Pete Nordstrom
Co-President, Nordstrom Inc.
As a fourth generation owner of the fashion retailer, he has led strategic acquisitions to expand its merchandise and digital prowess.
A fourth generation member of the Nordstrom family, Pete Nordstrom has served as executive vice president of Nordstrom Inc. since 2000 and as president of the store’s merchandising department since 2006, before being appointed as co-president in 2015. A leading fashion retailer, Nordstrom operates in 310 locations within the US and Canada, running 119 full-line branches and 183 Nordstrom Racks.
Officially joining the company in 1978 at the age of 16, Pete worked within the shoe departments as a sales assistant during summer breaks from the University of Washington where he obtained a degree in English. Joining the company full time at the age of 21, Pete steadily worked his way upward and in 1995 was promoted to his first office of co-president of the company. Prior to being appointed as president of the merchandising department, Pete also held the position of director of merchandising strategy and executive vice president of the full line stores.
During his time serving at the helm of the company, Pete has overseen several strategic acquisitions that have added to Nordstrom’s market prominence within the fashion industry. In 2005, the company acquired majority stake holdings in luxury fashion boutique Jeffrey’s, with locations in Atlanta and New York, and in 2011 extended their digital strategy through the acquisition of Hautelook.com, a members only ‘limited-time’ sales event offering discounts of up to 75 percent on fashion labels. The group opened a men’s store in Manhattan in April 2018 and launched a women’s location across the street in the fall of 2019. It was an early adapter of experiential retail, taking an omnichannel approach to its stores.
VITAL STATISTICS
What is The BoF 500?
The people shaping the global fashion industry, curated by the editors of The Business of Fashion, based on nominations and on-the-ground intelligence from around the world.
ExploreWhat is The BoF 500?
The people shaping the global fashion industry, curated by the editors of The Business of Fashion, based on nominations and on-the-ground intelligence from around the world.
Explore
Activists Pushed Retailers to Back Black-Owned Brands. Here’s How Nordstrom Responded.
The American department store aims to sell $500 million worth of products from Black and Latino brands and diversify its management. Executives tell BoF how they plan to stay on track.
Designers Lobby to ‘Fix’ the Fashion System. Will It Work?
In recent weeks, three different groups of designers and retailers have proposed shifts to the industry’s product delivery and discounting calendars in a bid to create healthier, more profitable businesses. Can they pull it off?
Should Fashion Skip a Season?
The risks and rewards of not producing the Autumn/Winter 2020 collections.
Nordstrom CEO on the Store of the Future
A fourth-generation member of the Nordstrom family, Pete Nordstrom is rolling out more of the American department store’s smaller formats in a bid to optimise the omnichannel experience by reducing friction and harnessing the power of the local neighbourhood.
Nordstrom CEO on the Store of the Future
A fourth-generation member of the Nordstrom family, Pete Nordstrom is rolling out more of the American department store’s smaller formats in a bid to optimise the omnichannel experience by reducing friction and harnessing the power of the local neighbourhood.
Uniting Industry Leaders at New York Fashion Week
BoF and Nordstrom hosted an intimate dinner to celebrate fashion week, bringing together a series of industry insiders.
Power Moves | Nordstrom Appoints Chief Merchandising Officer, YNAP-Alibaba Joint Venture Names CEO
This week, Nordstrom appoints its first chief merchandising officer, Fengmao, a joint venture between YNAP and Alibaba, names its CEO.
The Billionaire Who Backed Michael Kors Is Investing in Influencer Arielle Charnas
Charnas, whose licensing deal with Nordstrom is ending, has raised $10 million from Silas Chou and other investors to start a lifestyle brand headed by Naadam co-founder Matt Scanlan.
Why Nordstrom Stopped Reporting Same-Store Sales
The department store chain abandoned the metric, considered a gold standard for gauging a retailer’s health, after a brutal quarter. But Nordstrom may also be looking ahead to a more-digital future.
Fashion Embraces Optimism at the #BoF500 Gala
Carine Roitfeld, Tommy Hilfiger, Alexi Lubomirski, Bella and Gigi Hadid and other leaders from around the world celebrated the #BoF500 during New York Fashion Week.
Nordstrom, the Last Great American Department Store?
What was once a humble regional chain is now, to some, the great hope of multi-brand shopping in the US. But is Nordstrom’s fun-loving, high-low merchandising strategy enough to withstand the retail apocalypse?
More Retailers
What is The BoF 500?
The people shaping the global fashion industry, curated by the editors of The Business of Fashion, based on nominations and on-the-ground intelligence from around the world.
Official Partner
