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The Nordy Pod — Business
The Nordy Pod

Hi, I’m Pete Nordstrom, and I’m the host of The Nordy Pod, a new podcast coming to you from the 6th floor of Nordstrom corporate headquarters in Seattle, Washington. In addition to hosting this podcast, I also happen to be the president of Nordstrom. And along with my brother Erik, CEO, and my cousin Jamie, President of Stores, we’re the fourth-generation stewards of this business started by my great grandfather in 1901.

My Nordstrom journey began when I was 12 years old with my first job working in the stockroom. And along the way, I’ve met so many incredible people, from iconic artists and CEOs to cultural and community leaders and fashion entrepreneurs—as well as many of our thousands of employees and millions of customers.

One thing I’ve found helpful in running a company and hosting a podcast is the importance of having a strong sense of curiosity. Over the years, I’ve found myself in some very interesting conversations with people I greatly admire. These cumulative experiences have really enriched my life, and with The Nordy Pod, I’m excited to have the opportunity to share both professional and personal experiences with you.

So join me on a journey as I take you deep into a business that also happens to be a public company. You’ll go behind the scenes with me and hear firsthand exactly what I do in my day job, warts and all, in the hopes of making a human connection with every episode.

Copyright: © 2022

Latest Episodes:

Ep 31. Bob Love, NBA Legend of the Chicago Bulls & Former Nordstrom Employee Mar 27, 2023

Show notes

Bob Love dreamed of playing professional basketball when he was a little kid. Listening to games over the radio he would practice his jump shot, tossing a rolled-up ball of his grandfather’s smelly old socks into a wire coat hanger he stole from his grandmother's closet. Humble beginnings for a man who would later become one of the greatest players of all time. Honing his skills through high school, Bob was destined for more than his small Louisiana hometown could offer. And despite struggling with a debilitating speech impediment, he became the first person in his entire family to go to college. After graduating Bob spent the first year of his professional career playing in a minor league, earning the Rookie of the Year award and making him very difficult for NBA recruiters to overlook. Bob’s dream of playing in the NBA was finally realized in 1966, playing a few short years in Cincinnati, then in Milwaukee, until he eventually found a long-term home with the Chicago Bulls. During his nine-year stay with the Bulls, Bob led the team in scoring for seven straight seasons, had three All Star appearances and set multiple records, some that still stand to this day. He still holds third place in points scored for the Bulls, just under Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen, and his is one of only a handful of retired numbers hanging in the United Center today. As a kid I remember watching Bob play on TV and interestingly enough he wound up playing a portion of his last season in the NBA in 1977 with the Seattle Supersonics. But his life took a dramatic turn after his basketball career ended. Bob says he found himself in an unfamiliar city, struggling to find work. The speech impediment that plagued him his entire life didn’t affect his ability to score points, but it did make it near impossible to find a job off the court. The next chapter of Bob's life would actually bring him to Nordstrom of all places, working downtown in our restaurant washing dishes and bussing tables. And though I wasn’t old enough at the time to be a part of the decision making, I look back with admiration as my Dad and the other Nordstrom leaders took notice of Bob’s situation and offered to send him to speech therapy. This in turn gave Bob more opportunities to grow, and confidence to move back to Chicago to work for the Bulls as their Director of Community Affairs. Now Bob regularly speaks in front of large crowds about his experiences playing basketball and overcoming this life-long handicap. I’m just super grateful for the chance to speak with Bob after all this time to hear about his journey, and I know you’re going to enjoy listening to his story. After my conversation with Bob, you’re going to get a taste of one of the more delicious portions of the business as we talk with our Vice President of the Restaurant Division, Vince Rossetti. Thanks for tuning in to episode 31. We hope you enjoy it! Did you know that YOU can be on The Nordy Pod? This show isn't just a one-way conversation. We want to hear about what Nordstrom looks like through your eyes. Share your Nordstrom experience, good or bad, by giving us a call and leaving a voicemail at: 206.594.0526, or send an email to nordypodcast@nordstrom.com to be a part of the conversation!

Ep 30. The Nordstrom Supply Chain Mar 13, 2023

Show notes

In this episode we're taking a special trip over to the Hawkeye State, which is Iowa for those who don’t know, to visit two different Nordstrom facilities that are crucial links in our supply chain. First, we'll head to our fulfillment center in Cedar Rapids where the folks are celebrating 25 years of service. Then we'll stop into our distribution center in Dubuque to help them celebrate 30 years. Each of these locations has been absolutely essential to the growth of our business, particularly with the rise of online shopping and an increased demand for speed. These teams process enormous amounts of merchandise from thousands of vendors to nearly 350 Nordstrom stores in over 200 cities across the United States, fulfilling online orders shipped straight to your home and fielding droves of returns, which in itself could be an entire episode. Literally everything we sell goes through these buildings, from shoes to apparel, accessories and jewelry and a whole slew of home goods. It's a mammoth undertaking and these guys manage it all extremely well. So, we're going to stop in to share our appreciation and sit down with several employees to learn about what it's like to be part of the massive machine that is the Nordstrom supply chain. Thanks for tuning in to episode 30. We hope you enjoy it! Did you know that YOU can be on The Nordy Pod? This show isn't just a one-way conversation. We want to hear about what Nordstrom looks like through your eyes. Share your Nordstrom experience, good or bad, by giving us a call and leaving a voicemail at: 206.594.0526, or send an email to nordypodcast@nordstrom.com to be a part of the conversation!

Ep 29. Dr. Jeff Sperring, CEO of Seattle Children's Hospital Feb 27, 2023

Show notes

In this episode we've got a bit of a theme going on, centered around an amazing organization that's had an enormous impact on so many lives, including mine, and that's the Seattle Children’s Hospital. Later in the show we're going to talk about a benefit show that my wife and I created called SMooCH, which stands for Seattle Musicians for Children's Hospital, and to help tell that story I've brought in my good friend and return guest to The Nordy Pod, CEO of SubPop, Megan Jasper. But before that, I want to introduce you to another good friend of mine, an incredibly accomplished and remarkably compassionate individual, CEO of the Seattle Children's Hospital, Dr. Jeff Sperring. Now, I've wanted to have Dr. Sperring on the show for quite a while now, and not just because he's a fantastic CEO, but because Seattle Children's Hospital has had a particularly significant impact on my life. But comparable to my respect for the hospital itself is my esteem for the man who strives to maintain its reputation as one of the best children's hospitals in the country. For Dr. Sperring, becoming a physician was a dream that he chased down since the fifth grade. Raised in a family that displayed and encouraged service, he developed a strong desire to do good in the world. To pay for medical school, Dr. Sperring joined the Navy and, after training, served as one of only three pediatricians caring for roughly 4,000 Navy and Marine children on an army base in California. He then transitioned to Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis, where his superiors recognized his aptitude for leadership and recruited him into hospital administration, first as their Chief Medical Officer and then as their CEO. Dr. Sperring began zeroing in on potential dream jobs and took a swing at an open position as the CEO at Seattle Children's Hospital. It’s apparent that Dr. Sperring deserves each new opportunity he's been given as he talks about the incredible sense of purpose that accompanies his job. I'm super grateful to have had the chance to get to know him, and I'm certainly glad people like him exist in this world. Thanks for tuning in to episode 29. We hope you enjoy it! Did you know that YOU can be on The Nordy Pod? This show isn't just a one-way conversation. We want to hear about what Nordstrom looks like through your eyes. Share your Nordstrom experience, good or bad, by giving us a call and leaving a voicemail at: 206.594.0526, or send an email to nordypodcast@nordstrom.com to be a part of the conversation!

Ep 28. Domenico De Sole, Former CEO of The Gucci Group Feb 13, 2023

Show notes

If you happened to catch the 2021 film House of Gucci starring Lady Gaga and Adam Driver, based on the dramatic real-life events of the Gucci family, then you also caught an interesting glimpse into the life of Domenico De Sole. But that's really just the tip of the iceberg. Born in a small Italian town to a General of the Royal Army, Domenico grew up knowing nothing about fashion, and says "it's a one-in-twenty-billion chance" that he’s wound up where he is today. Beginning his career as a lawyer after graduating from Harvard Law School, Domenico eventually entered the employ of one Rudolfo Gucci during a chaotic time when the family was fighting over shares of the business. Through a series of extraordinary events Domenico landed a much larger role in the company, taking over as CEO of the Gucci Group, ultimately saving it from near bankruptcy. Simultaneously Domenico championed a promising new up-and-coming fashion designer from America by the name of Tom Ford. And after leaving Gucci, Domenico helped Tom build his own brand from scratch, nurturing the company into a multi-billion-dollar business. That seems like enough to earn Domenico a place in the fashion hall of fame, but it still doesn't even scratch the surface of his impact on the industry. Our conversation took place at an annual convention for the National Retail Federation, and we had a limited time to speak on stage, but quite honestly, you couldn't cover half the stuff this man has done even if you had all day. But we managed to cover a lot of ground in our chat, so settle in for a taste of the incredible life of Domenico De Sole. Thanks for tuning in to episode 28. We hope you enjoy it! Did you know that YOU can be on The Nordy Pod? This show isn't just a one-way conversation. We want to hear about what Nordstrom looks like through your eyes. Share your Nordstrom experience, good or bad, by giving us a call and leaving a voicemail at: 206.594.0526, or send an email to nordypodcast@nordstrom.com to be a part of the conversation!

Ep 27. Gucci Westman & David Neville, Founders of Westman Atelier Jan 30, 2023

Show notes

Gucci Westman has loved makeup since she was a little girl, seeing smiles on the faces of classmates as she gave makeovers on the bus ride to school. She pursued that passion, studying cosmetics in college and later moving to Los Angeles where she became a highly sought-after makeup artist for film and fashion magazines. She worked on projects with director Spike Jonze and has done makeup for big-name celebrities like Cameron Diaz, Drew Barrymore, Jennifer Anniston and Gwyneth Paltrow to name a few. This early success earned Gucci the artistic director position with established cosmetic giants Lancôme and Revlon, eventually launching her own beauty brand, Westman Atelier, with husband David Neville, a very successful and talented fashion entrepreneur in his own right. David has garnered industry respect and multiple awards through his previous partnership running fashion brand rag & bone and lends his business expertise to the couples ambitious beauty brand which offers customers 100% all-natural products at the highest eco-friendly and ethically sourced manufacturing standards. Gucci says creating Westman Atelier would’ve never worked without the implicit trust and teamwork between her and David, a mutual respect that becomes obvious if you spend any amount of time with them. You’re going to love listening to their story. Thanks for tuning in to episode 27. We hope you enjoy it! Did you know that YOU can be on The Nordy Pod? This show isn't just a one-way conversation. We want to hear about what Nordstrom looks like through your eyes. Share your Nordstrom experience, good or bad, by giving us a call and leaving a voicemail at: 206.594.0526, or send an email to nordypodcast@nordstrom.com to be a part of the conversation!

Ep 26. Macklemore, Grammy Award Winning Hip-Hop Artist Jan 16, 2023

Show notes

Inspired by the provocative lyrics of the influential hip-hop group NWA, an adolescent Ben Haggerty immediately fell in love with the genre, and soon became laser-focused on a career as a rap artist. Under the alias Macklemore, he slowly gained a loyal following through an emerging underground Seattle hip-hop scene and exposure through the local independent radio station KEXP. In collaboration with friend and producer Ryan Lewis, Ben’s career reached an entirely new level after the release of their massively successful album The Heist. Ushered by the viral music video for their hit song "Thrift Shop" and assisted by alt radio DJs across the US, Macklemore and Lewis launched to the top of the Billboard charts and won multiple Grammy Awards for Best New Artist, Best Rap Album, Best Rap Song and Best Rap Performance. Ben has continued to grow and collaborate with some of the industry’s top talent, expressing gratitude for his platform to speak about important issues and opportunities to make a positive impact on his community. In our conversation, Ben talks about the intensity of immediate fame, the absolute joy of performing, and the inherent entrepreneurial spirit responsible for his success. And on a surprisingly related tangent, you golfers out there can thank him for creating a whole new aesthetic to brandish out on the green. Thanks for tuning in to episode 26. We hope you enjoy it! Did you know that YOU can be on The Nordy Pod? This show isn't just a one-way conversation. We want to hear about what Nordstrom looks like through your eyes. Share your Nordstrom experience, good or bad, by giving us a call and leaving a voicemail at: 206.594.0526, or send an email to nordypodcast@nordstrom.com to be a part of the conversation!

Ep 25. Best of 2022 Jan 02, 2023

Show notes

Well folks, we’ve made it to another year, which also happens to mark the completion of one whole year of The Nordy Pod. We’ve had a lot of incredible guests on the show and heard some pretty remarkable stories from employees and customers alike. So, to celebrate the first anniversary of The Nordy Pod, we thought we’d take you on a little trip down memory lane to visit some of our favorite moments from 2022. Thanks for tuning in to episode 25. We hope you have a great holiday season and a happy New Year! Did you know that YOU can be on The Nordy Pod? This show isn't just a one-way conversation. We want to hear about what Nordstrom looks like through your eyes. Share your Nordstrom experience, good or bad, by giving us a call and leaving a voicemail at: 206.594.0526, or send an email to nordypodcast@nordstrom.com to be a part of the conversation!

Ep 24. The Nordstrom Holiday Special 2022 Dec 19, 2022

Show notes

As part of a very special holiday edition of The Nordy Pod, we've pulled together a variety of different Nordstrom leaders, from Events to Visuals to sales floor Department Managers, to give you a 360-degree view of all the things we do to give our customers a memorable holiday experience. You'll learn a bit about each of their positions, and also hear a few fun and bizarre stories from seasons past. And to top it all off we've even convinced Santa to take a break from his busy schedule to tell us about his experience coming to Nordstrom and meeting with children of all ages. So, grab a cup of hot chocolate and a warm blanket, and cozy up for some good ole holiday fun, the Nordstrom way! Thanks for tuning in to episode 24. We hope you have a great holiday season and a happy New Year! Did you know that YOU can be on The Nordy Pod? This show isn't just a one-way conversation. We want to hear about what Nordstrom looks like through your eyes. Share your Nordstrom experience, good or bad, by giving us a call and leaving a voicemail at: 206.594.0526, or send an email to nordypodcast@nordstrom.com to be a part of the conversation!

Ep 23. Chris Ballew, Lead Singer of The Presidents of the United States of America Dec 05, 2022

Show notes

At this point you’ve undoubtedly caught wind of my side hustle as a bass player, and more generally my love for the unique community of musicians in and around Seattle. So in the spirit of that fondness, I’m super excited to share my conversation with local alt-rock legend and former lead singer for the band The Presidents of the United States of America, Chris Ballew. Chris started playing music from a very young age and, in the fertile soil of the Seattle music scene, had no trouble assembling bands of like-minded punk rock compatriots. One such band being the aforementioned—and super successful—The Presidents of the United States of America. You likely remember their catchy riffs and somewhat silly lyrics from hit songs like “Lump” and “Peaches” in the mid '90s, defining a style that even Madonna recognized as taking great care to appear as though they didn’t care at all. But the rise of The Presidents wasn’t Chris’s first brush with fame. Having found his way onto the tour bus of an up-and-coming singer/songwriter by the name of Beck, Chris learned valuable lessons about the music business and his own relationship to it. Chris isn’t interested in sacrificing time away from home and family to chase the spotlight. He’d rather enjoy the act of being creative in the moment. What happens after that is out of his hands. Thanks for tuning in to episode 23. We hope you enjoy it! Did you know that YOU can be on The Nordy Pod? This show isn't just a one-way conversation. We want to hear about what Nordstrom looks like through your eyes. Share your Nordstrom experience, good or bad, by giving us a call and leaving a voicemail at: 206.594.0526, or send an email to nordypodcast@nordstrom.com to be a part of the conversation!

Ep 22. The Nordstrom Mailbag - Part 2 Nov 21, 2022

Show notes

If you enjoyed the last episode, you’ll be pleased to hear that we've compiled another great batch of mailbag submissions for you. Stories from job interviews to weddings and funerals, all the way to an Emmy Awards party wardrobe malfunction. And where some of these stories involve an interesting and unique problem for us to solve, others involve instances where we quite honestly just dropped the ball. We'll be the first to admit we're not perfect, which is why customer feedback is so valuable to us. Not only do we want to be made aware of our mistakes, but we also want to acknowledge our employees that go above and beyond to make a situation right. Passing these stories on through our company helps to strengthen our service culture, which ultimately makes us better. They also just make for great podcast material! So once again, settle in for more interesting stories from the Nordstrom Mailbag. Thanks for tuning in to episode 22. We hope you enjoy it! Did you know that YOU can be on The Nordy Pod? This show isn't just a one-way conversation. We want to hear about what Nordstrom looks like through your eyes. Share your Nordstrom experience, good or bad, by giving us a call and leaving a voicemail at: 206.594.0526, or send an email to nordypodcast@nordstrom.com to be a part of the conversation!

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