Nordstrom (JWN) Inaugurates New Full-line Store in Florida - Analyst Blog

Taking its store expansion initiative a step forward, Nordstrom Inc. (JWN), on Friday, announced the opening of its latest full-line store in Northeast Florida.

Located at St. Johns Town Center in Jacksonville, FL, the store marks the opening of Nordstrom’s first full-line store at a prestigious mall like the St. Johns Town Center. The new store features the company’s latest interior and exterior design concepts along with a full-service restaurant and improved beauty experience.

The two-level, 124,000 square feet store is designed to feature five shoe departments, a bistro-style restaurant called Bazille, an espresso bar, expansive cosmetics and accessories areas and a comprehensive offering of popular brand names for women, men and children. The popular brands available at the store include Michael Kors, Kate Spade New York, Stuart Weitzman, Vince, Joie, Ted Baker London, Diane Von Furstenberg, Rebecca Taylor and Alice + Olivia. Additionally, exclusive brands for the Jacksonville area include NARS, MAC, Bobbi Brown, Giorgio Armani, La Mer, Chanel and Dior, as well as brands like Jo Malone, Creed, Tom Ford fragrances and Chantecaille.

Apart from the popular brands, the Jacksonville store offers the company’s newest design concepts that include natural light, wood finishes and other modern updates. The store also renders special services like an in-store alterations and tailoring, certified bra and shoe fitters, complimentary shopping and styling services offered by a Personal Stylist.

Additionally, two food options like Bazille, a full-service bistro-style restaurant; and the Ebar, offering handcrafted coffee drinks and grab-and-go food choices, further enhance shopping experience at the store.

The opening of this store kicked off with a Beauty Bash held in the parking lot just outside the store. At the bash, customers got a sneak peek at the new products and trends from top beauty brands while enjoying the privilege of learning the latest beauty tips and tricks from Nordstrom’s beauty experts. Further, the first customers to walk through the store’s doors received a warm welcome from more than 400 employees.

Nordstrom’s focus on store expansion is evident from the series of Rack store openings since the beginning of fiscal 2014. Its latest store openings signify the company’s commitment toward strengthening its network with the aim of driving top-line growth.

During first half of the fiscal 2014, the company opened 11 new Rack stores, expanding the total company store count to 271 from 248 at the end of second-quarter fiscal 2013. For fiscal 2014, this Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) company plans to further expand its store base by opening 16 stores in the remaining period.

Other Stocks to Consider

Some better-ranked stocks in the same industry are Citi Trends Inc. (CTRN), Christopher & Banks Corp. (CBK) and DSW Inc. (DSW), all carrying a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy).

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