There won’t be a ribbon cutting but early anticipation indicates U.S retailer Nordstrom doesn’t need one. They will be a welcome addition to the city.
Opening on September 19th, popular high-end merchant Nordstrom will be opening its first Canadian store right here in Calgary in the 140,000 square foot, two-floor retail space where Sears used to reside in Chinook Centre.
As hundreds of new employees are being trained, anticipation is building for when the store first opens its doors in Calgary, according to Nordstrom spokesperson John Bailey, who recently gave a media tour of the new addition on the Calgary shopping scene. Nordstrom is being touted as more luxurious than The Bay but less so than Holt Renfrew.
"We consider ourselves a broad-based retailer because we carry a wide variety of merchandise for our customers," Bailey says. "They are going to find merchandise that is accessible in price, and others with a designer price point. What we’ve learned from our customers is that they like to have the choice."
While the opening will be exciting, Bailey says there won’t be a ribbon-cutting due to superstition. They want to make sure they get everything right, and make the consumer happy, before they ‘pat themselves on the back’.
That viewpoint might be inspired by the struggles American giant Target had when they rolled out dozens of stores in the Canadian market, many of which have failed. Nordstrom is taking a slower approach. Calgary will be the first location of six across Canada with over 500 employees ready to open the doors to eager shoppers.
Nordstrom first opened in Seattle in 1901, making its claim-to-fame as a popular shoe store, and growing from there to include clothes and accessories for the entire family. The store also offers personal stylist alterations, a tailor shop, two restaurants, certified shoe and bra fitters, as well as the newest design concepts.
"Since our customers’ definition of service constantly changes, we’re evolving our store environments to help us remain modern and relevant with our customers," Bailey says. "Our store will feature a clean, beautiful, single-surface floor throughout the store to give us the flexibility to adjust and evolve departments depending on what our Calgary customers want over time."
"The store environment will create a sense of discovery, allowing customers to navigate easily and to find new brands they haven’t experienced before," he adds. "We are also incorporating natural light throughout the store to connect the shopping experience in store to the outside world."
Nordstrom at Chinook Centre will feature eight personal stylists whose services are complimentary, as well as beauty stylists in the cosmetics area. The retailer is set to carry many popular brands including Diesel, Burberry, Michael Kors, Calvin Klein, Chanel, Levi’s, Volcom and many more.
Canada’s first Nordstrom location is the latest addition to Calgary’s expanding American-retailer market, with Target and most recently Marshalls making the climb north.
