Nordstrom

Nordstrom Rack is bullish on Chicago.    The retailer announced plans to open a store at Mellody Farm in Vernon Hills, Ill. The property, which is being developed by Regency Centers, is located 30 miles north of downtown Chicago.   The approximately 30,000-sq.-ft. store, scheduled to open in fall 2018, will be the 15th Rack store in Chicagoland following the announcement of new locations in Kildeer, Ill., and Schererville, Ind., which are opening this spring.   

Nordstrom is giving shoppers a new way to earn loyalty points.   As of Friday, Jan. 20, Nordstrom Rewards members will earn points toward Nordstrom Notes when they use their Nordstrom credit and debit cards at the chain’s Trunk Club division, a personalized styling service for men and women, offering both virtual and in-person shopping options.   Additionally, Trunk Club will waive its $25 home try-on fee when shoppers order curated trunks of clothing using their Nordstrom card. 

Nordstrom is realigning and streamlining its top technology positions.    The company said that Dan Little, Nordstrom’s chief information officer, plans to retire next fall. Little joined Nordstrom in 2002, as VP, supply chain strategy. He was named to his current position in 2014.  

Retail in 2016 had its share of ups and downs. While several major businesses filed for bankruptcy, others in the category saw incredible growth, leveraging technology to connect with customers in new and exciting ways. For instance, Walmart tripled its online catalog and opened more stores that allow shoppers to pick up online orders in-person. In an often-cluttered retail landscape, Walmart and others have shown that technology can be a key differentiator.   

A new year is upon us, with new challenges and new opportunities. At the same time, retailers continue to struggle with how to embrace the digital disruptors that are redefining the retail customer and retail experience. Because one thing is clear: They are here to stay.

Indeed, these agents of change continue to pop up on a daily basis, each one designed to transform the trajectory of retail — and brands with an eye on the future should want in. After all, what retailer doesn’t want to reinvent their enterprise, drive agility and foster customer engagement in a new way?

The chief technology officer of Nordstrom is leaving the company after less than a year on the job.      Kumar Srinivasan is leaving the upscale department store company effective Friday, Jan. 7, to return to India, GeekWire reported.    Srinivasan, who joined Nordstrom in March, after serving as the co-founder and CEO of software company Evocalize. Prior to that, he was the former general manager at Amazon Payments Merchant Solutions unit   

Upscale brands are grabbing the attention of holiday procrastinators.   Three in 10 shoppers are still scrambling to finish holiday shopping, according to the National Retail Federation, and many are jumping online in search of their perfect, albeit “last minute” holiday gifts.   

Nordstrom is making it even easier for its online customers to pick out the perfect holiday gift.   Through its partnership with CashStar, the department store chain now features Product eGifting, a platform that enables customers to visit Nordstrom.com, select a gift and send it, along with a personal message, via email. Shoppers select a product and enter the recipient’s email to send the e-gift. Recipients receive an email that contains a personal message and gift description.   

Nordstrom is taking its gift card program industry-wide.   Leveraging its partnership with CashStar, Nordstrom is using the CashStar Business platform to streamline the sale of its gift cards — both plastic and digital — to business partners.   Called the Nordstrom Gift Cards for Business program, the department store retailer is streamlining orders, and enabling partners to securely place, pay for and manage orders, as well as load cards with $5 to $2,000 per card.  

Nordstrom delivered a strong performance in its fiscal third quarter even as a hefty charge related to its Trunk Club business ate into its profit.   Total net sales rose 7.2% to a better-than-expected $3.5 billion from $3.2 billion a year ago, fueled by the shift of the company’s popular anniversary sale to the quarter. Same-store sales increased 2.4%, also more than expected. As it has done in recent past quarters, Nordstrom Rack outpaced the full-priced division, Net sales were up more than 10%, and same-store sales rose nearly 4%.