All About Nordstrom

The Founding of Nordstrom

Nordstrom was founded in 1901 by John W. Nordstrom, a Swedish immigrant, and Carl F. Wallin, a Norwegian immigrant. The company began as a small shoe store in Seattle, Washington called "Wallin & Nordstrom."

Nordstrom Expansion and Growth in the early-mid 1900s

In the 1920s and 1930s, Nordstrom expanded beyond just selling shoes, and began selling clothing and accessories, becoming a full-line department store. During World War II, like many businesses, Nordstrom faced challenges, but it was able to rebound in the post-war years, with continued expansion across the Pacific Northwest and a focus on providing quality merchandise and customer service.

Reinventing Nordstrom in the 1960s

In the 1960s, Nordstrom began to introduce new ideas and innovations to differentiate itself from its competitors. Some of the notable developments from this era include:

Emphasis on customer service: Nordstrom placed a heavy emphasis on providing excellent customer service, developing a reputation for going above and beyond to help customers. The company employed a large sales force that was trained to provide personalized attention and assistance to shoppers.

Expanding outside of Washington: Nordstrom opened its first store outside of Washington in Portland, Oregon in 1960, marking the beginning of the company's expansion into other regions of the country.

In-store services: Nordstrom started to offer in-store services such as alterations and tailoring, making it more convenient for customers to purchase and have clothing fitted.

Focus on fashion: Nordstrom began to focus more on fashion and began carrying designer clothing and accessories, helping to establish the store as a destination for high-end fashion.

Special events: Nordstrom started to hold special events such as designer appearances, book signings, and trunk shows in the 1960s, which helped to attract customers and create a sense of excitement around the store.

Nordstrom Going Public in the 1970s

In 1971, Nordstrom became a publicly traded company, meaning that its shares were available for purchase on the stock market. This allowed individuals and institutional investors to buy shares of the company and own a piece of the business.

The company's initial public offering (IPO) was successful, and the funds raised through the IPO were used to finance expansion plans, such as opening new stores, increasing inventory, and updating technology. Going public also increased the company's visibility, making it easier for customers to purchase shares of the company.

Nordstrom's Growth in the 21st Century

In the 21st century, Nordstrom continued to expand and adapt to the changing retail landscape. The company opened new stores, both full-line stores and off-price Nordstrom Rack locations, in various regions across the United States. Nordstrom also made a push into e-commerce, launching its own website and mobile app to make shopping more convenient for customers.

In addition to physical and digital expansion, Nordstrom also made a push into luxury retail, opening the Nordstrom Men's Store in New York City in 2018, focusing on high-end men's fashion. They also purchased luxury department store chain, HauteLook in 2011. Nordstrom also make investments and partnerships with new technology startups, like the AI-powered styling service, Trunk Club, which was acquired in 2014, and a personal styling service for home decor, Bevy in 2020.

Nordstrom also differentiated itself with in-store experiences, such as the Nordstrom Local concept, small stores that have personal stylists, and a variety of services, but very limited inventory. The idea behind it is to be able to try on clothes, get advice from stylists, and then have purchases delivered from nearby stores or online. This service-based approach allows Nordstrom to stay competitive while still providing an exceptional shopping experience to customers.

As of 2021, Nordstrom operates over 400 stores in the United States and Canada, including full-line stores, Nordstrom Rack stores, and Nordstrom Local stores. The company continues to focus on providing customers with high-quality merchandise, excellent customer service, and a convenient shopping experience.