Shopping post-lockdown: Nordstrom will clean fitting rooms between each use, won't accept cash and will hold items for seven days before issuing a return
Nordstrom Inc has announced it will revamp the shopping experiencing in response to the COVID-19 pandemic; cleaning fitting rooms between each use, holding items for a period of time after its tried on, and no longer accepting cash payments.
The apparel retailer said on Tuesday it would close 16 stores and restructure its operations in an effort to cut costs and weather the impact of the coronavirus outbreak.
But for those 380 scheduled to reopen as and when states allow, only a limited number of customers and employees will be allowed on the salesfloor at one time, depending on the size of the location.
Shoppers will be supplied with a disposable mask upon entry and told to stay six feet away from each other and staff - who will undergo health screenings.
Shoppers and staff will be provided with face masks for use inside the Nordstrom store
Customers and staff must maintain a distance of six feet in keeping with COVID-19 guidelines
Fitting rooms will be cleaned between each use under the new protocol in response to coronavirus
In a video from Good Morning America, one manager was seen briefing colleagues to remember to 'smile with our eyes' when they greet customers while wearing masks.
But customers will likely have to deal with shorter opening times so there is enough time to clean.
Each fitting room will be sanitized after a customer has used it and items returned will be held after they have been tried on in-store. Purchased items that are returned to the store will also be held for some time before going back on to the salesfloor.
The brand did not state how long they will hold an item for on the website it states that in the case of returned purchases: 'To ensure maximum safety, we'll hold return items for 7 days before we process the return and your refund.'
Cash will not longer be used as a payment method and plexiglass will be between employees and staff at the register.
The store is encouraging customers to shop online via their websites Nordstrom.com, Nordstromrack.com, HauteLook and Trunkclub.com. The company has also been pushing shoppers to their apps during the pandemic and collections and returns have been carried out in curbside pickup spots.
The company has increased general cleaning throughout stores as they prepare to reopen
The company announced the new initiatives in a video as they reassured customers their safety is the priority
Curbside pickup is highly encouraged by the brand which is asking customers to order online if they can. Bags will be placed directly into a customer's trunk when they collect
'We’ve been investing in our digital and physical capabilities to keep pace with rapidly changing customer expectations,' chief executive officer Erik Nordstrom, said in a statement. 'The impact of COVID-19 is only accelerating the importance of these capabilities in serving customers.
'More than ever, we need to work with flexibility and speed. Our market strategy helps with both, bringing inventory closer to where customers live and work, allowing us to use our stores as fulfillment centers to get products to customers faster, and connecting digital and physical experiences with services like curbside pickup and returns.'
Customers can select the option when ordering and when they arrive at the store, once the order is ready, they can notify staff of their location via telephone or the app.
An employee will then place the items directly into the person's vehicle trunk without them having to have contact.
The company noted online that returns have been delayed by the pandemic and their call center is especially busy.
Nordstrom said: 'We are taking precautions to create a safe work environment at our distribution and fulfillment centers that remain open'
As part of restructuring its regions, support roles and corporate organization, Nordstrom Inc expects to save $150 million in costs, it said in a statement.
The retailer will also incur non-cash impairment charges associated with the store closures.
In March, Nordstorm had suspended its quarterly dividend and pulled its 2020 outlook.
But the company says on its website that they are 'taking steps to support our employees who are not working at this time, and we are taking precautions to create a safe work environment at our distribution and fulfillment centers that remain open'.
'We are living in very difficult times and there are many unknowns. What we do know is we have been around for 119 years, and the strength of our culture and the loyalty of our customers are what have sustained us through tough times.'
In March, Nordstorm had suspended its quarterly dividend and pulled its 2020 outlook. Pete and Erik Nordstrom said about the new retail experience in response to the pandemic: 'More than ever, we need to work with flexibility and speed'
Shopping post-lockdown: Nordstrom will clean fitting rooms between each use, won't accept cash and will hold items for seven days before issuing a return
![Shopping post-lockdown: Nordstrom will clean fitting rooms between each use, won't accept cash and will hold items for seven days before issuing a return]()
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May 07, 2020
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