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BOCA RATON ESCORTSSHOPPING NEWS FOR BOCA RATON ESCORTS Nordstrom, the Seattle chain that built its reputation on customer service, is making its debut in Florida. The company opens its Boca Raton store at 10 a.m. at the Town Center Mall. WhileBoca Raton may be foreign territory, Nordstrom executives think they can adapt to the new environment. "I'm sure we'll make our share of mistakes," said Pete Nordstrom, president of full-line stores, during a store tour Thursday. "We want to be here and learn, listen and respond." In retailing, Nordstrom -- which has 75 full-line department stores in 23 states -- is the gold standard in service. Nevertheless, it's been stumbling in recent years, as it struggles with the challenge of attracting younger customers while retaining its traditional customers. Neiman Marcus opens a new store in Palm Beach this month. And Town Center opens a new wing of stores today, and changes at the mall include a newly renovated Saks Fifth Avenue and Burdines. Nordstrom's closest store is in Atlanta, but it hopes to build three more stores here over the next few years: in Tampa, Coral Gables and Orlando. The South Florida store has a few new wrinkles. It has the chain's first swim suit and resort department. It doesn't need one in Washington state, where only the hardy swim in the ocean. The Boca store is only the second to sell bath linens. Unlike most department stores, Nordstrom sells mostly clothing and accessories, and hardly any home furnishings. But the Boca store won't just be selling towels, it will be selling Bonjour of Switzerland towels at $60 each. Despite Nordstrom's reputation as the epitome of good service, Nordstrom the company has been in a slump in recent years. The company's first non-Nordsrom chief executive, John Whitacre, was removed in August, and Nordstrom family members were re-installed in many of the company's top positions. Pete Nordstrom, 38, is the son of Chairman Bruce Nordstrom and brother of President Blake Nordstrom. Many of the problems were linked to the chain's inability to get the right merchandise mix. Last year, the chain was criticized as being too stodgy to attract younger audiences. Earlier this year, the chain launched a "Reinventing Yourself" promotion that has been phased out because it alienated many of its loyal traditional customers, especially in its home base of the Northwest. Now Nordstrom is trying to strike the right balance between the traditional and the contemporary. Pete Nordstrom begged off specific questions about how the chain planned to attack its problems, because it has scheduled a Dec. 6 announcement on strategy. "How can we evolve and attract a new customer without disturbing the traditional customer we've had all along?" he asked rhetorically. "Service and quality are an ageless, timeless way of doing business." Besides those historic strengths, Nordstrom also focuses on shoes. The chain started in 1901 as a shoe store -- it's best known for its women's shoes and it 80,000 pairs of shoes in stock at the Boca Raton store. The department that covers about a quarter of the main floor. But the new store does address the traditional-contemporary stylings dilemma. On the second floor, home of women's clothing, half the floor is traditional clothing, with wood decor and muted colors. Half is contemporary clothing, with brighter decor and painted laminate designs. It's to give the two departments a clear identity, so customers can follow their interests, said spokeswoman Brooke White. South Florida customers will also have to get used to a strict sales schedule. Instead of the "60 PERCENT OFF EVERYTHING!" sales some shoppers love, Nordstrom has only three sales a year. November is fall closeout sale for women's clothing. June is spring closeout for men's clothing. And July is the store-wide anniversary sale. |
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