When Nordstrom first opened up in Toronto a few months ago, my colleague dragged my butt there on a Friday after work to check out the scene. Exhausted as I was, I tried to put on my blogger hat and decoded to go with the flow of what this retail experience was giving me. (Never judge anything or anyone when you are exhausted…you rarely end up with a positive review).
It’s Nordstrom and any shopping experience that can replicate the US feel is going to work for a shopping loving Canadian. My first instinct was why is there a $10,000 Lanvin gown, hanging mere feet away from some plaid shirts? From a visual perspective, I just couldn’t comprehend this. I am not a retail planner, but I think I understand exclusivity…and maybe Nordstrom’s is trying to take the route of Simons, but somehow it just dod;t quire work.
Keep reading though because I have some excellent information to report. Skip forward a few months later and I am a big Nordstrom fan! Here’s why. When I dropped in to the beauty department for the first time, I was greeted with enthusiasm and number 1 service. The girl serving me, Siobhan was extremely helpful. She doesn’t work for any specific brand and is well versed in all the wonderful products, so she was able to give me a well rounded and balanced view of the hundreds of products out there….it can be vey overwhelming. These were all very high end products, none of which I would have ever proceeded to purchase without evidence of their worth.
Over the next few weeks, I tried these samples and actually went back to pick up an amazing eye mask…yes it cost a small fortune but this product was incredible. For $200 CDN, you can wake up on little sleep and still look refreshed. This Sisley eye mask is a miracle for any lack sleeping gal (you know who you are). How else could I tell you about this amazing product? How else could I look half descent at my 8:30 am meetings, were it not for my dirty secret?
Skip forward a few weeks later and it’s a Friday and I am in desperate need of another secret trick I learned from Siobhan. The second addition to my little arsenal of eye tricks was finished. Siobhan told me all about this amazing eye brightener from Trish McEvoy and one bottle later, I am hooked. I just can’t live without it. Problem is that it seems to run out a little quickly….but better to have bright eyes, than none at all.
No product, no problem? I simply called my beauty pusher Siobhan and 2 hours later I received this amazing package at work. Nestled in a beautiful Nordstrom Xmas bag (complete with a pink bow), was a bag of delicious beauty products! I am talking Chanel and high end quality products. After a week of emails, meetings and trying to resolve issues every single day, this was all I needed to bring me back to life. And brought me back to life it did!! I couldn’t have a bigger smile on my face to anything or anyone waiting for me at reception!
So ladies and gentlemen, as much as I love Holt’s (and I really do), nothing can beat a customized service experience. For your next beauty purchase, be sure to check out Nordstrom. You can thank me later.
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