As one of the earliest pioneers in the now flourishing world of e-commerce, Andy Dunn paved the way with his exclusively online apparel brand Bonobos. At a time when most people thought it was impossible to sell clothes through a computer, Andy and cofounder Brian Spaly built an internet-driven direct-to-consumer business model that set the stage for countless brands to follow. However, Andy would eventually discover that in order to continue growing, they could no longer ignore the benefits of showing up in a physical space, which led to Bonobos partnering with Nordstrom to sell their line in our stores. And though the self-described delusions of creating something that had never been done before may seem like a prerequisite for any entrepreneur, for Andy it was the perfect hiding place for something much more serious. In his book "Burn Rate: Launching a Startup and Losing My Mind," Andy details his closeted struggles with a mental illness that threatened to destroy his life. Andy has worked hard to find balance and with the help of family, friends, doctors and understanding business partners, he is grateful to be in a place where he can share his story with those who are battling alongside him.

After my conversation with Andy, we’re going to stop by our Merrick Park store in Florida to chat with Nikky Oliva, who works in the lingerie department. Nikky really goes beyond the transactional nature of her job and makes some incredible connections with the women that she interacts with in one of Nordstrom’s lesser-known programs.

Thanks for tuning in! We hope you enjoy episode 10.

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