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Nordstrom Closing All Canadian Stores; Nordstrom.ca Closed to Online Orders

Nordstrom Closing All Canadian Stores; Nordstrom.ca Closed to Online Orders

By Kate Musgrove

Nordstrom announced today that they are winding down their Canadian operations, shuttering all stores. Nordstrom.ca will stop accepting orders at the end of the day, and they are not offering gift cards for purchase, either in-store or online.

In a statement released today, Eric Nordstrom said "despite our best efforts, we do not see a realistic path to profitability for the Canadian business." Nordstrom entered the Canadian market in 2014, and they expect the wind-down to be completed by late June, 2023.

There are thirteen total Nordstrom store in Canada -- seven Nordstrom Rack locations and six Nordstrom locations, in addition to the e-commerce presence. About 2,500 jobs will be lost as a result of this closure.

Liquidation is scheduled to begin March 20, pending court approval.

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  • rabbit
    • One of my marketing friends has said that some products aren't offered in Canada because the US company doesn't want the hassle of redoing everything in bilingual. I don't know how it is in the US. I've bought stuff where you basically get a book sewn into the garment with all kinds of languages :D .
    • Report Post
  • thriftshopper
    • I'm just frustrated with US store chains not bringing all the merchandise they sell in US to Canadian markets. We get the "lite" version of the US stores.

      I used to look at Nordstrom Rack (US) with envy and frustration-not all of the brands were carried at the Cdn Rack stores. Utter frustration. I did spot a couple of brands there that are carried at other Cdn stores but still, why don't US CEOs understand we want the US store experience with some Canadian content/nods of the marketplace for us here?
      Could the brand has distributors in Canada and/or Nordstrom/whoever is contractually forbidden from selling outside the U.S.
    • Report Post
  • Kiraly
    • I happened to be walking by yesterday, so I went in for a laugh. Saw a $350 men's T-shirt, marked down 5% to $332.50. Hot Deal!
    • Report Post
  • Ciel
    • I'm just frustrated with US store chains not bringing all the merchandise they sell in US to Canadian markets. We get the "lite" version of the US stores.

      I used to look at Nordstrom Rack (US) with envy and frustration-not all of the brands were carried at the Cdn Rack stores. Utter frustration. I did spot a couple of brands there that are carried at other Cdn stores but still, why don't US CEOs understand we want the US store experience with some Canadian content/nods of the marketplace for us here?

      Still glad that I shopped Nordstrom Canada online several times and managed two store visits. Hope to be back at Sherway Gardens by mid-April for my last call at the store.
    • Report Post
  • smartie
    • I'm not an international student from China. However, I had interacted with and got to know many international students from China.

      Most of these students weren't the mansion-buying, Lamborghini-driving, luxury-spending stereotypes society likes to paint them as. They were certainly better off than the average person in China (not saying much), but only a small minority of them would fit the stereotype of the ultra-rich luxury-spending Chinese international student.

      Just wanted to put that out there.
      Yes

      Most from middle class and their parents save all the money to support them. It's just sacrifice
    • Report Post
  • 3express
    • While the luxury market worldwide is driven by visitors from China, a large number of that consists of international students from China. The Canadian luxury market is driven by international students from China, moreso than tourists from China, and they were still here during and after COVID lockdowns, because they're here for school. The problem with Nordstrom is that Mainland Chinese customers preferred Holt Renfrew.
      I'm not an international student from China. However, I had interacted with and got to know many international students from China.

      Most of these students weren't the mansion-buying, Lamborghini-driving, luxury-spending stereotypes society likes to paint them as. They were certainly better off than the average person in China (not saying much), but only a small minority of them would fit the stereotype of the ultra-rich luxury-spending Chinese international student.

      Just wanted to put that out there.
    • Report Post
  • SonyCanWoes
    • Issue is now you can simply go to yorkdale to buy those luxury brands
      Those Mainland Chinese customers Nordstrom needed to survive/thrive were going to Holt Renfrew in Yorkdale to buy their luxury items instead. Same with downtown. Pandemic or no pandemic, they were doomed.
    • Report Post
  • Kiraly
    • I personally think a majority of Nordstrom's sales in Canada were to International Visitors and not to Canadians. When COVID hit, Canadian sales fell and never recovered to pre-COVID levels.
      I believe this had a lot less to do with international visitors, and much more to do with nobody going out when COVID hit (bars, restaurants, clubs, workplaces, social events all cancelled), so no need to buy luxury clothing items.
    • Report Post
  • smartie
    • While the luxury market worldwide is driven by visitors from China, a large number of that consists of international students from China. The Canadian luxury market is driven by international students from China, moreso than tourists from China, and they were still here during and after COVID lockdowns, because they're here for school. The problem with Nordstrom is that Mainland Chinese customers preferred Holt Renfrew.
      Issue is now you can simply go to yorkdale to buy those luxury brands
    • Report Post
  • SonyCanWoes
    • I personally think a majority of Nordstrom's sales in Canada were to International Visitors and not to Canadians. When COVID hit, Canadian sales fell and never recovered to pre-COVID levels.
      While the luxury market worldwide is driven by visitors from China, a large number of that consists of international students from China. The Canadian luxury market is driven by international students from China, moreso than tourists from China, and they were still here during and after COVID lockdowns, because they're here for school. The problem with Nordstrom is that Mainland Chinese customers preferred Holt Renfrew.
    • Report Post
  • 32berries
    • Blame the liquidator/receiver. They want to milk as much as they can from the merchandise.
      This is their job. They will try to recover as much cash as possible for the creditors. Their responsibility is to the creditors, not to the customers.

      We can all laugh at how sad the sale is and that's fine, but I just hope nobody seriously feels entitled to deep discounts on luxury merchandise.
    • Report Post
  • cslusarc
    • I personally think a majority of Nordstrom's sales in Canada were to International Visitors and not to Canadians. When COVID hit, Canadian sales fell and never recovered to pre-COVID levels.
    • Report Post
  • TravellingChris
    • Excellent article from Retail Insider discussing Nordstrom's failure. The site actually has a number of other great interviews and podcasts delving into the subject, including one with Mark Cohen, former chair of Sears Canada.

      https://retail-insider.com/retail-insid ... nterviews/

      I especially liked the comment from the guy who said that one of the reasons Nordstrom failed was that Canadians are "fairly practical people" who frown on overt displays of wealth.
    • Report Post
  • rabbit
    • One Toronto reporter mentioned that a male customer was thrilled to get the 5% off a designer pair of sunglasses as that brand is never on sale.
      Funny. If I were thrilled about getting 5% off something, I would rather buy some junk brand so I don't have to worry about "my precious" getting damaged or lost.
    • Report Post
  • honestnebs
    • One Toronto reporter mentioned that a male customer was thrilled to get the 5% off a designer pair of sunglasses as that brand is never on sale.

      So 5% off designer brands might be a starter for some shoppers.
      I doubt that is the case for the vast majority of RFD shoppers 😂
    • Report Post
  • Leggendairy
    • One Toronto reporter mentioned that a male customer was thrilled to get the 5% off a designer pair of sunglasses as that brand is never on sale.

      So 5% off designer brands might be a starter for some shoppers.
      Sounds like fake news.
    • Report Post
  • Ciel
    • The closest to me is a Nordstrom Rack. Is it like a Winners except all designer? What kinda price range we expecting for say sneakers lol with liquidation sales.
      I was looking at womens footwear on Mar 9 at the Mississauga Rack store and some pairs were 15% off. I assume some men's footwear are discounted more now.
      There's a Winners just two doors down from the Rack store-not a huge range of apparel and shoes but I liked the pricing of baby apparel and gear (better than at my local Winners in Ancaster on west side, not in Meadowlands).
    • Report Post
  • Ciel
    • I’m at Nordstrom (not Rack) and it’s 5% off everything in the store today. Not much of a deal.
      One Toronto reporter mentioned that a male customer was thrilled to get the 5% off a designer pair of sunglasses as that brand is never on sale.

      So 5% off designer brands might be a starter for some shoppers.
    • Report Post
  • TravellingChris
    • I was walking past Nordstrom Rack @ Bloor 2 days ago and it was packed. I would walk out right after entering the store if I saw that 5% off sign.

      People seem to buy something despite there being no good offers as they have made the effort to show up, and that's what these liquidators benefit from.

      Not sure if I should be hopeful to see realistic sales before May.
      We've been to a bunch of these liquidations over the years--Target Canada, HMV, American Apparel, Sears Canada, etc. The discounts start out pretty lousy and gradually get better. The problem is that by the time the discounts get really good, the only remaining merchandise is utterly undesirable and virtually useless to anyone, like a random pair of men's boxers in size 3XL, or a women's A-cup bra. So the choice is either to go early and not get much of a discount or wait for better savings and risk there being nothing of value left.
    • Report Post
  • bobclair
    • I was walking past Nordstrom Rack @ Bloor 2 days ago and it was packed. I would walk out right after entering the store if I saw that 5% off sign.

      People seem to buy something despite there being no good offers as they have made the effort to show up, and that's what these liquidators benefit from.

      Not sure if I should be hopeful to see realistic sales before May.
    • Report Post
  • TravellingChris
    • This isn’t so much a failure of the operations in Canada, although they were of course not profitable which you can argue is failure. Nordstroms has bigger issues in the US and feels they need to focus their attention and resources back at home.
      This is all pretty reminiscent of Target Canada in my mind--even though Nordstrom's execution in Canada was far better (there was actually stock on the shelves) and they gave Canada more than the laughable 24 months Target stuck it out.

      But like Target, Nordstrom decided that the Canadian operations were a distraction they couldn't afford while there were serious problems in their home market, so Canada was thrown overboard. The danger in both cases is that the parent company goes back to being entirely a U.S. domestic play that is fully tied to the American market with no possibility of external growth.
    • Report Post
  • TravellingChris
    • PRICES SLASHED! What a joke!!
      It was the same with the Sears Canada liquidation sale. There were complaints that prices were inflated prior to the sale in order to offer percentage "discounts" that only brought the item back to roughly the regular price.
    • Report Post
  • Heather9876
    • Nordstrom should only be selling real things but I wouldn't be surprised if they accidentally carry counterfeits. That's a risk with buying from luxury stores that carry many brands (Holt Renfrew, Nordstrom, Harry Rosen, etc) instead of directly from the brand itself. There are people that will buy the real thing from the store, and return a fake. Fakes are pretty good nowadays, no way a CSR making $16/hr will scrutinize the return, possibly offend the customer, and claim it's a fake unless it literally says Channel. Even with a real and a fake next to each other sometimes it's hard to tell. Customer gets to keep the real thing and the fake goes back on the shelf. Wouldn't be surprised just like how people return Christmas trees in the new year.
      This could be the case for some items, but for anything from a concession (A Gucci bag, for example), they have their own return policies and the staff work for the brand and not Nordstrom. Returning something to the Chanel concession within Holt Renfrew is no different than returning it to a standalone store, and it would be treated with the same scrutiny.
    • Report Post
  • CanadianConsumerYEG
    • I am amazed they lasted so long in Canada.
      I've never seen a store with so much overpriced garbage.
      I'm no expert but many items they sell look like knockoffs.
      Nordstrom should only be selling real things but I wouldn't be surprised if they accidentally carry counterfeits. That's a risk with buying from luxury stores that carry many brands (Holt Renfrew, Nordstrom, Harry Rosen, etc) instead of directly from the brand itself. There are people that will buy the real thing from the store, and return a fake. Fakes are pretty good nowadays, no way a CSR making $16/hr will scrutinize the return, possibly offend the customer, and claim it's a fake unless it literally says Channel. Even with a real and a fake next to each other sometimes it's hard to tell. Customer gets to keep the real thing and the fake goes back on the shelf. Wouldn't be surprised just like how people return Christmas trees in the new year.
    • Report Post
  • trini
    • I am amazed they lasted so long in Canada.
      I've never seen a store with so much overpriced garbage.
      I'm no expert but many items they sell look like knockoffs.
    • Report Post
  • Rxman
    • Even at BedBath Beyond, they are still at like 20 to 30 % off and then no real bargains. These liquidation outfits are to squeeze as much $ as they can out of left over stuff.
    • Report Post
  • Simby
    • Do they even need to liquidate there high demand items? Can't they just ship it to a store in the US?
      Yes, a lot of the high demand items have been shipped to the US.
    • Report Post
  • roblombardi
    • Their?
      Do they even need to liquidate there high demand items? Can't they just ship it to a store in the US?
    • Report Post
  • NTWKid
    • Do they even need to liquidate there high demand items? Can't they just ship it to a store in the US?
    • Report Post
  • Dealsniffer
    • PRICES SLASHED! What a joke!!
      and there's exclusions too, lol
    • Report Post
  • mrweather
    • Blame the liquidator/receiver. They want to milk as much as they can from the merchandise.
    • Report Post
  • SergesPlace
    • PRICES SLASHED! What a joke!!
    • Report Post
  • Carlos514
    • I went to Toronto Eaton Centre Nordstrom, and hated myself for doing so.
      No sales, even the 20% on Canali suits (~$2k+), wasn't great.

      Why would I buy luxury, final sale, for a discount that I could probably get online.
      Not worth the risk, even if the discounts increase. I would need to see at least 50%+ on men's luxury for final sale, and the effort to go to the store and see what's available.
    • Report Post
  • Heather9876
    • When do the discounts increase??
      In many liquidation sales, increases are weekly. Remember the stores aren't due to close until June, so we aren't going to see the really big increases for at least a month or two.
    • Report Post
  • Dealsniffer
    • i had 270$ credit. but the day after i heard the news i did a buy and return. since they werent allowed to issue gc again they just asked for my cc and put it there..
      damn that was smart
    • Report Post
  • Leggendairy
    • When do the discounts increase??
    • Report Post
  • Sakaban
    • I'm stuck with $300+ in gift cards so i'd like to use them up. Someone said I could convert to $USD but wouldn't want to rely on that
      i had 270$ credit. but the day after i heard the news i did a buy and return. since they werent allowed to issue gc again they just asked for my cc and put it there..
    • Report Post
  • Dealsniffer
    • I'm stuck with $300+ in gift cards so i'd like to use them up. Someone said I could convert to $USD but wouldn't want to rely on that
    • Report Post
  • jcamldn
    • I bet all the stuff that was already on sale have now been marked up to 5% off. LOL
      i bet there's enough people buying stuff up at this massive 5% discount too :lol:
    • Report Post
  • SonyCanWoes
    • Eaton Centre has some Canada Goose jackets for 20% off. Is that a normal sale or better than usual find?
      Worse than most normal sales in general, worse than Nordstrom has sold them on sale for in the past, and on par with the minimum discount for sales in general. For example, 24s keeps putting them on sale for around this or higher every couple of weeks. The "Toronto" warehouse sale just happened three weeks ago for 60%-70% off. You can jump on it now if you want a fur ruff and can find one, because they're not using fur anymore on new jackets. This season is the last. Nordstrom supposedly stopped selling fur ones already though.
    • Report Post