A 75% jump in interest expense hit Designer Brands’ bottom line in the first quarter, helping sending net income down 92% to $885,000 from $11,373,000 on sales that grew 1% to $746,596,000 from $742,082,000, with total comps down 2.5%. DSW U.S. retail sales ticked up 1% to $621.4 million, comping down 2.3%, as ongoing assortment updates and marketing efforts began to result in sequential improvements. Athletic comped up 15%, jumping 460 b.p. to 30% of overall sales and partially offsetting seasonal and dress shoe declines. National brands turned in strong performance, ... Log in to view full article.