The Business of Fashion
Agenda-setting intelligence, analysis and advice for the global fashion community.
Agenda-setting intelligence, analysis and advice for the global fashion community.
Nordstrom Inc forecast full-year revenue below Wall Street estimates on Thursday, signaling high inflation levels were dampening consumer spending on discretionary items while the retailer decided to discontinue its Canadian business operations to drive profitability.
Stubbornly high inflation has resulted in higher rental, food and consumer prices, pushing consumers especially at the lower income rung to shop at discount stores and off-price retailers that offer products at affordable prices than at department stores or specialty retailers.
Nordstrom has seen steady demand from higher income consumers who helped boost sales for the retailer’s full-price stores. However, analysts expect consumers are being more selective in their purchasing due to an uncertain macro environment.
In January, Nordstrom saw lower-income consumers, Rack’s core base, have cut back on spending on non-essentials as recession fears swirl, while efforts to capture a shift to trading down have been hampered by inventory problems sparked by the pandemic-induced supply disruptions.
The company projects fiscal 2023 revenue to fall 4% to 6%, while analysts on average expect a 0.07% rise.
The department store chain forecast fiscal 2023 adjusted profit per share of $1.80 to $2.20, while analysts on average expect $1.94 per share, according to Refinitiv IBES data.
Shares of the company fell marginally in after market trade.
By Ananya Mariam Rajesh
Learn more:
Why Nordstrom Appears to Be Pivoting Away From Influencers
Influencers helped turn Nordstrom’s Anniversary Sale into a major moment for the department store. This year, they say the retailer is leaning less on social media marketing, leading some creators to downplay the annual event.
As digital advertising costs climb, fashion brands are embracing events like in-store happy hours, trunk shows and parties in various formats to generate brand awareness and drive sales.
The activewear brand’s revenue rose 24 percent year-over-year to $2 billion, reflecting growth driven by China, a successful loyalty programme and new categories
In a post-Covid retail landscape where consumers are seduced by the convenience of e-commerce, brands are introducing technology in store in an attempt to replicate that ease.
A potential US debt default threatens to spoil a surprisingly strong run by major retailers, which are seeing resilient consumer spending.