SEATTLE, Jan. 29, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Following a year that required more self-reflection, listening and compassion than ever before, Nordstrom is beginning 2021 with a renewed focus on its commitment to community. With a long-held belief in the value of diversity, Nordstrom is working to play an active role in contributing to the positive change required to address systemic racial inequity.
"We are a part of the communities we serve, and that means we have a responsibility to create a sense of welcoming and belonging for all," said Pete Nordstrom, chief brand officer and president of Nordstrom, Inc. "We know our impact extends beyond our own walls and we're committed to taking steps to be a part of the solution by making Nordstrom a better, more inclusive and anti-racist company for our employees, customers, partners and communities."
Based on this commitment, the leading fashion retailer set a series of goals in August 2020 to address its most pressing opportunities related to diversity, inclusion and belonging. Among other things, these goals address:
"These goals represent the next phase of our journey to be a better company, not the finish line. We're committed to doing the work, being transparent about our progress, listening to feedback and holding ourselves accountable," said Farrell Redwine, senior vice president of Human Resources at Nordstrom.
In honor of February's Black History Month, Nordstrom is preparing to celebrate Black-owned brands and amplify their voices through various merchandise categories in store and online.
"We're committed to improving the diversity of the vendors we partner with across all parts of our business," said Teri Bariquit, chief merchandising officer at Nordstrom. "We're making strong progress to find and support diverse brands and we are very excited to introduce them to our customers. Most importantly, these brands and the products they offer help us meet the diverse needs of our customers, while continuing to create the inspiration and discovery they expect to find when shopping at Nordstrom."
More specifically, the company is excited to bring the following new products and experiences to customers:
These new partnerships build on a strong foundation the company has established for itself, with an emphasis on creating an environment where its customers feel a sense of belonging and employees can be themselves, contribute their ideas, be heard and do their best work. Previous accomplishments and partnerships include:
Earlier this year, in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day (January 18), Nordstrom joined forces with long-term partner the National Urban League to host a day of employee volunteering and learning. With a focus on making MLK Day a "day on" rather than a "day off," together Nordstrom and National Urban League connected employees with virtual volunteer opportunities and educational resources to learn more about Dr. King's work and ways to honor and build upon his legacy.
Additional details on these launches and Nordstrom's commitment to community through diversity, inclusion and belonging can be found on the Nordstrom Press Room.
ABOUT NORDSTROM
Nordstrom, Inc. is a leading fashion retailer based in the U.S. Founded in 1901 as a shoe store in Seattle, today Nordstrom operates 358 stores in the U.S. and Canada, including 100 Nordstrom stores; 249 Nordstrom Rack stores; two clearance stores; and seven Nordstrom Local service hubs. Additionally, customers are served online through Nordstrom.com, Nordstrom.ca, Nordstromrack.com, HauteLook.com and TrunkClub.com. Nordstrom, Inc.'s common stock is publicly traded on the NYSE under the symbol JWN.
Media Contact Emily SterkenNordstromPR@Nordstrom.com 1-877-746-6228
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SOURCE Nordstrom, Inc.