Après chatting with a Nordstrom representative named Renee, via their Live Chat, trying to nail down a package with elusive, UPS information, I thought about how friendly Miss Renee was. Then, after a lovely weekend of Christmas shopping, including hours cavorting in Nordys, I thought to myself, "Magnolia," for I sometimes call myself Magnolia, "why are you shocked? Nordstrom is always pleasant, perky and professional."
Even in the one instant, over a very long family history of being Nordstrom devotees, wherein I encountered an astoundingly rude salesgirl at the South Coast Plaza Kiehl's counter, corporate customer service and then the Kiehl's manager and SCP store manager responded to my concern with the utmost of speed and apology. No worries, Nordys! One bruised apple shall not damage your entire barrel.
The Grand Silver Dame, Northwest-born and -bred, is on my short-list of top-shelf companies which still understand and adhere to the concept of customer service with a smile. (Soooo, difficult to find anymore!) Disney, Nordstrom and Starbucks, they be! Thank you, Walt, Howard and, apropos to this wee homage, John W. Nordstrom and Carl Wallin.
Beginning as a "simple shoe store", and four Nordstrom-family generations later, the brand is synonymous with quality, luxury and customer service. Sales associates, floor and otherwise, are forever beyond helpful and cheerful. No bored and impolite staff on these marbled floors! To boot, the dapper gents and young men of the shoe departments are surely a sight for sore eyes; one can spot them a mile off when on their breaks about the mall. 'Tis lovely to see men, of any age, in ties and pressed, cuffed trousers, even if it just for a bit. George Will knows.
Having been scolded elsewhere in the mall for taking holiday décor pictures -apparently security guards thought I was taking undercover snaps of styles to counterfeit fashion-, I was somewhat nervous about taking the Nordstrom pictures you see embedded here. "I'm not knocking off designers, I promise!" I initiated nervously to any sales staff looking my way, anticipting a strong finger wag from floor personnel. "I'm blogging," I'd add with a shaky sparkle in my smile. To a person, each said, How wonderful! and, Why not?!; it's a beautiful store, why shouldn't I tell the world? Truth be known, I'd probably have better and more pictures if I hadn't been still slightly apprehensive, despite the cheerful go-ahead.
Well, when I enjoy something, I write about it. To that end, I proffer the best homage possible: an excerpt from my novel, The Darlings of Orange County.
Merry Christmas, Nordstrom! Happy New Year to All!
Excerpt from The Darlings of Orange County:
She didn't return to Salon Shoes. It was clear there was either no good news, at the very least, or no news at all about her book sales at the Expo and, that said, she'd make herself wait on the booties. L.A.M.B. was a treat, a pricey carrot for work well done. She agreed to treat herself only if the tradeshow went well and as of now she had no idea. Treats were always sweeter when well-earned. They'd put the boots back on the shelf at the end of the day, but at least they'd be safe from other women's skanky feet for a little while. She had to get herself another agent. Glenn was proving to be a worthless hassle.
She instead browsed through the rest of the store. Nordstrom made everything better, even without an extravagant purchase. Her mother had introduced her to Nordstrom at a very early age. She had, in fact, introduced her to all things South Coast Plaza at a very early age. As Veronica's childhood friend, Dr. Mandy Fong, once said of both their mothers, "It's like a mother cat and her kitten. First, the mother cat catches the mouse, kills the mouse and gives it to her kitten to eat. Next, the mother cat catches the mouse, lets the kitten play with the mouse a bit, then takes back the mouse, kills it and gives it to the kitten to eat. Finally, 
the mother cat catches the mouse and passes it off completely as she proudly watches the kitten play with, kill, and then eat the mouse all by herself. So it is true with Nordstrom mothers and their kittens.
After canvassing all three floors, Veronica went to the Nordstrom Café and ordered her usual: an iced Americano with raspberry. She then exited the store and wandered past Tiffany's and Barney's, made a brief stop by the Escada window and then straight to the main drag where she turned left, away from Macy's and wandered aimlessly for hours in and out of her favorite shops. Eventually, she made a sharp right at the famed Carousel and courtyard, walking down to Bloomingdale's. If she were with her best bud Kieran, there would be long browses inside Brooks Brothers and the USC store.
