The garden of retailing is littered with examples of retailers that once had a singular successful point of view but have lost their way. Oversight, if not consistent supervision, is mission critical. There is a fine line between encouraging talented and committed team members to fully express themselves in the decisions they must make while at the same time keeping everyone in the organization on the same page of the hymnal. This balancing act must encourage innovative thinking and action, while protecting the business’s underlying point of view.

It’s a celebration on so many levels, and Pete and Erik Nordstrom are the hosts, with heartfelt thanks to their loyal customers. Any other retail brand might sound disingenuous, but these guys really mean it.