I like this concept a lot and have predicted it myself. The store of the future will be smaller with less take-it-home-now items because of the continuing improvement in same-day delivery. This retail concept will keep costs down such as rent, staff and inventory. The only concern is how much ahead of its time Nordstrom may be. LA is the place to test this, but I feel we’re still a good 10 years away if not longer before the “go to the store to see it and touch but not to get it” concept becomes the norm.

Nordstrom is missing a key point. Innovation is great. Having small-footprint pickup and try-on centers is great. However Nordstrom should also put in a few immediate pickup, high sell-velocity items that match the style of those using these drop-in centers. Part of the value proposition of omnichannel retail is that on an in-store pickup, 58 percent of customers buy more goods. Have a few display mannequins, sellable wall art and additional complementary items that the shopper can add to their purchase. It will increase the basket size and enhance the experience.

That Nordstrom is executing this experiment is a highly positive development for brick-and-mortar retailing. Retail stores, especially department stores and grocery stores, need to change. New designs and configurations are necessary, because, after the difficulties of the past couple of years, the stores of the past and present are not performing. This store concept addresses a number of issues, the most pertinent being the online selling aspect. This store may or may not work or be profitable, but it is a refreshing move in the right direction and may lead to something innovative that will work.

I love the concept of a personal stylist. And I applaud the effort to personally connect with customers.

However I am unsure how a lack of inventory will play with the customer. Certainly if you get fitted for clothing, it requires alterations. So I don’t see leaving the store without your purchase as a problem. But if a customer is taking the time to visit the store, I would think they would want to see all of their options.

This probably has selective appeal. I am not certain it has mass appeal.

This concept will be interesting to watch and see how consumers react.

Drinking and buying. That is an advantage for the retailer. The communal low-key relaxed shopping environment may present some opportunities for Nordstrom to differentiate but the instant satisfaction of walking out with something may be too much to overcome. Time will tell on this one.

While this is an interesting idea for Nordstrom, it will be sales that determine its success or failure. I do think the concept would be successful in a few cities, mostly those that have “Housewives of [name your city]” TV shows as a start! However it will not appeal to those who have immediate need for an item. If it lasts a year or more I would be surprised.

The concept and model is excellent, the West Hollywood location is horrible. First, it is exciting to see Savile Row bottled as a bespoke shop for men. Offering features from custom consultation is what made Men’s Wearhouse grow so fast so the elements are there. However, like Savile Row, this model can only be sustained in a high-density big city like Hong Kong, Boston, New York, Chicago or Miami — not West Hollywood.

Kudos to Nordstrom for putting shoppers and service at the center of the retail model instead of inventory. The use of VR tools to enable shoppers to visualize themselves in various styles would help, as would mannequins of realistic skin tones and proportions. Invite influencers, ramp up the social interaction and keep track of how the word spreads. This could be a very real and viable beginning of something that’s very different but effective!

As with the other commentators I applaud Nordstrom for trying new experiences and formats. If they can solve the problem of what jeans fit you better as you age they will have done something good!

Nordstrom goes Seinfeld. It is a show about nothing.

No this isn’t a store about nothing; it is a showroom. Some might call it Bonobos. Back in the day it was Service Merchandise. It is a living catalog.

When did “retail experience” become reduced to just “place?” Not fulfilling the transaction at the point of sale is fine for some shopping goals, but not all. What shopper goals these stores will fulfill and how to retain or grow share of wallet needs to be sorted out.
We are in an amazing place. On one hand there are showrooms and on the other there is same-day delivery. We are plumbing the long tail of shopper expectations.

Seems to be more true than ever, “retail ain’t for sissies!”

While the concept of a “no merchandise” store seems economically unsustainable, it may make sense when considering the real “problem” Nordstrom is attempting to solve. There are a great many people that prefer a curated, high-service consultative experience when purchasing their apparel and health and beauty products. For many, buying online and shipping to their home doesn’t address the next step of the process. However, for categories such as tailored clothing, getting expert alterations and assistance with coordinating an outfit is exactly what they want. The local “third-space” aspect may well increase the number of 1:1 relationships between customers and associates and if those associates are doing their clienteling work, it should increase frequency, conversion and average transaction size. This is not dissimilar to the small high-service custom apparel shops that exist today. These retailers don’t have a stitch of ready-to-wear clothing but often see +$1000 per square foot revenue and an intensely loyal clientele. The future of retail depends on new ideas and formats designed from a customer point of view. Kudos to Nordstrom… Read more »

Maybe I’m not understanding this idea, but won’t it make the shopping trip longer than just browsing, trying on, selecting, buying, then taking it home? Going back to the store to pick the item up isn’t a convenience. This concept is best for someone with lots of time on their hands.

This as an interesting and valuable experiment, but I remain a skeptic on the long-term viability of such a store concept. I struggle to recall a successful implementation of this. As others have pointed out, it requires multiple trips (unless the customer is OK with home delivery) and there is a lost opportunity for impulse buying.

Also, so much of apparel shopping is about discovery. The size of the store would limit SKUs given that they would need significant inventory just to cover the sizes. Potentially, this could work better for male shoppers (think Men’s Warehouse) who require less clothing diversity.

On the plus side, I think they will learn a great deal about customers’ tolerance for delayed gratification and perceived value around service levels. There are also “stylistically challenged” people like me who will find value here — note the growing trend for “wardrobe in a box” online. I suspect Nordstrom will take valuable insights back to their more traditional stores to see the value at scale.

The shopper can’t immediately get their purchase, shopper has to try on “samples” (yuck), retailer has to supplement the supply chain with stylist visiting local stores to pick up merchandise, etc. What about this concept works for either the shopper or the retailer? Nordstrom already has a great in-store experience to offer shoppers, so I’m not sure why they would want to create a knock-off experience. The savings in real estate and inventory cost don’t balance out the scale.