Supply Chain

Nordstrom has multiple  distribution centers including locations in Florida, Iowa, California, Maryland, Oregon, and Utah. Their distribution centers are what keeps products moving for Nordstrom. They are located nationwide and send merchandise directly to stores and to customers. 

Nordstrom.com's fulfillment and contact center is located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The Iowa facility has a large role in the Nordstrom supply chain as it not only processing customer orders, but returns and inbound merchandise as well. 


Example supply chain, similar to Nordstrom's

If a shopper is looking at a designer handbag on Nordstrom.com, they could see where it is available at nearby stores, and reserve it for pickup the same day. In addition, if the web warehouse is out of that bag, it does  not matter. Inventory from Nordstrom’s 115 regular stores is also included. Even if there is  just one handbag left in the entire company, at one store location, it will still be displayed online and store employees will ship it to the online customer once it is purchased.

Nordstrom has extremely detailed and specific rules that it requires each of its suppliers to follow. The handbook which can be viewed here, includes how to properly label, measure, fold, ship, etc., each package and its products. They monitor all their supply chain vendors, distributors, and wholesalers very carefully as they believe when producing merchandise it is important that they are ensuring their core business standards are being practiced and that "all applicable laws regarding health, safety, and fair workplaces are upheld." As part of this, Nodstrom takes part in the California Transparency in Supply Chains Act (2012). With this, Nordstrom expects all their business suppliers to act and conduct business with the proper regulations and safety measures for all workers.