Last Updated:
10/25/20 12:26 PM
overall rating:
keep going
Nordstrom
Internal Representation & Support
73%
Public Commitment
59%
External Communication
67%
To evaluate this pillar, we take into consideration a range of factors, including but not limited to:
- Employee representation
- Diversity, equity, & inclusion (DEI)
We weigh a company’s degree of public commitment primarily on their monetary contributions to DEI matters or organizations fighting racial injustice.
Forms of monetary support we look for:
One-off donations
Recurring donations
Grant initiatives
Employee donation matching
Highlights
From September to October, Nordstrom's NYC Flagship showcased the work of contemporary Black artists through a collaboration with the Long Gallery in Harlem. In August, Nordstrom also posted an update about their progress toward combating racial injustice and more specific anti-racist actions they're taking, including specifying the amount they will be donating.
Lowlights
Amidst the pandemic, Nordstrom hired a marketing company to push out an influencer campaign touting how safe it felt to shop in stores. They spent money, time, and effort on this campaign while there were glaringly more important social issues that deserved attention. Additionally, Nordstrom still hasn not pulled Reformation despite pressure and criticism after allegations of racism.
We scour the company’s website and official social media channels to determine what message they are sending around racial injustice, how they are communicating it, and whether their communications are perceived as genuine or performative.
Public statement: We verify that companies have made a formal statement regarding racial injustice.
Social media: We consider how a company uses their platform(s) beyond performative allyship.
Representation: For companies that have the opportunity to showcase diversity in their feed, we consider whether they have adequate Black representation and BIPOC representation across their models.
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Deep Dive
I. Internal Representation & Support:
Board of Directors:
> 15% Black, 26% - 30% BIPOC, 41% - 45% Women
Executive Leadership:
0% (none) Black, 16% - 20% BIPOC, 31% - 35% Women
> 15% Black, > 40% BIPOC, > 50% Women
Workforce:
An appointed DEI senior leader and/or a dedicated DEI organization, A Black employee resource group
DEI Support:
II. Public Commitment
Nordstrom has pledged a donation of 0.001% - 0.009% of annual revenue towards racial injustice, specifically for Black lives. Additionally, Nordstrom has engaged in actions that advance racial justice and/or uplift BIPOC communities, such as partnerships with nonprofits or mission-based organizations, sponsorship of individuals who use their platform to speak out on racial injustice, and matching donations to a broad range of qualifying organizations. Nordstrom is also an advocate for the LGBTQ+ community, people living with disabilities, and Indigienous populations.
III. External Communications
Nordstrom has issued a public statement, both on social media and in a public memo, addressing racial injustice The public statement acknowledged that they can be doing better to combat racial inequality within their company, included specific calls to action, and explicitly stated "Black Lives Matter." Since June 2020, 10% - 20% of the brand's social media content has been centered around racial injustice with posts seeming performative in nature. While the brand has made an effort to include ethnic diversity on social media, they have not made an effort to increase Black representation. Although, they have shown inclusion through featuring a range of models, there is little to no evidence of their support of the LGBTQ+ community on social media beyond a post for Pride.
