Dive Brief:

• Nordstrom Inc. will postpone the opening of its discount Rack stores from a planned 2014 expansion to 2017.

• A spokesperson from the Seattle-based retailer said that the logistics of its Canadian expansion were more complex than anticipated and that the focus will be on bringing six new full department stores into Canada.

• No word if a rumored business arrangement for Nordstrom to bring Fast Retailing’s Uniqlo into Canada might have anything to do with the delay.

Dive Insight:

If last week’s rumors are true--of Nordstrom possibly working out an arrangement to run Uniqlo stores in Canada--that may be some of the complicating factors cited by the company as reasons for the delay in developing its Rack stores in Canada. Another could be the forewarning of Target’s almost $1 billion dollar loss after efforts to expand in the country last year. This is a significant delay, and no doubt there will be more clues about Nordstrom’s intentions for Canada well before 2017.