Business & Personal Finance

Yet another U.S. company is set to make an appearance on the Canadian retail scene. Nordstrom Inc. will be opening 4 stores in Canada, the first of which will open in 2014 in Calgary, followed by stores in Ottawa and Vancouver in 2015, and then Toronto in the following year. It expects to hire 1000 employees and has plans to continue to expand across the country.

In 1887 at the age of 16 John W. Nordstrom left Sweden for New York City to make his fortune.  After many years of labouring in mining and logging camps John went to the Klondike and within two years had earned $13,000 and then returned to Seattle to start a business. In 1901, Nordstrom and his partner Carl Wallin opened their first shoe store in downtown Seattle.  John's business philosophy was based on exceptional service, selection, quality and value. As a result of this philosophy he built a devoted customer base that has continued to this day.  The company soon grew to become the largest independent shoe chain in the country. In the early 1960's Nordstrom purchased a fashion retail store in Seattle and merged it with their shoe store. Business prospered and two new stores were opened in Washington followed by expansion to the East Coast.

John Nordstom's philosophy of catering to customer's needs and providing excellent customer service is a mainstay of company policy that has made Nordstom a huge success in the retail industry.

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