Nordstrom Opens 21 Indochino Stores in Its Stores – WWD

Nordstrom is jumping ahead with its pre-pandemic plans to partner with Indochino, a Vancouver-based man-made company.

The Seattle-based retailer is adding 21 Indochino stores to its stores across the country that will offer personalized suits, shirts, chinos and outerwear at affordable prices. As part of the deal, Nordstrom will also be offering free changes to any Indochino customers — even those who didn’t purchase their items at Nordstrom stores — across all in-store stores. By the end of July, Indochino will have its own 58 showrooms in the US and Canada.

Drew Green, president and chief executive officer of Indochino, said conversations with Nordstrom began nearly four years ago and the two had decided to go ahead with the concept of store installations just as the pandemic forced stores to close. “It’s been almost a year since we were supposed to launch, but we pulled back because of the pandemic,” Green said.

In recent weeks, Nordstrom quietly opened 10 stores in its stores and will now add 11. The new stores, which average around 400 square feet, will open between June 25 and July 2.

Green said he had “great admiration for Nordstrom,” calling the company “a historic retail brand that doesn’t get enough credit for being innovative. As one of the world’s leading fashion retailers, Nordstrom is known to offer an unmatched level of service and we share this passion. Together , we enable more individuals to showcase their personal style through custom clothing that delivers high value by combining a premium customer experience, high quality products and affordable prices.”

Retail Indochino clothing starts at $429 while shirts and chinos start at $79. In its own showroom, the company offers several 180-plus suit options along with different options for collars, buttons, pockets, linings and monograms – the same as those offered at Nordstrom. “Our entire inventory is virtual,” he said. In addition, Indochino’s two to three weeks of work on suits in its stores will also be offered at Nordstrom. “The experience will be exactly the same as our stand-alone shop,” says Green.

Shea Jensen, executive vice president and general merchandise manager of men’s and women’s ready-to-wear at Nordstrom, added: “We have long admired Indochino as a leader in tailor-made suits and apparel and we are excited to bring Nordstrom customers a new bespoke experience. in our shop. As we continue to expand our offerings in our men’s category, we are always thinking about the best way to serve a wide range of customers. Through this partnership, we will provide an easy-to-reach and convenient way to shop whether it’s for work, special events or everyday clothing needs.”

In a telephone interview, he said Nordstrom saw an opportunity to better serve male customers by partnering with Indochino, which is a “famous brand with relevance for young consumers. The Millennial population is the largest in the US today and that is the core of Indochino’s customer base.”

Nordstrom will continue to offer fit-to-size products with other brands in its men’s portfolio, Jensen said, but the Indochino option is specifically targeted at younger men.

Since the store’s opening, Jensen said early results have been promising, especially as the menswear business portion has recovered this year with the return of events and weddings, and Indochino’s offerings are meeting that demand.

Green anticipates that the launch of the partnership this month will be a long one. “We saw an opportunity to be partners for decades,” he said. And while he doesn’t venture to guess how many other stores may be open, he does believe that the post-pandemic period will be strong for stylish menswear as weddings and other events are rescheduled. “I feel like it’s going to be the Roaring Twenties,” he said. “Formal wear is coming back and we look forward to continuing our partnership with Nordstrom in the future.”

Jensen agrees, saying the partnership allows Nordstrom to avoid the “innate risk” of keeping inventory in its stores while providing younger men with the experience of building their own wardrobe.