POS

Nordstrom Stepping Up its Inventory-Free Shops

July 26, 2024         By: Steven Anderson

There’s a phenomenon that recently—or comparatively recently in mobile payments terms—made itself known called “showrooming.” Showrooming is a practice that brick-and-mortar retail stores generally don’t like, but are largely powerless to stop. In showrooming, customers come into a store to look at an item, see how it fits, works, and so on, but then promptly go online to find the best price. Some retailers have embraced the showrooming concept, and Nordstrom is rolling out more stores with little inventory as a way to address it.

Known as “Nordstrom Local,” which has been seen cropping up in a lot of places in recent days, the store effectively doesn’t carry a lot of merchandise, but rather, a lot going on therein. There are seamstress operations, a Trunk Club desk for men looking for higher-end clothing, a manicure and pedicure operation, and even a refreshment station with a variety of drinks, including some of the adult variety.

Not bad, but Nordstrom Local is designed to be, essentially, the physical point of contact between Nordstrom and its shoppers, especially if its shoppers started out online. Shoppers can pick up ordered goods at a Nordstrom Local, return previously ordered items, and even have said goods altered therein.

Right now, availability is limited. There are two openings set for Los Angeles, including one in Brentwood. Some reports suggest a run to New York may be next, but when flyover country lands even one of these is anyone’s guess.

The idea itself is clever, that much is clear. We’re talking about what amounts to a waiting room for Nordstrom product, complete with amenities, that are accessible while customers pick up, return, or modify goods. It takes advantage of the brick-and-mortar concept’s immediacy, while also not requiring Nordstrom to carry a lot of inventory costs keeping the stores open. It’s probably the kind of thing we’ll see more of; why use stores as warehouses when stores can just be stores? Customers can order what they want online, and pick it up at the store.

Chances are UPS and Fed Ex will not be so happy about such a development, but still. Nordstrom Local isn’t a bad idea, and it will likely gain ground in the months to come.