Answer:
These are the options for the question:
a. product design excellence.
b. mission statement satisfaction.
c. sustainable price decreases.
d. a sustainable competitive advantage.
e. producer excellence.
And this is the correct answer:
d. a sustainable competitive advantage.
Explanation:
All the other options may be a indirect cause or consequence for Nordstrom's good reputation among the customers, but the direct advantage that this reputation provides is a competitive gain over its market adversaries.
Because the brand is well-regarded, and the clients are satisfied, it is likely that most of the customers are of the loyal type who, when making a purchase, will turn to Nordstrom before considering the competition.
This puts Nordstrom ahead of the competition, and as long as the service quality continues stable or improves even more over time, this advantage will prove sustaniable, and more importantly, profitable.