Steal My 5 Tried & True Nordstrom Anniversary Sale Shopping Hacks
It’s that time of year friends, the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale (NSale) is finally here! This sale is always one of my favorites to shop year after year, and it holds a special place in my heart. I started working at Nordstrom right before I graduated from college, and the Anniversary Sale was the first big event I ever had to work in retail. I got such a thrill from it and loved seeing all of the beautiful fall pieces come in and merchandising them on the floor to represent them in the best way possible. I have worked 7 Anniversary Sales in my lifetime, and while I’m glad that I’m on the customer side rather than the sales associate side now (during the first week of the sale I would usually work 12-14 hour days—I def don’t miss that!), I’ve learned a few tips & tricks when it comes to shopping the sale, and now I’m sharing them with you!
Why is the NSale such a big deal, you ask? This is not your ordinary sale with all the leftover items no one wanted. This product is brand new from all your favorite brands! It’s a great mix of “buy now wear now” and fall merchandise to give you a jumpstart on your seasonal wardrobe. The sale runs for a limited time (generally 3 weeks) and once it’s over everything goes back up to full price, so that’s why it’s important to shop early before items sell out! Let’s dive into my secret strategy for getting the most out of this sale event.
Tip #1:KNOW WHEN YOU’RE ELIGIBLE TO SHOP
Your Nordy Club status determines when you’re able to start adding items to your cart and hitting that checkout button. Basically, you need to be a Nordstrom cardholder to shop the sale early before it opens up to the public when everyone can shop. Why does that matter? This sale is extremely popular and items tend to sell out very quickly, sometimes even before the sale goes public! If you want early access to shop before anyone else you might want to consider signing up for a card. Click here to check out this year’s sale dates & when you can start shopping!
Tip #2: SHOP ONLINE VS IN STORE
The Nordstrom website will always have a better selection than any store you go to, and ALL of the product is available online! Rather than spending time driving to the store and sifting through clothing racks to hunt for the pieces you want, I recommend placing items in your online cart the moment you can start shopping so that you get all the things you want.
Tip #3: WHEN IN DOUBT, JUST BUY IT
I’ve seen first hand when people are hesitant to buy something, so they sleep on it and come back to order or purchase it the next day, and it’s sold out. Don’t let this happen to you! If you’re torn or not sure if you think you should get something, just buy it anyway! Nordstrom’s return policy is pretty much the best and you can always bring something back if you don’t totally love it. FOSO (fear of selling out) is a very real thing during the sale, so just go for it. 😉
TIP #4: IF AN ITEM IS SOLD OUT, DON’T LOSE HOPE
During the first week of the sale, the most popular items tend to sell out quickly, like a great pair of boots or the coveted Barefoot Dreams throw blanket. Just because an item sells out within the first week doesn’t mean it won’t come back into stock. When I worked at Nordstrom it was very common for stores and the online warehouse to hold inventory in the popular items specifically for the first day of public sale. So it’s highly possible that if an item you wanted sold out during early access, it could be available again when the sale opens up to the public, so be vigilant and keep checking online! Also, like I mentioned in tip #3, it’s very common for people to return items they ended up not loving, which could be the item you just have to have! Ask a salesperson to keep an eye on the inventory for you and notify you when it’s back in stock. They can see inventory levels for all stores and the online warehouses (talk about eye in the sky!), so use them to your advantage if there’s something you really want.
Tip #5: FOCUS ON THE CLASSICS
My favorite purchases from years past have been pieces that I still wear to this day, like a pair of jeans from my favorite brand, a gorgeous pair of suede ankle boots, a neutral wool coat, or a beauty product that I wear daily. It’s classic items like these that I appreciate most, rather than trendy pieces that will maybe only last a season or two. When I sorted through all the items from the sale this year, these were my top picks and ones that I think you can wear for years to come!
