Nordstrom Rack

Seattle – Holiday markdowns and costs associated with growing its Nordstrom Rack outlet brand and planned entry into Canada had a negative impact on net earnings at Nordstrom Inc. during fourth quarter 2013. Fourth quarter net earnings slipped 6% compared to the same quarter the prior year, to $268 million from $284 million.

Net earnings for the full fiscal year remained almost flat, slightly rising to $735 million from $734 million. Both earnings figures fell short of Wall Street expectations.

Rapid expansion of Nordstrom Rack stores and strong sales at the off price division enabled the department store retailer to exceed its fourth quarter profit forecast.

The company said same store sales at Rack increased 3.6% on top of a price year increase of 7.1% while sales at full line stores declined 3.3% after increasing 2.2% last year.

Seattle – Nordstrom plans to open two new Nordstrom Rack stores in fall 2014. The approximately 35,000-sq.-ft. stores will be located at Tempe Marketplace in Tempe, Ariz. and Plaza at Jordan Creek in West Des Moines, Iowa.

The Tempe property is owned and managed by Vestar and the Plaza at Jordan Creek is being co-developed by Hurd Real Estate Services, Inc. and Signature Real Estate Services, Inc.

Seattle -- Nordstrom announced plans for two new Nordstrom Rack stores, one in Nevada, and the other in Massachusetts.

The retailer said it will open a 36,000-sq.-ft. Nordstrom Rack in fall 2014 at The Shops at Summerlin, a 1.6 million-sq.-ft. mixed-use center in the Las Vegas suburb of Summerlin.

SEATTLE — Nordstrom has appointed Intuit president and CEO Brad Smith to the company’s board of directors. 

His addition brings the total number of directors to 12, 9 of whom serve as independent directors. Nordstrom directors serve one-year terms and the company requires annual elections of all board members.

Smith was named president and CEO of Intuit in January 2008, culminating a five-year rise through the company where he led several of its major businesses. 

Seattle -- Nordstrom announced plans to open two Nordstrom Rack locations, one in Oklahoma City, and the other in San Francisco.

Nordstrom Rack will open at Belle Isle Station in Oklahoma City. The approximately 34,000-sq.-ft. store, scheduled to open in fall 2013, and will be the retailer's first location in the state.

In San Francisco, Nordstrom Rack signed a 45,496-sq.-ft. lease for a space at the 901 Market Street property, which owned by Hudson Pacific Properties.

Seattle -- Nordstrom announced plans to open two new Nordstrom Rack stores, with one in Atlanta, at the Perimeter Expo shopping center, which is owned by Kimco Realty Corp., and the other in Naples, Fla., at The Mercato.

The 36,000-sq,-ft. Atlanta store is scheduled to open in fall 2013. The 30,000-sq.-ft. Naples store is scheduled to open in fall 2013.

By Ann Natunewicz, national manager, Retail Research, USA Retail Services Group

The outlet shopping experience has morphed from warehouse settings offering damaged and closeout merchandise to today’s centers that are designed to maximize customer flow and sell merchandise from the most exclusive international designers.