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NEW YORK, United States — Nordstrom Inc.'s plan to open a smaller store concept with no merchandise isn't sitting well with investors.
The shares suffered their worst decline in more than a month after the department-store chain announced the new “neighbourhood-hub” shop, which will open on October 3 in West Hollywood, California. The idea is to let customers try on clothing and accessories with the help of a personal stylist. If shoppers like what they see, they can order the goods and have them delivered.
The move embraces a model used by upstarts such as Warby Parker and Bonobos, which generally rely on e-commerce but have boutiques where customers can touch and feel the wares. Smaller shops in urban areas also are less reliant on shopping-mall traffic to fuel sales.
But Nordstrom is an upscale chain known for its selection and service, so the minimalist approach was puzzling to investors. On a day when shares of most major retailers were climbing, Nordstrom fell as much as 5.4 percent to $43.59. The stock had been down 3.8 percent this year through the end of last week.
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The new store, called Nordstrom Local, will encompass one styling suite, eight dressing rooms and a central meeting space where customers can talk to personal stylists. Services at the location include onsite alterations and tailoring, same-day delivery and manicure services. Customers can even have a glass of wine or beer.
“We know there are more and more demands on a customer’s time and we wanted to offer our best services in a convenient location,” Shea Jensen, Nordstrom’s senior vice president of customer experience, said in a statement. “Finding new ways to engage with customers on their terms is more important to us now than ever.”
The opening of a single 3,000-square-foot (280-square-meter) store represents a low-risk experiment for the company, which typically operates stores of 140,000 square feet.
Department stores have been scrambling to overhaul their operations after years of slowing sales. Macy’s Inc., J.C. Penney Co. and Sears Holdings Corp. have been closing hundreds of locations and trying to beef up their online operations.
Nordstrom hasn’t been hit as hard by the industry downturn. In August, the company reported a same-store sales gain of 1.7 percent. Analysts had predicted a drop of 0.5 percent.
Still, Nordstrom is working on a turnaround that may include taking the company private. In June, the Nordstrom family said it was considering a buyout, which would provide the opportunity to improve sales and test new concepts out of public markets.
By Alexandra Stratton; Editor: Lisa Wolfson
