How Nordstrom fulfillment and contact center expansion earned Alliant rebate check of more than $190,000

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From WebWire:

Nordstrom, a leading fashion specialty retailer, nearly doubled the size of its Cedar Rapids fulfillment and contact center this spring, yet the company still found ways to reduce its expected energy consumption. By replacing lighting fixtures and installing occupancy sensors, Nordstrom is saving almost $150,000 on its expected annual energy bill. ...While working with Alliant Energy to implement new energy-efficient lighting technologies, Nordstrom participated in the utility's custom rebate program. To help with project costs, Nordstrom received a rebate check of more than $190,000. ...

While working with Alliant Energy to implement new energy-efficient lighting technologies, Nordstrom participated in the utility's custom rebate program. To help with project costs, Nordstrom received a rebate check of more than $190,000. ...

Here is a May 16 Gazette article about the expansion:

Room to growNordstrom completes $50 million C.R. expansionBy George C. FordThe GazetteCEDAR RAPIDS -- Nordstrom Inc. on Thursday marked the completion of a major expansion at its Nordstrom Direct Contact and Fulfillment Center in southwest Cedar Rapids.The $50 million project nearly doubled the size of the distribution center, adding 270,000 square feet for a total of 590,000 square feet. It marks the Seattle-based company's second expansion since it opened a fulfillment center for its online business in 1997.Jamie Nordstrom, president of Nordstrom Direct, said the Cedar Rapids customer contact and fulfillment center employs about 960. He said the expansion is designed to increase employment by another 500 associates within the next seven to 10 years."Our growth through the online channel has been tremendous over the last six or seven years,"Nordstrom said. "Customers are no longer thinking of the Internet and our stores as two different things. Customers are not loyal to channels. They're loyal to brands."Nordstrom said the expansion in Cedar Rapids followed the realization that the existing distribution center was rapidly nearing capacity."We looked at building another fulfillment center, possibly on the West Coast," he said. "We also looked at outsourcing this function to another company."In the end, we found that expanding this location made the most sense. We have designed the new addition to handle our projected needs through at least 2015."Nordstrom said the 500 projected hires over the next seven to 10 years will be spread across the customer contact and fulfillment center. He noted that several employees who started with Nordstrom at the Cedar Rapids distribution center have moved up in the organization, enforcing the company's policy of promoting from within."Our associates in Cedar Rapids are able to see that there's an opportunity for a long-term career with Nordstrom," he said.The three-story addition to the fulfillment center includes high-bay racking that will store "reserve" inventory to replenish merchandise pulled in a separate area to fulfill customer orders. "Stacker" cranes operated by certified drivers lift and retrieve pallets of merchandise stored on shelves 75 feet high and 100 yards long in the new facility.Nordstrom praised the work of Priority One, the economic development division of the Cedar Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce, cooperation from city officials and the work of contractors who made the addition possible."We do business in 29 states and have more than 160 stores," he said. "There is no town that we do business in that has a better business environment than Cedar Rapids. This project was completed on time and on budget, which is not always the case in other communities where we have built stores."Our relationship with Kirkwood Community College has been very important. When it comes to our work force, we have an amazing team in Cedar Rapids."

By George C. Ford

The Gazette

CEDAR RAPIDS -- Nordstrom Inc. on Thursday marked the completion of a major expansion at its Nordstrom Direct Contact and Fulfillment Center in southwest Cedar Rapids.

The $50 million project nearly doubled the size of the distribution center, adding 270,000 square feet for a total of 590,000 square feet. It marks the Seattle-based company's second expansion since it opened a fulfillment center for its online business in 1997.

Jamie Nordstrom, president of Nordstrom Direct, said the Cedar Rapids customer contact and fulfillment center employs about 960. He said the expansion is designed to increase employment by another 500 associates within the next seven to 10 years.

"Our growth through the online channel has been tremendous over the last six or seven years,"

Nordstrom said. "Customers are no longer thinking of the Internet and our stores as two different things. Customers are not loyal to channels. They're loyal to brands."

Nordstrom said the expansion in Cedar Rapids followed the realization that the existing distribution center was rapidly nearing capacity.

"We looked at building another fulfillment center, possibly on the West Coast," he said. "We also looked at outsourcing this function to another company.

"In the end, we found that expanding this location made the most sense. We have designed the new addition to handle our projected needs through at least 2015."

Nordstrom said the 500 projected hires over the next seven to 10 years will be spread across the customer contact and fulfillment center. He noted that several employees who started with Nordstrom at the Cedar Rapids distribution center have moved up in the organization, enforcing the company's policy of promoting from within.

"Our associates in Cedar Rapids are able to see that there's an opportunity for a long-term career with Nordstrom," he said.

The three-story addition to the fulfillment center includes high-bay racking that will store "reserve" inventory to replenish merchandise pulled in a separate area to fulfill customer orders. "Stacker" cranes operated by certified drivers lift and retrieve pallets of merchandise stored on shelves 75 feet high and 100 yards long in the new facility.

Nordstrom praised the work of Priority One, the economic development division of the Cedar Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce, cooperation from city officials and the work of contractors who made the addition possible.

"We do business in 29 states and have more than 160 stores," he said. "There is no town that we do business in that has a better business environment than Cedar Rapids. This project was completed on time and on budget, which is not always the case in other communities where we have built stores.

"Our relationship with Kirkwood Community College has been very important. When it comes to our work force, we have an amazing team in Cedar Rapids."

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