All in the Family
Top brand partners sound off on the retailer’s winning strategy — from brand mix to stellar service.
CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN Founder and designer, Christian Louboutin
“Nordstrom has been a great partner for the past decade. Being both family businesses, we share important values such as independence, creativity and a personalized approach. [My new] capsule, developed exclusively for them, revisits some of my core inspirations, such as foreign cultures, decorative arts and architecture.”
NEIL CLIFFORD CEO, Kurt Geiger
“Nordstrom’s arrival in New York is genuinely great for the city. They bring a modern product edit and extraordinary service levels. We recently had the whole accessories team in London, where we spent hours brainstorming on how we can maintain our growth. It’s a relationship built on constant support with a mutual love of product and fashion.”
DAVID KAHAN CEO, Birkenstock Americas
“We believe they will set a new standard for what [shoppers] will expect, especially hard-to-please New Yorkers. No one does service better than Nordstrom. They are able to bridge the luxury, contemporary and comfort segments of the business. They put it all together and make the jigsaw puzzle flow beautifully on the retail floor.
SUSAN ITZKOWITZ President, Marc Fisher Footwear
“We love that Nordstrom is treating this flagship as more of a local department store, and not necessarily as a tourist attraction. They’ve focused on making the store a beautiful destination for New Yorkers to shop. They’re making shopping fun again. Nordstrom is our premier partner for Marc Fisher LTD, so we’re excited to now have them right in our neighborhood. From the beginning, they’ve understood and embraced the vision for the brand.”
SIMON NANKERVIS CEO and president, Camuto Group
“They bring retail and accessibility to fashion on the city’s Upper West Side. But it’s more than that because Nordstrom is not only a department store, it’s a brand that has set the bar for customers’ expectations. They make shopping fun, exciting and a journey. It’s about the deliberateness in the way in which they curate assortments and innovate. This new iteration of the brand will bring a sense of adventure to
the department store scene. The Nordstrom family has been amazing supporters of the Camuto Group since its founding by Vince nearly 20 years ago. They embraced and supported our team as we went through changes in the past year — and welcomed me into the Nordstrom family.”
MARSHALL CHEEK SVP of Americas wholesale and global licensing, Tory Burch
“The energy is palpable, and the physical space is stunning. Factor in a well-curated assortment from a mix of vendors, and you have a shopping destination that will surely resonate with the New York customer. We are excited to offer a unique personalization concept in our handbag shop, as well as an exclusive footwear capsule. Nordstrom has been a great partner to us. Like Tory Burch, it is a family business and there is incredible alignment between our companies. They share our unrelenting focus on innovation and customer service.”
LISA KIM VP of U.S. wholesale, Dr. Martens
“Nordstrom will elevate and strengthen consumer connectivity for brands in the city. Shoppers are craving the personalized shopping experience that Nordstrom in New York can execute. The retailer’s obsession with elevating the customer experience pushes brands to think outside the box. The Nordstrom team is driven, hardworking, authentic to their brand and to their customers.”
MARY ALICE MALONE Founder and creative director, Malone Souliers
“The company has a good feel. They buy brands well, so you’re well represented within the store. They’re also quite approachable. It’s not a ‘you can’t sit with us’ kind of company. It’s a nice place to be, a nice atmosphere.”
MARINA LARROUDÉ Head of Schutz
“I’m Brazilian and have been based in New York for the last 17 years, so my personal experience with Nordstrom was mainly online. When I visited the new flagship, it gave me goosebumps. Thousands of people were browsing the store, shopping, testing new experiences, eating at the restaurants. It was such a strong and positive energy. In a world where everyone is talking about retail and how to make it relevant, I could see that reality.”
LEE COX VP of global marketing and sales, Hoka One One
“Nordstrom is synonymous with exceptional consumer experience and they have excelled at placing the consumer first. At Hoka, we share the same philosophy, and we are excited to see our partnership further blossom in 2019 and beyond.”
JEFFREY KALINSKY Founder, Jeffrey; designer fashion director, Nordstrom
“Our new Manhattan flagship is like no other store in New York. We offer something to customers that did not exist.”
ZOE SALDANA Actress
“Nordstrom provides their products to people from all walks of life. It’s a wonderful experience. We are living in an era where experience is everything. I love the fact that Nordstrom is tapping into that."
KATIE HOLMES Actress
“I’m so excited Nordstrom is here. I grew up going to the store because I’m a Midwesterner. They are such nice people, the Nordstrom family. And it’s a beautiful space.”