Bruce A. Nordstrom is the former chairman of the retailer, Nordstrom, Incorporated. He ran the company from 1968 until 1995 and resumed his position as chairman in 2000 until 2006.
Background
He is the grandson of John W. Nordstrom, founder of Nordstrom, Incorporated., which began as a shoe store in 1901. Bruce continued working under his father, Everett Nordstrom and uncles, Elmer and Lloyd Nordstrom, until he pursued college.
Education
He graduated from the University of Washington in 1955 with a bachelor"s degree in economics.
Career
He is an active philanthropist in the Seattle community and listed as one of Forbes wealthiest people in 2012. At the age of 9, Bruce Nordstrom began his career at the retailer working the stockroom and sales floor of Nordstrom’s downtown Seattle store, making 25 cents an hour. Foreign more than 40 years, Nordstrom led Nordstom, Incorporated, growing it from seven shoe stores to more than 156 stores in 27 states, and a European chain of boutiques.
During his tenure, he helped grew the company from under $40 million to $8.6 billion.
They made up the third generation of Nordstrom’s, who led company expansion and profitability until the 1990s, when they began to retire. In 1995, Nordstrom retired as co-chairman.
The company leadership was restructured with Nordstrom’s sons – Blake, Pete and Erik in leadership roles alongside a new Chief Executive Officer, John Whitacre. From 1995 until 2000, Nordstrom sales decreased and the company executed a marketing campaign to modernize the brand that was not well received.
As a result, Whitacre left the company in 2000.
The stores began to slowly turn around as the Nordstroms moved the focus back to employees. Profitability followed. In 2003, the company reached record revenues of $6.5 billion.
Nordstrom retired a second time in 2006, with Enrique "Rick" Hernandez Junior., a Nordstrom board member since 1997, taking on the role of chairman.
In 2007, Nordstrom co-authored Leave lieutenant Better Than You Foundation lieutenant, a book documenting the history of Nordstrom Incorporated. and its philosophy. As of October 2015, he had a Netto worth of United States$1.54 billion.
Nordstrom held leadership positions for the Downtown Seattle Association, Seattle Children"s Hospital Foundation, Swedish Hospital, Seattle Goodwill, Delta Society and United Way of King County. As an alumnus of the University of Washington, Nordstrom has stayed active in athletics and community affairs
He is the former chairman of the Tyee Board of Advisors and was a recipient of the Frank Orrico Award for "uncommon dedication" to the Department of Athletics in 1994.
Membership
While at Washington, Nordstrom became a member of the Beta Theta Pi Fraternity.