Nordstrom Trying Smaller Stores That Don't Stock Clothes

(RTTNews) - Department store giant Nordstrom announced its plans to open new concept stores that won't stock any clothes.

The new Nordstrom Local store that will open on October 3 in West Hollywood, California will be 3,000 square feet big, compared with 140,000 square feet for the average department store.

"It will contain eight dressing rooms, where shoppers can try on clothes and accessories, though the store won't stock them," Suzanne Kapner of WSJ writes. "Instead, personal stylists will retrieve goods from nine Nordstrom locations in Los Angeles, or through its website. The stylists can also pull together looks for shoppers through a 'style board' app."

Nordstrom Local will focus on free consultations with personal stylists, who will advise customers and then have the merchandise brought in.

"Shopping today may not always mean going to a store and looking at a vast amount of inventory," Shea Jensen, Nordstrom's senior vice president of customer experience, said in prepared remarks. "It can mean trusting an expert to pick out a selection of items."

The new idea to open concept stores comes at a time when big clothing retailers like Macy's, Sears and JCPenney are struggling and have closed hundreds of stores.