The Nordy Pod

In this episode, we’re headed down to the San Francisco Bay Area to visit a few of our stores for a series of “State of the Company” meetings. Every year, our executive leaders travel across the country to host these town hall–style meetings to connect with our people and share some of our progress from last year and goals for the future. Additionally, each year, groups of Nordstrom stores compete to win the coveted President's Cup. This is an award given to the stores that drove the highest percentage increase in sales volume within their goal group. For 2023, our teams at Hillsdale, Walnut Creek, Palo Alto, Corte Madera and Valley Fair brought home the win in their goal group (markets with 4+ Nordstrom stores). You’ll hear excerpts from my visit to three of those stores: Hillsdale, Walnut Creek and Palo Alto. We’re excited to recognize and celebrate our 2023 President’s Cup award winners and share some of the conversations that we had around how to improve in 2024. Thanks for tuning in to episode 59. 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 this episode, we’re diving deep into the world of Artificial Intelligence. We discuss some of the most exciting applications in our industry and demystify some concerns surrounding this emerging new technology. First, you’ll hear my conversation with two Nordstrom leaders who deal directly with the research and development of AI here at Nordstrom: our Chief Information and Technology Officer, Jason Morris, and our Chief Customer Officer, Ken Worzel. After that, Jason and Ken take turns talking with a couple of highly influential voices in the field of AI from outside of the retail industry. Listen as Jason speaks with Bret Greenstein, a partner in Data and Analytics and Generative AI at PricewaterhouseCoopers. Then, stay tuned for Ken’s chat with Wesley ter Haar, cofounder of the massively successful digital marketing agency Media.Monks, named Adweek’s first-ever AI Agency of the Year. It’s a fascinating and insightful look at this revolutionary technology that’s changing the way we do business. Thanks for tuning in to episode 58. 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!

From a childhood dream, to a single traveling store, to over 60 retail locations nationwide, Faherty has certainly made a name for itself. It just so happens to be the family name. Twin brothers Mike and Alex Faherty, along with Alex’s wife Kerry, bootstrapped their coastal/urban/beachy clothing brand up from scratch by combining each of their unique superpowers. Mike, as Chief Creative Officer, utilizes his fashion education and prior experience with Ralph Lauren to create high-quality products that you just have to feel to believe. Alex, as Chief Executive Officer, uses his business and finance background to ensure best practices and succeed in an industry that eats money. Kerry, informed by her law and humanitarian background, leads Faherty’s sustainability efforts and community giving strategy as Chief Impact Officer. Their journey is one of a kind and super impressive. We’re really grateful for the opportunity to carry Faherty in our stores and to share their story here with you on The Nordy Pod. Thanks for tuning in to episode 57. 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!

For this episode, I’m super excited to share my conversations with two really incredible people in the world of sports. First, you’ll hear a special live recording of my chat with the new athletic director at the University of Washington, Troy Dannen. We invited Troy to come speak in front of a group of our top executives because he’s had a lot of great experience managing large groups of people in complex and high-stakes situations. There’s a lot of crossover application between Troy’s job and really any industry, and I know our team gained a lot of valuable insights from listening to his story. After that, you’ll hear my conversation with a former Nordstrom employee—the founder and CEO of All In Sport Consulting, Dawna Callahan. Her business works to educate and build training programs for people with disabilities, helping to bring more visibility and opportunity to this community of incredibly talented athletes. Thanks for tuning in to episode 56. 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!

In this episode, I’m super excited to share the stories of two incredibly talented women who, in their own way and through their own experiences and perspectives, are helping to evolve and improve the way we do business. First, you’ll hear from the founder and CEO of Harlem’s Fashion Row and Icon 360, Brandice Daniel. Through her work, Brandice is building bridges between designers of color and department stores like Nordstrom to create more accessibility and opportunities in the fashion industry. We’re super impressed with the work that Brandice is doing and proud to partner with her in our ongoing commitment to create more diversity in our offering for customers. After that, you’ll meet our new President of Stores here at Nordstrom, Fanya Chandler. This well-deserved title comes after a long career climbing the ladder within our ranks, and we’re extremely lucky to now have her expertise and unique perspective informing our executive team. Thanks for tuning in to episode 55. 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!

In this episode we’re turning our attention to a couple of talented young men from very different circumstances, each at the beginning of their careers in two very different industries. What they have in common is that they’ve both been recipients of Nordstrom scholarships. We’ve created and supported several scholarship programs over the years. Some that are more community-based, like our newly added Blake Nordstrom Scholarship in 2022, help to cover basic needs, including housing and food for highly underserved college students in the Seattle area. Others more directly focus on increasing equity and inclusion in the fashion industry, like our contributions to the Virgil Abloh Scholarship through our partnership with the Fashion Scholarship Fund. Today you’ll hear from Joel Bervell, a current medical student at Washington State University, dubbed “The Medical Myth-Buster” by his 1M+ followers on social media. Joel also happens to have spent a summer selling menswear at Nordstrom. After that, I’ll chat with two-time Nordstrom Made Scholar and founder of the brand Hikari no Yami, up-and-coming fashion student and designer Jakarie Whitaker. Joel and Jakarie represent only a couple examples of our efforts to support talented and deserving young people, but their stories prove just how important these investments are, and we’re extremely proud to have played even a small part in helping them to achieve their goals. Thanks for tuning in to episode 54. 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!

Nordstrom has had the great pleasure of participating in an organization called IGDS: The Intercontinental Group of Department Stores, which connects some of the biggest retailers across the globe to learn and grow from each other. Along the way, we’ve gained a lot of great relationships, one of which we’re excited to feature on the show today. Scott Fyfe is the current CEO of iconic Australian department store David Jones. Since joining the company in 2020, he has helped resuscitate this historic brand back from near extinction. Scott talks about some of the strategic moves he’s initiated and talented teams he’s assembled to put David Jones back on the road to profitability. It’s a great conversation that any struggling retailer can learn from and one of the reasons why the IGDS is so valuable—to share ideas and learn from some of the greatest businesses in the world. After that, you’ll hear my conversation with loyal Nordstrom customer Lili Tomovich, who shares her experience sheepishly returning a pair of well-worn athletic shoes. Thanks for tuning in to episode 53. 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!

In this episode we're sharing a special live recording of The Nordy Pod from on stage at a conference for the International Council of Shopping Centers. My guest: innovative retail mall developer and operator, Rick Caruso. Now, if you've ever actually visited any of Rick's properties, you've likely noticed that there's something different about them. Rick and his team at Caruso are extremely mindful about creating environments that transport you to a better, and definitely safer place. Caruso is responsible for some of the most incredible shopping centers in California, including The Grove at the iconic Farmers Market in Los Angeles, The Americana at Brand in Glendale, The Commons at Calabasas, The Promenade at Westlake, The Lakes at Thousand Oaks, Palisades Village in Pacific Palisades and the Rosewood Miramar Beach in Santa Barbara. Nordstrom has had a great relationship with Caruso as they've been very hospitable hosts for several of our stores. I'm super grateful that Rick agreed to come chat with me at the ICSC conference. He has a really unique and valuable perspective on some of the big hurdles we face today in our industries. I think you're going to learn a few things from this conversation. Thanks for tuning in to episode 52. 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.

To kick off the new year we thought it would be fun to take a little stroll down memory lane and look back at some of our favorite Nordy Pod moments from 2023. We've had a lot of fun making this thing and chatting with all the fascinating people that have agreed to come on the show. Fashion icons like Domenico De Sole, Anna Wintour and Will Welch, incredible fashion designers like Simone Rocha and Erdem, successful brand partners like Gucci Westman and David Neville of Westman Atelier, Caspar Coppetti of On running shoes, Anastasia Soare of Anastasia Beverly Hills and Ben Gorham of BYREDO. We've also had the great pleasure of chatting with a slew of really amazing athletes and entertainers like former NFL wide receiver for the Seattle Seahawks Doug Baldwin, former NBA All Star of the Chicago Bulls Bob Love, Grammy award-winning hip-hop artist Macklemore and TV and film star Joel McHale. We're proud to highlight some of our employees that have used Nordstrom as a platform to build really impressive careers. For example, three of our very best salespeople: Jesse James Barnholdt, Gregory Clark and Jeffrey Ola. This year has also taken us out of the studio and into some really interesting places, like our distribution and fulfillment centers and to the very end of our merchandise food chain, to our Last Chance stores. We've also shared several really great customer experiences on The Nordy Pod, including a bit of negative feedback. Overall, it’s been a really fun year and we're really proud of what we've been able to put together, so we hope you enjoy this special look back at The Nordy Pod in 2023. Thanks for tuning in to episode 51. 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!

Core to Nordstrom's values is our commitment to leaving the world better than we found it. We're proud to partner with a number of different organizations that help us do this. In 2023 we will donate over $12M to 350+ different charity organizations in communities we serve across the United States. So, in the spirit of the giving season, we're using this episode to highlight some of the folks involved with two important causes we've supported over the past several years: Operation Warm and Shoes That Fit. First, we'll hear from Heather Connolly, the VP of Partnerships at Operation Warm, about how the organization provides brand new coats to children in underprivileged communities all across the country. Then we'll catch some of the excitement at an Operation Warm distribution event in the Seattle area with our very own field correspondent, Kent Worthington. After that we'll hear about our second giving partner from Amy Fass, the Executive Director and CEO at Shoes That Fit. Similarly, Shoes That Fit provides new name-brand athletic shoes to kids in need in all 50 states. 2023 marked our 13th year partnering with Shoes That Fit, and together with our customers, we raised more than $1.1 million and donated more than 50,000 pairs of shoes to kids in our local communities. To top it all off we'll hear from loyal Nordstrom customer and Shoes That Fit supporter Kenji Morinaga. This episode is chock-full of good feels and great people, and we hope it adds a little extra warmth to your holiday season. Thanks for tuning in to episode 50. 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!

In this episode, we're opening up a time capsule from the year 1998. Placed in the wall near our front entrance, it commemorates the grand re-opening of the new flagship store in downtown Seattle. That year would also hold another huge milestone moment for Nordstrom that would change the way we do business forever: the creation of Nordstrom.com. Listen as we dive deep into the origins of our digital storefront with one of the founding leaders of Nordstrom.com, Bob Schwartz. We'll also explore the continued evolution of this digital landscape and where Nordstrom.com stands today with our current President of Digital and Customer Experience at Nordstrom, Miguel Almeida. But before all that, you'll hear from one of our brand partners that just happened to be visiting us recently from Germany, Carl Seibel of Josef Seibel shoes. Thanks for tuning in to episode 49. 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!

In this episode we're on a bit of a field trip out to my alma mater, the University of Washington. We were invited here to the Foster School of Business by Dr. Marty Matthews who's a professor of marketing—and she also happens to be a Nordy Pod listener. She emailed me awhile back letting me know that she's actually been assigning Nordy Pod episodes as homework in a few of her classes. So, we thought it might be a fun idea to go in person and speak to her students for the show. First, we sit down with Professor Matthews herself to learn a little bit about her background and then we head over to the classroom to meet with her marketing students. And I've got to say, I love whenever I get the chance to hear from young people about their experience with Nordstrom. They've always got interesting stuff to say, and I often gain useful insights that I can take back and share with our team. So, we're super excited to get the opportunity to get a glimpse into these bright young minds, eager to dive into the wide world of business. Thanks for tuning in to episode 48. 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!

Ben Gorham has had a particularly interesting journey to entrepreneurship. Having spent his entire young life pursuing a career in basketball, it may come as a surprise that he ended up creating a super successful luxury and fragrance brand. But Ben's ambitions to play basketball were stifled by a technicality in international contracts, cutting his professional career short. Then, by a chance meeting Ben turned to an entirely different industry. Since setting the groundwork for a fragrance business, experimenting with smells through candle making out of his own kitchen, Ben's obsession has grown into a massive luxury brand found in huge retail stores across the globe. Nordstrom has had a lot of success doing business with BYREDO for a long time now and we're super excited that he's come to Seattle to visit and talk with our teams about even more growth. And since he was in the building, I asked him to come into my office to chat with me on the podcast. After my conversation with Ben, we're going to do something that we always talk about at the end of every episode, but we’ve yet to actually feature on the show, which is to address some of the negative feedback that we sometimes get. Former employee and long-time customer of Nordstrom, Vicki Redding, has agreed to come on the show and share her perspective on the ways in which Nordstrom has changed—and not for the better. Thanks for tuning in to episode 47. 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!

In this episode, we're doubling down on my conversations with the Nordstrom Board of Directors to uncover more invaluable insights from this prestigious group of business leaders. In part one, we heard the unique backstories of each board member and followed their incredible career journeys to the point in which they were considered for the Nordstrom board. For part two, we're going to dig a little deeper to learn about how boards have evolved over the years and what makes them different today. We'll talk about some of the unique challenges that we face as a group. We'll discuss what each board member has learned from their experience on our board. And, though I often get advice from them directly, we'll share some of their thoughts on how Nordstrom can improve. If you haven't listened to part one, what are you waiting for? Go back now and listen! If you're all caught up, let's get into it! Thanks for tuning in to episode 46. 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!

In the next two episodes we’ll be taking a special in-depth look at a group of incredibly talented individuals with uniquely impressive professional backgrounds. What do all of these people have in common? They're all members of the Nordstrom Board of Directors. Stacy Brown-Philpot, Jim Donald, Mark Tritton, Kirsten Green, Brad Tilden, Amie Thuener O'Toole, Atticus Tysen, Glenda McNeal and Eric Sprunk all bring invaluable expertise and a diverse set of skills from their leadership positions at some extremely successful companies. In part one of our two-part series about the board of directors we'll be getting to know each member, learning about their personal and professional backgrounds and what makes each of them such valued additions to our team. You'll also hear their perspectives on what exactly it is that a board of directors does, and what qualities make for a highly effective board. Thanks for tuning in to episode 45. 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!

In this episode we’re shining a light on one of our industry's most exciting events of the year, and that's London Fashion Week. We're kicking the show off by speaking with someone who knows a lot about this subject: Nordstrom Women's Designer Fashion and Editorial Director Rickie De Sole. Rickie then takes the helm and chats with Caroline Rush, CEO of the British Fashion Council, about her role in supporting emerging designers and established fashion houses throughout this massive event. In advance of London Fashion Week, we were super fortunate to talk with esteemed British fashion designers Simone Rocha and Erdem, who had two of the most acclaimed collections from the event. WWD wrote that Simone Rocha's show "cast a romantic spell"; Harper’s Bazaar called her collection "extremely covetable." British Vogue lauded Erdem’s collection's "historical significance and mind-blowing sense of resourcefulness." We'll be digging into the designers' creative muses and exploring their unique backgrounds to discover how they've earned such revered reputations in the London fashion scene and around the world. London Fashion Week is a very important time for us, and a lot of fun for our teams that get to travel and see some incredible fashion shows. So, we've decided to bring a little bit of that excitement to you through The Nordy Pod! Thanks for tuning in to episode 44. 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!

For this episode Pete's taking the hot seat and fielding questions from The Nordy Pod editor, Nathan Shields, and co-producer, Kent Worthington. They discuss Pete's trajectory from stock boy to president, the likelihood of career detours, and important lessons in humility, authenticity, loyalty and hard work passed down directly from his father, Bruce Nordstrom. Pete also talks about the benefits of starting The Nordy Pod and how it's aided in expanding his curiosity in ways that help him to be a more effective leader. You'll also hear an incredible service story from Kent, who has held many different jobs within the company, which exemplifies some of the core values that make Nordstrom a lasting business. So much so, that Pete is confident that the integrity of the brand will endure long after he hands off the reins to the next generation of leaders. Reluctant to take credit for his own influence, Pete expresses great pride in every Nordstrom associate across the company that continually strives to exceed customer expectations day in and day out. Thanks for tuning in to episode 43. 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!

If you follow professional basketball, chances are you've heard a booming broadcast by the incredible Kevin Calabro. And if you’ve been so lucky, then you know what a thrill ride it is listening to his exhilarating play-by-play. By his own admission, Kevin wants listeners to know that he's having fun on the mic, because that's what sport is all about! As a kid he remembers gaining an appreciation for radio, listening to famous baseball announcers with big personalities like Jack Buck and Harry Caray, and began exploring his own vocal chops as early as high school. Continuing through college and beyond, Kevin's reliability as a play-by-play announcer strengthened enormously. After a year of calling minor league hockey and a bit of Purdue University basketball, he was eventually given the opportunity to move up to the big leagues. His first time announcing for NBA games would be in 1983 for the Kansas City Kings, but it's not until 1987 that Kevin would join a team that is very near and dear to my heart, the Seattle SuperSonics. With 20 years of his voice guiding us play by play through victory and heartbreak, Kevin has become my absolute favorite way to listen to basketball. We'll discuss the eventual end of his time with the Sonics, (which I myself, having been part owner of the SuperSonics at the time, regrettably shared some part in) but since then Kevin's had nothing short of an incredible career. Having called NBA games for several national broadcasting networks like ESPN Radio, TNT, TBS and NBA TV, as well as announcing for the Seattle Sounders soccer team and now the Portland Trail Blazers, he's even lent his voice to several NBA video games! I am super lucky to have had the opportunity to know Kevin for many years, and I'm sure you're going to love diving deeper into his story. Thanks for tuning in to episode 42. 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!

Through their investment firm, Imaginary Ventures, Nick Brown and Natalie Massenet have proven time and again the importance of their role in the consumer ecosystem. They understand better than most how difficult it can be to start a business from scratch, so they use their knowledge and resources to prop up promising young startups and get them moving in the right direction. And the status they've achieved as respected and influential stewards of growing businesses is well deserved. In her early career Natalie honed her skills predicting consumer trends as a journalist for Women’s Wear Daily, eventually founding the massively successful high-fashion e-commerce platform NET-A-PORTER. Nick built his portfolio through a few really wise bets on some exciting up-and-coming brands like Warby Parker and Reformation, quickly garnering a reputation as the go-to-guy for fledgling founders. As self-described "generalist investors" Nick and Natalie's interest in potential partners is governed less by a specific genre—like fashion or beauty—and more by the character traits of the business leaders themselves, stating that founders need to have a well-balanced and open-minded approach to growing their business if they ever hope to be successful. There's a lot of really great insight here about the world of investment and retail in general, especially if you're an early-stage founder looking to make your mark. Thanks for tuning in to episode 41. 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!

For this episode we’re taking a special in-depth look at our biggest fashion event of the year, the Nordstrom Anniversary sale. Join me as I sit down with my brother Erik and cousin Jamie as we look back on its unique history and reminisce over our favorite Anniversary Sale memories. We’re also going to take a trip over to our store in Bellevue to catch a glimpse of their Early Access opening day. We’ll talk with store manager Laura Best and a few other employees about what you can expect when you walk into the Anniversary Sale as a customer. We’ll even chat with a few long-time customers who’ve made shopping the sale a yearly tradition. And to round it all out we’ll hear from our chief marketing officer, Deniz Anders, all about the fresh new ways and persisting old ways we rev up excitement for the big sale. It’s a one-of-a-kind event that inspires a lot of joy in employees and customers alike and creates endless opportunities for us to follow through on our mission to make customers feel good and look their best. So, sit back and enjoy this deep dive into the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale. Thanks for tuning in to episode 40. 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!

On the surface you may think this episode is just another excuse for me to selfishly bring another famous athlete into my office to talk sports, and I guess that's part of it, but Doug Baldwin is so much more than just a successful football player. His incredible determination that would eventually win him a Super Bowl with the Seattle Seahawks in 2013 was a hard-fought character trait forged through a lifetime of proving his worth to everyone around him. By his own admission it wasn't until long into his professional career, signing multi-million dollar contracts, that he thought, "Oh, maybe I do add value to this team." And though I was certainly aware of Doug Baldwin from his impressive football accolades, he ultimately sparked my interest as a potential guest on The Nordy Pod because of the amazing things he's been doing for the community of Seattle post football. Let me tell you, for someone who's been notoriously described by NFL commentators as angry, he sure seems like a really good guy. In our conversation we discuss Doug's early childhood struggle for validation, his reasons for retiring from the NFL and his motivation for building better communities wherever he goes. I am super grateful that Doug agreed to come in and share his story, and even if you know nothing about sports, this conversation is sure to inspire you in ways you did not expect. Thanks for tuning in to episode 39. 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!

Recently I was invited to attend the Women's Wear Daily Beauty CEO Summit and had the great pleasure of speaking on stage with the Queen of Eyebrows, founder of Anastasia Beverly Hills, Anastasia Soare. Now, I don't personally know a whole lot about styling eyebrows, but what I do find super fascinating about Anastasia is her uncompromising entrepreneurial spirit. She found an untapped niche in the field that she loves and has built a whole cosmetics industry empire that competitors cannot ignore. You'll hear all about that startup journey and her incredible success along the way, garnering respect from the likes of Oprah Winfrey and becoming a go-to stylist for big name celebrities like Cindy Crawford and Jennifer Lopez. Anastasia's breakthrough techniques and products have radically changed the industry, and we here at Nordstrom are super grateful to have had the opportunity to partner with her in this ground-breaking movement. After my conversation with Anastasia, join me for a special trip down to the beauty department at our flagship store in Seattle to get a little taste of the kinds of services we provide, and the people you might meet. And because I'm a little less familiar with the subject matter, I've invited our divisional merchandise manager for beauty, Debra Redmond, to be our guide. Debra's experience and leadership has been a huge asset to our team, and she really understands the nuances of helping customers through a department that can honestly be a bit daunting. So, follow along with us to learn more about how we're working to make your experience as a customer as efficient and satisfying as possible. Thanks for tuning in to episode 38. 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!

You guys are in for a treat because our guests for today are truly some of the most authoritative thought-leaders shaping the landscape of modern fashion. And, as you'll hear, everything tangential to it. As heads of Vogue and GQ, two of the world's leading fashion and lifestyle magazines, Anna Wintour and Will Welch are essentially gatekeepers at the intersection of art, fashion, culture, sports, business and everything in between. Anna, quite literally a legend in the business, is famous for championing exciting new designers and ushering new trends to the forefront of public attention. And Will, an incredibly talented writer and editor, has deservedly risen through the ranks of GQ, reinventing their image and business practices on a global scale. In our conversation we discuss the radical evolution of the fashion industry from highbrow to accessible, the incredibly fast-paced nature of digital trends and what Anna and Will believe makes a great fashion house leader. I’ve been lucky enough to know Anna and Will personally and have immense respect for both of them and their influence on our industry. I know you're going to enjoy hearing the insights of these amazing tastemakers. So, let's get into it! Thanks for tuning in to episode 37. 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!

Join me on stage at the Footwear News CEO Summit as I sit down with three of our very best stylists, Jesse James Barnholdt, Gregory Clark and Jeffrey Ola. We do our best to make it abundantly clear to our employees that their success at Nordstrom is in their hands. We give them the leeway to use their best judgment in running their business, and let me tell you, these three men have taken that freedom and run with it. Each of them has raised the bar for what's possible on the sales floor and done it in their own unique and personal way, adding credibility to our reputation and building immensely successful careers for themselves. We are super proud of the heights that they've reached and want to lift them up as examples to the rest of our company. Before that, listen in on my conversation with the cofounder of On, Caspar Coppetti. The story of this brand is particularly interesting because it's so authentically rooted in the entrepreneurial spirit. Innocently enough, Caspar and cofounder Olivier Bernhard only started making shoes to fulfill their own personal running needs. And being based in the relatively small market of Switzerland, they had no idea that it would evolve into the global phenomenon that it is today. But what they did know was that if they could only get runners to try on their shoes, the business would take care of itself—which it did. Professional runners wearing On running shoes began breaking records and speaking out about the incredible benefits they felt, including examples of runners with previous injuries getting back up to speed faster than ever before. But despite On's amazing growth and success, money has never been what drives them. Their motivation remains the same as it was in the beginning. Caspar talks about running as an incredibly emotional experience, with each different environment and circumstance inspiring a new type of product. That's what makes this brand so unique, and why I'm excited to share his story with you today. Thanks for tuning in to episode 36. 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!

For this episode we’re turning inward to discover more about how we work to sustain a legacy of great service at Nordstrom. You’ll hear directly from Nordstrom customers Paige Siemers and daughter Anna as they share their unique experience shopping in our store. You’ll hear Nordstrom board member Jim Donald discuss how his incredibly successful career, holding leadership positions at big brands like Walmart and Publix, or as CEO of Starbucks, Albertsons, and Extended Stay America, has all been led and informed by a healthy attitude toward service. Then to cap it all off we’ll learn about how the ideas and principles surrounding great service get passed along from store to store through our Senior Vice President for the Rack division, Carl Jenkins. So lean in and listen as we wade deep in the waters of Nordstrom’s efforts to create a culture of service. 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!

For this episode, we're introducing part one of a two-part series all about creating a culture of service. Now, this theme sits close to home for everyone here at Nordstrom, because it's really the defining trait we focus on to create differentiation, and frankly, a reason for being. And it's nice that we have this reputation and a legacy of great service, but our whole battle is remaining relevant and continuously raising the bar. In that regard, I'm super excited to share with you a conversation I had with a remarkably successful restaurateur, and author of the book Unreasonable Hospitality, Will Guidara. I first learned of Will through his TED talk, titled The Secret Ingredients of Great Hospitality. And if you haven't seen it, you need to go check it out as soon as this episode is over. It’s great. Will lays out his own unique philosophy on customer service that goes far beyond the boundaries of his specific industry and speaks directly to our human nature. Will was the previous owner of one of New York City’s top-rated restaurants Eleven Madison Park, which has consistently held a three-star Michelin rating since 2012, and in 2017 was named the number one restaurant in the world. But when describing what his real job is, Will explains that the food, the service and the design of a restaurant are all just ingredients in the recipe of human connection. He proposes that he's not actually in the business of serving dinner. He's in the business of serving memories. Will elevates the purpose of the dining table to a sacred place in which two people grow closer together in relationship with one another, and it's the job of the entire restaurant staff to curate an environment in which that can happen. So much of Will's philosophy resonates strongly with my own, and echoes in the practices that we encourage here at Nordstrom. So, I thought Will would make a perfect guest to help characterize the essential pillars of creating a culture of service. 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!

In this episode we’re taking a special in-depth look at a segment of our business that most people don’t even know about. We call it Last Chance, and it’s exactly what the name implies. At the very end of the life cycle of our merchandise there exist two stores, one in Phoenix, Arizona and one in the suburbs of Chicago, that serve as our last chance to sell any and all unsold merchandise. They are unlike any Nordstrom store you’ve ever been to. So, to help explain Last Chance we’re going to talk with a repeat Nordy Pod guest, Greg Pender, who is our Senior Manager in charge of profit recovery throughout The Rack and Last Chance stores. Greg is going to take us on a little trip over to our Last Chance location in Phoenix to meet some of the employees that work there, as well as a few customers that frequent the store nearly every single day. You’ll also hear from Marge Arnold, our Last Chance Store Manager in the Chicago area. So, settle in as we take you all the way to the very end of the Nordstrom merchandise ecosystem, to the Last Chance. Thanks for tuning in to episode 33. 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!

You know, I usually record these conversations from my fancy podcast studio/office in downtown Seattle, but this time I actually called our guest, Joel McHale, from my home on Mercer Island—a fitting venue for our conversation because Joel also happens to hail from this very same Seattle suburb. Now, as many of you probably know, Joel has gone on to have a very successful acting career in Hollywood. He’s largely known for his sarcastic pop culture commentary on The Soup or his snarky self-centered character Jeff Winger in the critically acclaimed series Community. But long before his face ever broadcast through the glowing pixels of your television screen, Joel had a childhood that wasn’t too far removed from my own. We both played sports through high school and college and happened to know a lot of the same people. Joel, like me, even went to the University of Washington. Now that may be where the similarities end, but while his college experience was tainted by the unorthodox hazing rituals of the rowing team and a questionable sense of brotherhood at the Theta Chi fraternity, Joel always knew that his real family waited for him on stage. Since the seventh grade he loved the theater and looked for every opportunity to meet with like-minded adolescent thespians who inspired and challenged each other creatively. Determined to make a career out of this passion, Joel completed a Master of Fine Arts at the University of Washington and figured that the best place to test out his merits was the entertainment mecca, Los Angeles. And while it took him a few years to get going, Joel is a hustler. Saying yes to everything offered, he’s shown up in television shows and movies in nearly every genre. From bit parts in blockbuster films like Spider Man or starring in the dark romantic comedy Happily, to sitcoms like Will & Grace and the sci-fi phenomenon The X-Files. But despite the breadth of his impressive IMDb page, Joel still worries that each job is bound to be his last. Well Joel, from all of us on the outside, I think you can relax. It seems like you’re doing alright. After my conversation with Joel, you'll hear my chat with a relatively new country music artist by the name of Austin Burke. But it’s not actually Austin’s music that brings him to The Nordy Pod. He’s here as a customer to share a story which took place at our Rack store in Scottsdale, Arizona. The experience moved him so much that he pulled out his phone and started recording as it was happening. He then posted the video for his nearly one million followers on social media. It got shared around enough that we eventually caught wind and loved the story so much that we called him up, and the Nordstrom employees who made Austin’s visit so memorable. Thanks for tuning in to episode 32. 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!

Bob Love dreamed of playing professional basketball when he was a little kid. Listening to games over the radio he would practice his jump shot, tossing a rolled-up ball of his grandfather’s smelly old socks into a wire coat hanger he stole from his grandmother's closet. Humble beginnings for a man who would later become one of the greatest players of all time. Honing his skills through high school, Bob was destined for more than his small Louisiana hometown could offer. And despite struggling with a debilitating speech impediment, he became the first person in his entire family to go to college. After graduating Bob spent the first year of his professional career playing in a minor league, earning the Rookie of the Year award and making him very difficult for NBA recruiters to overlook. Bob’s dream of playing in the NBA was finally realized in 1966, playing a few short years in Cincinnati, then in Milwaukee, until he eventually found a long-term home with the Chicago Bulls. During his nine-year stay with the Bulls, Bob led the team in scoring for seven straight seasons, had three All Star appearances and set multiple records, some that still stand to this day. He still holds third place in points scored for the Bulls, just under Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen, and his is one of only a handful of retired numbers hanging in the United Center today. As a kid I remember watching Bob play on TV and interestingly enough he wound up playing a portion of his last season in the NBA in 1977 with the Seattle Supersonics. But his life took a dramatic turn after his basketball career ended. Bob says he found himself in an unfamiliar city, struggling to find work. The speech impediment that plagued him his entire life didn’t affect his ability to score points, but it did make it near impossible to find a job off the court. The next chapter of Bob's life would actually bring him to Nordstrom of all places, working downtown in our restaurant washing dishes and bussing tables. And though I wasn’t old enough at the time to be a part of the decision making, I look back with admiration as my Dad and the other Nordstrom leaders took notice of Bob’s situation and offered to send him to speech therapy. This in turn gave Bob more opportunities to grow, and confidence to move back to Chicago to work for the Bulls as their Director of Community Affairs. Now Bob regularly speaks in front of large crowds about his experiences playing basketball and overcoming this life-long handicap. I’m just super grateful for the chance to speak with Bob after all this time to hear about his journey, and I know you’re going to enjoy listening to his story. After my conversation with Bob, you’re going to get a taste of one of the more delicious portions of the business as we talk with our Vice President of the Restaurant Division, Vince Rossetti. Thanks for tuning in to episode 31. 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!

In this episode we're taking a special trip over to the Hawkeye State, which is Iowa for those who don’t know, to visit two different Nordstrom facilities that are crucial links in our supply chain. First, we'll head to our fulfillment center in Cedar Rapids where the folks are celebrating 25 years of service. Then we'll stop into our distribution center in Dubuque to help them celebrate 30 years. Each of these locations has been absolutely essential to the growth of our business, particularly with the rise of online shopping and an increased demand for speed. These teams process enormous amounts of merchandise from thousands of vendors to nearly 350 Nordstrom stores in over 200 cities across the United States, fulfilling online orders shipped straight to your home and fielding droves of returns, which in itself could be an entire episode. Literally everything we sell goes through these buildings, from shoes to apparel, accessories and jewelry and a whole slew of home goods. It's a mammoth undertaking and these guys manage it all extremely well. So, we're going to stop in to share our appreciation and sit down with several employees to learn about what it's like to be part of the massive machine that is the Nordstrom supply chain. Thanks for tuning in to episode 30. 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!

In this episode we've got a bit of a theme going on, centered around an amazing organization that's had an enormous impact on so many lives, including mine, and that's the Seattle Children’s Hospital. Later in the show we're going to talk about a benefit show that my wife and I created called SMooCH, which stands for Seattle Musicians for Children's Hospital, and to help tell that story I've brought in my good friend and return guest to The Nordy Pod, CEO of SubPop, Megan Jasper. But before that, I want to introduce you to another good friend of mine, an incredibly accomplished and remarkably compassionate individual, CEO of the Seattle Children's Hospital, Dr. Jeff Sperring. Now, I've wanted to have Dr. Sperring on the show for quite a while now, and not just because he's a fantastic CEO, but because Seattle Children's Hospital has had a particularly significant impact on my life. But comparable to my respect for the hospital itself is my esteem for the man who strives to maintain its reputation as one of the best children's hospitals in the country. For Dr. Sperring, becoming a physician was a dream that he chased down since the fifth grade. Raised in a family that displayed and encouraged service, he developed a strong desire to do good in the world. To pay for medical school, Dr. Sperring joined the Navy and, after training, served as one of only three pediatricians caring for roughly 4,000 Navy and Marine children on an army base in California. He then transitioned to Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis, where his superiors recognized his aptitude for leadership and recruited him into hospital administration, first as their Chief Medical Officer and then as their CEO. Dr. Sperring began zeroing in on potential dream jobs and took a swing at an open position as the CEO at Seattle Children's Hospital. It’s apparent that Dr. Sperring deserves each new opportunity he's been given as he talks about the incredible sense of purpose that accompanies his job. I'm super grateful to have had the chance to get to know him, and I'm certainly glad people like him exist in this world. Thanks for tuning in to episode 29. 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!

If you happened to catch the 2021 film House of Gucci starring Lady Gaga and Adam Driver, based on the dramatic real-life events of the Gucci family, then you also caught an interesting glimpse into the life of Domenico De Sole. But that's really just the tip of the iceberg. Born in a small Italian town to a General of the Royal Army, Domenico grew up knowing nothing about fashion, and says "it's a one-in-twenty-billion chance" that he’s wound up where he is today. Beginning his career as a lawyer after graduating from Harvard Law School, Domenico eventually entered the employ of one Rudolfo Gucci during a chaotic time when the family was fighting over shares of the business. Through a series of extraordinary events Domenico landed a much larger role in the company, taking over as CEO of the Gucci Group, ultimately saving it from near bankruptcy. Simultaneously Domenico championed a promising new up-and-coming fashion designer from America by the name of Tom Ford. And after leaving Gucci, Domenico helped Tom build his own brand from scratch, nurturing the company into a multi-billion-dollar business. That seems like enough to earn Domenico a place in the fashion hall of fame, but it still doesn't even scratch the surface of his impact on the industry. Our conversation took place at an annual convention for the National Retail Federation, and we had a limited time to speak on stage, but quite honestly, you couldn't cover half the stuff this man has done even if you had all day. But we managed to cover a lot of ground in our chat, so settle in for a taste of the incredible life of Domenico De Sole. Thanks for tuning in to episode 28. 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!

Gucci Westman has loved makeup since she was a little girl, seeing smiles on the faces of classmates as she gave makeovers on the bus ride to school. She pursued that passion, studying cosmetics in college and later moving to Los Angeles where she became a highly sought-after makeup artist for film and fashion magazines. She worked on projects with director Spike Jonze and has done makeup for big-name celebrities like Cameron Diaz, Drew Barrymore, Jennifer Anniston and Gwyneth Paltrow to name a few. This early success earned Gucci the artistic director position with established cosmetic giants Lancôme and Revlon, eventually launching her own beauty brand, Westman Atelier, with husband David Neville, a very successful and talented fashion entrepreneur in his own right. David has garnered industry respect and multiple awards through his previous partnership running fashion brand rag & bone and lends his business expertise to the couples ambitious beauty brand which offers customers 100% all-natural products at the highest eco-friendly and ethically sourced manufacturing standards. Gucci says creating Westman Atelier would’ve never worked without the implicit trust and teamwork between her and David, a mutual respect that becomes obvious if you spend any amount of time with them. You’re going to love listening to their story. Thanks for tuning in to episode 27. 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!

Inspired by the provocative lyrics of the influential hip-hop group NWA, an adolescent Ben Haggerty immediately fell in love with the genre, and soon became laser-focused on a career as a rap artist. Under the alias Macklemore, he slowly gained a loyal following through an emerging underground Seattle hip-hop scene and exposure through the local independent radio station KEXP. In collaboration with friend and producer Ryan Lewis, Ben’s career reached an entirely new level after the release of their massively successful album The Heist. Ushered by the viral music video for their hit song "Thrift Shop" and assisted by alt radio DJs across the US, Macklemore and Lewis launched to the top of the Billboard charts and won multiple Grammy Awards for Best New Artist, Best Rap Album, Best Rap Song and Best Rap Performance. Ben has continued to grow and collaborate with some of the industry’s top talent, expressing gratitude for his platform to speak about important issues and opportunities to make a positive impact on his community. In our conversation, Ben talks about the intensity of immediate fame, the absolute joy of performing, and the inherent entrepreneurial spirit responsible for his success. And on a surprisingly related tangent, you golfers out there can thank him for creating a whole new aesthetic to brandish out on the green. Thanks for tuning in to episode 26. 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!

Well folks, we’ve made it to another year, which also happens to mark the completion of one whole year of The Nordy Pod. We’ve had a lot of incredible guests on the show and heard some pretty remarkable stories from employees and customers alike. So, to celebrate the first anniversary of The Nordy Pod, we thought we’d take you on a little trip down memory lane to visit some of our favorite moments from 2022. Thanks for tuning in to episode 25. We hope you have a great holiday season and a happy New Year! 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!

As part of a very special holiday edition of The Nordy Pod, we've pulled together a variety of different Nordstrom leaders, from Events to Visuals to sales floor Department Managers, to give you a 360-degree view of all the things we do to give our customers a memorable holiday experience. You'll learn a bit about each of their positions, and also hear a few fun and bizarre stories from seasons past. And to top it all off we've even convinced Santa to take a break from his busy schedule to tell us about his experience coming to Nordstrom and meeting with children of all ages. So, grab a cup of hot chocolate and a warm blanket, and cozy up for some good ole holiday fun, the Nordstrom way! Thanks for tuning in to episode 24. We hope you have a great holiday season and a happy New Year! 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!

At this point you’ve undoubtedly caught wind of my side hustle as a bass player, and more generally my love for the unique community of musicians in and around Seattle. So in the spirit of that fondness, I’m super excited to share my conversation with local alt-rock legend and former lead singer for the band The Presidents of the United States of America, Chris Ballew. Chris started playing music from a very young age and, in the fertile soil of the Seattle music scene, had no trouble assembling bands of like-minded punk rock compatriots. One such band being the aforementioned—and super successful—The Presidents of the United States of America. You likely remember their catchy riffs and somewhat silly lyrics from hit songs like “Lump” and “Peaches” in the mid '90s, defining a style that even Madonna recognized as taking great care to appear as though they didn’t care at all. But the rise of The Presidents wasn’t Chris’s first brush with fame. Having found his way onto the tour bus of an up-and-coming singer/songwriter by the name of Beck, Chris learned valuable lessons about the music business and his own relationship to it. Chris isn’t interested in sacrificing time away from home and family to chase the spotlight. He’d rather enjoy the act of being creative in the moment. What happens after that is out of his hands. Thanks for tuning in to episode 23. 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!

If you enjoyed the last episode, you’ll be pleased to hear that we've compiled another great batch of mailbag submissions for you. Stories from job interviews to weddings and funerals, all the way to an Emmy Awards party wardrobe malfunction. And where some of these stories involve an interesting and unique problem for us to solve, others involve instances where we quite honestly just dropped the ball. We'll be the first to admit we're not perfect, which is why customer feedback is so valuable to us. Not only do we want to be made aware of our mistakes, but we also want to acknowledge our employees that go above and beyond to make a situation right. Passing these stories on through our company helps to strengthen our service culture, which ultimately makes us better. They also just make for great podcast material! So once again, settle in for more interesting stories from the Nordstrom Mailbag. Thanks for tuning in to episode 22. 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!

If you’ve been listening to The Nordy Pod for any amount of time, you’ve likely heard our speil about sending in your personal Nordstrom stories. Well, for this episode we’re finally tearing open the proverbial ‘Nordstrom Mailbag’ to share a few stories that have really stood out. You’ll hear a scent obsessed customer with an interesting business proposition, a wedding guest’s downhill battle with a staircase, a couple's race against the clock to catch a cruise ship, and a mischievous former employee recalling the good ole’ days. We had a lot of fun following up with these mailbag submissions, and we hope these stories inspire you to think back on your favorite Nordstrom experience and share it with us. Who knows, you may end up in a future episode! Thanks for tuning in to episode 21. 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!

This has come up a few times on The Nordy Pod. It’s no secret that I’m a sports fan, and particularly of basketball. I played a lot growing up, I’m involved in a mentorship program for the men’s basketball team at my alma mater The University of Washington, and for a short time, I was even a part-owner of the Seattle Supersonics and the Seattle Storm. So it should come as no surprise that I jumped at the opportunity to talk with Sue Bird, arguably the greatest athlete to ever play the game. And I’ve got to be honest, I was a little nervous before talking with Sue because she is such a big deal. I mean, her career is just filled with national and world championships. To give you some context, Sue was a 2 time State Champion in high school, she’s a 2 time NCAA Champion, she’s a 4 time WNBA Champion, she’s the WNBA’s all-time leader in seasons played, games played, assists, and All-Star appearances, she’s a 5 time Olympic gold medalist, a 4 time FIBA World Cup gold medalist, and I could go on and on. But aside from her amazing achievements on the court, she’s also an incredible social advocate for equality in women’s sports and women in general. We look back on Sue’s childhood to the source of her competitive spirit and hear about important lessons in leadership learned along the way. I had a really great time talking with Sue, and I know you’re going to love listening to her story. After my conversation with Sue, we’re going to give you a sneak peak at the next episode as we open wide the Nordstrom Mailbag! Thanks for tuning in to episode 20. 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!

Folks, I can't wait to share this conversation with you. Leonard Lauder is one of my all-time favorite people in our industry and a true legend. But despite being a member of the founding family and a major player in the growth of the multibillion-dollar Estée Lauder company, Leonard's really just a humble, down-to-earth guy. Now, to give you a little context on the size of the Estée Lauder company, you've likely used, or at least heard of, several of the massively successful beauty brands they've created or acquired since their conception. Brands like Clinique, MAC, La Mer, Bobbi Brown, Aveda, Jo Malone London, Tom Ford Beauty, Smashbox, Origins ... you get the picture. But this behemoth of a beauty company hasn't always been a household name. Leonard speaks fondly of early memories sitting in his highchair watching his parents mix beauty creams from their own kitchen. Since that time, Estée Lauder has revolutionized the cosmetics industry in so many ways that it's hard to imagine where we'd be without them. Leonard was a joy to talk with, and his story is filled with amazing insight for business leaders and laymen alike. After my chat with Leonard, we'll head over to our New York flagship store to chat with a super-talented salesperson by the name of Gregory Clark. Clark, as he goes by, has exceeded even his own expectations of what's possible in the men's shoe department by remaining humble and listening to the good advice of successful people around him. Thanks for tuning in to episode 19. 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!

In this episode we're going to hear from a few highly influential Nordstrom leaders, each helping to strengthen our culture in their own unique way. First, you'll hear from our Executive Vice President for Designer, Men's and Women's Apparel, Sam Lobban. We've wanted to have Sam on the podcast for a very long time now, because he's a super-interesting guy with a big job, and he's had a very unique journey through the fashion industry. Sam's interest in fashion first grew through its intersection with music in the London club scene, and he started working in retail as soon as he was old enough to work. Though he was mainly looking for a discount on clothes, he found a real passion for the job and has created a very successful career from it. He's gained a lot of great insight into the business as a whole and has become a real tastemaker in the industry—so much so that he randomly gets approached by iconic celebrities just because they like his style. But what's particularly valuable to us is his strong customer-centric philosophy and positive influence on the men and women he leads. As Sam puts it, "I'm really just a shop-floor guy." He's made a huge impact on our company and we're lucky to have him on our team. After that we'll hear from our Men's Fashion Director, Jian DeLeon. He's another super-talented guy whose role is to help connect Nordstrom to the larger cultural conversations around trend and fashion. He works with Sam and our buying teams to translate these conversations into meaningful stories for our customers. To wrap it all up, we'll learn about the service and selling power of social media from one of our top salespeople, Jesse James Barnholdt. He's found a way to expand his business far beyond the four walls of the store to reach customers all over the U.S. And he's found a way to do it in such a genuine and authentic way with customer relationships as the main focus. So, grab your notepads! This episode is packed full of quality insight into what makes successful retailing today. 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!

You likely already know Steve Madden’s name, either from the iconic "Big Head Girl" commercial from the late '90s or from seeing it printed on the side of the shoes sitting in your closet. But if it's not for the shoes, you may have heard his name mumbled through the lips of a drugged-up Jonah Hill in the big-budget Martin Scorsese film The Wolf of Wall Street. Seemingly out of nowhere, Steve Madden became one of the biggest names in the shoe business of the '90s and early 2000s. But the company's meteoric rise to fame met a brick wall when Steve took some seriously bad financial advice from a childhood friend, resulting in criminal convictions and a few years in prison. Steve tells his side of the story and further exposes his struggles with drug addiction in the documentary film Maddman: The Steve Madden Story and his reveal-all book The Cobbler. Since his release from prison in 2005, Steve has worked hard to put his life in order and get his company back on the right path. I've known Steve for a while now, but it's been a real pleasure getting to know him better through this conversation, and I know you're going to enjoy listening to his story. Thanks for tuning in to episode 17. 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!

We've gathered a handful of enthusiastic young adults from our current crop of interns to learn more about their experience working at our corporate center in Seattle. Their fresh perspective reveals valuable insight into our company and a new generation of shoppers. You'll also hear from a few current employees who got their start through our internship program. It's a fascinating look at how some people begin their journey with Nordstrom and what a career path can look like. 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!

We're breaking the mold again and spending this entire episode highlighting a super exciting new store opening at The Grove in LA. We've partnered with a very successful brand based in the UK called ASOS, which is novel because, up until now, ASOS has been sold exclusively online and has never actually been showcased in a physical store. They also have a singular focus on attracting customers in their 20s, so we're really excited to join forces and leverage each of our strengths to create something that's entirely new. Listen in as we hear from a variety of folks who each played a large part in bringing this store to life, including the Director of Wholesale and Partnerships at ASOS, our Senior Director of Strategic Brand Partnerships and our Visual Merchandising Planning Director. You'll also hear from the founders of two really cool and unique services that give the store an extra layer of excitement: Jason Markk of the famous shoe care service by the same name, and Ben Phillips of Lot, Stock & Barrel, which offers tailoring and customization. Settle in and enjoy an inside look at this all-new one-of-a-kind store. ASOS and Nordstrom at The Grove! 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!

So, a little backstory for you on the Nordy Pod. In our earliest conversations about starting a podcast, as we brainstormed what the theme might be and what we would even talk about, a particular service story immediately rose to the top: a story that occurred over 40 years ago at a Nordstrom store in Fairbanks, Alaska, in which an employee of ours—regardless of the fact that we are purely a clothing retailer—received a strange request from a customer to return a set of tires. This incredibly unique and seemingly unbelievable story has become somewhat of a legend around here and acts as an extreme example of what's possible when our employees are empowered to use their best judgment in every customer interaction. It's held such an important role in strengthening our whole customer service ethos that we initially thought we might just call the podcast itself The Tire Story Is True. But today, to bring it full circle, this episode is entirely dedicated to the Nordstrom Tire Story. To gain a little more context on the tire story, I first sit down to chat with Robert Spector, author of a series of books called The Nordstrom Way, which largely highlights the impact of our service culture on the overall success of the company. After that, we manage to track down the actual employee who took the return for the tires all those years ago to get his firsthand account of the events that day. And to finish off the episode, we have one more amazing customer story that you're just going to have to hear to believe. No doubt about it, folks—the tire story is true! Thanks for tuning in to episode 14. 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!

At this year's Global Department Store Summit, a conference that brings together CEOs and senior department store executives from every continent to discuss pressing topics facing our industry, I had the great opportunity to get on stage and interview Chip Bergh. Chip is an extremely talented guy with an impressive résumé, having held many high-level leadership positions at Procter & Gamble, growing well-known brands like Swiffer, Old Spice, Gillette and Folgers, to name a few. More recently, after joining Levi Strauss & Co. in 2011, Chip took on the challenge of revitalizing the iconic but aging denim brand, moving it back into the cultural spotlight that it once held. It's an insightful comeback story that will benefit any brand executive listening in. And aside from his commercial success, it was inspiring to hear Chip's unique perspective on the role of business in society. He has effectively used the platform afforded him as president of one of the world's largest apparel brands to promote action on some of the most important social issues of our time. After my conversation with Chip, you'll hear a pretty remarkable story told from the perspective of two employees, Manolo Gonzalez and Joey Capo—both present at one of our more unique and exciting store openings in Puerto Rico, and both dramatically affected by the devastating events that led to the closing of the store only a few years later. The resilience of these two employees and the many others around them stands as a heartening example of hope in the worst of situations, and we're proud to have played some part in offering relief as they found their way back on their feet. Thanks for tuning in to episode 13. 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!

In this episode we're going to mix things up a bit and interview two people at once: the founder and the chairwoman of the Fifteen Percent Pledge, Aurora James and Emma Grede. As the founder of Brother Vellies—a brand initially aimed at highlighting African artisan shoemakers—Aurora James learned exactly how difficult it is to gain traction as an up-and-coming company, particularly from the vantage point of an underrepresented segment of the population. So, in May of 2020 immediately following the death of George Floyd, when people began asking the question, "What can we do to help support the Black community?" Aurora came up with an idea called the Fifteen Percent Pledge. She took to Instagram to challenge large retailers to dedicate 15% of their shelf space to Black-owned businesses. Enter Emma Grede, herself held in high regard throughout the fashion industry, who messaged Aurora directly with an inspired conviction to help this idea grow. Emma, cofounder of the very successful brands Good American and SKIMS, brought her extensive business background and connections to the table, helping to grow the philanthropic initiative into a larger nonprofit organization. Together, Aurora and Emma have created tangible and sustainable change for Black-owned businesses with the goal of building long-lasting generational wealth in Black communities. Nordstrom is proud to have been an early adopter of the Fifteen Percent Pledge, and I'm super excited to help highlight this really important initiative that has made a big impact on our industry already. After that you're going to hear my chat with Shaina Shepherd, a real rising star in the Seattle music scene. I met her years ago as our bands crossed paths at various events, but more recently, as Nordstrom started trying to find some music to accompany our marketing campaigns, Shaina's name popped into my head as the perfect voice to attach to the particular song we chose. So, join me now as we learn a little more about her story and how she came to be sitting here with me today. Thanks for tuning in to Episode 12. We hope you enjoy! If you'd like to learn more about the amazing work that Aurora and Emma are doing through the Fifteen Percent Pledge, head to 15percentpledge.org. 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!

Back in Episode 2, I sat down with my brother Erik and our cousin Jamie, and we talked more broadly about the company and the Nordstrom name. This time it's just me and Erik, and we're diving deeper into some of the more intimate details of growing up and working together in the family business. I really enjoyed this opportunity to sit and chat with Erik as we reminisced about our shared journey and about our older brother Blake while he was still with us. For those of you who don't know, Blake passed away unexpectedly in 2019. It was a jarring situation for us personally, but also for the company. We're pretty close in age and we followed a pretty similar path growing up through the business, but Blake really deserves the lion's share of the credit for holding us together as a unit and making sure we were aligned in our presentation to the company and to the public. He's very missed, both by the family and by our colleagues, so it was fun for Erik and I to sit and talk about Blake in this way. It's a difficult subject for us, but there's a lot to celebrate about the legacy that he's left and the impression he's made on so many people. After that we have something special that we'd like to share called the John W. Nordstrom Award. We give this award annually to a manager who has displayed exceptional service over a long period of time. We don't typically broadcast these types of things outside our four walls, but we thought, "Hey, we've got a podcast now! Why not honor this person's efforts on a larger stage?" Thanks for tuning in to episode 11. 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!

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. 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!