Nordstrom expanding 'Local' stores

Nordstrom Local, the retailer’s merchandise-free concept, is expanding with a new location in the Los Angeles neighborhood of Brentwood and another in Downtown L.A..

The 1,200-square-foot Brentwood store, described as having a feminine ambiance, will focus on styling and alterations, according to a company press release emailed to Retail Dive. The 2,200-square-foot downtown store, with a more industrial interior and grab-and-go food, will offer on-site concierge and barber services through Baxter of California, and shoe, handbag and luggage repair from a local cobbler. Both will be furnished by Anthropologie Home and offer dry cleaning services.

At the same time, the retailer has unveiled a new “Get It Fast” option through its app for certain areas of the city, Nordstrom said. The feature provides a real-time view of available inventory, and customers can choose in-store pickup or free next-day shipping from a Nordstrom or Nordstrom Local store.

In the early days of e-commerce, showrooming was the bane of most retailers’ existence, as shoppers went to stores to evaluate merchandise but buy it elsewhere (usually for less) online.

Those days are evolving for most major retailers, and not just because prices and sales between the channels are better aligned, but also because Bonobos, Nordstrom Local and others have seized the concept for themselves, and taken it to an art form. Los Angeles is already a strong market for the department store, making it an ideal place for further experimentation.

Retail Dive