Nordstrom

Nordstrom’s decision to stop carrying the Ivanka Trump brand continues to generate controversy.      On Thursday, Kellyanne Conway, counselor to the president, endorsed the first daughter’s products during an appearance on the television show, “Fox & Friends,” saying, “Go buy Ivanka’s stuff … It’s a wonderful line. I own some of it. … I’m going to give a free commercial here. Go buy it today. You can find it online.”  

Nordstrom on Wednesday found itself the latest target of President Donald Trump's Twitter attacks.     The department store’s shares fell from session highs midmorning after Trump tweeted that his daughter, Ivanka, had been treated “so unfairly.” His comments were made in response to Nordstrom’s decision to stop carrying the Ivana Trump brand, which the retailer said was based on the brand’s performance.     

Arden Fair Mall in Sacramento released its annual sales report this week and verified the fact that not all traditional malls are on the endangered list.   The 1,112,000-sq.-ft. property, owned by Arden Fair Associates and managed by Macerich, showed consistent month to month growth through 2016, capped by a 10% year-over-year sales increase in December, according to the accounting.  

Ivanka Trump-branded items will soon be a thing of the past at 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.