Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis
ITEM
7.
MANAGEMENT’S
DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The
following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with the historical
financial statements of the relevant entities and the pro forma financial statements and the notes thereto included elsewhere in this
Form 10-K. This discussion and analysis contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Our actual results
may differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including those set
forth under “Risk Factors” and “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements.”
Unless
otherwise indicated by the context, references to “DBG” refer to Digital Brands Group, Inc. solely, and references to the
“Company,” “our,” “we,” “us” and similar terms refer to Digital Brands Group, Inc., together
with its wholly-owned subsidiaries Bailey 44, LLC (“Bailey”), MOSBEST, LLC (“Stateside”) and Sunnyside (“Sundry”).
Business
Overview
Our
Company
Digital
Brands Group is a curated collection of lifestyle brands, including Bailey 44, DSTLD, Stateside, Sundry and ACE Studios, that offers
a variety of apparel products through direct-to-consumer and wholesale distribution. Our complementary brand portfolio provides us with
the unique opportunity to cross merchandise our brands. We aim for our customers to wear our brands head to toe and to capture what we
call “closet share” by gaining insight into their preferences to create targeted and personalized content specific to their
cohort. Operating our brands under one portfolio provides us with the ability to better utilize our technological, human capital and
operational capabilities across all brands. As a result, we have been able to realize operational efficiencies and continue to identify
additional cost saving opportunities to scale our brands and overall portfolio.
Our
portfolio consists of five significant brands that leverage our three channels: our websites, wholesale and license revenue.
●
Bailey
44 combines beautiful, luxe fabrics and on-trend designs to create sophisticated ready-to-wear capsules for women on-the-go.
Designing for real life, this brand focuses on feeling and comfort rather than how it looks on a runway. Bailey 44 is primarily a
wholesale brand, which we are transitioning to a digital, direct-to-consumer brand.
●
DSTLD
offers stylish high-quality garments without the luxury retail markup valuing customer experience over labels. DSTLD is primarily
a digital direct-to-consumer brand, to which we recently added select wholesale retailers to generate brand awareness.
●
Stateside
is an elevated, America first brand with all knitting, dyeing, cutting and sewing sourced and manufactured locally in Los Angeles.
The collection is influenced by the evolution of the classic T-shirt offering a simple yet elegant look. Stateside is primarily a
wholesale brand that we will be transitioning to a digital, direct-to-consumer brand.
●
Sundry
offers distinct collections of women’s clothing, including dresses, shirts, sweaters, skirts, shorts, athleisure bottoms
and other accessory products. Sundry’s products are coastal casual and consist of soft, relaxed and colorful designs that feature
a distinct French chic, resembling the spirits of the French Mediterranean and the energy of Venice Beach in Southern California.
Sundry is primarily a wholesale brand that we will be transitioning to a digital, direct-to-consumer brand.
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●
Avo
– Avo is a women’s essential brand that will offer t-shirts, sweats, dresses, sweaters and athleisure. Avo eliminates
the wholesale mark-up, so its products have a sharper price point. Avo also offers larger discounts when the customer bundles multiple
products to their cart, which allows Avo to leverage its shipping and fulfillment costs. Avo leverages the Company’s current
design and supply chain infrastructure, so we use similar or the same fabrics and contractors for Avo that we do for our other brands.
We
believe that successful apparel brands sell in all revenue channels. However, each channel offers different margin structures and requires
different customer acquisition and retention strategies. We were founded as a digital-first retailer that has strategically expanded
into select wholesale and direct retail channels. We strive to strategically create omnichannel strategies for each of our brands that
blend physical and online channels to engage consumers in the channel of their choosing. Our products are sold direct-to- consumers principally
through our websites and our own showrooms, but also through our wholesale channel, primarily in specialty stores and select department
stores. With the continued expansion of our wholesale distribution, we believe developing an omnichannel solution further strengthens
our ability to efficiently acquire and retain customers while also driving high customer lifetime value.
We
believe that by leveraging a physical footprint to acquire customers and increase brand awareness, we can use digital marketing to focus
on retention and a very tight, disciplined high value new customer acquisition strategy, especially targeting potential customers lower
in the sales funnel. Building a direct relationship with the customer as the customer transacts directly with us allows us to better
understand our customer’s preferences and shopping habits. Our substantial experience as a company originally founded as a digitally
native-first retailer gives us the ability to strategically review and analyze the customer’s data, including contact information,
browsing and shopping cart data, purchase history and style preferences. This in turn has the effect of lowering our inventory risk and
cash needs since we can order and replenish product based on the data from our online sales history, replenish specific inventory by
size, color and SKU based on real times sales data, and control our mark-down and promotional strategies versus being told what mark
downs and promotions we have to offer by the department stores and boutique retailers.
We
define “closet share” as the percentage (“share”) of a customer’s clothing units that (“of closet”)
she or he owns in her or his closet and the amount of those units that go to the brands that are selling these units. For example, if
a customer buys 20 units of clothing a year and the brands that we own represent 10 of those units purchased, then our closet share is
50% of that customer’s closet, or 10 of our branded units divided by 20 units they purchased in entirety. Closet share is a similar
concept to the widely used term wallet share, it is just specific to the customer’s closet. The higher our closet share, the higher
our revenue as higher closet share suggests the customer is purchasing more of our brands than our competitors.
We
have strategically expanded into an omnichannel brand offering these styles and content not only on-line but at selected wholesale and
retail storefronts. We believe this approach allows us opportunities to successfully drive Lifetime Value (“LTV”) while increasing
new customer growth. We define Lifetime Value or LTV as an estimate of the average revenue that a customer will generate throughout their
lifespan as our customer. This value/revenue of a customer helps us determine many economic decisions, such as marketing budgets per
marketing channel, retention versus acquisition decisions, unit level economics, profitability and revenue forecasting.
We
acquired Bailey in February 2020, Stateside in August 2021 and Sundry in December 2022. We agreed on the consideration that we paid in
each acquisition in the course of arm’s length negotiations with the holders of the membership interests in each of Bailey, Stateside
and Sundry. In determining and negotiating this consideration, we relied on the experience and judgment of our management and our evaluation
of the potential synergies that could be achieved in combining the operations of Bailey, Stateside and Sundry. We did not obtain independent
valuations, appraisals or fairness opinions to support the consideration that we paid/agreed to pay.
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Avo
– Brand Summary
Avo
is a women’s essential brand that will offer t-shirts, sweats, dresses, sweaters and athleisure. Avo eliminates the wholesale mark-up,
so its products have a sharper price point. Avo also offers larger discounts when the customer bundles multiple products to their cart,
which allows Avo to leverage its shipping and fulfillment costs. Avo leverages the Company’s current design and supply chain infrastructure,
so we use similar or the same fabrics and contractors for Avo that we do for our other brands.
Avo
launched in late August 2024 and prices for t-shirts range from $20 to $50 based on the size of the customer’s bundle. Other product
prices will range from $17.50 for tanks to $198 for sweaters with no retail price above $99 if the customer bundles three units or more.
If the customer bundles two units then they receive a 40% discount and if they bundle three units or more the customer receives a 60%
discount.
Material
Trends, Events and Uncertainties
Supply
Chain Disruptions
We
are subject to global supply chain disruptions, which may include longer lead times for raw fabrics, inbound shipping and longer production
times. Supply chain issues have specifically impacted the following for our brands:
●
Increased
costs in raw materials from fabric prices, which have increased 10% to 100% depending on the fabric, the time of year, and the origin
of the fabric, as well as where the fabric is being shipped;
●
Increased
cost per kilo to ship via sea or air, which has increased from 25% to 300% depending on the time of year and from the country we
are shipping from;
●
Increased
transit time via sea or air, which have increased by two weeks to two months; and
●
Increased
labor costs for producing the finished goods, which have increased 5% to 25% depending on the country and the labor skill required
to produce the goods. We have been able to pass along some of these increased costs and also offset some of these increased costs
with higher gross margin online revenue.
Seasonality
Our
quarterly operating results vary due to the seasonality of our individual brands, and are historically stronger in the second half of
the calendar year.
Substantial
Indebtedness
As
of December 31, 2024, we had an aggregate principal amount of debt outstanding of approximately $6.5 million.
We
believe this is an amount of indebtedness which may be considered significant for a company of our size and current revenue base.
Our
substantial debt could have important consequences to us. For example, it could:
●
make
it more difficult for us to satisfy our obligations to the holders of our outstanding debt, resulting in possible defaults on and
acceleration of such indebtedness;
●
require
us to dedicate a substantial portion of our cash flows from operations to make payments on our debt, which would reduce the availability
of our cash flows from operations to fund working capital, capital expenditures or other general corporate purposes;
●
increase
our vulnerability to general adverse economic and industry conditions, including interest rate fluctuations;
43
●
place
us at a competitive disadvantage to our competitors with proportionately less debt for their size;
●
limit
our ability to refinance our existing indebtedness or borrow additional funds in the future;
●
limit
our flexibility in planning for, or reacting to, changing conditions in our business; and
●
limit
our ability to react to competitive pressures or make it difficult for us to carry out capital spending that is necessary or important
to our growth strategy.
Any
of the foregoing impacts of our substantial indebtedness could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and
results of operations.
We
currently have $3.5 million in notes outstanding pursuant to our Bailey acquisition. We are currently unable to repay or refinance borrowings
so any such action by these lenders could force us into bankruptcy or liquidation.
In
addition, our ability to make scheduled payments on our indebtedness or to refinance our obligations under our debt agreements, will
depend on our financial and operating performance, which, in turn, will be subject to prevailing economic and competitive conditions
and to the financial and business risk factors we face as described in this section, many of which may be beyond our control. We may
not be able to maintain a level of cash flows from operating activities sufficient to permit us to pay the principal, premium, if any,
and interest on our indebtedness.
If
our cash flows and capital resources are insufficient to fund our debt service obligations, we may be forced to reduce or delay capital
expenditures or planned growth objectives, seek to obtain additional equity capital or restructure our indebtedness. In the future, our
cash flows and capital resources may not be sufficient for payments of interest on and principal of our debt, and such alternative measures
may not be successful and may not permit us to meet scheduled debt service obligations. In addition, the recent worldwide credit crisis
could make it more difficult for us to refinance our indebtedness on favorable terms, or at all.
In
the absence of such operating results and resources, we may be required to dispose of material assets to meet our debt service obligations.
We may not be able to consummate those sales, or, if we do, we will not control the timing of the sales or whether the proceeds that
we realize will be adequate to meet debt service obligations when due.
Performance
Factors
We
believe that our future performance will depend on many factors, including the following:
Ability
to Increase Our Customer Base in both Online and Traditional Wholesale Distribution Channels
We
are currently growing our customer base through both paid and organic online channels, as well as by expanding our presence in a variety
of physical retail distribution channels. Online customer acquisitions typically occur at our direct websites for each brand . Our
online customer acquisition strategies include paid and unpaid social media, search, display and traditional media. Our products for
Bailey, DSTLD and Stateside are also sold through a growing number of physical retail channels, including specialty stores, department
stores and online multi-brand platforms.
Ability
to Acquire Customers at a Reasonable Cost
We
believe an ability to consistently acquire customers at a reasonable cost relative to customer retention rates, contribution margins
and projected life-time value will be a key factor affecting future performance. To accomplish this goal, we intend to balance advertising
spend between online and offline channels, as well as cross marketing and cross merchandising our portfolio brands and their respective
products. We believe the ability to cross merchandise products and cross market brands, will decrease our customer acquisition costs
while increasing the customer’s lifetime value and contribution margin. We will also balance marketing spend with advertising focused
on creating emotional brand recognition, which we believe will represent a lower percentage of our spend.
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Ability
to Drive Repeat Purchases and Customer Retention
We
accrue substantial economic value and margin expansion from customer cohort retention and repeat purchases of our products on an annual
basis. Our revenue growth rate and operating margin expansion will be affected by our customer cohort retention rates and the cohorts
annual spend for both existing and newly acquired customers.
Ability
to Expand Our Product Lines
Our
goal is to expand our product lines over time to increase our growth opportunity. Our customer’s annual spend and brand relevance
will be driven by the cadence and success of new product launches.
Ability
to Expand Gross Margins
Our
overall profitability will be impacted by our ability to expand gross margins through effective sourcing and leveraging buying power
of finished goods and shipping costs, as well as pricing power over time.
Ability
to Expand Operating Margins
Our
ability to expand operating margins will be impacted by our ability to leverage (1) fixed general and administrative costs, (2) variable
sales and marketing costs, (3) elimination of redundant costs as we acquire and integrate brands, (4) cross marketing and cross merchandising
brands in our portfolio, and (4) drive customer retention and customer lifetime value. Our ability to expand operating margins will result
from increasing revenue growth above our operating expense growth, as well as increasing gross margins. For example, we anticipate that
our operating expenses will increase substantially in the foreseeable future as we undertake the acquisition and integration of different
brands, incur expenses associated with maintaining compliance as a public company, and increased marketing and sales efforts to increase
our customer base. While we anticipate that the operating expenses in absolute dollars will increase, we do not anticipate that the operating
expenses as a percentage of revenue will increase. We anticipate that the operating expenses as a percentage of revenue will decrease
as we eliminate duplicative costs across brands including a reduction in similar labor roles, contracts for technologies and operating
systems and creating lower costs from higher purchasing power from shipping expenses to purchase orders of products. This reduction of
expenses and lower cost per unit due to purchasing power should create meaningful savings in both dollars and as a percentage of revenue.
As
an example, we were able to eliminate several million in expenses within six months of acquiring Bailey. Examples of these savings include
eliminating several Bailey teams, which our teams took over.
We
merged over half of the technology contracts and operating systems contracts from two brands into one brand contract at significant savings.
We also eliminated our office space and rent and moved everyone into the Bailey office space. Finally, we eliminated DSTLD’s third-party
logistics company and started using Bailey’s internal logistics. This resulted in an increase in our operating expenses in absolute
dollars as there were now two brands versus one brand. However, the operating expenses as a percentage of pre-COVID revenue declined
meaningfully and as we increase revenue for each brand, we expect to experience higher margins.
Ability
to Create Free Cash Flow
Our
goal is to achieve near term free cash flow through cash flow positive acquisitions, elimination of redundant expenses in acquired companies,
increasing customer annual spend and lowering customer acquisition costs through cross merchandising across our brand portfolio.
Critical
Accounting Policies and Estimates
Basis
of Presentation and Principles of Consolidation
Our
accounting and reporting policies conform to accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”).
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Use
of Estimates
The
preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported
amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the
reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Business
Acquisitions
We
record our acquisitions under the acquisition method of accounting, under which most of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed are
initially recorded at their respective fair values and any excess purchase price is reflected as goodwill. We utilize management estimates
and, in some instances, independent third-party valuation firms to assist in determining the fair values of assets acquired, liabilities
assumed and contingent consideration, if any. Such estimates and valuations require us to make significant assumptions, including projections
of future events and operating performance.
The
fair value of customer relationships, backlog and trade names/trademarks acquired in our acquisitions are determined using various valuation
methods, based on a number of significant assumptions.
We
determine which assets have finite lives and then determine the estimated useful life of finite assets.
The
expected useful life of customer relationships is established as three years, which is the period over which these assets are expected
to reasonably contribute to future cash flows. We expect to amortize such customer relationships using the straight-line method.
The
estimated fair values are subject to change during the measurement period, which is limited to one year subsequent to the acquisition
date.
Revenue
Recognition
Revenues
are recognized when performance obligations are satisfied through the transfer of promised goods to our customers. Control transfers
upon shipment of product and when the title has been passed to the customers. This includes the transfer of legal title, physical possession,
the risks and rewards of ownership, and customer acceptance. We provide the customer the right of return on the product and revenue is
adjusted based on an estimate of the expected returns based on historical rates. We consider the sale of products as a single performance
obligation. Sales tax collected from customers and remitted to taxing authorities is excluded from revenue and is included in accrued
expenses. Revenue is deferred for orders received for which associated shipments have not occurred.
Accounts
Receivable and Expected Credit Loss
We
carry our accounts receivable at invoiced amounts less allowances for customer credit losses and other deductions to present the net
amount expected to be collected on the financial asset. All receivables are expected to be collected within one year of the consolidated
balance sheet. We do not accrue interest on the trade receivables. Management evaluates the ability to collect accounts receivable based
on a combination of factors. Receivables are determined to be past due based on individual credit terms. An allowance for credit losses
is maintained based on the length of time receivables are past due, historical collections, or the status of a customer’s financial
position. Receivables are written off in the year deemed uncollectible after efforts to collect the receivables have proven unsuccessful.
We do not have any off balance sheet cried exposure related to our customers.
We
periodically review accounts receivable, estimate an allowance for bad debts, and simultaneously record the appropriate expense in the
statement of operations. Such estimates are based on general economic conditions, the financial conditions of customers, and the amount
and age of past due accounts. Past due accounts are written off against that allowance only after all collection attempts have been exhausted
and the prospects for recovery are remote. Recovering of accounts receivable previously written off are recorded as income when received.
The Company provides credit to its customers in the normal course of business and has established credit evaluation and monitoring processes
to mitigate credit risk.
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Goodwill
Impairment
We
are required to assess our goodwill for impairment at least annually for each reporting unit that carries goodwill. We may elect to first
do a qualitative assessment to determine whether it is more likely than not that a reporting unit’s fair value is in excess of
its carrying value. If the qualitative assessment concludes that it is more-likely-than-not that the fair value of a reporting unit is
less than its carrying value, a quantitative assessment is performed. If the fair value is determined to be less than its carrying value,
we record goodwill impairment equal to the amount by which the reporting unit’s carrying value exceeds its fair value, not to exceed
the carrying amount of goodwill.
Intangible
Assets Impairment
We
evaluate the carrying amount of intangible assets and other long-lived assets for impairment whenever indicators of impairment exist.
We test these assets for recoverability by comparing the net carrying amount of the asset or asset group to the undiscounted net cash
flows to be generated from the use and eventual disposition of that asset or asset group. If the assets are recoverable, an impairment
loss does not exist, and no loss is recorded. If the carrying amounts of the assets are not recoverable, an impairment loss is recognized
for any deficiency of the asset or asset group’s fair value compared to their carrying amount. Although we base cash flow forecasts
on assumptions that are consistent with plans and estimates we use to manage our business, there is significant judgment in determining
the cash flows attributable to these assets, including markets and market share, sales volumes and mix, and working capital changes.
Financial
Statement Components
Bailey
Net
Revenue
Bailey
sells its products directly to customers. Bailey also sells its products indirectly through wholesale channels that include third-party
online channels and physical channels such as specialty retailers and department stores. In 2024, Bailey also has entered into a license
agreement whereby it earns royalty revenues.
Cost
of Net Revenue
Bailey’s
cost of net revenue includes the direct cost of purchased and manufactured merchandise; inventory shrinkage; inventory adjustments due
to obsolescence including excess and slow-moving inventory and lower of cost and net realizable reserves; duties; and inbound freight.
Cost of net revenue also includes direct labor to production activities such as pattern makers, cutters and sewers. Cost of net revenue
includes an allocation of overheard costs such as rent, utilities and commercial insurance pertaining to direct inventory activities.
Operating
Expenses
Bailey’s
operating expenses include all operating costs not included in cost of net revenues and sales and marketing. These costs consist of general
and administrative, fulfillment and shipping expense to the customer.
General
and administrative expenses consist primarily of all payroll and payroll-related expenses, professional fees, insurance, software costs,
occupancy expenses related to Bailey’s operations at its headquarters, including utilities, depreciation and amortization, and
other costs related to the administration of its business.
Bailey’s
fulfillment and shipping expenses include the cost to operate its warehouse including occupancy and labor costs to pick and pack customer
orders and any return orders; packaging; and shipping costs to the customer from the warehouse and any returns from the customer to the
warehouse.
47
Sales
& Marketing
Bailey’s
sales and marketing expense primarily includes digital advertising; photo shoots for wholesale and direct-to-consumer communications,
including email, social media and digital advertisements; and commission expenses associated with sales representatives.
Interest
Expense
Bailey’s
interest expense consists primarily of interest related to its outstanding debt to our senior lender.
DBG
Net
Revenue
We
sell our products to our customers directly through our website. In those cases, sales, net represents total sales less returns, promotions
and discounts.
Cost
of Net Revenue
Cost
of net revenue include direct cost of purchased merchandise; inventory shrinkage; inventory adjustments due to obsolescence, including
excess and slow-moving inventory and lower of cost and net realizable reserves.
Operating
Expenses
Our
operating expenses include all operating costs not included in cost of net revenues. These costs consist of general and administrative,
sales and marketing, and fulfillment and shipping expense to the customer.
General
and administrative expenses consist primarily of all payroll and payroll-related expenses, professional fees, insurance, software costs,
and expenses related to our operations at our headquarters, including utilities, depreciation and amortization, and other costs related
to the administration of our business.
We
expect to continue to incur additional expenses as a result of operating as a public company, including costs to comply with the rules
and regulations applicable to companies listed on a national securities exchange, costs related to compliance and reporting obligations
pursuant to the rules and regulations of the SEC and higher expenses for insurance, investor relations and professional services. We
expect these costs will increase our operating costs.
Fulfillment
and shipping expenses include the cost to operate our warehouse — or prior to Bailey 44 acquisition, costs paid to our third-party
logistics provider — including occupancy and labor costs to pick and pack customer orders and any return orders; packaging; and
shipping costs to the customer from the warehouse and any returns from the customer to the warehouse.
In
addition, going forward, the amortization of the identifiable intangibles acquired in the acquisitions will be included in operating
expenses.
Interest
Expense
Interest
expense consists primarily of interest related to our debt outstanding to our senior lender, convertible debt, and other interest bearing
liabilities.
Stateside
Net
Revenue
Stateside
sells its products directly to customers. Stateside also sells its products indirectly through wholesale channels that include third-party
online channels and physical channels such as specialty retailers and department stores.
48
Cost
of Net Revenue
Stateside’s
cost of net revenue includes the direct cost of purchased and manufactured merchandise; inventory shrinkage; inventory adjustments due
to obsolescence including excess and slow-moving inventory and lower of cost and net realizable reserves; duties; and inbound freight.
Cost of net revenue also includes direct labor to production activities such as pattern makers, cutters and sewers. Cost of net revenue
includes an allocation of overheard costs such as rent, utilities and commercial insurance pertaining to direct inventory activities.
Operating
Expenses
Stateside’s
operating expenses include all operating costs not included in cost of net revenues and sales and marketing. These costs consist of general
and administrative, fulfillment and shipping expense to the customer.
General
and administrative expenses consist primarily of all payroll and payroll-related expenses, professional fees, insurance, software costs,
occupancy expenses related to Stateside’s stores and to Stateside’s operations at its headquarters, including utilities,
depreciation and amortization, and other costs related to the administration of its business.
Stateside’s
fulfillment and shipping expenses include the cost to operate its warehouse including occupancy and labor costs to pick and pack customer
orders and any return orders; packaging; and shipping costs to the customer from the warehouse and any returns from the customer to the
warehouse.
Sales
& Marketing
Stateside’s
sales and marketing expense primarily includes digital advertising; photo shoots for wholesale and direct-to-consumer communications,
including email, social media and digital advertisements; and commission expenses associated with sales representatives.
Sundry
Net
Revenue
Sundry
sells its products directly to customers. Sundry also sells its products indirectly through wholesale channels that include third-party
online channels and physical channels such as specialty retailers and department stores.
Cost
of Net Revenue
Sundry’s
cost of net revenue includes the direct cost of purchased and manufactured merchandise; inventory shrinkage; inventory adjustments due
to obsolescence including excess and slow-moving inventory and lower of cost and net realizable reserves; duties; and inbound freight.
Cost of net revenue also includes direct labor to production activities such as pattern makers, cutters and sewers. Cost of net revenue
includes an allocation of overheard costs such as rent, utilities and commercial insurance pertaining to direct inventory activities.
Operating
Expenses
Sundry’s
operating expenses include all operating costs not included in cost of net revenues and sales and marketing. These costs consist of general
and administrative, fulfillment and shipping expense to the customer.
General
and administrative expenses consist primarily of all payroll and payroll-related expenses, professional fees, insurance, software costs,
occupancy expenses related to Sundry’s stores and to Sundry’s operations at its headquarters, including utilities, depreciation
and amortization, and other costs related to the administration of its business.
Sundry’s
fulfillment and shipping expenses include the cost to operate its warehouse including occupancy and labor costs to pick and pack customer
orders and any return orders; packaging; and shipping costs to the customer from the warehouse and any returns from the customer to the
warehouse.
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Sales
and Marketing
Sundry’s
sales and marketing expense primarily includes digital advertising; photo shoots for wholesale and direct-to-consumer communications,
including email, social media and digital advertisements; and commission expenses associated with sales representatives.
Results
of Operations
Year
ended December 31, 2024 compared to year ended December 31, 2023
The
following table presents our results of operations for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023:
Year Ended
December 31,
2024
2023
Net revenues
$ 11,555,656
$ 14,916,422
Cost of net revenues
7,911,536
8,372,642
Gross profit
3,644,120
6,543,780
General and administrative
8,652,361
14,299,389
Sales and marketing
2,896,698
4,035,835
Other operating expenses (income)
2,295,843
(9,696,132 )
Operating loss
(10,200,782 )
(2,095,312 )
Other expenses
(3,024,851 )
(6,221,284 )
Loss before provision for income taxes
(13,106,589 )
(8,316,596 )
Provision for income taxes
119,044
(368,034 )
Net loss from continuing operations
(13,106,589 )
(8,684,630 )
Loss from discontinued operations
-
(1,562,503 )
Net loss
$ (13,106,589 )
$ (10,247,133 )
Net
Revenues
Net
revenues decreased by $3.4 million to $11.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2024, compared to $14.9 million in the corresponding
fiscal period in 2023. The decrease was primarily due to a delay in wholesale shipments, and lower ecommerce revenues across each brand
due to less digital advertising spend.
Gross
Profit
Our
gross profit decreased by $2.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2024 to $3.6 million from $6.5 million for the corresponding fiscal
period in 2023. The decrease in gross margin was primarily attributable to a decrease in sales.
Our
gross margin was 31.5% for the year ended December 31, 2024 compared to 43.9% for year ended December 31, 2023. The decrease in gross
margin was due to corresponding decrease in the ecommerce revenue and write down of sundry’s inventory.
General
and Administrative Expenses
General
and administrative expenses decreased by $5.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2024 to $8.7 million compared to $14.3 million
in 2023. The decrease in general and administrative expenses was primarily due to lower consulting and professional fees, as well as
other cost cutting measures across our company, as all brands achieved operational synergies in 2024. These synergies
included the elimination of its warehouse, office, fulfillment and redundancies in headcount.
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General
and administrative expenses as a percentage of revenue was 75% in 2024 as compared to 96% in 2023.
Sales
and Marketing Expenses
Sales
and marketing expenses decreased by $1.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2024 to $2.9 million compared to $4 million in 2023.
The decrease in sales and marketing expenses was primarily due to decreased spending on advertising and other cost-cutting marketing
efforts.
Sales
and marketing expenses as a percentage of revenue was 25% in 2024 as compared to 27% in 2023.
Other
Operating Expenses (income)
Other
operating expenses included distribution expenses, impairment and change in fair value of contingent consideration. Other operating expenses
were $2.3 million in 2024 as compared to gain of $9.7 million in 2023, an increase in expenses of $12 million. In 2024, there was $1.3
million in impairment charges on Bailey’s and Stateside’s intangible assets. In 2023, the Company recorded a $10.7 million
increase in the change in fair value of contingent consideration pertaining to the Norwest waiver for Bailey and H&J Settlement.
Other
Expenses
Other
expenses decreased by $3.2 million to $3.0 million in the year ended December 31, 2024 compared to $6.2 million in the corresponding
fiscal period in 2023. The decrease in other expenses in 2023 was primarily due to lower interest expense in 2024 compared to 2023.
Net
Loss from Continuing Operations
Our
net loss from continuing operations increased by $4.5 million to a loss of $13.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2024 compared
to a loss of $8.7 million for the corresponding fiscal period in 2023 primarily due to the impairment and lower gross profit.
Liquidity
and Capital Resources
Each
of DBG, Bailey, Stateside and Sundry has historically satisfied both liquidity needs and funding of operations through borrowings capital
raises and internally generated cash flow, Changes in working capital, are driven primarily by levels of business activity. Historically
each of DBG, Bailey, Stateside and Sundry has maintained credit line facilities to support such working capital needs and makes repayments
on that facility with excess cash flow from operations.
As
of December 31, 2024, we had cash of $164,431, but we had a working capital deficit of $16.1 million. The Company requires significant
capital to meet its obligations as they become due. Throughout the next twelve months, the Company intends to fund its operations primarily from the funds raised through
its operations. The Company may pursue secondary equity offerings or debt financings to provide working capital and satisfy debt obligations.
There can be no assurance as to the availability or terms upon which such financing and capital might be available in the future. If
the Company is unable to secure additional funding, it may be forced to curtail or suspend its business plans.
In
February 2025, the Company completed an offering consisting of the sale of common stock, warrants and pre-funded warrants for gross proceeds
of $7,500,000, before deducting placement agent fees and commissions and other offering expenses.
51
Cash
Flow Activities
The
following table presents selected captions from our statement of cash flows for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023:
Year Ended
December 31,
2024
2023
Net cash provided by operating activities:
Net loss
$ (13,106,589 )
$ (10,247,133 )
Non-cash adjustments
$ 6,621,107
$ 1,364,216
Change in operating assets and liabilities
$ 331,144
$ 2,869,975
Net cash used in operating activities
$ (6,152,338 )
$ (6,012,644 )
Net cash provided by investing activities
$ -
$ 88,819
Net cash provided by financing activities
$ 6,295,996
$ 4,661,615
Net change in cash
$ 143,658
$ (1,262,509 )
Cash
Flows Used In Operating Activities
Our
cash used in operating activities increased by $0.1 million to $6.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2024 as compared to cash
used of $6 million for the corresponding fiscal period in 2023. The increase in net cash used in operating activities was primarily driven
by a higher net loss in 2024, partially offset by a increase in non-cash adjustments of $5.4 million and lesser cash provided by changes
in our operating assets and liabilities compared to 2023.
Cash
Flows provided by Investing Activities
Our
cash provided by investing activities was $0 in the year ended December 31, 2024 as compared to $0.1 million for the corresponding fiscal
period in 2023.
Cash
Flows Provided by Financing Activities
Cash
provided by financing activities was $6.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2024 compared of $4.7 million for the corresponding
fiscal period in 2023. Cash inflows in 2024 included $9.4 million in equity proceeds after offering costs including proceeds from the
exercise of warrants, $0.8 million from the issuance of notes, loans and merchant advances, partially offset by note, loan and notes
payable repayments of $3.9 million. Cash inflows in 2023 were primarily related to $8.1 million in equity proceeds after offering costs,
$1.1 million from exercise of warrants, $5.6 million from convertible notes and loans and advances from factor, partially offset by note
repayments and related party advances of $10.3 million.
Contractual
Obligations and Commitments
As
of December 31, 2024, we have $6.5 million in outstanding principal on debt, primarily our promissory notes due to the Bailey44 Sellers,
the March 2023 Notes, PPP and merchant advances. Aside from our remaining non-current SBA obligations, all outstanding loans have maturity
dates through 2025.
52
Off-Balance
Sheet Arrangements and Future Commitments
We
have no off-balance sheet arrangements that have or are reasonably likely to have a current or future effect on our financial condition,
changes in financial condition, results of operations, liquidity, capital expenditures or capital resources that is material to investors.
ITEM
7A.
QUANTITATIVE
AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
Not
applicable.
ITEM
8.
FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
The
information required by this item may be found on pages F-1 through F-30 of this annual report on Form 10-K.
ITEM
9.
CHANGES
IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
None.