Coronavirus Update: Note From Jim - Monday 03.16.2020 (2:00 pm)-

On behalf of Jim :

Dansko Team,

While I would prefer to be sharing this with you in person in the showroom, we are all going to have to get used to things not as we would like for a little while. We keep using the word “unprecedented”, because this COVID-19 pandemic is unlike anything we have ever had to deal with in our lifetimes.

We will get through this. As a company, we have weathered many significant storms including a major supply disruption, the economic upheaval of the Great Recession, and the continuing transformation of the retail landscape. Many of you have persevered through personal health, family, or other critical challenges. Whether this temporary facility closure takes two weeks or longer, we plan for Dansko to be stronger in two months… and two years… and well into the future.

We have said it before, but I want to stress again that being an ESOP is not just about the share price. Being employee-owners in an ESOP is also about taking care of one another and being committed to the overall health, safety, and well-being of our employees. At the same time, Dansko’s long-term success contributes to our individual well-being in many ways beyond the growth and accumulation of shares in the ESOP. While it is still too early to determine the overall impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Dansko’s business, we will continue to do our best to take care of employees’ present needs while doing everything we can to support our consumers and retailers and manage Dansko’s business for long term success.

The Dansko team always inspires me, but over the last two days I have been especially inspired by the actions and attitudes of our fellow employee-owners preparing for contingency operations. There will be unexpected challenges, things will not go according to plan, but we should all be confident in the skill, energy, and dedication of the Dansko team to overcome the obstacles and meet what lies ahead.

Thank you for your continued flexibility, patience, and hard work on behalf of Dansko and your fellow employee-owners.

Jim