Nordstrom Men

RESTLESS

EXPANSION

“I guess you could say we are progressing from a period of restless expansion to a place where we are more focused on the operational refinements of each specific retail outlet,” opens Mike Beagley.

In simple terms, it could encompass a more structured review of ranging for warmer climates versus colder climates, which seems like common sense but can be overlooked when you have a global perspective.

A key lesson any retail business learns as it grows into diverse markets is how important it is to tailor each location to precisely meet the needs of its specific audience.

“We’re ensuring senior members of the team spend plenty of time Stateside,” says Beagley. “It helps the business as a whole think harder about how each outlet is operated at the granular level. “

“This may seem counter-intuitive to the trends of operational efficiency, but in the fashion game success is built on the best customer experiences possible.”

That’s not to say further expansion is off the table. There are opportunities to explore in the Bay Area, Chicago and New York while essential partner Nordstrom opens its first store in Manhattan, April 2018. The team will be working hard to support the event, planning activities associated with the opening.

The success of Lodges like Newport Beach, which continues to outperform expectations, supported by solid growth in Dumbo, San Francisco, LA, San Diego and Greenwich, fuels Mike Beagley’s enthusiasm for exploration, albeit balanced by the overall strategy and management of risk.

It may come with significant challenges but there’s no arguing that geographical spread has been good to Rodd & Gunn.