Nordstrom
Founded 1901
John W. Nordstrom was born on February 15, 1871, in Alvik Neder Lulea,Sweden. Nordstrom's father,a blacksmith,wagon maker,and part-time farmer,died when Nordstrom was six. At the age of eight, John stopped attending school to work
on the family's farm. In 1887, Nordstrom left Sweden for the United States. He arrived in New York with $5 in his pocket, and unable to speak a word of English.
John W. Nordstrom endured many hardships. He worked in mines, logging camps, loading railroad ties, and carting bricks. In 1896, he settled in Arlington, Washington. In 1897, he traveled to Alaska and the Klondike in search of gold. In 1899, he returned to Seattle with $13,000 of hard earned money that he wanted to invest. While in Alaska, Nordstrom had met Carl F. Wallin, a Seattle shoemaker. They formed a partnership and opened a shoe store in Seattle. The store opened in 1901 with the name of Wallin & Nordstrom. The business thrived and in 1923, they expanded opening a second store in Seattle’s University District.
In 1900, Nordstrom married Hilda Carlson, another Swedish immigrant living in Seattle. They had five children, Everett, Elmer, Lloyd, Mabel, and Esther. During the years, the business expanded several times. Everett and Elmer began working in the store as stock boys. In 1928, John Nordstrom sold them his interest in the store. Although officially retired at age 57, John Nordstrom maintained an office at the store for the rest of his life. Wallin retired in 1929 and sold his share of the business to the Nordstrom sons, who renamed the store Nordstrom. The third son, Lloyd, joined the team in 1933. The Nordstrom sons began stocking high-quality merchandise and worked with suppliers to obtain the best values, unique items and a wide selection of styles and prices. Under the management of Nordstrom's three sons, the business grew to be the largest independent shoe chain in the United States. By the early 1960s, Nordstrom's four-story Seattle store was the largest shoe store in the United States.
Nordstrom pioneered into apparel when it bought Best’s Apparel Inc., in 1963. Best’s was a specialty chain that carried women’s designer clothing. The growth continued and soon Nordstrom stores carried men’s apparel, children’s wear, accessories, and cosmetics. On October 11, 1963, John Nordstrom died in Seattle, Washington at the age of 92.In 1966, the company’s name was changed to Nordstrom Best. In 1968, Nordstrom's sons turned the business over to their sons. In 1971, the company went public and in 1973, it dropped the name “Best” from its name and formally changed it to Nordstrom, Inc. In the 1970s, Nordstrom Inc. expanded into Alaska, California, and the East Coast. Around the same time, the first Nordstrom Rack store opened in Seattle as a clearance center for Full-Line Store merchandise.
In the 1990s, Nordstrom had become one of America’s largest family-owned businesses. In 1995, six members of the fourth generation of Nordstrom’s were named co-presidents. Today, President Blake Nordstrom and his executive team manage the company.
Nordstrom is today one of the leading fashion retailers in the United States. It sells mens and womens apparel, footwear, furniture, bedding, beauty products, housewares and jewelry. Nordstrom's commitment to outstanding customer service is legendary.
