I had a chance to pop into Nordstrom's Calgary location today. Opening day was on Friday, and, according to the SAs that I talked to, was beyond hectic.

A couple of quick observations:

The Bay and Nordstrom share many of the same brands, but the experience is totally different. Nordstrom was filled with people, but, even more amazing to this Canadian, was the sheer number of of sales staff on hand to welcome customers, answer questions, and provide assistance. I've sometimes wondered if the Bay even employs sales staff since they are almost impossible to locate.

The store was well-stocked with a full range of sizes. Shoe selection was impressive--and VERY busy.

Canadians can sign up for Nordstrom's Notes but not for the credit card. That means advance access to NAS isn't in the cards yet. But, the best news, Canadian Nordstrom stores will accept returns of items ordered online from the U.S. That news definitely put a smile on my face.