As a loyal customer of Holt Renfrew, I found in Xiuqui’s blog post an interesting story about its new promotional acts in response to the emergence of a new competitor, Nordstrom. While Holt Renfrew has been the store to go to for customers in search for high-end luxury goods, the dominance it has held in the market is about to end as Nordstrom is about to open its new store in downtown Vancouver.

In an attempt to retain its loyal customers Holt Renfrew has started taking steps to actively promote its brand. There are more sales and promotions to attract new customers and possibly target new segments with lower budgets. Holt Renfrew has also signed new contracts with a number of different fashion brands that are already held by Nordstrom.

While the appearance of this strong competitor might be a threat to Holt Renfrew, I believe it could as well change this “threat” to an opportunity by positioning itself in the way that is clearly distinguished from that of Nordstrom. Holt Renfrew, a purely Canadian brand, certainly has many business aspects that would appeal to its Canadian customers residing in Vancouver. A personal recommendation for Holt Renfrew is that it develops customer excellence to make itself compatible with that of Nordstrom, for Nordstrom is already very well known for its excellent customer relations.

Nonetheless, the coming of Nordstrom sounds like a good news for a customer like myself. After all, more competition means better quality to provide for the customer, does it not?