IT'S THAT TIME! The biggest sale of the year is here- Nordstrom's Anniversary Sale! As a former Nordstrom employee, I know the top tips and tricks to have the best possible #nsale experience and I'm going to share a few of my favorites with you before the sale officially begins! Online sale starts at 12:00am PST (2:00am CST) on July 12th for Nordstrom cardholders (Early Access); the public sale starts on July 20th and runs through August 5th. The catch is that prices go UP to full price on August 6th!
During the years I worked for Nordstrom, I helped top spending customers with their Anniversary Sale selections to ensure that they had a wonderful Anniversary Sale experience- and now, I get to do the same for YOU! If you're planning to stay up until 2am CST for sale time online, then you've got plenty of time to get ready! Here are my top suggestions for shopping the #nsale.
1. START BY BROWSING THE #NSALE CATALOG ONLINE.
First, take a quick look at the Nordstrom Catalog. This book highlights the top items featured in this year's sale. Typically, the catalog items are the ones that sell out. Nordstrom works with its advertisers to feature the most appealing items in the catalog and it looks better than ever this year!
2. TAKE A CLOSET INVENTORY.
The Anniversary Sale is a FALL PREVIEW sale. It shows you what you're going to be wearing this fall and offers you new merchandise at sale prices. Nordstrom invented this sale to combat the normal sales lull that most retailers experience during the summer months. SO take a look at your closet and make note of any basics that you need: new dark denim, black boots, brown boots, gray boots...how are you black heels holding up? Do you need new bras? Now's a good time to get them. Don't forget to look at your makeup drawer- makeup never really goes on sale, but the Anniversary Sale offers great deals on kits, palettes, and especially hair and beauty tools. This year, Nordstrom will be offering more "buy now, wear now" items than ever before, but don't get distracted; keep an eye out for winter coats and Christmas gifts!
3. KNOW YOUR PRIORITIES AND MAKE A LIST.
Now that you know what's in your closet and you've browsed the Nordstrom catalog, you can start to think about your fall fashion needs. Make a list of the types of items you're going to be looking for. You'll be able to narrow it down later, but having this general list will be a great place for you to start. Write down things like: work flats, casual tops, new denim, suede booties, etc. to guide you. When the online sale goes live at 2am CST on July 12th, you can search easily by category or use the links that I'll provide for you! If you don't make a list, you may end up spending thousands more than you intended. #truestory
4. ASK FOR HELP.
If you are a regular Nordstrom shopper, make an appointment with your favorite salesperson in the store. Think of them as your "man on the inside!" They know everything and it helps them to help you because they work on commission! If you can't make an appointment and you want to shop in the store, when you arrive, try to find an available salesperson to guide you in each area of the store. Note: shoe salespeople are not the best to pull clothes for you and vice versa; most salespeople are most knowledgable about their area of expertise and you will be better served to work with a specialist from each area. Since I was in the store for many years, I feel like I'm offering you the same advice I would have given to shoppers in the store so you can avoid the MADNESS during the first week of the sale and shop in your PJs.
5. SHOP EFFICIENTLY.
Here is where your list will come in handy. Whether you are shopping online or in-store, shop by categories. I recommend starting with SHOES. Shoes can be the trickiest to find the right size- especially if you're not sure if you'll size up in boots or not. Online, you may want to order both sizes and then return the one that doesn't work; however, in the store, it can be harder, so you should start with a salesperson on the shoe floor. Tip: If you are shopping in-store, after you make your shoe purchase, ask the salesperson to hold your bags in the stockroom so you don't have to carry them around to the other areas of the store.
I'll be making roundups of the top items that I saw and, tried on, and purchased this morning as part of the press preview, so keep checking back on the blog for new #nsale updates throughout the course of the sale; I'll also be updating my Shops page daily with #nsale deals!! As always, I would love for you to use the links I provide to Nordstrom! Happy shopping!