For over 50 years our company, Nordstrom Inc., had been a publicly traded entity. Owned by shareholders, traded on Wall Street and largely evaluated by its stock price. That all changed on May 20, 2025, when we—the family, with more than a little help from our friends—bought it back.

What does that actually mean? How does that all work? What are the potential risks and long-term implications for the future of the business? These are the questions that we're here to answer today in part one of our two-part series all about how Nordstrom went private.

From the outside it may seem like this sort of thing happens relatively quickly. An offer is made, the stock gets bought, the company disappears from the market and that's it! But we can tell you now, having gone through it, the whole process is really a lot more complex than we had initially imagined. All in all, it took about 10 years from when we first started entertaining the thought to when we finally landed a deal.

So to set the stage and discuss some of the circumstances that placed us on this path, we've invited back to the Nordy Pod Co-CEO Erik Nordstrom and Chief Merchandising Officer Jamie Nordstrom.

We'll also hear from someone who was an absolutely instrumental advisor for us; investment banker, Ken Moelis of Moelis & Company.

Together we'll walk you through the entire process from start to finish. We'll discuss some of the main motivations for and future benefits of achieving our goal, as well as some of the most perilous, high-stakes risks involved in the journey of Nordstrom going private.

Thanks for tuning in to episode 97. We hope you enjoy it!

Did you know that YOU can be on The Nordy Pod? This show isn't just a one-way conversation. We want to hear about what Nordstrom looks like through your eyes. Share your Nordstrom experience, good or bad, by giving us a call and leaving a voicemail at 206.594.0526, or send an email to [email protected] to be a part of the conversation! And be sure to follow us on Instagram @thenordypod to stay up to date on new episodes, announcements and more.

We've been to London. We've been to Paris. We've been to Milan. And for this episode, we're rounding out the "Big Four" and taking the podcast to fashion week in New York!

To help tell this story we're handing the hosting duties over to a familiar voice—our de facto fashion field correspondent Rickie De Sole, Vice President Fashion Director at Nordstrom.

Rickie takes the reins and dives into the history and influence of New York on the fashion industry with special guest Steven Kolb, CEO of the CFDA—the Council of Fashion Designers of America. The CFDA has been in charge of organizing New York's fashion week calendar since 2014, and it has been instrumental in promoting and guiding established and emerging American designers.

We'll also stop by the headquarters of the luxury women's ready-to-wear and accessories brand Altuzarra to speak with the extremely talented founder, CEO and Creative Director Joseph Altuzarra.

While in town, Rickie will visit our Nordstrom New York flagship store to connect with a few more of our merchant leaders and discuss the kinds of experiences that you'll find when you walk through our doors during fashion week.

And on top of all that, Rickie will take us backstage after the Tory Burch show to meet briefly with Tory and give us a sense of how she's feeling about her collection.

Thanks for tuning in to episode 96. We hope you enjoy it!

Did you know that YOU can be on The Nordy Pod? This show isn't just a one-way conversation. We want to hear about what Nordstrom looks like through your eyes. Share your Nordstrom experience, good or bad, by giving us a call and leaving a voicemail at 206.594.0526, or send an email to [email protected] to be a part of the conversation! And be sure to follow us on Instagram @thenordypod to stay up to date on new episodes, announcements and more.

What is Nordstrom's number-one goal? If you're a Nordstrom employee you'd better know the answer, because it's pretty much the first thing that we ask at every state-of-the-company meeting. Invariably when we single out our newer crew members we'll get a mixed bag of pretty good answers. But the truth is, there is only one answer—which is to improve customer service. And it's that word "improve" that we're really focusing in on today.

Customer service is our single most important characteristic and the foundation of our whole reputation. But here's the rub: with that shining reputation comes incredibly high expectations. Expectations that rest on the shoulders of each and every person that works at our company, from our salespeople to our store managers, from regional managers all the way up to our executive team. And though we do get a lot of really great feedback about our people stepping up and making somebody's day, we also get our fair share of negative remarks. Times when we've fallen short. When the customer experience doesn't live up to our reputation and the customer's expectations.

And yet, it's in those failures—the imperfect moments—that we often find the most meaningful lessons.

In this episode we're joined by a series of Nordstrom leaders who know full well the critical importance of continuously reigniting these conversations around our service culture. You'll hear from Co-CEO Erik Nordstrom and Chief Merchandising Officer Jamie Nordstrom, as well as three store managers: Brandon Gross, Stephany Pierce and Ted Reed. You'll also hear from our Vice President General Manager in charge of Nordstrom New York, Chris Wanlass.

Listen in to their stories of missteps and mistakes, of moments when our service wasn't exactly what it should have been, and how those moments became turning points and reminders that humility is not at all a weakness, but our greatest strength.

Thanks for tuning in to episode 95. We hope you enjoy it!

Did you know that YOU can be on The Nordy Pod? This show isn't just a one-way conversation. We want to hear about what Nordstrom looks like through your eyes. Share your Nordstrom experience, good or bad, by giving us a call and leaving a voicemail at 206.594.0526, or send an email to [email protected] to be a part of the conversation! And be sure to follow us on Instagram @thenordypod to stay up to date on new episodes, announcements and more.

When you walk into a Nordstrom store, a lot of things are happening at once. The layout, the colors, the lighting—all working together to create a feeling, and that feeling doesn't happen by accident.

In this episode we're exploring the incredible importance of a physical environment for retailing through the lens of interior design and architecture to create spaces that are inviting, exciting and so visually engaging that you can't help but come in and stay awhile.

You'll hear from the extremely talented architectural designer behind some of the most incredible retail environments for brands like Nike, SKIMS, Cartier, Piaget and Baccarat, as well as some amazing spaces for department stores like us here at Nordstrom. He's a true artist and a super successful entrepreneur who's built his entire design business up from scratch: Rafael de Cárdenas.

After that, stick around and get inspired by a return guest to the Nordy Pod, our vice president of store environments in charge of visual merchandising across our entire fleet: Paige Boggs.

Thanks for tuning in to episode 94. We hope you enjoy it!

Did you know that YOU can be on The Nordy Pod? This show isn't just a one-way conversation. We want to hear about what Nordstrom looks like through your eyes. Share your Nordstrom experience, good or bad, by giving us a call and leaving a voicemail at 206.594.0526, or send an email to [email protected] to be a part of the conversation! And be sure to follow us on Instagram @thenordypod to stay up to date on new episodes, announcements and more.

In the world of fashion, there are a handful of names that do more than just design clothes—they shape conversations. Our guest today is someone who's done exactly that. Founder, chairman and creative director of the immensely popular fashion brand that shares his name: Kenneth Cole.

Not only is Kenneth a wildly successful fashion designer and entrepreneur—he's also a bold voice for social change, and an influential supporter and advocate for HIV research, mental health awareness and several other human rights initiatives. Since launching his brand Kenneth Cole Productions in the early '80s out of a trailer on the streets of New York to becoming globally recognized for blending great style with meaningful purpose, Kenneth has been intentionally crafting a business that feels deeply personal.

Kenneth talks about the steps he took to bring attention and credibility to his fledgling startup shoe company, what it's meant to him to be able to use his platform for good and why creating impactful messaging that lingers can be the absolute best thing for your brand.

Thanks for tuning in to episode 93. We hope you enjoy it!

Did you know that YOU can be on The Nordy Pod? This show isn't just a one-way conversation. We want to hear about what Nordstrom looks like through your eyes. Share your Nordstrom experience, good or bad, by giving us a call and leaving a voicemail at 206.594.0526, or send an email to [email protected] to be a part of the conversation! And be sure to follow us on Instagram @thenordypod to stay up to date on new episodes, announcements and more.

In a store like ours—with thousands of brands in every category of men's, women's and kids' apparel, with shoes, accessories and everything in between—there are virtually limitless possibilities, which could potentially feel a little overwhelming. That's why one of the key elements for us to be able to achieve our goals and serve our customers best is styling. It's how a jacket from one label, a bag from another and a pair of shoes you never expected to wear can all come together to reflect your personal style. Styling creates connection, it inspires confidence and, in the case of today's guest, it's elevated to an art form.

Join us for a trip to our Nordstrom location off Melrose Place in Los Angeles to chat with our recently appointed director of luxury styling, Catherine Bloom.

Catherine has built her career around helping people look and feel their best, one relationship at a time—one outfit at a time. And let me tell you, the level of clientele that she's working with here is impressive, to say the least. Among her customers are A-list Hollywood celebrities, pro-athletes and actual royalty; and the brands that she's selling are the absolute best of designer and luxury that the world has to offer.

We'll dive into Catherine's earliest styling endeavors, her rise to relevance at one of our biggest retail competitors and how she's adapting into her new position at Nordstrom, which we quite literally made up specifically for her.

Thanks for tuning in to episode 92. We hope you enjoy it!

Did you know that YOU can be on The Nordy Pod? This show isn't just a one-way conversation. We want to hear about what Nordstrom looks like through your eyes. Share your Nordstrom experience, good or bad, by giving us a call and leaving a voicemail at 206.594.0526, or send an email to [email protected] to be a part of the conversation! And be sure to follow us on Instagram @thenordypod to stay up to date on new episodes, announcements and more.

Our guest for this episode is an incredible artist and a master of mimicry. You've seen her face and all the faces she's put on. Settle in for Pete's conversation with film and TV star, and recurring cast member on Saturday Night Live, Chloe Fineman.

Chloe has acted in a long list of TV shows and films both comedic and dramatic—films like Babylon, Megalopolis, the hilarious Hulu original Summer of 69 and the upcoming Disney franchise sequel Freakier Friday. But aside from all that, did you know that Chloe is also a huge fan of fashion, and in particular of Nordstrom? We're excited and super grateful that Chloe has agreed to partner with us for this year's Anniversary Sale marketing campaign, and while she was around we decided to ask if she'd be willing to come chat with us on the Nordy Pod. (She said yes!)

After Pete's conversation with Chloe, make sure to stick around and hear the story of a loyal Nordstrom customer by the name of Melanie King who contacted us recently with a really nice story about her experience shopping in one of our stores.

Thanks for tuning in to episode 91. We hope you enjoy it!

Did you know that YOU can be on The Nordy Pod? This show isn't just a one-way conversation. We want to hear about what Nordstrom looks like through your eyes. Share your Nordstrom experience, good or bad, by giving us a call and leaving a voicemail at 206.594.0526, or send an email to [email protected] to be a part of the conversation! And be sure to follow us on Instagram @thenordypod to stay up to date on new episodes, announcements and more.

Anybody that works in our industry knows that retail is a moving target, and there's a million different variables that influence success or failure at any given moment. Some of those variables are measurable and tangible enough to use to your advantage—but others are really out of your control.

So what do you do when, for example, the whole world shuts down amid a global pandemic? Or when nations collide in an all-out trade war? Or how do you adapt to combat new and formidable contenders that emerge in your market space?

Navigating this inherently unpredictable business takes a special kind of brand, and a special kind of person, and for this episode we've invited one such leader of a company that's no doubt felt the weight of an uncertain and highly competitive marketplace. He's a long-time friend and an industry confidant: Sebastian Picardo, President and CEO of the Canadian luxury department store Holt Renfrew.

In our conversation we'll discuss how Sebastian's diverse career background provides him with a broad lens with which to view our industry's unfamiliar territory, the value of feeding curiosity in his own personal growth and the significance of clarity in brand identity for Holt Renfrew. We'll also share a bit of a lesson in humility in regards to Nordstrom's attempt to plant a foot in Canada. Spoiler alert! It didn't work out so well.

Thanks for tuning in to episode 90. We hope you enjoy it!

Did you know that YOU can be on The Nordy Pod? This show isn't just a one-way conversation. We want to hear about what Nordstrom looks like through your eyes. Share your Nordstrom experience, good or bad, by giving us a call and leaving a voicemail at 206.594.0526, or send an email to [email protected] to be a part of the conversation! And be sure to follow us on Instagram @thenordypod to stay up to date on new episodes, announcements and more.

Early in 2024 more than 2,000 people showed up to our Nordstrom store on 57th Street in New York. Not for a celebrity fragrance launch. Not for a new shoe drop. But for a live taping of a podcast. And it wasn't The Nordy Pod. It was a podcast called The World’s First Podcast, hosted by our guests for this episode, sisters Sara and Erin Foster.  

But to be honest, their podcast isn't even the main reason we've invited them to be on our show. The Foster sisters have had an incredibly diverse career in seemingly disparate industries. Daughters of legendary music producer David Foster, Sara and Erin grew up in Los Angeles surrounded by celebrity and showbiz. They found opportunities in the early 2000s acting in film and television, which Erin parlayed into comedy writing, and they both eventually built on to begin co-producing projects like a reality TV spoof based loosely on their own lives, called Barely Famous, and more recently the Netflix show Nobody Wants This starring Kristen Bell and Adam Brody. Aside from that they've had notable success investing in tech companies like the widely used dating app Bumble, and in 2019 launched a venture capital firm called Oversubscribed Ventures that focused on early-stage, disruptive technology startups. But what really makes them relevant in our world is their entrance into the contemporary fashion retail space.

Born from a playfully snarky one-off t-shirt designed with the words Favorite Daughter, Erin and Sara have built and grown an impressive women's clothing brand that totally fits their personalities, and that purposefully and unapologetically aims to round out their wardrobes. The brand stands out from the crowd without chasing trends or leveraging fast fashion, but rather by producing clothes that customers actually want to wear—and at a price point that's actually accessible.  

In this conversation we explore the trappings of their celebrity-adjacent upbringing, how the effects of nepotism have impacted their journey for better and for worse, and how Favorite Daughter has become one of the hottest new brands on the Nordstrom sales floor.

Thanks for tuning in to episode 89. We hope you enjoy it!

Did you know that YOU can be on The Nordy Pod? This show isn't just a one-way conversation. We want to hear about what Nordstrom looks like through your eyes. Share your Nordstrom experience, good or bad, by giving us a call and leaving a voicemail at 206.594.0526, or send an email to [email protected] to be a part of the conversation! And be sure to follow us on Instagram @thenordypod to stay up to date on new episodes, announcements and more.

Real growth for a brand doesn't just come out of nowhere. Even with a high-quality product that's both functional and inherently desirable, you can still find yourself under the radar and small after decades in the market. So how did a 100-year-old+ sneaker company like New Balance suddenly pierce through the noise and become one of the most relevant and talked-about athletic footwear brands today?

In part, through massive pro-athlete endorsements across every major sport; like Major League Baseball player Shohei Ohtani, NBA power forward Kawhi Leonard, tennis star Coco Gauff and Olympic gold medalist Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, just to name a few. In the past several years New Balance has exploded in cultural credibility, as both an exceptional athletic shoe and as everyday fashion-forward streetwear. Underneath it all? A focused, relentless strategy to build global momentum without losing the soul of the brand.

At the helm of this transformation is our guest for this episode, Joe Preston, President and CEO of New Balance.

You'll also hear from our Vice President, Divisional Merchandise Manager for Men's and Active Footwear for Nordstrom Garrett Bean, who breaks down this moment for New Balance from a retail partnership perspective: what's selling, why it's working, and where it's all headed.

And for a little extra color, we'll stop in at our current summer-long New Balance activation at The Corner, which is our rotating pop-up shop on 57th and Broadway at our flagship store in New York City.

Thanks for tuning in to episode 88. We hope you enjoy it!

Did you know that YOU can be on The Nordy Pod? This show isn't just a one-way conversation. We want to hear about what Nordstrom looks like through your eyes. Share your Nordstrom experience, good or bad, by giving us a call and leaving a voicemail at 206.594.0526, or send an email to [email protected] to be a part of the conversation! And be sure to follow us on Instagram @thenordypod to stay up to date on new episodes, announcements and more.