Gross Margin Expansion
Gross margin expanded to 45.1% in Q1 2026, an increase of 480 basis points year-over-year — the highest Q1 gross margin since 2022, driven by a shift to higher-margin categories and improved outbound shipping costs.
Wholesale Channel Scaling Rapidly
Wholesale revenue doubled year-over-year in the quarter; overall wholesale revenue increased ~112% (LTM) with same majors up ~94%. Major accounts shipped expanded from 4 to 10 (LTM), Lulu's now in all Nordstrom doors and doubled prom presence to 100 Dillard's doors.
Inventory Reduction and Lower Markdown Exposure
Ending inventory was $33.1M, down $6.6M or 17% year-over-year. Casual apparel inventory down ~39% and footwear inventory down nearly 46% versus prior year, with markdown exposure exiting the quarter substantially lower.
Improved Profitability Trends
Adjusted EBITDA loss narrowed to $(1.5)M from $(4.7)M year-over-year (improvement of ~$3.1M), and adjusted EBITDA margin improved to -2.7% from -7.3%. Net loss improved to $4.1M from $8.0M, and diluted loss per share improved to $1.44 from $2.86.
Operating Expense and Cost Reductions
Operating expenses declined 13% year-over-year, including an 8% reduction in fixed costs. Selling & marketing expenses fell $1.9M to $14.0M and G&A decreased $2.6M to $15.5M (a 14.3% decline), driven by cost control, DC efficiencies, and lower variable labor.
Assortment Productivity and Product Signals
Reorder eligibility rates nearly doubled year-over-year and sell-through for new product introductions improved meaningfully. Casual apparel & footwear SKU productivity rose 56% in units transacted per new product in Q1 2026 vs Q1 2025, indicating stronger assortment discipline and product-market fit.
Balance Sheet and Cash Flow Improvements
Total debt decreased by $1.1M to $13.3M and net debt fell by $5.8M to $5.9M. Net cash provided by operating activities was $6.9M (with an $0.8M year-over-year improvement excluding a large prior-year tax refund) and free cash flow was $6.5M.
Brand Momentum and Customer Engagement
Brand engagement strengthened via experiential marketing, creator/influencer collaborations, and a new 2026 brand campaign; social community exceeds 9 million followers and prom/wedding-focused initiatives generated strong visibility while maintaining marketing discipline.