Why Nordstrom Service is Legendary; Thanks, Steve!

Recently, while hurrying to pack for a trip out of town to give a speech, I tried on two of my dress shirts and found that somehow the collars had shrunk while hanging in the closet.

Which is to say, my neck grew larger.

What to do?

I had to attend a black tie event, but I didn’t have time to pick up a shirt—my flight overseas was due to depart in three hours. And I didn’t want to pay European prices for a new shirt—especially given the muscular euro.

On a hunch, I called the Nordstrom store at the Mall of America, just about four miles from the Minneapolis-St. Paul airport where I was to catch my flight. 

Asked for the men’s department.

Got a guy named Steve Slivken.

“Steve,” I said, “I’m a big fan of Nordstrom’s. I know how famous Nordstrom’s is when it comes to service, but tonight I’m really going to put Nordstrom to the test.”

“If it can be done,” he replied without missing a beat, “I’m your man.”

And, sure enough, Mr. Slivken was my man. About 90 minutes later, as I pulled up to the departure level around 8 p.m. at the airport, there he was standing by his car at Door Number Four, a men’s dress shirt in my size at the ready, my credit card already charged (at half what a similar shirt would have cost me in Monaco).

If you’re ever in the Mall of America and need some men’s clothing, ask for Steve Slivken. If it can be done, he’s your man.