SEATTLE - (March 22, 2000) Nordstrom Inc., one of the nation’s leading fashion specialty retailers, today announced it will host Job Shadow Day for more than 400 high school students at nine company locations in support of America’s Promise—The Alliance for Youth led by General Colin L. Powell, USA (Ret). Students attending the March 22 event will be exposed to the wide range of careers Nordstrom offers as well as the skills needed to perform them. Nordstrom employees will show students jobs ranging from advertising and marketing to information technology and merchandising. Students will also attend a luncheon where the company’s top executives will discuss their own Nordstrom career paths.

"Job shadowing gives students a better idea of the skills they need to get good jobs, and can even help them settle on a career. It can make a big difference in the course of a young person’s life," said General Powell.

Last year the retailer invited 200 students to its first Job Shadow Day at its downtown Seattle flagship store. This year Nordstrom has expanded its involvement with America’s Promise by more than doubling the number of students invited to attend as well as increasing the number of Nordstrom locations hosting the event.

"We are pleased to continue our support of America’s Promise in their efforts to improve the lives of young people," said Pete Nordstrom, executive vice president, director of full-line store merchandising for Nordstrom. "As a growing company with expansion plans across the United States, we are looking to attract bright, enthusiastic and hard working people to be future Nordstrom leaders. Job Shadow Day clearly offers us a step in that direction."

Formed in 1997 and led by General Powell, America’s Promise is mobilizing individuals, groups and organizations from every part of American life to build and strengthen the character and competence of the nation’s youth.

At the heart of America’s Promise is a set of five basic promises made to every child in America to help them take their place as successful adults. The five promises are to provide:

• Ongoing relationships with a caring adults—parents, mentors, tutors or coaches
• Safe places with structured activities during non-school hours
• A healthy start and future
• Marketable skills through effective education
• An opportunity to give back through community service

Participating Nordstrom store locations include South Bay and Westside Pavilion in Los Angeles; Brea and Santa Ana in Orange County, Calif.; Horton Plaza in San Diego, as well as San Francisco; Oakbrook, Illinois and downtown Seattle.

Nordstrom Inc. is one of the nation’s leading fashion specialty retailers, with 105 stores located in 23 states, including 72 full-line stores, 27 Nordstrom Racks, three Façonnable boutiques, two free-standing shoe stores, and one clearance store. The company also seeks to serve customers through its online presence at http://www.nordstrom.com, as well as direct mail catalogs. Nordstrom Inc. is publicly traded on the NYSE under the symbol JWN.

Contact:

Brooke White, Nordstrom Inc.
(206) 373-3030