J.Crew to Begin Selling Products in Nordstrom

Nordstrom is a fan of Madewell, and now the upscale department store chain is willing to give J.Crew a chance. Fortune reports starting Sept. 12, J.Crew products will be offered alongside Madewell products at 16 select Nordstom locations. J.Crew joins the likes of Topshop (and possibly Uniqlo) in partnering with Nordstrom. The partnership offers a new clientele for the traditionally colorful and preppy product line, and hopefully will be able to help declining sales. J.Crew most recently posted an 8 percent drop in sales after a 10 percent fall last year.

Total Retail's Take: Both parties will benefit from this partnership. While Madewell is selling better than J.Crew at the moment, the partnership promises to bring a new audience to the struggling brand. Meanwhile, Nordstrom will benefit by adding another top-level brand to its stores, which figures to improve foot traffic. Furthermore, J.Crew gaining exposure to Nordstrom's audience will help change the conversation from its current focus on discounts, expanded outlet stores and declining sales.