Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Notes)

6 Months Ended

Jul. 03, 2021

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

BASIS OF PRESENTATION

Nature of Operations

Wolverine World Wide, Inc. (the “Company”) is a leading designer, marketer and licensor of a broad range of quality casual footwear and apparel; performance outdoor and athletic footwear and apparel; kids’ footwear; industrial work shoes, boots and apparel; and uniform shoes and boots. The Company’s portfolio of owned and licensed brands includes: Bates®, Cat®, Chaco®, Harley-Davidson®, Hush Puppies®, Hytest®, Keds®, Merrell®, Saucony®, Sperry®, Stride Rite® and Wolverine®. The Company’s products are marketed worldwide through owned operations, through licensing and distribution arrangements with third parties, and joint ventures. The Company also operates retail stores and eCommerce sites to market both its own brands and branded footwear and apparel from other manufacturers, as well as a leathers division that markets Wolverine Performance Leathers™.

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying unaudited consolidated condensed financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“U.S. GAAP”) for interim financial information and with the instructions to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and Rule 10-01 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by U.S. GAAP for a complete presentation of the financial statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) considered necessary for fair presentation have been included in the accompanying financial statements. For further information, refer to the consolidated financial statements and footnotes included in the Company’s 2020 Form 10-K.

The COVID-19 pandemic, the duration and severity of which is subject to uncertainty, has had and continues to have, a significant impact on the Company's business. Management's estimates and assumptions used in the preparation of the Company’s consolidated financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP contemplated both current and expected potential future impacts of COVID-19 on the Company’s business based on available information. Actual results may differ materially from management’s estimates.

Fiscal Year

The Company’s fiscal year is the 52 or 53-week period that ends on the Saturday nearest to December 31. Fiscal year 2021 has 52 weeks and fiscal year 2020 contained 53 weeks. The Company reports its quarterly results of operations on the basis of 13-week quarters for each of the first three fiscal quarters and a 13 or 14-week period for the fiscal fourth quarter. References to particular years or quarters refer to the Company’s fiscal years ended on the Saturday nearest to December 31 or the fiscal quarters within those years.

Seasonality

The Company’s business is subject to seasonal influences that could cause significant differences in revenue, earnings and cash flows from quarter to quarter. The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in changes in consumer behavior and preferences that changed this seasonal cadence. The Company expects the seasonal cadence that the Company experienced historically may continue to be affected as a result of these changes in consumer behavior and preferences resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.