Biography

Robert Spector, a Seattle-based business writer and speaker, is an observer of corporate cultures. He is the author of corporate histories of an eclectic array of companies, including Chevron, Eddie Bauer and Kimberly-Clark.

Robert has written on business for the Wall Street Journal, USA Today, UPI International, NASDAQ Magazine, Customer Service Management and Corporate University Review; fashion for Women’s Wear Daily and Details, and civil liberties for Parade; and has been a ghostwriter for Dr. Joyce Brothers. His humor writing has been published in The New York Times, Sports Illustrated and National Lampoon, and performed by Don Imus and Stiller & Meara. He is best known for writing the national bestseller, THE NORDSTROM WAY : The Inside Story of America ‘s #1 Customer Service Company the first and only up-close and personal look at how this company became the national standard of customer service. Robert is the only journalist ever given total access to the inner workings of the Nordstrom culture.

The Nordstrom Way spent 17 weeks on the Business Week Bestseller List, and was nominated for the Booz Allen Hamilton/Financial Times Global Business Award. It has been translated into Japanese, Korean and Chinese. Tom Peters called The Nordstrom Way, “A real winner,” and Business Week said it “bubbles with customer service insights.” Robert is an international speaker on Nordstrom’s culture of customer service. His audiences have ranged from Cadillac to the Red Cross. His talks break down the elements of the Nordstrom philosophy and explain how they can be adapted for virtually every kind of organization. His new book LESSONS FROM THE NORDSTROM WAY: How Companies are Emulating the #1 Customer Service Company (Wiley), shows how companies of any size–and in any industry–are giving world class customer service. Barry Sternlicht, Chairman and CEO of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, called LESSONS FROM THE NORDSTROM WAY a blueprint for providing superior customer service. There are lessons here for people in every industry.”

Robert is the author of AMAZON.COM: GET BIG FAST: Inside The Revolutionary Business Model That Changed The World (HarperCollins). Professor Philip Kotler of Northwestern University called the book “a business history classic”, and Patricia Seybold, author of CUSTOMERS.COM said, “This is a must read for any serious player in the Internet Economy. Jeff Bezos’s fanatical focus on the total customer experience is the key takeaway.”

Robert also wrote the foreword to CUSTOMER SERVICE, the second in HarperBusiness’s “Business Masters” series. Edited by Fred Wiersema, co-author of THE DISCIPLINE OF MARKET LEADERS, the book spotlights Southwest Airlines, Charles Schwab, Lands’ End, American Express, Staples and United Services Automobile Association. He has been a television guest on the National Business Report, CNN, CNBC, Fox News, Bloomberg Business, CNET News.com and numerous radio interview shows across the United States

A native of Perth Amboy, N.J., and a graduate of Franklin & Marshall College, Lancaster, Pa., Robert lives in Seattle with his wife, Marybeth, and their daughter, Fae.

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Videos

CGS Expert Video Series: Robert Spector on Customer Service

Robert Spector talks Nordstrom (1)

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Speech TopicsExpand each topic to learn more

The Last Costumer Service Speech You'll Ever Need to Hear

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5 Steps to Customer Intimacy

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Culture, Communication and Collaboration

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The Seattle Effect: Lesson from Amazon, Starbucks, Nordstrom, Costco & Pearl Jam

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The Mom & Pop Store: Wisdom from the Neighborhood

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Survival of the Fittest: Innovation in the Age of Amazon

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Testimonials

You understood our customer issues and were able to provide a framework by which our team could understand the implications for providing outstanding customer service.
– Pfizer Pharmaceuticals Group
Your brainstorming session was empowering for the managers, many of whom commented about their eagerness to share the outcomes with their teams.
– Charles Schwab Institutional
When it comes to customer service, Robert practices what he preaches.
– McKesson Corporation
Robert’s insights were most informative. Our audience enjoyed hearing his perspectives.
– J.D. Power and Associates
It was a great pleasure to have you with us at our conference in Alicante, Spain. You really left a deep impression. Many people were citing you during the event. Back home in Switzerland, we received a lot of emails from conference participants with your statements included.
– DSM Nutritional Products
I highly recommend this talk for any company that has a customer.
– BAE Systems
Robert’s entertaining and inspiring keynote presentation resonated with attendees at Starwood’s Leadership Conference. We received many positive comments about his message of customer service and the importance of teamwork and collaboration.
– Starwood Hotels and Resorts
Your message was timely and fit in well with the overall message of our conference.
– Edward Jones Investments

Booksby Robert Spector

THE NORDSTROM WAY : The Inside Story of America 's #1 Customer Service Company

Amazon.com: Get Big Fast

Anytime, Anywhere

Lessons From The Nordstrom Way

Blog Posts

Events Under Pressure: How One Planner Won an Emmy with Six Days Notice

Discover how Emmy-winning event planner Gabriella Robuccio conquered live events with just six days' notice using boundaries and vulnerability.

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Why Relatable Leaders Build Stronger Teams (And How You Can Become One)

Discover engagement strategies fom expert Rachel DeAlto on how leaders can become more relatable and transform their workforce for the better.

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Why Top Event Planners Are Booking Storytellers (You Should Too)

Discover why storytellers create lasting impact at events through wonder, not just applause—transform your audience experience today.

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AI Networking Strategies That Actually Work in 2025 with Marketing Legend Seth Godin

Learn AI networking secrets from marketing expert Seth Godin on building peer circles that outperform traditional expert models.

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Negotiation Questions Every Event Professional Should Ask Before Walking Into Any Deal

Master negotiation questions with keynote speaker Alexandra Carter that transform anxiety into confidence whenever you're seeking better deals.

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Limits Become Leverage When You Change Your Story with Torsten Gross

Transform your limits into leverage with insights from quadriplegic race car driver Torsten Gross on resilience and redefining possible.

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