I actually obtained my Nordstrom card through the back door of getting a card with a joint applicant with them as primary (they only cared about primary persons credit) then 3 months later requesting to remove joint account holder. I would say my scores were in low 600 range the whole time I had the card and started with store card of 1500 and moved up to visa at 3k,6k,8k (might have been even one more in there somewhere.
they also took me to tier 1 interest rate which is prime + 0!!! get that on another card!