Nordstrom aims to buy Faconnable

French law requires that workers be notified anytime their company is put up for sale, which explains why Nordstrom yesterday announced its intent to purchase Faconnable, the high-end line of clothing.

Nordstrom spokeswoman Brooke White said the Seattle-based retailer has been considering the purchase for several months. Though no terms have been settled on, White said Nordstrom hopes to finalize the deal within six weeks.

Faconnable clothing is sold throughout the world. The company operates 52 boutiques and its clothing is sold in large department stores throughout Europe and South America. In North America it has been sold exclusively through Nordstrom for the last 11 years.

White said Faconnable's owners wanted to expand the brand and didn't have the money. Nordstrom believes Faconnable could become a dominant brand leader around the world.

Out-of-town visitors have long relied on cabdrivers for advice on everything from the best strip bars to restaurants. Now in Chicago, which last year hosted 30 million tourists and business travelers, Nordstrom is turning to cabbies to get the word out on its soon-to-open store on Chicago's Magnificent Mile.

By noon yesterday, cabdrivers were lined up 20 cars deep in front of the Nordstrom Michigan Avenue store as they waited for one of 1,500 free boxed lunches Nordstrom had promised to encourage them to guide visitors to the store.

In addition to sandwiches, a soft drink and cookies, the hacks were also given an information card outlining the services the store will provide and a baseball cap with Nordstrom's name on the back, making it easy for back-seat passengers to read.

The promotion comes a little more than two weeks before Nordstrom opens one of its grandest stores--offering everything from a personal-shopper service, common in all full-line stores, to a concierge who will help with restaurant reservations and theater tickets.

Festivities surrounding the Sept. 22 opening include a gala charity bash the night of Sept. 20, featuring a fashion show and live bands.

With tickets priced from $150 to $500, the event is expected to raise $650,000 for the Nordstrom Observation Unit in the new epilepsy center at Chicago's Children's Memorial Hospital.

Nordstrom used cabbies once before, back in the late 1980s when it opened a store in downtown San Francisco. Paula Weigand, spokeswoman for the full-line stores, says if the strategy works it could be used in the opening of other stores in urban areas.

The specialty clothing company would not disclose how much it is spending to promote the store opening or how much the store cost to build.

You know a company's product is going great guns when an increase in sales of 190 percent is considered an off month. Such is the case with Starbucks, which in August saw its sale of ground roast regular coffee grow by less than 200 percent for the first time since March. Last month the only downside for Starbucks was in bottled Frappuccino sales, which declined slightly, and ice cream, which continued its sharp decline.

Inside Retailing appears Thursdays in the Business section of The Seattle Times. You can contact Robert T. Nelson by phone, 206-464-2996; fax, 206-382-8879; or e-mail, rnelson@seattletimes.com.