The Nordstrom family will have a majority ownership stake.

Charge cards have become an important piece of the bottom line for department stores, including Nordstrom, Macy’s and Kohl’s.

Being the off-price outlet of a brand known for high-end goods isn’t always a recipe for success, experts say.

The new Nordstrom is emphasizing services as much as apparel.

It’s about square feet and making moves away from malls.

Major department stores report their earnings this week, starting with Macy’s on Wednesday, followed by Nordstrom and J.C. Penney on Thursday. After a retail slump and slide over many quarters, Americans are coming back to shopping, and the numbers show stores are enjoying the trend. Click the audio player above to hear the full story. 

Retailers are shrinking stores and making them more interactive to make them more attractive to customers.