditures related to new store openings, buildings, operational equipment, and information technology investments, as well as the Pura Vida acquisition.
Net cash used in investing activities was $4.2 million in fiscal 2022, compared to net cash provided by investing activities of $17.7 million in fiscal 2021. The increase in cash used in investing activities was primarily a result of proceeds from investment activity in the prior-year period that did not recur in the current-year period.
Capital expenditures for fiscal 2023 are expected to be approximately $10.0 million to $12.0 million related to planned investments associated with new Vera Bradley factory and Pura Vida store locations and technology and logistics enhancements.
Net Cash Used in Financing Activities
Net cash used in financing activities was $11.4 million in fiscal 2022 compared to $24.1 million in fiscal 2021. The decrease in cash used in financing activities was primarily due to the $18.7 million payment of contingent consideration associated with the July 2019 acquisition of Pura Vida in the prior-year, partially offset by incremental common stock repurchases of $4.7 million.
Refer to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 30, 2021, for a comparison of fiscal 2021 to fiscal 2020 cash flow activity.
Credit Agreement
On September 7, 2018, Vera Bradley Designs, Inc. (“VBD”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, entered into an asset-based revolving Credit Agreement (the “Credit Agreement”) among VBD, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent, and the lenders from time to time party thereto. The Credit Agreement provides for certain credit facilities to VBD in an aggregate principal amount not to initially exceed the lesser of $75.0 million or the amount of borrowing availability determined in accordance with a borrowing base of certain assets. Any proceeds of the credit facilities will be used to finance general corporate purposes of VBD and its subsidiaries, including but not limited to Vera Bradley International, LLC and Vera Bradley Sales, LLC (collectively, the “Named Subsidiaries”). The Credit Agreement also contains an option for VBD to arrange with lenders to increase the aggregate principal amount by up to $25.0 million.
Amounts outstanding under the Credit Agreement bear interest at a per annum rate equal to either (i) for CBFR borrowings (including swingline loans), the CB Floating Rate, where the CB Floating Rate is the prime rate which shall never be less than the adjusted one month LIBOR rate on such day, plus the Applicable Rate, where the Applicable Rate is a percentage spread ranging from -1.00% to -1.50% or (ii) for each eurodollar borrowing, the Adjusted LIBO Rate, where the Adjusted LIBO Rate is the LIBO rate for such interest period multiplied by the statutory reserve rate, for the interest period in effect for such borrowing, plus the Applicable Rate, where the Applicable Rate is a percentage ranging from 1.00% to 1.30%. The applicable CB Floating Rate, Adjusted LIBO Rate, or LIBO Rate shall be determined by the administrative agent. The Credit Agreement also requires VBD to pay a commitment fee for the unused portion of the revolving facility of up to 0.20% per annum.
VBD’s obligations under the Credit Agreement are guaranteed by the Company and the Named Subsidiaries. The obligations of VBD under the Credit Agreement are secured by substantially all of the respective assets of VBD, the Company, and the Named Subsidiaries and are further secured by the equity interests in VBD and the Named Subsidiaries.
The Credit Agreement contains various affirmative and negative covenants, including restrictions on the Company's ability to incur debt or liens; engage in mergers or consolidations; make certain investments, acquisitions, loans, and advances; sell assets; enter into certain swap agreements; pay dividends or make distributions or make other restricted payments; engage in certain transactions with affiliates; and amend, modify, or waive any of its rights related to subordinated indebtedness and certain charter and other organizational, governing, and material agreements. The Company may avoid certain of such restrictions by meeting payment conditions defined in the Credit Agreement. The Company was in compliance with these covenants as of January 29, 2022.
The Credit Agreement also requires the loan parties, as defined in the Credit Agreement, to maintain a minimum fixed charge coverage ratio of 1.00 to 1.00 during periods when borrowing availability is less than the greater of (A) $7.5 million, and (B)
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10% of the lesser of (i) the aggregate revolving commitment, and (ii) the borrowing base. The fixed charge coverage ratio, availability, aggregate revolving commitment, and the borrowing base are further defined in the Credit Agreement.
The Credit Agreement contains customary events of default, including, among other things: (i) the failure to pay any principal, interest, or other fees under the Credit Agreement; (ii) the making of any materially incorrect representation or warranty; (iii) the failure to observe or perform any covenant, condition, or agreement in the Credit Agreement or related agreements; (iv) a cross default with respect to other material indebtedness; (v) bankruptcy and insolvency events; (vi) unsatisfied material final judgments; (vii) Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (“ERISA”) events that could reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect; and (viii) a change in control (as defined in the Credit Agreement).
Any commitments made under the Credit Agreement mature on September 7, 2023.
Material Cash Requirements
Our material cash requirements from known contractual and other obligations include the following:
•The Put/Call Agreement associated with the July 2019 acquisition of Pura Vida, further described in Note 2 to the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements herein;
•Operating lease obligations as disclosed further in Note 4 to the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements herein;
•Purchase order commitments primarily related to inventory purchases;
•Salaries, cash incentives, benefits, and other employee-related costs;
•Planned capital expenditures;
•Income tax payments; and
•Other supply and service agreements entered into as part of our normal operations.
We may be subject to additional material cash requirements that are contingent upon certain events that have not yet occurred.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
We do not have any off-balance sheet financing or unconsolidated special purpose entities.
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of our assets, liabilities, revenues, and expenses, as well as the disclosures relating to contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements. We evaluate our accounting policies, estimates, and judgments on an on-going basis. We base our estimates and judgments on historical experience and various other factors that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions and conditions.
We evaluate the development and selection of our critical accounting policies and estimates and believe that the following policies and estimates involve a higher degree of judgment or complexity and are most significant to reporting our results of operations and financial position, and are therefore discussed as critical. The following critical accounting policies reflect the significant estimates and judgments used in the preparation of our consolidated financial statements. With respect to critical accounting policies, even a relatively minor variance between actual and expected experience can potentially have a materially favorable or unfavorable impact on subsequent results of operations. Our historical results for the periods presented in the consolidated financial statements, however, have not been materially impacted by such variances. More information on all of our significant accounting policies can be found in Note 2, “Summary of Significant Accounting Policies,” to the consolidated financial statements.
Inventories
Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or net realizable value. Cost is determined using the first-in, first-out (“FIFO”) method. Appropriate consideration is given to obsolescence, excess quantities, and other factors, including the popularity of a pattern or product, in evaluating net realizable value. We record valuation adjustments to our inventories, which are reflected in cost of sales, if the cost of specific inventory items on hand exceeds the amount we expect to realize from the ultimate sale or disposal of the inventory. This adjustment calculation requires us to make assumptions and estimates, which are based on factors such as merchandise seasonality, historical trends, and estimated sales and inventory levels, including sell-through of remaining units. In addition, as part of inventory adjustments, we provide for inventory shrinkage based on historical trends from our physical inventory counts. We perform physical inventory counts throughout the year and adjust the shrinkage provision accordingly.
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The balance of inventory adjustments was $0.6 million and $0.7 million for these matters as of the fiscal years ended January 29, 2022, and January 30, 2021, respectively. The balance related primarily to certain collections being discontinued or currently discontinued by the Vera Bradley brand and retired patterns. We have the ability to move retired finished goods through a number of channels, including our Vera Bradley websites and online outlet site, factory outlet stores, and through third-party liquidators as needed.
Valuation of Long-lived Assets
Property, plant, and equipment and operating right-of-use assets are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset group may not be recoverable. In evaluating an asset group for recoverability, we estimate the future cash flows expected to result from the use of the asset group at the store level, the lowest identifiable level of cash flow, if applicable. If the sum of the estimated undiscounted future cash flows related to the asset group is less than the carrying value, we recognize a loss equal to the difference between the carrying value and the fair value, usually determined by an estimated discounted cash flow analysis of the asset. Factors used in the valuation of long-lived assets include, but are not limited to, our plans for future operations, brand initiatives, recent operating results, and projected future cash flows. With respect to our stores, we analyze store economics, location within the shopping center, the size and shape of the space, and desirable co-tenancies in our selection process. Impairment charges are classified in SG&A expenses and were $0.1 million and $7.4 million for the periods ended January 29, 2022 and January 30, 2021, respectively. There were no impairment charges recorded for the period ended February 1, 2020.
The discounted cash flow models used to estimate the applicable fair values involve numerous estimates and assumptions that are highly subjective. Changes to these estimates and assumptions could materially impact the fair value estimates. The estimates and assumptions critical to the overall fair value estimates include: (1) estimated future cash flow generated at the store level; (2) discount rates used to derive the present value factors used in determining the fair values; and (3) market rentals at the retail store. These and other estimates and assumptions are impacted by economic conditions and our expectations and may change in the future based on period-specific facts and circumstances. If economic conditions were to deteriorate, future impairment charges may be required.
Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets
The Company tests goodwill for impairment annually, or more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate that goodwill may be impaired. The Company may first use a qualitative analysis to assess whether it is more-likely-than-not that the fair value of the reporting unit (including goodwill) is less than its carrying value. This qualitative analysis may include, but is not limited to: macroeconomic factors; industry and market considerations; cost factors that have a negative effect on earnings and cash flows; entity specific factors; a change in the composition or carrying amount of the reporting unit’s net assets; and a sustained decrease in stock price. If it is determined that it is more-likely-than-not that the fair value is less than the carrying value after this analysis, a quantitative impairment test is performed.
If we elect to bypass the qualitative assessment for the reporting unit, or if a qualitative assessment indicates it is more likely than not that the estimated carrying value of the reporting unit exceeds its fair value, we perform a quantitative goodwill impairment test. Under the quantitative test, the fair value of the reporting unit is compared with its carrying value (including goodwill). If the carrying value of the reporting unit exceeds its fair value, an impairment loss is recognized in an amount equal to that excess, limited to the total amount of goodwill allocated to the reporting unit. The fair value of the reporting unit is determined using an income-based approach and a market-based approach.
The income approach estimates fair value of the reporting unit using a discounted cash flow model that involves subjective estimates and assumptions such as projected revenue growth, operating profit, and the discount rate. Under the market approach, the Company may use the guideline public company method and/or the guideline transaction method to estimate fair value of the reporting unit. The guideline public company method uses market multiples derived from market prices of stocks of companies that are engaged in the same or similar lines of business as the reporting unit. The guideline transaction method employs transaction multiples derived from the acquisition of controlling interests in stocks of companies that are engaged in the same or similar lines of business as the reporting unit.
As of January 29, 2022, the Company had recorded $44.3 million of goodwill which was allocated to the Pura Vida reporting unit. For the annual goodwill impairment analysis performed during fiscal 2022, we performed a quantitative analysis. No impairment was recorded for goodwill during fiscal 2022.
Our indefinite-lived intangible asset represents the Pura Vida brand. We test the Pura Vida brand for impairment annually, or more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate that the asset may be impaired. Our annual impairment test may be completed through a qualitative assessment to determine if the fair value of the Pura Vida brand is more likely than not greater than the carrying amount. If we elect to bypass the qualitative assessment, or if a qualitative assessment indicates it is more likely than not that the estimated carrying value exceeds the fair value, we test for impairment using a quantitative process. Our quantitative process includes comparing the carrying value to the fair value of the Pura Vida brand, with any
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excess recognized as an impairment loss. Fair value is estimated using a relief-from-royalty method. The estimates and assumptions used in the determination of the fair value of the Pura Vida brand include the projected revenue growth, long-term growth rate, the royalty rate, and discount rate.
As of January 29, 2022, the carrying value of the Pura Vida brand was $36.7 million. For the annual impairment analysis performed during fiscal 2022, we performed a quantitative analysis. No impairment was recorded for the Pura Vida brand during fiscal 2022.
The estimated fair values of our Pura Vida reporting unit and the Pura Vida brand are subject to change as a result of many factors including changing economic conditions. Should actual cash flows and our future estimates deteriorate from the estimates we used, impairment charges may be necessary in future years.
Transactions with Related Parties
See Item 13, “Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence,” of this report for information regarding transactions with related parties.
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Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
Interest Rate Risk
We are subject to interest rate risk in connection with borrowings under our asset-based revolving credit agreement (the “Credit Agreement”). The Credit Agreement allows for a revolving credit commitment of $75.0 million, bearing interest at a variable rate, based on a per annum rate equal to either (i) for CBFR borrowings (including swingline loans), the CB Floating Rate, where the CB Floating Rate is the prime rate which shall never be less than the adjusted one month LIBOR rate on such day, plus the Applicable Rate, where the Applicable Rate is a percentage spread ranging from -1.00% to -1.50% or (ii) for each eurodollar borrowing, the Adjusted LIBO Rate, where the Adjusted LIBO Rate is the LIBO rate for such interest period multiplied by the statutory reserve rate, for the interest period in effect for such borrowing, plus the Applicable Rate, where the Applicable Rate is a percentage ranging from 1.00% to 1.30%. The applicable CB Floating Rate, Adjusted LIBO Rate, or LIBO Rate shall be determined by the administrative agent. Assuming borrowings available under the Credit Agreement are fully extended at $75.0 million, each quarter point increase or decrease in the interest rate would change our annual interest expense by approximately $0.2 million.
In addition, the Financial Conduct Authority (the authority that regulates LIBOR) began to phase out LIBOR by the end of 2021 and announced that it would completely phase out LIBOR by June 30, 2023. Assuming LIBOR ceases to exist, we may need to re-negotiate certain agreements and we cannot predict what alternative index would be negotiated with our lenders or the resulting impact on our interest expense.
Foreign Exchange Rate Risk
We source a majority of our finished goods from various suppliers primarily in Cambodia, Vietnam, Indonesia, El Salvador, and China. Substantially all purchases and sales involving foreign persons are denominated in U.S. dollars, and therefore we do not hedge using any derivative instruments. Historically, we have not been impacted materially by changes in exchange rates.
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Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data
Vera Bradley, Inc.
Index to Consolidated Financial Statements
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REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the shareholders and the Board of Directors of Vera Bradley, Inc.
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Vera Bradley, Inc. and subsidiaries (the "Company") as of January 29, 2022 and January 30, 2021, the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income, shareholders' equity, and cash flows, for each of the three years in the period ended January 29, 2022, and the related notes, (collectively referred to as the "financial statements"). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of January 29, 2022 and January 30, 2021, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended January 29, 2022, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the Company's internal control over financial reporting as of January 29, 2022, based on criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission and our report dated March 29, 2022, expressed, an unqualified opinion on the Company's internal control over financial reporting.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company's financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Critical Audit Matter
The critical audit matter communicated below is a matter arising from the current-period audit of the financial statements that was communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that (1) relates to accounts or disclosures that are material to the financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. The communication of critical audit matters does not alter in any way our opinion on the financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matter below, providing a separate opinion on the critical audit matter or on the accounts or disclosures to which it relates.
Goodwill and Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets – Refer to Notes 2 and 16 to the financial statements
Critical Audit Matter Description
The Company’s quantitative analysis of the Pura Vida reporting unit of goodwill (“goodwill”) and the indefinite-lived Pura Vida brand asset (“Pura Vida brand”) for impairment involves the comparison of the fair value of the goodwill or Pura Vida brand asset to its respective carrying value. The fair value of goodwill was determined using an income-based approach and a market-based approach, which required management to make significant estimates and assumptions including the projected revenue growth, operating profit and discount rate. The Company used the relief-from-royalty method to estimate the fair value of the Pura Vida brand, which required management to make significant estimates and assumptions related to the projected revenue growth, long-term growth rate, royalty rate and discount rate. The goodwill balance was $44.3 million as of January 29, 2022, all of which related to the Pura Vida reporting unit. The carrying value of the Pura Vida brand was $36.7 million as of January 29, 2022. The fair values of goodwill and the Pura Vida brand exceeded their carrying values as of the measurement date and, therefore, no impairment was recognized during the year ended January 29, 2022.
We identified the impairment analysis of goodwill and the Pura Vida brand as a critical audit matter because of the significant judgments made by management to estimate the fair value of these indefinite-lived assets. This required a high degree of auditor judgment and an increased extent of effort, including the need to involve our fair value specialists, when performing audit procedures to evaluate the reasonableness of management’s estimates and assumptions particularly related to the projected revenue growth, operating profit growth and discount rate for the goodwill impairment analysis and the projected revenue growth, royalty rate, and discount rate for the Pura Vida brand impairment analysis.
How the Critical Audit Matter Was Addressed in the Audit
Our audit procedures related to the projected revenue growth, operating profit growth and discount rate for goodwill and Pura Vida brand as well as the royalty rate for the Pura Vida brand included the following, among others:
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•We tested the effectiveness of controls over management’s goodwill and Pura Vida brand impairment analyses, including those over the determination of the fair value, such as controls related to management’s forecasts of projected revenue growth, operating profit growth, selection of royalty rate and discount rates.
•We evaluated management’s ability to accurately forecast by comparing actual results to management’s historical forecasts.
•We performed sensitivity analyses to evaluate the risk of impairment if key assumptions are changed.
•We evaluated the reasonableness of management’s projected revenue growth and operating profit growth by comparing the forecasts to (1) historical results, (2) internal communications to management and the Board of Directors, and (3) forecasted information included in industry reports.
•With the assistance of our fair value specialists, we evaluated the reasonableness of the discount rates and royalty rate assumptions by:
◦Assessing the appropriateness of the valuation methodology used to determine the discount rates and royalty rate.
◦Testing the underlying source information and the mathematical accuracy of the calculations.
◦Developing a range of independent estimates and comparing those to the discount rates and royalty rate selected by management.
/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP
Indianapolis, Indiana
March 29, 2022
We have served as the Company's auditor since 2016.
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REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the shareholders and the Board of Directors of Vera Bradley, Inc.
Opinion on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
We have audited the internal control over financial reporting of Vera Bradley, Inc. and subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of January 29, 2022, based on criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). In our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of January 29, 2022, based on criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework (2013) issued by COSO.
We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the consolidated financial statements as of and for the year ended January 29, 2022, of the Company and our report dated March 29, 2022, expressed an unqualified opinion on those financial statements.
Basis for Opinion
The Company’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Management's Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Definition and Limitations of Internal Control over Financial Reporting
A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP
Indianapolis, Indiana
March 29, 2022
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Vera Bradley, Inc.
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(in thousands)
| January 29, 2022 | January 30, 2021 | |||||||||||||
| Assets | ||||||||||||||
| Current assets: | ||||||||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 88,436 | $ | 64,175 | ||||||||||
| Short-term investments | — | 1,295 | ||||||||||||
| Accounts receivable, net | 20,681 | 27,543 | ||||||||||||
| Inventories | 144,881 | 141,416 | ||||||||||||
| Income taxes receivable | 9,391 | 7,372 | ||||||||||||
| Prepaid expenses and other current assets | 15,928 | 17,882 | ||||||||||||
| Total current assets | 279,317 | 259,683 | ||||||||||||
| Operating right-of-use assets | 79,873 | 88,730 | ||||||||||||
| Property, plant, and equipment, net | 59,941 | 63,952 | ||||||||||||
| Intangible assets, net | 44,223 | 47,296 | ||||||||||||
| Goodwill | 44,254 | 44,254 | ||||||||||||
| Deferred income taxes | 3,857 | 3,530 | ||||||||||||
| Other assets | 6,081 | 6,342 | ||||||||||||
| Total assets | $ | 517,546 | $ | 513,787 | ||||||||||
| Liabilities, Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest, and Shareholders’ Equity | ||||||||||||||
| Current liabilities: | ||||||||||||||
| Accounts payable | $ | 30,492 | $ | 27,093 | ||||||||||
| Accrued employment costs | 12,463 | 13,648 | ||||||||||||
| Short-term operating lease liabilities | 18,699 | 22,321 | ||||||||||||
| Other accrued liabilities | 16,422 | 14,043 | ||||||||||||
| Income taxes payable | — | 321 | ||||||||||||
| Total current liabilities | 78,076 | 77,426 | ||||||||||||
| Long-term operating lease liabilities | 80,861 | 91,536 | ||||||||||||
| Other long-term liabilities | 195 | 109 | ||||||||||||
| Total liabilities | 159,132 | 169,071 | ||||||||||||
| Commitments and contingencies | ||||||||||||||
| Redeemable noncontrolling interest | 30,974 | 29,809 | ||||||||||||
| Shareholders’ equity: | ||||||||||||||
Preferred stock; 5,000 shares authorized, no shares issued or outstanding | — | — | ||||||||||||
Common stock, without par value; 200,000 shares authorized, 42,429 and 41,808 shares issued and 33,170 and 33,414 outstanding, respectively | — | — | ||||||||||||
| Additional paid-in capital | 107,907 | 105,433 | ||||||||||||
| Retained earnings | 334,364 | 316,526 | ||||||||||||
| Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income | (29) | 8 | ||||||||||||
| Treasury stock | (114,802) | (107,060) | ||||||||||||
| Total shareholders’ equity of Vera Bradley, Inc. | 327,440 | 314,907 | ||||||||||||
| Total liabilities, redeemable noncontrolling interest, and shareholders’ equity | $ | 517,546 | $ | 513,787 | ||||||||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
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Vera Bradley, Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Operations
(in thousands, except per share data)
| Fiscal Year Ended | ||||||||||||||||||||
| January 29, 2022 | January 30, 2021 | February 1, 2020 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Net revenues | $ | 540,453 | $ | 468,272 | $ | 495,212 | ||||||||||||||
| Cost of sales | 252,510 | 202,754 | 223,411 | |||||||||||||||||
| Gross profit | 287,943 | 265,518 | 271,801 | |||||||||||||||||
| Selling, general, and administrative expenses | 261,993 | 252,588 | 253,425 | |||||||||||||||||
| Other income, net | 961 | 135 | 1,098 | |||||||||||||||||
| Operating income | 26,911 | 13,065 | 19,474 | |||||||||||||||||
| Interest expense (income), net | 263 | 1,203 | (1,085) | |||||||||||||||||
| Income before income taxes | 26,648 | 11,862 | 20,559 | |||||||||||||||||
| Income tax expense | 6,430 | 1,173 | 5,315 | |||||||||||||||||
| Net income | 20,218 | 10,689 | 15,244 | |||||||||||||||||
| Less: Net income (loss) attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interest | 2,380 | 2,008 | (803) | |||||||||||||||||
| Net income attributable to Vera Bradley, Inc. | $ | 17,838 | $ | 8,681 | $ | 16,047 | ||||||||||||||
| Basic weighted-average shares outstanding | 33,785 | 33,390 | 33,983 | |||||||||||||||||
| Diluted weighted-average shares outstanding | 34,437 | 33,914 | 34,288 | |||||||||||||||||
| Basic net income per share attributable to Vera Bradley, Inc. common shareholders | $ | 0.53 | $ | 0.26 | $ | 0.47 | ||||||||||||||
| Diluted net income per share attributable to Vera Bradley, Inc. common shareholders | $ | 0.52 | $ | 0.26 | $ | 0.47 | ||||||||||||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
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Vera Bradley, Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income
(in thousands)
| Fiscal Year Ended | ||||||||||||||||||||
| January 29, 2022 | January 30, 2021 | February 1, 2020 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Net income | $ | 20,218 | $ | 10,689 | $ | 15,244 | ||||||||||||||
| Unrealized (loss) gain on available for sale debt investments | (4) | (172) | 131 | |||||||||||||||||
| Cumulative translation adjustment | (33) | 22 | 51 | |||||||||||||||||
| Comprehensive income, net of tax | 20,181 | 10,539 | 15,426 | |||||||||||||||||
| Less: Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interest | 2,380 | 2,008 | (803) | |||||||||||||||||
| Comprehensive income attributable to Vera Bradley, Inc. | $ | 17,801 | $ | 8,531 | $ | 16,229 | ||||||||||||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
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Vera Bradley, Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity
(in thousands, except share data)
| Number of Shares | Accumulated Other Comprehensive (Loss) Income | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Common Stock | Treasury Stock | Additional Paid-in Capital | Retained Earnings | Treasury Stock | Total Shareholders’ Equity of Vera Bradley, Inc. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Balance at February 2, 2019 | 34,347,420 | 6,935,623 | $ | 95,572 | $ | 291,994 | $ | (24) | $ | (92,839) | $ | 294,703 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net income attributable to Vera Bradley, Inc. | — | — | — | 16,047 | — | — | 16,047 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Translation adjustments | — | — | — | — | 51 | — | 51 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Unrealized gain on available for sale investments | — | — | — | — | 131 | — | 131 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Restricted shares vested, net of repurchase for taxes | 231,578 | — | (1,155) | — | — | — | (1,155) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Stock-based compensation | — | — | 5,940 | — | — | — | 5,940 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Treasury stock purchased | (1,075,749) | 1,075,749 | — | — | — | (11,320) | (11,320) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| — | — | — | (196) | — | — | (196) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Redeemable noncontrolling interest redemption value adjustment | — | — | — | (431) | — | — | (431) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Balance at February 1, 2020 | 33,503,249 | 8,011,372 | $ | 100,357 | $ | 307,414 | $ | 158 | $ | (104,159) | $ | 303,770 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net income attributable to Vera Bradley, Inc. | — | — | — | 8,681 | — | — | 8,681 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Translation adjustments | — | — | — | — | 22 | — | 22 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Unrealized loss on available for sale investments | — | — | — | — | (172) | — | (172) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Restricted shares vested, net of repurchase for taxes | 293,076 | — | (575) | — | — | — | (575) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Stock-based compensation | — | — | 5,651 | — | — | — | 5,651 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Treasury stock purchased | (381,835) | 381,835 | — | — | — | (2,901) | (2,901) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Redeemable noncontrolling interest redemption value adjustment | — | — | — | 431 | — | — | 431 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Balance at January 30, 2021 | 33,414,490 | 8,393,207 | $ | 105,433 | $ | 316,526 | $ | 8 | $ | (107,060) | $ | 314,907 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net income attributable to Vera Bradley, Inc. | — | — | — | 17,838 | — | — | 17,838 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Translation adjustments | — | — | — | — | (33) | — | (33) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Unrealized loss on available for sale investments | — | — | — | — | (4) | — | (4) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Restricted shares vested, net of repurchase for taxes | 621,474 | — | (2,456) | — | — | — | (2,456) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Stock-based compensation | — | — | 4,930 | — | — | — | 4,930 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Treasury stock purchased | (865,534) | 865,534 | — | — | — | (7,742) | (7,742) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Balance at January 29, 2022 | 33,170,430 | 9,258,741 | $ | 107,907 | $ | 334,364 | $ | (29) | $ | (114,802) | $ | 327,440 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
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Vera Bradley, Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(in thousands)
| Fiscal Year Ended | ||||||||||||||||||||
| January 29, 2022 | January 30, 2021 | February 1, 2020 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Cash flows from operating activities | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Net income | $ | 20,218 | $ | 10,689 | $ | 15,244 | ||||||||||||||
| Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Depreciation of property, plant, and equipment | 9,315 | 13,483 | 18,447 | |||||||||||||||||
| Impairment charges | 85 | 7,446 | — | |||||||||||||||||
| Amortization of operating right-of-use assets | 20,521 | 21,128 | 21,969 | |||||||||||||||||
| Amortization of intangible assets | 3,073 | 9,009 | 5,359 | |||||||||||||||||
| Provision for doubtful accounts | 101 | 1,333 | 160 | |||||||||||||||||
| Stock-based compensation | 4,930 | 5,651 | 5,940 | |||||||||||||||||
| Deferred income taxes | (327) | 4,126 | (864) | |||||||||||||||||
| Loss (gain) on investments | — | 13 | (188) | |||||||||||||||||
| Adjustment of earn-out liability | — | 229 | (1,650) | |||||||||||||||||
| Amortization of step-up in inventory basis | — | — | 8,274 | |||||||||||||||||
| Other non-cash (gain) charges, net | (37) | (1) | 202 | |||||||||||||||||
| Changes in assets and liabilities: | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Accounts receivable | 6,761 | (5,579) | (1,013) | |||||||||||||||||
| Inventories | (3,465) | (17,810) | (12,645) | |||||||||||||||||
| Prepaid expenses and other assets | 2,215 | (7,940) | (4,477) | |||||||||||||||||
| Accounts payable | 3,210 | 7,353 | (615) | |||||||||||||||||
| Income taxes | (2,340) | (8,121) | (284) | |||||||||||||||||
| Operating lease liabilities, net | (25,961) | (22,680) | (25,302) | |||||||||||||||||
| Accrued and other liabilities | 1,562 | 2,373 | (7,933) | |||||||||||||||||
| Net cash provided by operating activities | 39,861 | 20,702 | 20,624 | |||||||||||||||||
| Cash flows from investing activities | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Purchases of property, plant, and equipment | (5,489) | (5,743) | (13,317) | |||||||||||||||||
| Purchases of investments | — | (851) | (18,950) | |||||||||||||||||
| Proceeds from maturities and sales of investments | 1,290 | 23,281 | 38,333 | |||||||||||||||||
| Cash received (paid) for business acquisition, net of cash acquired | — | 993 | (76,032) | |||||||||||||||||
| Proceeds from disposal of property, plant, and equipment | 45 | — | — | |||||||||||||||||
| Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities | (4,154) | 17,680 | (69,966) | |||||||||||||||||
| Cash flows from financing activities | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Tax withholdings for equity compensation | (2,456) | (575) | (1,155) | |||||||||||||||||
| Repurchase of common stock | (7,742) | (3,077) | (11,341) | |||||||||||||||||
| Distributions to redeemable noncontrolling interest | (1,215) | (1,817) | (1,789) | |||||||||||||||||
| Borrowings under asset-based revolving credit agreement | — | 60,000 | — | |||||||||||||||||
| Repayment of borrowings under asset-based revolving credit agreement | — | (60,000) | — | |||||||||||||||||
| Payment of contingent consideration for business acquisition | — | (18,677) | — | |||||||||||||||||
| Net cash used in financing activities | (11,413) | (24,146) | (14,285) | |||||||||||||||||
| Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents | (33) | 22 | 51 | |||||||||||||||||
| Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents | 24,261 | 14,258 | (63,576) | |||||||||||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period | 64,175 | 49,917 | 113,493 | |||||||||||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents, end of period | $ | 88,436 | $ | 64,175 | $ | 49,917 | ||||||||||||||
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Vera Bradley, Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(in thousands)
(continued)
| Fiscal Year Ended | ||||||||||||||||||||
| January 29, 2022 | January 30, 2021 | February 1, 2020 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Supplemental disclosure of cash-flow information | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Cash paid for income taxes, net | $ | 9,083 | $ | 5,079 | $ | 6,490 | ||||||||||||||
| Cash paid for interest | $ | 293 | $ | 1,133 | $ | 119 | ||||||||||||||
| Supplemental disclosure of non-cash activity | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Non-cash operating, investing, and financing activities | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Repurchase of common stock incurred but not yet paid | ||||||||||||||||||||
| As of January 29, 2022, January 30, 2021 and February 1, 2020 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 176 | ||||||||||||||
| As of January 30, 2021, February 1, 2020 and February 2, 2019 | $ | — | $ | 176 | $ | 197 | ||||||||||||||
| Purchases of property, plant, and equipment incurred but not yet paid | ||||||||||||||||||||
| As of January 29, 2022, January 30, 2021 and February 1, 2020 | $ | 250 | $ | 343 | $ | 559 | ||||||||||||||
| As of January 30, 2021, February 1, 2020 and February 2, 2019 | $ | 343 | $ | 559 | $ | 1,065 | ||||||||||||||
| Contingent consideration related to business acquisition | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 20,098 | ||||||||||||||
Refer to Note 4 herein for supplemental cash flow information regarding the Company’s leases.
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
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1. Description of the Company
The term “Company” refers to Vera Bradley, Inc. and its wholly and majority owned subsidiaries, except where the context requires otherwise or where otherwise indicated.
Vera Bradley, Inc. operates two unique lifestyle brands – Vera Bradley and Pura Vida. We believe Vera Bradley and Pura Vida are complementary businesses, both with devoted, emotionally-connected, and multi-generational female customer bases; alignment as causal, comfortable, affordable, and fun brands; positioning as “gifting” and socially-connected brands; strong, entrepreneurial cultures; a keen focus on community, charity, and social consciousness; multi-channel distribution strategies; and talented leadership teams aligned and committed to the long-term success of their brands.
Vera Bradley is a leading designer of women’s handbags, luggage and travel items, fashion and home accessories, and unique gifts. Founded in 1982 by friends Barbara Bradley Baekgaard and Patricia R. Miller, the brand’s innovative designs, iconic patterns, and brilliant colors continue to inspire and connect women.
In July 2019, Vera Bradley, Inc. acquired a 75% interest in Creative Genius, Inc., which also operates under the name Pura Vida Bracelets (“Pura Vida”). Pura Vida, based in La Jolla, California, is a digitally native lifestyle brand that we believe deeply resonates with its loyal consumer following. The Pura Vida brand has a differentiated and expanding offering of bracelets, jewelry, and other lifestyle accessories.
Beginning in the second quarter of fiscal 2020, the Company has included an additional segment for Pura Vida due to its acquisition. As a result, the Company now has three reportable segments: Vera Bradley Direct (“VB Direct”), Vera Bradley Indirect (“VB Indirect”), and Pura Vida.
•The VB Direct business consists of sales of Vera Bradley products through Vera Bradley full-line and factory outlet stores in the United States; verabradley.com and verabradley.ca; the Vera Bradley online outlet site; and typically the Vera Bradley annual outlet sale in Fort Wayne, Indiana. As of January 29, 2022, the Company operated 70 full-line stores and 75 factory outlet stores. In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Company cancelled its calendar year 2021 and 2020 annual outlet sales.
•The VB Indirect business consists of sales of Vera Bradley products to approximately 1,800 specialty retail locations, substantially all of which are located in the United States, as well as department stores, national accounts, third-party e-commerce sites, third-party inventory liquidators, and royalties recognized through licensing agreements related to the Vera Bradley brand.
•The Pura Vida segment represents revenues generated through the Pura Vida websites, www.puravidabracelets.com, www.puravidabracelets.eu, and www.puravidabracelets.ca, the distribution of Pura Vida-branded products to wholesale retailers, substantially all of which are located in the United States, as well as through its first retail store which opened in August 2021.
Principles of Consolidation
The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly owned subsidiaries, and its majority owned subsidiary, Pura Vida beginning on July 17, 2019. The Company has eliminated intercompany balances and transactions in consolidation.
Fiscal Periods
The Company utilizes a 52-53 week fiscal year ended on the Saturday closest to January 31. As such, fiscal years 2022, 2021, and 2020, ending on January 29, 2022, January 30, 2021, and February 1, 2020 respectively, each reflected a 52-week period.
2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Use of Significant Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of the Company’s assets, liabilities, revenues, and expenses, as well as the disclosures relating to contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements. Significant areas requiring the use of management estimates include the
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valuation of inventories, valuation of long-lived assets, including operating right-of-use assets, valuation of goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets, accounts receivable valuation allowances, sales return allowances, and the useful lives of assets for depreciation or amortization. Actual results could differ from these estimates. The Company revises its estimates and assumptions as new information becomes available.
Cash and Cash Equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents represent cash on hand, deposits with financial institutions, and investments with an original maturity of three months or less.
Investments
Short-term investments consist of investments with a maturity within one year of the balance sheet date. As of January 30, 2021, these investments consisted of U.S. and non-U.S. corporate debt securities. There were no short-term investments as of January 29, 2022. The Company’s objective with respect to these investments is to earn a higher rate of return, relative to deposit accounts, on funds that are otherwise not anticipated to be required to meet liquidity needs in the near-term while maintaining a low level of investment risk. These debt securities are classified as available-for-sale; therefore, unrealized gains and losses are recorded within other comprehensive income. Interest income earned is recorded within interest expense (income), net, in the Company's Consolidated Statements of Operations.
Inventories
Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or net realizable value. Cost is determined using the first-in, first-out (“FIFO”) method. Appropriate consideration is given to obsolescence, excess quantities, and other factors, including the popularity of a pattern or product, in evaluating net realizable value. Substantially all inventory relates to finished goods.
Property, Plant, and Equipment
Property, plant, and equipment are carried at cost and depreciated or amortized over the following estimated useful lives using the straight-line method:
| Buildings and building improvements .............................................. | 39.5 years | ||||||||||
| Land improvements ........................................................................... | 5 – 15 years | ||||||||||
| Furniture and fixtures, and leasehold improvements ........................ | 3 – 10 years | ||||||||||
| Equipment ......................................................................................... | 7 years | ||||||||||
| Vehicles ............................................................................................. | 5 years | ||||||||||
| Computer equipment and software ................................................... | 3 – 5 years | ||||||||||
The Company recognizes depreciation and amortization expense within cost of sales for expenditures related to distribution center, sourcing, and other related functions and selling, general, and administrative expenses for all other expenditures. Leasehold improvements are amortized over the shorter of the life of the asset or the lease term. Lease terms typically range from to ten years.
When a decision is made to abandon property, plant, and equipment prior to the end of the previously estimated useful life, depreciation or amortization estimates are revised to reflect the use of the asset over the shortened estimated useful life. At the time of disposal, the cost of assets sold or retired and the related accumulated depreciation or amortization are removed from the accounts and any resulting loss is included in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.
Property, plant, and equipment are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the asset groups may not be recoverable. The reviews are conducted at the lowest identifiable level of cash flows, which is at the retail store level for store-related assets. If the estimated undiscounted future cash flows related to the property, plant, and equipment and operating right-of-use assets are less than the carrying value, the Company recognizes a loss equal to the difference between the carrying value and the fair value, as further defined below in “Fair Value of Financial Instruments.”
Routine maintenance and repair costs are expensed as incurred.
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The Company capitalizes certain costs incurred in connection with acquiring, modifying, and installing internal-use software. Capitalized costs are included in property, plant, and equipment and are amortized over to five years. Software costs that do not meet capitalization criteria are expensed as incurred.
Revenue Recognition and Accounts Receivable
Vera Bradley and Pura Vida product sales to customers, including amounts billed to customers for shipping fees, as well as royalties from licensing arrangements related to the Vera Bradley brand, are included in net revenues. Costs related to shipping of product are classified in cost of sales in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. The Company has elected to treat shipping and handling activities that occur after the customer has obtained control of a good as an activity to fulfill the promise to transfer the product rather than as an additional promised service. Net revenues exclude sales taxes collected from customers and remitted to governmental authorities from the transaction price.
Revenue from the sale of the Company’s products is recognized when control of the promised goods or services is transferred to customers, in the amount that reflects the consideration the Company expects to be entitled to in exchange for those goods or services. Revenue is recognized using the five-step model. These steps are: (i) identify the contract with the customer; (ii) identify the performance obligations; (iii) determine the transaction price; (iv) allocate the transaction price to each performance obligation; and (v) recognize revenue as the performance obligations are satisfied.
The Company collects payment at the point of sale for Vera Bradley full-line and factory outlet store transactions, upon shipment for Vera Bradley e-commerce transactions, and upon purchase for Pura Vida e-commerce transactions. The Company generally collects payment in arrears in accordance with established payment terms for each customer within the VB Indirect segment and for Pura Vida wholesale retailers.
Historical experience provides the Company the ability to reasonably estimate the amount of product sales that customers will return. Product returns are often resalable through multiple channels. Additionally, the Company reserves for customer allowances for certain VB Indirect retailers based upon various contract terms and other potential product credits granted to VB Indirect retailers.
The returns and credits reserve and the related activity for each fiscal year presented were as follows (in thousands):
| Balance at Beginning of Year | Provision Charged to Net Revenues | Allowances Taken / Written Off | Balance at End of Year | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fiscal year ended January 29, 2022 | $ | 1,714 | $ | 17,043 | $ | (17,175) | $ | 1,582 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Fiscal year ended January 30, 2021 | 1,362 | 14,284 | (13,932) | 1,714 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fiscal year ended February 1, 2020 | 1,911 | 15,467 | (16,016) | 1,362 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The Company establishes an allowance for doubtful accounts based on historical experience and customer-specific identification and believes that collections of receivables, net of the allowance for doubtful accounts, are reasonably assured. The allowance for doubtful accounts was approximately $1.2 million and $1.1 million as of January 29, 2022 and January 30, 2021, respectively. The provision for doubtful accounts is based upon the likelihood of default expected during the life of the receivable.
Cost of Sales
Cost of sales includes material and labor costs, freight, inventory shrinkage, operating lease costs, duty, and other operating expenses, including depreciation of the Vera Bradley distribution center and equipment. Costs and related expenses to purchase and distribute the products are recorded as cost of sales when the related revenues are recognized.
Operating Leases
The Company recognizes lease liabilities at the lease commencement date based upon the present value of the remaining lease payments. Operating right-of-use assets are based on the lease liability adjusted for prepaid rent, deferred rent, and tenant allowances received from certain of the Company’s landlords, primarily for its retail store locations.
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Operating lease liabilities are amortized based upon the effective interest method. Operating right-of-use assets are amortized based upon the straight-line lease expense less interest on the lease liability. Operating lease expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term. Variable rent expense is recognized in the period incurred.
Operating right-of-use assets are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the assets may not be recoverable. The reviews are conducted at the lowest identifiable level of cash flows, which is at the retail store level for store-related assets. If the estimated undiscounted future cash flows related to the operating right-of-use assets are less than the carrying value, the Company recognizes a loss equal to the difference between the carrying value and the fair value, as further defined below in “Fair Value of Financial Instruments.”
Refer to Note 4 herein for additional information regarding the Company's leases.
Store Pre-Opening, Occupancy, and Operating Costs
The Company charges costs associated with the opening of new stores to selling, general, and administrative expenses as incurred. Selling, general, and administrative expenses also include store operating costs, store employee compensation, and store occupancy and supply costs.
Business Combination
The Company acquired a majority interest in Pura Vida on July 16, 2019. In connection with a business combination, the Company records the identifiable assets acquired, liabilities assumed, contingent consideration liabilities, if any, and any noncontrolling interest in the acquiree at their acquisition-date fair values. Goodwill is measured indirectly as the excess of the sum of (1) the consideration transferred (including contingent consideration, if any) and (2) the fair value of any noncontrolling interest in the acquiree over the net assets acquired and liabilities assumed. Refer to Note 14 herein for additional information.
These fair value assessments require management judgment and include the use of significant estimates and assumptions including future cash flows, discount and other market rates, and asset lives, among other items.
Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets
Upon an acquisition, the Company records the fair value of goodwill and the identifiable intangible assets. As of January 29, 2022 and January 30, 2021, the identifiable intangible assets consisted of the Pura Vida brand, customer relationships, and non-competition agreements. Assets that are determined to have an indefinite life, including goodwill and the Pura Vida brand, are not amortized but are assessed for impairment at least annually or whenever events or circumstances indicate that the goodwill may be impaired. Definite-lived intangible assets, including customer relationships and non-competition agreements, are amortized over their estimated useful lives and are also subject to impairment testing, similar to the Company’s long-lived assets.
The Company performs its annual goodwill and Pura Vida brand impairment test generally during the second quarter. The Company may first use a qualitative analysis to determine whether it is more-likely-than-not that the fair value of the reporting unit (including goodwill) is less than its carrying value. If it is determined that it is more-likely-than-not that the fair value is less than the carrying value after this analysis, a quantitative impairment test is performed. If the Company elects to bypass the qualitative analysis, or if it is determined through the qualitative analysis that it is more-likely-than-not that the fair value of the reporting unit is less than its carrying value, a quantitative analysis is performed. Under the quantitative test, the fair value of the reporting unit is compared with its carrying value (including goodwill). If the carrying value of the reporting unit exceeds its fair value, an impairment loss is recognized in an amount equal to that excess, limited to the amount of total goodwill allocated to the reporting unit. The fair value of the reporting unit is determined using an income-based approach and a market-based approach. The Company's critical estimates for the goodwill test include the revenue growth rate, operating profit, and discount rate. The fair value of the Pura Vida brand is estimated using the relief-from-royalty method. The critical estimates for the Pura Vida brand impairment test include the projected revenue growth, long-term growth rate, the royalty rate, and the discount rate.
As of January 29, 2022, the carrying value of goodwill and the Pura Vida brand was $44.3 million and $36.7 million, respectively. For the annual impairment analysis performed during fiscal 2022, we performed a quantitative analysis. There was no impairment recorded for goodwill or the Pura Vida brand during fiscal 2022.
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The estimated fair values of our Pura Vida reporting unit and the Pura Vida brand are subject to change as a result of many factors including changing economic conditions. Should actual cash flows and our future estimates deteriorate from the estimates we used, impairment charges may be necessary in future years.
Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest
On July 16, 2019, as contemplated by the Interest Purchase Agreement, the Company and certain of its subsidiaries and the owners of the remaining twenty-five percent (25%) ownership interest in Pura Vida (the “Sellers”) which was not acquired by the Company (the “Remaining Pura Vida Interest”) entered into a Put/Call Agreement (the “Put/Call Agreement”). Pursuant to the Put/Call Agreement, and subject to the terms and conditions thereof, the Sellers have the right to sell all of the Remaining Pura Vida Interest to the Company, and the Company has the right to purchase all of the Remaining Pura Vida Interests from Sellers, in each case generally at any time following the fifth anniversary of the closing date of the transaction until the tenth anniversary thereof. The purchase price for any Remaining Pura Vida Interest put to, or called by, the Company will be determined based on the arithmetic average of a multiple of adjusted EBITDA of Pura Vida and a multiple of adjusted EBITDA of the Company, as defined in the Put/Call Agreement, over the twelve-month period ending on the last day of the month immediately preceding the month in which an exercise notice is delivered by a relevant party. In the event of a change in control of the Company, the parties may exercise a portion of their put and call rights prior to the fifth anniversary of the closing date (as defined in the Put/Call Agreement).
As a result of this redemption feature, the Company recorded the noncontrolling interest as redeemable and classified it in temporary equity within its Consolidated Balance Sheets initially at its acquisition-date fair value. The noncontrolling interest is adjusted each reporting period for income (or loss) attributable to the noncontrolling interest. A measurement period adjustment, if any, is then made to adjust the noncontrolling interest to the higher of the redemption value or carrying value each reporting period. These adjustments are recognized through retained earnings and are not reflected in net income or net income attributable to Vera Bradley, Inc. When calculating earnings per share attributable to Vera Bradley, Inc., the Company adjusts net income attributable to Vera Bradley, Inc. for the measurement period adjustment to the extent the redemption value exceeds the fair value of the noncontrolling interest on a cumulative basis. The fair value of the noncontrolling interest is estimated using a combination of the income approach, a discounted cash flow analysis, and the market approach, utilizing the guideline company method. The reporting unit’s discounted cash flow analysis requires significant management judgment with respect to revenue, total direct costs, selling, general, and administrative expenses, capital expenditures, and the selection and use of an appropriate discount rate. The projected revenue and expense assumptions and capital expenditures are based on our annual and long-term business plans. Discount rates reflect market-based estimates of the risks associated with the projected cash flows directly resulting from the use of those assets in operations. Refer to Note 15 herein for additional information regarding the redeemable noncontrolling interest.
Stock-Based Compensation
The Company accounts for stock-based compensation using the fair-value recognition provisions of ASC 718, Stock Compensation. Under these provisions, for its awards of restricted stock and restricted-stock units, the Company recognizes stock-based compensation expense in an amount equal to the fair market value of the underlying stock on the grant date of the respective award. The Company recognizes this expense, net of estimated forfeitures, on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period.
Advertising Costs
The Company expenses advertising costs at the time the promotion first appears in media, in stores, or on its websites, and includes those costs in selling, general, and administrative expenses in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.
Total advertising expense was as follows (in thousands):
| Fiscal year ended January 29, 2022 | $ | 61,223 | |||
| Fiscal year ended January 30, 2021 | 54,571 | ||||
Fiscal year ended February 1, 2020 (1) | 46,460 | ||||
| (1) As a result of the July 2019 acquisition of Pura Vida, fiscal 2020 includes approximately six months of Pura Vida advertising expense. | |||||
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Fair Value of Financial Instruments
Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. Assets and liabilities measured at fair value are classified using the following hierarchy, which is based upon the transparency of inputs to the valuation as of the measurement date:
•Level 1 – Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities;
•Level 2 – Inputs, other than the quoted prices in active markets, that are observable either directly or indirectly;
•Level 3 – Unobservable inputs based on the Company’s own assumptions.
The classification of fair value measurements within the hierarchy is based upon the lowest level of input that is significant to the measurement.
The carrying amounts reflected on the Consolidated Balance Sheets for cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, and accounts payable as of January 29, 2022 and January 30, 2021, approximated their fair values.
The following table details the fair value measurements of the Company’s investments as of January 29, 2022 and January 30, 2021 (in thousands):
| Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| January 29, 2022 | January 30, 2021 | January 29, 2022 | January 30, 2021 | January 29, 2022 | January 30, 2021 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Cash equivalents (1) | $ | 2,856 | $ | 1,565 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Short-term investments: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| U.S. corporate debt securities | — | — | — | 627 | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Non-U.S. corporate debt securities | — | — | — | 668 | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (1) Cash equivalents relate to a money market fund that has a maturity of three months or less at the date of purchase. Due to its short maturity, the Company believes the carrying value approximates fair value. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The Company assesses potential impairments to its long-lived assets, which includes property, plant, and equipment and lease right-of-use assets, on a quarterly basis or whenever events or circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. Store-level assets and right-of-use assets are grouped at the individual store-level for the purpose of the impairment assessment. Recoverability of an asset group is measured by a comparison of the carrying amount of an asset group to its estimated undiscounted future cash flows expected to be generated by the asset group. If the carrying amount of the asset group exceeds its estimated undiscounted future cash flows, an impairment charge is recognized as the amount by which the carrying amount of the asset group exceeds the fair value of the asset group. The fair value of the store assets is determined using the discounted future cash flow method of anticipated cash flows through the store’s lease-end date using fair value measurement inputs classified as Level 3. The fair value of right-of-use assets is estimated using market comparative information for similar properties. Level 3 inputs are derived from valuation techniques in which one or more significant inputs or significant value drivers are unobservable. The Company recorded $0.1 million and $7.4 million in impairment charges related to store assets including property, plant, and equipment and lease right-of-use assets during the fiscal years ended January 29, 2022 and January 30, 2021. There were no impairment charges for the fiscal year ended February 1, 2020.
Assets recognized or disclosed at fair value on the consolidated financial statements on a nonrecurring basis include items such as property, plant, and equipment, including leasehold improvements, and operating lease assets, as well as assets related to the Pura Vida acquisition including goodwill and intangible assets. These assets are measured at fair value if determined to be impaired. Refer to Note 14 herein for additional information on the methods used in the valuation of acquired intangible assets.
The discounted cash flow models used to estimate the applicable fair values involve numerous estimates and assumptions that are highly subjective. Changes to these estimates and assumptions could materially impact the fair value estimates. The estimates and assumptions critical to the overall fair value estimates include: (1) estimated future cash flow generated at the store level; (2) discount rates used to derive the present value factors used in determining the fair values; and (3) market rentals at the retail store. These and other estimates and assumptions are impacted by economic conditions and our expectations and may change in the future based on period-specific facts and circumstances. If economic conditions were to deteriorate, future impairment charges may be required which may be material.
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Income Taxes
The Company accrues income taxes payable or refundable and recognizes deferred tax assets and liabilities based on differences between the book and tax bases of assets and liabilities. The Company measures deferred tax assets and liabilities using enacted rates in effect for the years in which the differences are expected to reverse, and recognizes the effect of a change in enacted rates in the period of enactment.
The Company establishes liabilities for uncertain positions taken or expected to be taken in income tax returns, using a more-likely-than-not recognition threshold. The Company includes in income tax expense any interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions.
Cloud Computing Arrangements
The Company capitalizes implementation costs associated with its Cloud Computing Arrangements (“CCA”) consistent with costs capitalized for internal-use software. The CCA costs are amortized over the term of the related hosting agreement, taking into consideration renewal options, if any. The renewal period is included in the amortization period if determined that the option is reasonably certain to be exercised. The amortization expense is recorded in the same line item within the Company's Consolidated Statements of Operations as the related hosting fees. The balance of the unamortized CCA implementation costs totaled $8.0 million and $8.1 million as of January 29, 2022 and January 30, 2021, respectively. Of this total, $2.8 million and $2.4 million was recorded within prepaid expenses and other current assets and $5.2 million and $5.7 million was recorded within other assets on the Company's Consolidated Balance Sheets as of January 29, 2022 and January 30, 2021, respectively. The CCA implementation costs are recorded within operating activities in the Company's Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.
Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements
In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-13, Disclosure Framework – Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurements. The amendments in this update remove, modify, and add certain disclosure requirements to ASC 820, Fair Value Measurement. This guidance is effective for interim and annual periods beginning on or after December 15, 2019 (fiscal 2021). Early adoption is permitted, and certain amendments are to be adopted prospectively for only the most recent annual or interim period presented in the initial year of adoption or retrospectively. The adoption of this standard in the first quarter of fiscal 2021 did not have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements.
In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments. This standard replaces the incurred loss impairment methodology in current GAAP with a methodology that uses a forward-looking approach to recording credit losses for certain financial instruments including debt securities, trade receivables, and other financial assets. This guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, including interim periods within those fiscal years, for SEC filers, which is the Company's fiscal 2021. Early adoption is permitted. The adoption of this standard in the first quarter of fiscal 2021 did not have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements.
In December 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-12, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes. The amendments in this update remove certain exceptions to the general principals in Topic 740, as well as simplify GAAP for certain areas and improve consistency within the topic. This guidance is effective for interim and annual periods beginning on or after December 15, 2020 (fiscal 2022). Early adoption is permitted, with all amendments required to be adopted in the same period. The adoption of this standard in the first quarter of fiscal 2022 did not have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements.
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3. Revenue from Contracts with Customers
Disaggregation of Revenue
The following presents the Company's net revenues disaggregated by product category for the fifty-two weeks ended January 29, 2022, January 30, 2021, and February 1, 2020 (in thousands):
| Fifty-Two Weeks Ended | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| January 29, 2022 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| VB Direct Segment | VB Indirect Segment | Pura Vida Segment | Total | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Product categories | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bags | $ | 138,910 | $ | 33,125 | $ | 974 | $ | 173,009 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Travel | 82,507 | 12,150 | — | 94,657 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Accessories | 65,219 | 10,021 | 111,248 | 186,488 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Home | 41,987 | 4,416 | — | 46,403 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Apparel/Footwear(6) | 18,592 | 2,406 | 4,110 | 25,108 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other | 7,660 | (1) | 3,883 | (2) | 3,245 | (3) | 14,788 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Total net revenues | $ | 354,875 | (4) | $ | 66,001 | (5) | $ | 119,577 | (4) | $ | 540,453 | |||||||||||||||
| (1) Primarily includes net revenues from stationery, freight, and gift card breakage. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (2) Primarily includes net revenues from licensing agreements, freight, and merchandising. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (3) Related to freight. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (4) Net revenues were related to product sales recognized at a point in time. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(5) $63.1 million of net revenues related to product sales recognized at a point in time and $2.9 million of net revenues related to sales-based royalties recognized over time. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (6) Includes mask sales. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fifty-Two Weeks Ended | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| January 30, 2021 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| VB Direct Segment | VB Indirect Segment | Pura Vida Segment | Total | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Product categories | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bags | $ | 105,197 | $ | 26,732 | $ | — | $ | 131,929 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Travel | 59,606 | 12,191 | — | 71,797 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Accessories | 49,578 | 8,207 | 106,547 | 164,332 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Home | 31,819 | 2,253 | — | 34,072 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Apparel/Footwear(6) | 36,762 | 13,416 | 1,857 | 52,035 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other | 6,312 | (1) | 3,718 | (2) | 4,077 | (3) | 14,107 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Total net revenues | $ | 289,274 | (4) | $ | 66,517 | (5) | $ | 112,481 | (4) | $ | 468,272 | |||||||||||||||
| (1) Primarily includes net revenues from stationery, freight, and gift card breakage. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (2) Primarily includes net revenues from licensing agreements, freight, and merchandising. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (3) Related to freight. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (4) Net revenues were related to product sales recognized at a point in time. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(5) $63.5 million of net revenues related to product sales recognized at a point in time and $3.0 million of net revenues related to sales-based royalties recognized over time. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (6) Includes mask sales. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Fifty-Two Weeks Ended | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| February 1, 2020 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| VB Direct Segment | VB Indirect Segment | Pura Vida Segment | Total | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Product categories(1) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bags | $ | 136,509 | $ | 41,206 | $ | — | $ | 177,715 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Travel | 91,732 | 16,712 | — | 108,444 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Accessories | 75,162 | 15,470 | 64,568 | 155,200 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Home | 32,987 | 2,703 | — | 35,690 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Apparel/Footwear | 5,092 | 640 | — | 5,732 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other | 6,002 | (2) | 5,080 | (3) | 1,349 | (4) | 12,431 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Total net revenues | $ | 347,484 | (5) | $ | 81,811 | (6) | $ | 65,917 | (5) | $ | 495,212 | |||||||||||||||
| (1) Other net revenues have been recast to exclude Apparel/Footwear to conform with the current-year presentation. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (2) Primarily includes net revenues from stationery, freight, and gift card breakage. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (3) Primarily includes net revenues from licensing agreements, freight, and merchandising. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (4) Related to freight. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (5) Net revenues were related to product sales recognized at a point in time. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(6) $78.0 million of net revenues related to product sales recognized at a point in time and $3.8 million of net revenues related to sales-based royalties recognized over time. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Contract Balances
Contract liabilities as of January 29, 2022 and January 30, 2021, were $3.9 million and $4.1 million, respectively. The balance as of January 29, 2022 consisted of unearned revenue related to unredeemed gift cards, the monthly bracelet and jewelry clubs of the Pura Vida segment, Pura Vida loyalty club points, Pura Vida customer deposits and payments collected before shipment, and an immaterial amount of unearned revenue for pre-payments of royalties in certain of the Company’s licensing arrangements. The balance as of January 30, 2021 consisted of unearned revenue related to the monthly bracelet and jewelry clubs of the Pura Vida segment, unredeemed gift cards, Pura Vida loyalty club points, Pura Vida customer deposits and payments collected before shipment, and an immaterial amount of unearned revenue for pre-payments of royalties in certain of the Company’s licensing arrangements. These contract liabilities are recognized within other accrued liabilities on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets. Substantially all contract liabilities are recognized within one year. The Company did not have contract assets as of January 29, 2022 and January 30, 2021.
The balance for accounts receivable from contracts with customers, net of allowances, as of January 29, 2022 and January 30, 2021 was $18.1 million and $26.0 million, respectively, which is recognized within accounts receivable, net, on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets. The provision for doubtful accounts was $1.2 million and $1.1 million as of January 29, 2022 and January 30, 2021, respectively. The provision for doubtful accounts is based upon the likelihood of default expected during the life of the receivable.
Performance Obligations
The performance obligations for the VB Direct, VB Indirect, and Pura Vida segments include the promise to transfer distinct goods (or a bundle of distinct goods). The VB Indirect segment also includes the right to access intellectual property (“IP”) related to the Vera Bradley brand.
Remaining Performance Obligations
The Company does not have remaining performance obligations in excess of one year or contracts that it does not have the right to invoice as of January 29, 2022.
Significant Judgments
Product Sales
In the Vera Bradley retail stores and the Pura Vida retail store (recognized within the VB Direct segment and the Pura Vida segments), control is transferred and net revenue is recognized at the point of sale. Product shipments for the Company’s e-
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commerce channels (recognized within the VB Direct and Pura Vida segments) and shipments to its wholesale retailers (recognized within the VB Indirect segment and Pura Vida segment) are generally shipped Free on Board (“FOB”) shipping point typically from its distribution center in Roanoke, Indiana, for Vera Bradley products and primarily from its third-party fulfillment center in Tijuana, Mexico for Pura Vida products. Net revenue is recognized upon shipment consistent with when control is transferred to the customer. Upon shipment, the customer has the right to direct the use of, and obtain substantially all of the benefits from, the product.
Licensing Royalties
The Company grants rights to access its Vera Bradley IP and accounts for any resulting sales-based royalty revenue over time, as the subsequent sales occur. The Company has contractually guaranteed minimum royalties in certain of its sales-based royalty arrangements which are recognized straight-line over the remaining license period once determined that the minimum sales level will not be achieved. Licensing royalties are recognized within VB Indirect segment net revenues.
Transaction Price and Amounts Allocated to Performance Obligations
The transaction price is the amount of consideration the Company expects to be entitled to in a sales transaction. The transaction price is net of discounts, estimated variable consideration (if any), and any customer allowances offered or estimated, including those offered to certain Indirect retailers based on various contract terms. The transaction price also is net of allowances for product returns, which the Company is able to reasonably estimate based upon historical experience. The transaction price is allocated to each performance obligation in the contract based upon the standalone selling price.
Contract Costs
Sales commissions are paid to certain employees based upon specific sales achieved during a time period. As the Company’s contracts related to these sales commissions do not exceed one year, these incentive payments are expensed as incurred.
Other Practical Expedients
Significant Financing Components
The Company does not adjust for the time value of money as the majority of its contracts have an original expected duration of one year or less; contracts that are greater than one year are related to net revenues that are constrained until the subsequent sales occur. The net revenues associated with these contracts are immaterial, and the Company does not adjust for the time value of money.
Concentration of Credit Risk
Five customers represented approximately 40.0% of the balance of accounts receivable, net as of January 29, 2022.
4. Leases
In the prior-year, the Company temporarily closed its full-line and factory outlet stores beginning on March 19, 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, for various lengths of time (from several weeks to several months). The stores began to re-open on May 5, 2020, with substantially all stores open by the end of July 2020. All of the Company's stores were open during fiscal 2022. As a result of the temporary closures in the prior-year, certain rent payments were deferred. An immaterial amount of rent abatements were received as of January 29, 2022 and January 30, 2021. An immaterial amount of rent deferrals were received as of January 30, 2021. No additional rent deferrals were received during fiscal 2022.
In April 2020, the FASB issued guidance that allows a company to elect to account for COVID-19-related rent concessions as (1) if they were part of the enforceable rights and obligations under the existing lease contract or (2) lease modifications. Leases that are eligible under this guidance include those that do not have a substantial increase of obligations to the lessee.
The Company elected to treat COVID-19-related rent abatements as a reduction to its operating lease cost in the period the abatements are received for leases that do not have a substantial change in obligations. Lease abatements received which were coupled with lease extensions of greater than a month, or a substantial change of future lease payments, were recorded as a lease modification under ASC 842.
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The Company also received lease payment deferrals in some cases, extending the due date of the lease payments. The Company did not remeasure the lease liability and continued to account for the lease following the rights and obligations of the existing lease.
Nature of Leases
The Company has operating leases at all of its retail stores, including Pura Vida's retail store, as well as for its New York office, the California Pura Vida office, Asia sourcing office, and showrooms. The Company also has operating leases for certain equipment and storage spaces. The Company does not have residual value guarantees, restrictions, or covenants imposed by leases.
Determination of Lease Terms
Retail store leases have remaining terms of up to 10 years as of January 29, 2022. These leases generally have early termination rights when certain sales thresholds are not met for a specified measurement period. The Company's other leases have remaining terms of up to approximately five years as of January 29, 2022. If the lease contains a renewal period at the Company's option, the renewal period is included in the lease term if determined the option is reasonably certain to be exercised at lease commencement. The Company's lease options generally do not include termination rights other than those mentioned. The Company did not have financing leases as of January 29, 2022.
Variable Rental Payments
All of the Company's retail store leases contain variable rental payments when the retail store's sales exceed a specified breakpoint. In addition, the majority of the Company's leases contain real estate taxes, common area maintenance, and similar items that are billed as pass-through charges from its landlords. These rental payments are not included in the measurement of the lease liability, but are recognized as variable lease cost in the period incurred.
Certain of the Company's leases also contain lease components with increases based upon an index or rate. These lease components are included on the Company's balance sheet at the rate as of lease commencement. Future changes in the index or rate will generally be included as variable lease cost.
Significant Judgments and Assumptions
Determination of Whether a Contract Contains a Lease
The Company determines whether a contract is or contains a lease at the inception of the contract. The contract is, or contains, a lease if the contract conveys the right to control the use of identified property, plant, or equipment for a period of time in exchange for consideration. The Company generally must also have the right to obtain substantially all of the economic benefits from use of the property, plant, and equipment and have the right to direct its use.
Discount Rate
The weighted-average discount rate as of January 29, 2022 and January 30, 2021, was 4.7% and 4.8%, respectively. The discount rate is not readily determinable in the lease; therefore, the Company estimated the incremental borrowing rate, at the commencement or remeasurement date of each lease, which is the rate of interest it would have to borrow on a collateralized basis over a similar term with similar payments.
Leases Not Yet Commenced
As of January 29, 2022, the Company had three leases which were executed but did it not have control of the underlying assets; therefore, the lease liability and right-of-use asset are not recorded on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet. These leases contain undiscounted lease payments, which will be included in the determination of the lease liability, totaling approximately $5.3 million and have terms of approximately 10 years commencing in fiscal year 2023.
Practical Expedients (Policy Elections)
The Company has elected the following practical expedients as policy elections upon the adoption of ASC Topic 842.
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| Short-Term Leases | The Company elected to exclude leases with a term of 12 months or less from recognition on the balance sheet for all leases. | ||||
| Not Separating Lease and Nonlease Components | The Company elected to combine lease and nonlease components and recognize as a single lease component for all leases. | ||||
Amounts Recognized in the Consolidated Financial Statements
The following lease expense is recorded within cost of sales for the Asia sourcing office and certain equipment leases and within selling, general, and administrative expenses for all other leases, including retail store leases, in the Company's Consolidated Statements of Operations for the fiscal years ended January 29, 2022, January 30, 2021, and February 1, 2020 (in thousands):
| Fifty-Two Weeks Ended | |||||||||||||||||
| January 29, 2022 | January 30, 2021 | February 1, 2020 | |||||||||||||||
| Operating lease cost | $ | 25,200 | $ | 26,112 | $ | 28,808 | |||||||||||
| Variable lease cost | 7,560 | 5,821 | 9,266 | ||||||||||||||
| Short-term lease cost | 515 | 445 | 576 | ||||||||||||||
| Total lease cost | $ | 33,275 | $ | 32,378 | $ | 38,650 | |||||||||||
The weighted-average remaining lease term as of January 29, 2022 and January 30, 2021 was 5.3 years and 5.4 years, respectively.
Supplemental operating cash flow information was as follows (in thousands):
| Fifty-Two Weeks Ended | |||||||||||||||||
| January 29, 2022 | January 30, 2021 | February 1, 2020 | |||||||||||||||
Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of operating lease liabilities (1) | $ | 33,517 | $ | 27,180 | $ | 32,702 | |||||||||||
| Right-of-use assets increase as a result of new and modified operating lease liabilities, net | $ | 11,584 | $ | 1,268 | $ | 10,850 | |||||||||||
(1) $2.5 million of lease liabilities were recorded within accounts payable on the Company's Consolidated Balance Sheets as of January 30, 2021, and were paid in the first quarter of fiscal 2022. | |||||||||||||||||
Maturity Analysis of Operating Lease Liabilities
Maturities of the Company's operating lease liabilities (undiscounted) reconciled to its lease liability as of January 29, 2022 were as follows (in thousands):
| Operating Leases | |||||
| Fiscal 2023 | $ | 22,905 | |||
| Fiscal 2024 | 23,465 | ||||
| Fiscal 2025 | 20,681 | ||||
| Fiscal 2026 | 15,161 | ||||
| Fiscal 2027 | 10,654 | ||||
| Thereafter | 20,589 | ||||
| Total remaining obligations | 113,455 | ||||
| Less: Interest | (13,895) | ||||
| Present value of lease liabilities | $ | 99,560 | |||
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5. Property, Plant, and Equipment
Property, plant, and equipment consisted of the following (in thousands):
| January 29, 2022 | January 30, 2021 | |||||||||||||
| Land and land improvements | $ | 5,981 | $ | 5,981 | ||||||||||
| Building and building improvements | 46,233 | 46,233 | ||||||||||||
| Furniture, fixtures, leasehold improvements, computer equipment and software | 88,097 | 84,223 | ||||||||||||
| Equipment and vehicles | 27,893 | 27,327 | ||||||||||||
| Construction in progress | 733 | 454 | ||||||||||||
| 168,937 | 164,218 | |||||||||||||
| Less: Accumulated depreciation and amortization | (108,996) | (100,266) | ||||||||||||
| Property, plant, and equipment, net | $ | 59,941 | $ | 63,952 | ||||||||||
Depreciation and amortization expense associated with property, plant, and equipment, excluding impairment charges (in thousands):
| Fiscal year ended January 29, 2022 | $ | 9,315 | |||
| Fiscal year ended January 30, 2021 | 13,483 | ||||
| Fiscal year ended February 1, 2020 | 18,447 | ||||
6. Debt
As of January 29, 2022 and January 30, 2021, the Company had no borrowings outstanding and availability of $75.0 million under its Credit Agreement.
Credit Agreement
On September 7, 2018, Vera Bradley Designs, Inc. (“VBD”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, entered into an asset-based revolving Credit Agreement (the “Credit Agreement”) among VBD, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent, and the lenders from time to time party thereto. The Credit Agreement provides for certain credit facilities to VBD in an aggregate principal amount not to initially exceed the lesser of $75.0 million or the amount of borrowing availability determined in accordance with a borrowing base of certain assets. Any proceeds of the credit facilities will be used to finance general corporate purposes of VBD and its subsidiaries, including but not limited to Vera Bradley International, LLC and Vera Bradley Sales, LLC (collectively, the “Named Subsidiaries”). The Credit Agreement also contains an option for VBD to arrange with lenders to increase the aggregate principal amount by up to $25.0 million.
Amounts outstanding under the Credit Agreement bear interest at a per annum rate equal to either (i) for CBFR borrowings (including swingline loans), the CB Floating Rate, where the CB Floating Rate is the prime rate which shall never be less than the adjusted one month LIBOR rate on such day, plus the Applicable Rate, where the Applicable Rate is a percentage spread ranging from -1.00% to -1.50% or (ii) for each eurodollar borrowing, the Adjusted LIBO Rate, where the Adjusted LIBO Rate is the LIBO rate for such interest period multiplied by the statutory reserve rate, for the interest period in effect for such borrowing, plus the Applicable Rate, where the Applicable Rate is a percentage ranging from 1.00% to 1.30%. The applicable CB Floating Rate, Adjusted LIBO Rate, or LIBO Rate shall be determined by the administrative agent. The Credit Agreement also requires VBD to pay a commitment fee for the unused portion of the revolving facility of up to 0.20% per annum.
VBD’s obligations under the Credit Agreement are guaranteed by the Company and the Named Subsidiaries. The obligations of VBD under the Credit Agreement are secured by substantially all of the respective assets of VBD, the Company, and the Named Subsidiaries and are further secured by the equity interests in VBD and the Named Subsidiaries.
The Credit Agreement contains various affirmative and negative covenants, including restrictions on the Company's ability to incur debt or liens; engage in mergers or consolidations; make certain investments, acquisitions, loans, and advances; sell assets; enter into certain swap agreements; pay dividends or make distributions or make other restricted payments; engage in certain transactions with affiliates; and amend, modify, or waive any of its rights related to subordinated
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indebtedness and certain charter and other organizational, governing, and material agreements. The Company may avoid certain of such restrictions by meeting payment conditions defined in the Credit Agreement.
The Credit Agreement also requires the loan parties, as defined in the Credit Agreement, to maintain a minimum fixed charge coverage ratio of 1.00 to 1.00 during periods when borrowing availability is less than the greater of (A) $7.5 million, and (B) 10% of the lesser of (i) the aggregate revolving commitment, and (ii) the borrowing base. The fixed charge coverage ratio, availability, aggregate revolving commitment, and the borrowing base are further defined in the Credit Agreement.
The Credit Agreement contains customary events of default, including, among other things: (i) the failure to pay any principal, interest, or other fees under the Credit Agreement; (ii) the making of any materially incorrect representation or warranty; (iii) the failure to observe or perform any covenant, condition, or agreement in the Credit Agreement or related agreements; (iv) a cross default with respect to other material indebtedness; (v) bankruptcy and insolvency events; (vi) unsatisfied material final judgments; (vii) Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (“ERISA”) events that could reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect; and (viii) a change in control (as defined in the Credit Agreement).
Any commitments made under the Credit Agreement mature on September 7, 2023. There were no material fees or expenses associated with the Credit Agreement.
7. Income Taxes
The components of income tax expense were as follows (in thousands):
| January 29, 2022 | January 30, 2021 | February 1, 2020 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Current: | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Federal | $ | 5,923 | $ | (4,644) | $ | 4,509 | ||||||||||||||
| Foreign | 279 | 268 | 681 | |||||||||||||||||
| State | 555 | 1,423 | 989 | |||||||||||||||||
| 6,757 | (2,953) | 6,179 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Deferred: | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Federal | (1,300) | 4,794 | (805) | |||||||||||||||||
| State | 973 | (668) | (59) | |||||||||||||||||
| (327) | 4,126 | (864) | ||||||||||||||||||
| Total income tax expense | $ | 6,430 | $ | 1,173 | $ | 5,315 | ||||||||||||||
A breakdown of the Company’s income before income taxes is as follows (in thousands):
| January 29, 2022 | January 30, 2021 | February 1, 2020 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Domestic | $ | 24,881 | $ | 10,151 | $ | 16,267 | ||||||||||||||
| Foreign | 1,767 | 1,711 | 4,292 | |||||||||||||||||
| Total income before income taxes | $ | 26,648 | $ | 11,862 | $ | 20,559 | ||||||||||||||
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A reconciliation of income tax expense to the amount computed at the federal statutory rate is as follows (in thousands):
| January 29, 2022 | January 30, 2021 | February 1, 2020 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Federal taxes at statutory rate | $ | 5,596 | 21.0 | % | $ | 2,491 | 21.0 | % | $ | 4,317 | 21.0 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| State and local income taxes, net of federal benefit | 1,175 | 4.4 | 598 | 5.0 | 752 | 3.7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Impact related to redeemable noncontrolling interest | (508) | (1.9) | (419) | (3.5) | 168 | 0.8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Shortfall from stock-based compensation | (472) | (1.8) | 597 | 5.0 | 63 | 0.3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Impact of foreign rate differential | (82) | (0.3) | 211 | 1.8 | (210) | (1.0) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Change in uncertain tax positions | 32 | 0.1 | (2) | — | (17) | (0.1) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Benefits provided by the CARES Act | — | — | (2,793) | (23.5) | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other | 689 | 2.6 | 490 | 4.1 | 242 | 1.2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total income tax expense | $ | 6,430 | 24.1 | % | $ | 1,173 | 9.9 | % | $ | 5,315 | 25.9 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
For the tax year ending January 30, 2021, the effective tax rate reflects the favorable impact of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act, enacted on March 27, 2020. The Company realized a $2.8 million tax benefit related to the net operating loss carryback provisions of the CARES Act.
Deferred income taxes reflect the net tax effects of temporary differences between the book and tax bases of assets and liabilities. Significant components of deferred tax assets and liabilities were as follows (in thousands):
| January 29, 2022 | January 30, 2021 | |||||||||||||
| Deferred tax assets: | ||||||||||||||
| Operating lease liabilities | $ | 27,317 | $ | 31,061 | ||||||||||
| Compensation and benefits | 2,807 | 2,229 | ||||||||||||
| Inventories | 1,637 | 1,305 | ||||||||||||
| Other | 2,867 | 4,778 | ||||||||||||
| Subtotal deferred tax assets | 34,628 | 39,373 | ||||||||||||
| Less: valuation allowances | (48) | (51) | ||||||||||||
| Total deferred tax assets | 34,580 | 39,322 | ||||||||||||
| Deferred tax liabilities: | ||||||||||||||
| Operating lease assets | (21,043) | (23,519) | ||||||||||||
| Property, plant, and equipment | (6,056) | (8,228) | ||||||||||||
| Other | (3,624) | (4,045) | ||||||||||||
| Total deferred tax liabilities | (30,723) | (35,792) | ||||||||||||
| Net deferred tax assets | $ | 3,857 | $ | 3,530 | ||||||||||
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Uncertain Tax Positions
A reconciliation of the beginning and ending gross amount of unrecognized tax benefits (excluding interest and penalties) is as follows (in thousands):
| January 29, 2022 | January 30, 2021 | February 1, 2020 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Beginning balance | $ | 55 | $ | 59 | $ | 83 | ||||||||||||||
| Net increases in unrecognized tax benefits as a result of current year activity | 37 | — | 11 | |||||||||||||||||
| Lapse of statute of limitations | — | (4) | (35) | |||||||||||||||||
| Ending balance | $ | 92 | $ | 55 | $ | 59 | ||||||||||||||
As of January 29, 2022, $0.1 million of total unrecognized tax benefits, net of federal benefit, would, if recognized, favorably affect the effective tax rate in future periods. Total unrecognized tax benefits are currently not expected to decrease by a significant amount in the next twelve months. The Company recognized an immaterial amount of interest only, no penalties, related to unrecognized tax benefits in the fiscal years ended January 30, 2021 and February 1, 2020. Unrecognized tax benefits are included within other long-term liabilities in the Company's Consolidated Balance Sheets.
The Company files income tax returns in the U.S. federal jurisdiction and various U.S. state and foreign jurisdictions. The Company is subject to U.S. federal income tax examinations for fiscal years 2019 and forward. With a few exceptions, the Company is subject to audit by various state and foreign taxing authorities for fiscal 2018 through the current fiscal year.
8. Stock-Based Compensation
The Company’s stock-based compensation consists of awards of restricted stock and restricted stock units. The Company recognized stock-based compensation expense of $4.9 million, $5.7 million, and $5.9 million in the fiscal years ended January 29, 2022, January 30, 2021, and February 1, 2020, respectively.
Awards of Restricted-Stock Units
The Company reserved 3,000,000 shares of common stock for issuance or transfer under the 2020 Equity and Incentive Plan, which allows for grants of restricted stock units, as well as other equity awards. The Company maintains the 2010 Equity and Incentive Plan for awards granted prior to the effectiveness of the 2020 Equity and Incentive Plan.
During the fiscal year ended January 29, 2022, the Company granted a total of 652,339 time-based and performance-based restricted stock units to certain employees and non-employee directors under the 2020 Equity and Incentive Plan with an aggregate fair value of $6.7 million. The Company determined the fair value of the units based on the closing price of the Company’s common stock on the grant date.
The majority of time-based restricted stock units vest and settle in shares of the Company’s common stock, on a one-for-one basis, in equal installments on each of the first three anniversaries of the grant date. Restricted stock unit awards issued to non-employee directors vest after a one-year period from the grant date. The Company recognizes the expense relating to these awards, net of estimated forfeitures, on a straight-line basis over the vesting period.
The majority of performance-based restricted stock units vest upon the completion of a three-year period of time (cliff vesting), subject to the employee’s continuing employment throughout the three-year performance period and the Company’s achievement of annual earnings per share targets, or other Company performance targets, during the three-year performance period. The Company recognizes the expense relating to these units, net of estimated forfeitures and based on the probable outcome of achievement of the financial targets, on a straight-line basis over the vesting period.
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The following table summarizes information about restricted-stock units as of and for the year ended January 29, 2022 (units in thousands):
| Time-based Restricted Stock Units | Performance-based Restricted Stock Units | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Number of Units | Weighted- Average Grant Date Fair Value (per unit) | Number of Units | Weighted- Average Grant Date Fair Value (per unit) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nonvested units outstanding at January 30, 2021 | 1,049 | $ | 5.73 | 896 | $ | 8.34 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Granted | 369 | 10.22 | 283 | 10.24 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Change due to performance condition achievement | — | — | (163) | 8.48 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Vested | (556) | 6.07 | (304) | 10.95 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Forfeited | (7) | 6.95 | (4) | 7.31 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nonvested units outstanding at January 29, 2022 | 855 | $ | 7.43 | 708 | $ | 7.95 | ||||||||||||||||||||
As of January 29, 2022, there was $5.4 million of total unrecognized compensation cost, net of estimated forfeitures, related to nonvested restricted stock units. That cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 1.3 years, subject to meeting performance conditions. The total fair value of restricted stock units for which restrictions lapsed (vested) during fiscal 2022 was $9.0 million.
9. Commitments and Contingencies
The Company is subject to various claims and contingencies arising in the normal course of business, including those relating to product liability, legal claims, employee benefits, environmental issues, and other matters. Management believes that at this time it is not probable that any of these claims will have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows. However, the outcomes of legal proceedings and claims brought against the Company are subject to uncertainty and future developments could cause these actions or claims, individually or in the aggregate, to have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows of a particular reporting period.
In August of 2019, Vesi Incorporated (“Vesi”) filed suit against the Company in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio related to the Company’s licensing business and alleging breach of fiduciary duty, unfair competition, defamation, and tortious interference with prospective business relationships. The complaint seeks damages in an amount not less than $10.0 million for punitive damages, attorney fees, prejudgment interest, and any other additional relief. The Company has denied any liability and intends to vigorously defend itself in the case. In November 2019, the Company filed a counterclaim against the principals of Vesi as personal guarantors for monies owed to the Company by Vesi. The Company has filed a motion for summary judgement asking the Court to dismiss all claims with prejudice and grant judgement on its counterclaim. The motion is fully briefed and the Company is awaiting a decision from the Court. At this time, we are not able to estimate a possible loss or range of loss that may result from this matter or to determine whether such loss, if any, would have a material adverse effect on our financial condition or results of operations due to the fact that the Company is vigorously defending itself and management believes that the Company has a number of meritorious legal defenses.
In April of 2020, Chidimma Igboakaeze filed suit seeking class certification for all current and former hourly-paid employees who worked for the Company within the state of California during the four years preceding the filing until final judgement. The complaint alleged various violations of the California Labor Code related to wages, overtime, meal and rest breaks, non-compliant wage statements and records and other similar allegations related to employment. The Plaintiff also filed a Private Attorney General Act claim with the state of California regarding the same allegations. This case was settled in the first quarter of fiscal 2022 for an immaterial amount.
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10. 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan and Trust
The Company has a 401(k) profit sharing plan and trust for all qualified employees and provides a 100% match for the first 3% of employee contributions and a 50% match for the next 2% of employee contributions, for a maximum Company match of 4% of employee contributions, limited to the annual legal allowable limit. Additionally, the Company has the option of making discretionary profit sharing payments to the plan as approved by the board of directors. As of January 29, 2022, January 30, 2021, and February 1, 2020, no discretionary profit sharing payments had been approved. The 401(k) contribution match was temporarily suspended beginning in March 2020 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and resumed in January 2021. The Company recognizes 401(k) Company contributions within cost of sales for employees related to distribution center, sourcing, and other related functions and selling, general, and administrative expenses for all other employees. Total Company contributions to the plan were as follows (in thousands):
| Fiscal year ended January 29, 2022 | $ | 1,929 | |||
| Fiscal year ended January 30, 2021 | 723 | ||||
| Fiscal year ended February 1, 2020 | 1,732 | ||||
11. Related-Party Transactions
Charitable Contributions. The Vera Bradley Foundation for Breast Cancer (the “Foundation”) was founded by one of the Company’s directors, who is also on the board of directors of the Foundation. The liability associated with commitments to the Foundation was approximately $0.1 million and $0.2 million as of January 29, 2022 and January 30, 2021, respectively. The liability consisted of pass-through donations from customers and is included in other accrued liabilities in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.
The associated expense for contributions to the Foundation, which is included in selling, general, and administrative expenses, was as follows (in thousands):
| Fiscal year ended January 29, 2022 | $ | 160 | |||
| Fiscal year ended January 30, 2021 | 53 | ||||
| Fiscal year ended February 1, 2020 | 101 | ||||
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12. Earnings Per Share
Basic net income per share is computed based on the weighted-average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the period. Diluted net income per share is computed based on the weighted-average number of shares of common stock plus the effect of dilutive potential common shares outstanding during the period using the treasury stock method. Dilutive potential common shares include outstanding restricted stock and restricted-stock units. The components of basic and diluted net income per share are as follows (in thousands, except per share data):
| Fiscal Year Ended | ||||||||||||||||||||
| January 29, 2022 | January 30, 2021 | February 1, 2020 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Numerator: | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Net income | $ | 20,218 | $ | 10,689 | $ | 15,244 | ||||||||||||||
| Less: Net income (loss) attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interest | 2,380 | 2,008 | (803) | |||||||||||||||||
| Net income attributable to Vera Bradley, Inc. | $ | 17,838 | $ | 8,681 | $ | 16,047 | ||||||||||||||
| Denominator: | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Weighted-average number of common shares (basic) | 33,785 | 33,390 | 33,983 | |||||||||||||||||
| Dilutive effect of stock-based awards | 652 | 524 | 305 | |||||||||||||||||
| Weighted-average number of common shares (diluted) | 34,437 | 33,914 | 34,288 | |||||||||||||||||
| Net income per share attributable to Vera Bradley, Inc.: | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Basic | $ | 0.53 | $ | 0.26 | $ | 0.47 | ||||||||||||||
| Diluted | $ | 0.52 | $ | 0.26 | $ | 0.47 | ||||||||||||||
As of January 29, 2022, January 30, 2021, and February 1, 2020, there were an immaterial number of additional shares issuable upon the vesting of restricted stock units that were excluded from the diluted share calculations because they were anti-dilutive. The diluted share calculations include performance-based restricted stock units for completed performance periods.
13. Common Stock
On November 29, 2018, the Company's board of directors approved a share repurchase plan (the “2018 Share Repurchase Program”) authorizing up to $50.0 million of repurchases of shares of the Company's common stock. On December 3, 2020, the 2018 Share Repurchase Program was extended through December 11, 2021. On March 20, 2020, the Company temporarily suspended the share repurchase program to conserve cash as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The board of directors authorized the resumption of the share repurchase program beginning on March 11, 2021.
In December 2021, the Company's board of directors approved a new share repurchase plan (the “2021 Share Repurchase Program”) which authorized Company management to utilize up to $50.0 million of available cash for repurchases of shares of the Company's common stock. The 2021 Share Repurchase Program went into effect beginning December 13, 2021 and expires in December 2024.
During the fiscal year ended January 29, 2022, the Company purchased and held 865,534 shares at an average price of $8.94 per share, excluding commissions, for an aggregate amount of $7.7 million, under the 2018 and 2021 Share Repurchase Programs.
During the fiscal year ended January 30, 2021, the Company purchased and held 381,835 shares at an average price of $7.60 per share, excluding commissions, for an aggregate amount of $2.9 million, under the 2018 Share Repurchase Program.
During the fiscal year ended February 1, 2020, the Company purchased and held 1,075,749 shares at an average price of $10.52 per share, excluding commissions, for an aggregate amount of $11.3 million, under the 2018 Share Repurchase Program.
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As of January 29, 2022, there was $45.8 million remaining available to repurchase shares of the Company’s common stock under the 2021 Share Repurchase Program.
As of January 29, 2022, the Company held as treasury shares 9,258,741 shares of its common stock at an average price of $12.40 per share, excluding commissions, for an aggregate carrying amount of $114.8 million. The Company’s treasury shares may be issued under the 2010 Equity and Incentive Plan (with respect to outstanding awards under that plan), under the 2020 Equity and Incentive Plan, or for other corporate purposes.
14. Acquisition of Pura Vida
On July 16, 2019, the Company completed its acquisition of a seventy-five percent (75%) ownership interest in Creative Genius, Inc. or “Pura Vida” (the “Transaction”) in exchange for cash consideration of approximately $75.0 million. During the third quarter of fiscal 2020, the Company provided additional cash consideration of approximately $3.0 million for a working capital adjustment. The Company also received a working capital reimbursement of $1.0 million during the first quarter of fiscal 2021. Additional measurement period adjustments were recorded for conditions that existed as of the acquisition date. Pura Vida, based in La Jolla, California, is a digitally native lifestyle brand that we believe deeply resonates with its loyal consumer following. The Pura Vida brand has a differentiated and expanding offering of bracelets, jewelry, and other lifestyle accessories. The Company believes that the acquisition will strengthen the Company by providing increased product diversification and future growth opportunities partially as a result of resource and knowledge-sharing.
In accordance with the Interest Purchase Agreement, the Company also agreed to a contingent payment of up to $22.5 million based on calendar year 2019 adjusted EBITDA of Pura Vida, as defined in the Interest Purchase Agreement. This contingent payment was paid in the first quarter of fiscal 2021 and totaled $18.7 million. The Company’s existing available cash, cash equivalents, and investments funded the purchase price due at the closing of the Transaction and subsequent to the closing. Pre-tax Transaction costs totaled $2.7 million for the fiscal year ended February 1, 2020. These costs are recorded within selling, general, and administrative expenses in the Consolidated Statements of Operations and within corporate unallocated expenses. There were no Transaction costs for the fiscal years ended January 29, 2022 and January 30, 2021.
On July 16, 2019, as contemplated by the Interest Purchase Agreement, the Company and certain of its subsidiaries and the owners of the remaining twenty-five percent (25%) ownership interest in Pura Vida which was not acquired by the Company entered into a Put/Call Agreement. Refer to Note 2 herein for additional information regarding the Put/Call Agreement.
The following schedule summarizes the consideration paid for Pura Vida, the fair value of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed, the fair value of the noncontrolling interest, and the fair value of the contingent consideration related to the earn-out provision.
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| in thousands | Fair Value at Acquisition Date | ||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 1,495 | |||
Accounts receivable, net(5) | 7,680 | ||||
Inventories(1) | 27,654 | ||||
| Prepaid expenses and other current assets | 1,537 | ||||
| Operating right of use asset | 1,250 | ||||
| Property, plant, and equipment, net | 751 | ||||
Goodwill(2) | 44,254 | ||||
Pura Vida brand(3) | 36,668 | ||||
Other intangible assets(4) | 24,996 | ||||
| Total assets acquired | 146,285 | ||||
| Accounts payable | 6,818 | ||||
| Accrued employment costs | 2,351 | ||||
Other accrued liabilities(5) | 6,637 | ||||
| Operating lease liability | 1,637 | ||||
| Total liabilities assumed | 17,443 | ||||
| Less: | |||||
Contingent consideration related to earn-out provision(6) | (20,098) | ||||
| Redeemable noncontrolling interest | (32,210) | ||||
| Cash acquired | (1,495) | ||||
Total closing consideration amount, net of cash acquired(7) | $ | 75,039 | |||
(1) Includes an $8.3 million step-up adjustment which was recognized in cost of sales during the four months following the acquisition. Inventories were valued using the cost approach. The significant assumptions used for the valuation include inventory balances, projected gross and operating margins, and cost and time to dispose (sell) inventory on hand. | |||||
| (2) Refer to Notes 2 and 16 herein for additional information regarding goodwill. | |||||
| (3) The Pura Vida brand intangible asset was valued using the relief-from-royalty method. The significant assumptions used for the valuation include the royalty rate, estimated projected revenues, the long-term growth rate, and the discount rate. Refer to Note 16 herein for additional information regarding intangible assets. | |||||
| (4) Other intangible assets include customer relationships and non-competition agreements. Customer relationships were valued using the multi-period excess earnings method. Significant assumptions used for the valuation include projected cash flows, the discount rate, and the customer attrition rate. The non-competition agreements were valued using the with-or-without method. Significant assumptions used for the valuation include projected cash flows, probability of competition, impact of competition on business, and the discount rate. Refer to Note 16 herein for additional information regarding intangible assets. | |||||
(5) Includes $4.1 million related to an indemnified liability. | |||||
| (6) Contingent consideration related to the earn-out provision was valued using a Monte Carlo simulation in order to forecast the value of the potential future payment. Significant assumptions used for the valuation include the discount rate, projected cash flows, and calculated volatility. | |||||
(7) Of the total $75.0 million closing consideration, $1.0 million was refunded to the Company through a working capital adjustment during the first quarter of fiscal 2021. Cash consideration paid during fiscal 2020 totaled $76.0 million. | |||||
The operations of Pura Vida are recorded in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations for the fiscal year ended February 1, 2020, beginning on July 17, 2019, which represents the first full day following the acquisition. Refer to Note 17 herein for segment-level financial information associated with Pura Vida.
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15. Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest
Redeemable noncontrolling interest represents the remaining twenty-five percent (25%) interest in Pura Vida not acquired by the Company. Refer to Note 2 herein for additional information.
Changes in redeemable noncontrolling interest for the fifty-two weeks ended January 29, 2022, January 30, 2021, and February 1, 2020 were as follows (in thousands):
| Balance at February 2, 2019 | $ | — | ||||||
| Fair value of noncontrolling interest at acquisition | 31,786 | |||||||
| Fair value measurement period adjustment | 424 | |||||||
| Net loss attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interest | (803) | |||||||
| Distributions to redeemable noncontrolling interest | (1,789) | |||||||
| Adjustment to redemption value | 431 | |||||||
| Balance at February 1, 2020 | $ | 30,049 | ||||||
| Net income attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interest | 2,008 | |||||||
| Distributions to redeemable noncontrolling interest | (1,817) | |||||||
| Adjustment to redemption value | (431) | |||||||
| Balance at January 30, 2021 | $ | 29,809 | ||||||
| Net income attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interest | 2,380 | |||||||
| Distributions to redeemable noncontrolling interest | (1,215) | |||||||
| Balance at January 29, 2022 | $ | 30,974 | ||||||
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16. Intangible Assets and Goodwill
The following tables detail the carrying value of the Company’s intangible assets other than goodwill related to the acquisition of a majority interest in Pura Vida.
| January 29, 2022 | |||||||||||||||||
| in thousands | Gross Basis | Accumulated Amortization(1) | Carrying Amount | ||||||||||||||
| Definite-lived intangible assets | |||||||||||||||||
| Customer Relationships | $ | 24,208 | $ | (17,041) | $ | 7,167 | |||||||||||
| Non-competition Agreements | 788 | (400) | 388 | ||||||||||||||
| Total definite-lived intangible assets | 24,996 | (17,441) | 7,555 | ||||||||||||||
| Indefinite-lived intangible asset | |||||||||||||||||
| Pura Vida Brand | 36,668 | — | 36,668 | ||||||||||||||
| Total intangible assets, excluding goodwill | $ | 61,664 | $ | (17,441) | $ | 44,223 | |||||||||||
| (1) Amortization expense is recorded within the Pura Vida segment. | |||||||||||||||||
| January 30, 2021 | |||||||||||||||||
| in thousands | Gross Basis | Accumulated Amortization(1) | Carrying Amount | ||||||||||||||
| Definite-lived intangible assets | |||||||||||||||||
| Customer Relationships | $ | 24,208 | $ | (14,125) | $ | 10,083 | |||||||||||
| Non-competition Agreements | 788 | (243) | 545 | ||||||||||||||
| Total definite-lived intangible assets | 24,996 | (14,368) | 10,628 | ||||||||||||||
| Indefinite-lived intangible asset | |||||||||||||||||
| Pura Vida Brand | 36,668 | — | 36,668 | ||||||||||||||
| Total intangible assets, excluding goodwill | $ | 61,664 | $ | (14,368) | $ | 47,296 | |||||||||||
| (1) Amortization expense is recorded within the Pura Vida segment. | |||||||||||||||||
The amortization expense for intangible assets is as follows (in thousands):
| Amortization Expense | ||||||||
| Fiscal 2023 | $ | 3,073 | ||||||
| Fiscal 2024 | 3,073 | |||||||
| Fiscal 2025 | 1,409 | |||||||
| Total | $ | 7,555 | ||||||
The total amount of the goodwill as of January 29, 2022 and January 30, 2021, was $44.3 million recorded within the Pura Vida segment upon acquisition. Goodwill is deductible for tax purposes, limited to the Company's 75% majority ownership
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interest. Refer to Note 2 herein for addition information regarding goodwill. There were no changes in goodwill for the fiscal years ended January 29, 2022 and January 30, 2021.
Future impacts of COVID-19, including but not limited to the duration and magnitude of the pandemic, may have an impact on the triggering event assessment or future fair value estimate of goodwill, brand intangible asset, and definite-lived intangible assets, which could lead to material impairment charges. Refer to Note 2 herein for additional information regarding the fair value measurement.
17. Segment Reporting
The Company has three operating segments, which are also its reportable segments: VB Direct, VB Indirect, and Pura Vida. These operating segments are components of the Company for which separate financial information is available and for which operating results are evaluated on a regular basis by the chief operating decision maker in deciding how to allocate resources and in assessing the performance of the segments.
The VB Direct segment includes Vera Bradley full-line and factory outlet stores, the Vera Bradley websites, verabradley.com and verabradley.ca, the Vera Bradley online outlet site, and the Vera Bradley annual outlet sale. Revenues generated through this segment are driven through the sale of Vera Bradley-branded products from Vera Bradley to end consumers.
The VB Indirect segment represents revenues generated through the distribution of Company-branded products to specialty retailers representing approximately 1,800 locations, substantially all of which are located in the United States, as well as select department stores, national accounts, third-party e-commerce sites, third-party inventory liquidators, and licensing agreements related to the Vera Bradley brand. No customer accounted for 10% or more of the Company’s net revenues during fiscal years 2022, 2021, and 2020.
The Pura Vida segment represents revenues generated through the Pura Vida websites, www.puravidabracelets.com, www.puravidabracelets.eu, and www.puravidabracelets.ca, the Pura Vida retail store, and through the distribution of Pura Vida-branded products to wholesale retailers, substantially all of which are located in the United States.
Corporate costs represent the Company’s administrative expenses, which include, but are not limited to: human resources, legal, finance, information technology, design, product development, merchandising, corporate-level marketing and advertising, and various other corporate-level-activity-related expenses not directly attributable to a reportable segment. All intercompany-related activities are eliminated in consolidation and are excluded from the segment reporting.
Company management evaluates segment operating results based on several indicators. The primary or key performance indicators for each segment are net revenues and operating income. The table below represents key financial information for each of the Company’s operating and reportable segments: VB Direct, VB Indirect, and Pura Vida.
The accounting policies of the segments are the same as those described in Note 2. The Company does not report depreciation or amortization expense, total assets, or capital expenditures by segment as such information is neither used by management nor accounted for at the segment level.
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Net revenues and operating income information for the Company’s reportable segments consisted of the following (in thousands):
| Fiscal Year Ended | ||||||||||||||||||||
| January 29, 2022 | January 30, 2021 | February 1, 2020 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Segment net revenues: | ||||||||||||||||||||
| VB Direct | $ | 354,875 | $ | 289,274 | $ | 347,484 | ||||||||||||||
| VB Indirect | 66,001 | 66,517 | 81,811 | |||||||||||||||||
| Pura Vida | 119,577 | 112,481 | 65,917 | |||||||||||||||||
| Total | $ | 540,453 | $ | 468,272 | $ | 495,212 | ||||||||||||||
| Segment operating income (loss): | ||||||||||||||||||||
| VB Direct | $ | 73,506 | $ | 48,524 | $ | 68,505 | ||||||||||||||
| VB Indirect | 20,323 | 24,502 | 31,077 | |||||||||||||||||
| Pura Vida | 9,519 | 8,031 | (3,179) | |||||||||||||||||
| Total | $ | 103,348 | $ | 81,057 | $ | 96,403 | ||||||||||||||
| Reconciliation: | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Segment operating income | $ | 103,348 | $ | 81,057 | $ | 96,403 | ||||||||||||||
| Less: | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Unallocated corporate expenses | (76,437) | (67,992) | (76,929) | |||||||||||||||||
| Operating income | $ | 26,911 | $ | 13,065 | $ | 19,474 | ||||||||||||||
Sales outside of the United States were immaterial for all periods presented.
Revenues from external customers for Vera Bradley brand products are attributable to sales of bags, accessories, travel, apparel/footwear, and home items. Other revenues from Vera Bradley external customers primarily include revenues associated with our stationery, freight, licensing, merchandising, and gift card breakage.
Revenues from external customers for Pura Vida brand products are primarily attributable to sales of accessories and apparel. Other revenues from Pura Vida external customers include revenues associated with freight.
Refer to Note 3 herein for disaggregation of net revenues by reportable segment.
As of January 29, 2022 and January 30, 2021, substantially all of the Company’s long-lived assets were located in the United States.
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Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements With Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure
None.
Item 9A. Controls and Procedures
Disclosure Controls and Procedures
Based on the evaluation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures, as that term is defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), each of Robert Wallstrom, the Chief Executive Officer of the Company, and John Enwright, the Chief Financial Officer of the Company, has concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective as of January 29, 2022.
Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
The Company’s management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act. The Company’s internal control over financial reporting is designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external reporting purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. Management, under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, has evaluated the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting using the criteria set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations (COSO) of the Treadway Commission (2013 framework) in Internal Control-Integrated Framework. Based on the results of that evaluation, management has concluded that such internal control over financial reporting was effective as of January 29, 2022.
The effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of January 29, 2022, has been audited by Deloitte and Touche LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report which appears in Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
There has been no change in our internal control over financial reporting during the most recent fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or that is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
Item 9B. Other Information
None.
Item 9C. Disclosure Regarding Foreign Jurisdictions that Prevent Inspections
Not applicable.
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PART III
Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance
The information set forth in the Proxy Statement for the 2022 Annual Meeting of Shareholders under the headings “The Board of Directors,” “Family Relationships,” “Delinquent Section 16(a) Reports,” “Conflict of Interest and Business Ethics Policy,” “Code of Ethics for Senior Financial Officers,” and “Standing Committees and Meetings of the Board” is incorporated herein by reference. The Proxy Statement will be filed with the Commission within 120 days after the end of the fiscal year covered by this Form 10-K pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. In addition, the information set forth under the heading “Item 1: Business – Executive Officers of the Company” in this Form 10-K is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 11. Executive Compensation
The information set forth in the Proxy Statement for the 2022 Annual Meeting of Shareholders under the headings “Executive Compensation Discussion and Analysis,” “Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation,” “Compensation Tables,” and “Compensation Committee Report” is incorporated herein by reference. The Proxy Statement will be filed with the Commission within 120 days after the end of the fiscal year covered by this Form 10-K pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters
The information set forth in the Proxy Statement for the 2022 Annual Meeting of Shareholders under the heading “Share Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management” is incorporated herein by reference. The Proxy Statement will be filed with the Commission within 120 days after the end of the fiscal year covered by this Form 10-K pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
Securities Authorized for Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans
The following table sets forth information regarding equity securities authorized for issuance under our equity compensation plans as of January 29, 2022:
| Plan Category | Number of Securities to Be Issued upon Exercise of Outstanding Options, Warrants and Rights (a) (1) | Weighted-Average Exercise Price of Outstanding Options, Warrants and Rights (b) ($) | Number of Securities Remaining Available for Future Issuance Under the Equity Compensation Plans (Excluding Securities Reflected in Column (a)) (c) (2) | |||||||||||||||||
Equity compensation plans approved by security holders | 1,563,038 | — | 2,443,829 | |||||||||||||||||
| Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||
| Total | 1,563,038 | — | 2,443,829 | |||||||||||||||||
(1)Assumes that target performance requirements will be achieved for performance shares with incomplete performance periods. These securities represent awards to be issued under the 2010 and 2020 Equity and Incentive Plans.
(2)Represents securities available for issuance under the 2020 Equity and Incentive Plan.
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Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence
The information set forth in the Proxy Statement for the 2022 Annual Meeting of Shareholders under the headings “Policy on Party Transactions,” “Related Party Transactions for Fiscal 2022,” and “Board Independence” is incorporated herein by reference. The Proxy Statement will be filed with the Commission within 120 days after the end of the fiscal year covered by this Form 10-K pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
Item 14. Principal Accounting Fees and Services
The information required by this item is incorporated herein by reference to our 2022 Proxy Statement under the caption “Principal Accounting Fees and Services.” The Proxy Statement will be filed with the Commission within 120 days after the end of the fiscal year covered by this Form 10-K pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
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PART IV
Item 15. Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules
(1) Consolidated Financial Statements
The following consolidated financial statements of Vera Bradley, Inc. are filed as part of this report under Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data:
(2) Financial Statement Schedules
Financial statement schedules have been omitted because they are not required or are not applicable or because the information required in those schedules either is not material or is included in the consolidated financial statements or the accompanying notes.
(3) List of Exhibits
The documents set forth below are filed herewith or incorporated by reference to the location indicated.
Item 16. Form 10-K Summary
None.
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EXHIBIT INDEX
| Exhibit No. | Description | |||||||
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| Exhibit No. | Description | ||||||||||
| 101.INS | Inline XBRL Instance Document (the instance document does not appear in the Interactive Data File because its XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document) | ||||||||||
| 101.SCH | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document | ||||||||||
| 101.CAL | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document | ||||||||||
| 101.LAB | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document | ||||||||||
| 101.PRE | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document | ||||||||||
| 101.DEF | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document | ||||||||||
| 104 | Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101) | ||||||||||
| * | Filed herewith | ||||||||||
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, on March 29, 2022.
| Vera Bradley, Inc. | |||||
| /s/ John Enwright | |||||
| John Enwright | |||||
Chief Financial Officer | |||||
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints John Enwright and Robert Wallstrom, and each of them, as his or her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place, and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments to this Annual Report on Form 10-K and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in connection therewith as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them, or their or his or her substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of Registrant and in the capacities indicated on March 29, 2022.
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| Signature | Title | |||||||
| /s/ Robert Wallstrom | Director and Chief Executive Officer (principal executive officer) | |||||||
| Robert Wallstrom | ||||||||
| /s/ John Enwright | Chief Financial Officer (principal accounting officer) | |||||||
| John Enwright | ||||||||
| /s/ Barbara Bradley Baekgaard | Director | |||||||
| Barbara Bradley Baekgaard | ||||||||
| /s/ Kristina Cashman | Director | |||||||
| Kristina Cashman | ||||||||
| /s/ Robert J. Hall | Director | |||||||
| Robert J. Hall | ||||||||
| /s/ Mary Lou Kelley | Director | |||||||
| Mary Lou Kelley | ||||||||
| /s/ John E. Kyees | Director | |||||||
| John E. Kyees | ||||||||
| /s/ Frances P. Philip | Director | |||||||
| Frances P. Philip | ||||||||
| /s/ Edward M. Schmults | Director | |||||||
| Edward M. Schmults | ||||||||
| /s/ Carrie Tharp | Director | |||||||
| Carrie Tharp | ||||||||
| /s/ Nancy R. Twine | Director | |||||||
| Nancy R. Twine | ||||||||
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