The Nordy Pod

Adapt or die.  There is no other choice.  The laws of nature are as true for the retail industry as they are for any aspect of life, and the next existential crisis looms just around the corner.  Sound dramatic?  Well, it is.  The stakes are real and the bar of expectation is high.

So how is it that a 4th generation of Nordstroms has, yet again, evolved their legacy brand into relevance for the modern age?  As e-commerce platforms and direct-to-consumer businesses continue to pull customers out of physical stores, competitors scramble for market share, completely altering the playing field, constantly changing the rules of the game.  Do people really care about how they get their products, just so long as they get it now?  Can anyone tell the difference when a robot picks their wardrobe?  How does one person’s unique human experience inform and influence the success or failure of a nation-wide company in 2026?

Join us for this special edition of The Nordy Pod as Executive Producer, Sam Jones, steals the host seat, pitting Pete against the biggest brain-busters of our time.  

It’s survival of the fittest, and the herd has thinned out!

If you'd like to learn more about the work of Sam Jones, check out samjonespictures.com

Thanks for tuning in to episode 114.  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! And, be sure to follow us on Instagram @thenordypod to stay up to date on new episodes, announcements and more.

Today, more than ever, the lines between sportswear and streetwear have blurred and blended. What starts on a field, or a court, or a track somehow ends up shaping fashion, music, and street style – and vice versa. And few brands are navigating that space better than Adidas.

For the last several years Adidas has been exploding, and for us at Nordstrom and our business together, the momentum continues to build. The arena in which Adidas plays – as a melting pot of performance and lifestyle products, informing and inspiring one another – speaks directly to the cultural moment, and what our customers are looking for.
Listen as we hear from the President of Adidas North America, John Miller, about the brand's rooted sports authority, and continued expansion in performance and the broader fashion landscape.

After that we’ll learn the importance of listening to the customer in defining “what’s next” from Adidas’ Vice President of Lifestyle, Shaira Reyes.

It’s a timely conversation about the evolution, authenticity, and remarkable growth of one of the most well-known and relevant brands in the world.

Thanks for tuning in to episode 113. 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! And, be sure to follow us on Instagram @thenordypod to stay up to date on new episodes, announcements and more.

Soccer is the world's game. It brings together billions of fans, transcends borders, and creates moments that live on for generations. And this year, in 2026, one of the biggest sporting events on the planet has come to Seattle.

In this episode we’re exploring the business behind this culturally unifying game—from the incredible impact that it has on the communities that it touches, to the enormous undertaking for our city to be hosting the World Cup.

Pete sits down with the Seattle Sounders and Seattle Reign Football Club’s Chief Revenue Officer, Courtney Carter, and Chief Marketing Officer, Ro Vega to discuss the evolution of professional soccer in Seattle, building passionate fan communities, and why the region has become one of the sport's greatest success stories in the US.

After that we’re joined by Peter Tomozawa, CEO of Seattle's World Cup Organizing Committee to better understand the scale, complexity, and opportunity that this massive sporting event brings to the Pacific Northwest.

Thanks for tuning in to episode 112. 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! And, be sure to follow us on Instagram @thenordypod to stay up to date on new episodes, announcements and more.

Rated #1 for the past three years on Forbes annual list of companies with the “Best Customer Service” – a list formed by surveying 158,000 customers over a period of 12 months – The UPS Store has consistently proven an authentic and thoughtful commitment to the improvement of all things most valuable to their customers. And, as you know by listening to the Nordy Pod, improving Customer Service is the top priority for Nordstrom. So, in an attempt to further that pursuit, we felt strongly that Sarah Casalan, President of UPS Stores – a leader who has established and maintained a level of customer service that is considered to be "the best" across all industries – would have more than a few nuggets of wisdom to aid us in our journey. As presumed, insights were gained, and notes were taken.

Sarah herself actually has an impressive background in retail, and coincidentally shares a handful of mutual acquaintances with Pete. But the gap between her past and her current role in the world of shipping, printing, and supply chain is not as vast as you might think. In her own words, “we get to serve a profoundly human population in any way”.

In their conversation, Pete and Sarah talk about the incredible importance of simplifying your business, innovating from within, and meeting the customer on their terms. Selling clothes or delivering packages, the path to success looks the same: It’s all about making customers feel good.

Thanks for tuning in to episode 111. 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! And, be sure to follow us on Instagram @thenordypod to stay up to date on new episodes, announcements and more.

What really is the role of a leader at Nordstrom?

What are the inherent qualities of a good manager who promotes a healthy work environment, and ultimately builds a better business?

Well, it’s not about having all the answers, and it’s not about bossing people around.

You’ve heard us mention before on the podcast the concept of the inverted pyramid. We didn’t invent the idea, but it’s something that the third generation of Nordstroms adopted, and something that we swear by to this day.

At Nordstrom, we believe that the most important people in our company are the ones that interact with customers every single day, and we expect our leaders to support them, remove obstacles in their way, and to empower and enable them to be accountable for great results. We encourage managers to lift people up, to bring their best authentic self to work every day, to sell more, to treat customers great, and to take advantage of the opportunities that are inherent in our business.

For Part 6 of our 125th Anniversary series, we’re exploring the management philosophy that’s built our company, brick by brick – from Department Managers to Store Managers, Regional Managers to executive team members – mentors, and service gurus that share hard-earned lessons gleaned from years of experience in stock rooms, sales-floors, and beyond.

None of it is too complicated, but it all culminates in a place where we can develop people to help make the business better – and that starts with valuing them, trusting them, enabling them, and allowing them to make an impact.

Thanks for tuning in to episode 110. 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! And, be sure to follow us on Instagram @thenordypod to stay up to date on new episodes, announcements and more.