Everything You Need To Know About The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale
The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale this year officially runs from July 17th to August 6th, 2023, with some presale days for certain shoppers before the July 17th launch (see below for more details on if you qualify for the presale). To help plan out your shopping strategy, the retailer offers a preview of the included deals, which goes live on July 3rd. This is strictly to reveal what will be discounted during the sale—the earliest (some) shoppers can take advantage of the deals is July 11th.
The sale is lasting a bit longer this time around than last years' two weeks, giving shoppers 21 days to shop 'til they drop. Nordstrom cardmembers will be able to take advantage of the sale for nearly a month total!
When Will The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale Start In 2023?
So, here's the deal on Nordstrom's Anniversary deals: though the sale officially starts for the general public on July 17th, 2023, some shoppers will be able to score early access to the sale—and that early access can be the difference between scoring your dream item for cheap or seeing the dreaded words "SOLD OUT" flash before your eyes.
How does early access work? Well, here's a handy little graphic to help clear it up:
Early access to the sale is available to all Nordstrom cardmembers, though of course that access too is tiered by your card level. Those with "Icon" status get first dibs on July 11th; Ambassadors follow on the 12th, and Influencers on the 13th. That means that, with a Nordstrom card, you'll at least get 3 days to shop before the general public, if not more depending on your level. Those with Icon status have spent $15,000 or more at the retailer, while Ambassadors have spent $5,000 or more, and Influencers $500 or more.
If you're not yet a cardmember, you can apply now on the site and score a $40 Bonus Note to use on a future purchase. Every dollar spent with the Nordstrom card earns you 2 points back; you'll also receive exclusive "Nordy Club" benefits. All cardmembers start automatically at Influencer status, meaning if you were to sign up right now, you'll be able to shop the sale early on July 13th along with the others on the Influencer member tier.
What Was Nordstrom's 2022 Anniversary Sale Like?
Though we don't know exactly what items and brands will be on sale this year—not until the preview on July 3rd, anyway—we do have a sense of what should be expected, based on last year's sale. And there were some awesome markdowns in 2022! Big brands that will likely some discounts this year include Estée Lauder, Nike, Zella, Free People, SPANX, Charlotte Tilbury, Olaplex, and more. Last year's Anniversary Sale included huge price cuts on all kinds of apparel like fall fashion faves and workplace wardrobe staples, with some especially great savings on denim, jackets, and shoes. It's not all just wearables, either: keep an eye out for discounted cookware, home decor, and other life-elevating items.
What Brands Are Included In Nordstrom's 2023 Anniversary Sale?
Along with those we mentioned above, there are tons of other brands that are expected to be a part of this year's Anniversary Sale. Glamour reports that "Birkenstock, Dyson, Rails, Good American, and Veronica Beard will be included this year; last year, Ugg, La Mer, Spanx, and Jo Malone were marked down. Expect to see plenty of designer bags, summer sneakers and tops, luxury beauty, face sunscreen, swimsuits, and hair dryers included."
What Items Are Expected To Sell Quickly?
It seems in years past that Early Access for Nordstrom cardmembers have made it more difficult to score every single item you had your eye on—so, perhaps, hitting at least the Influencer tier on a Nordstrom card may be well worth it if you're hoping to really fill your cart. Being successful at the Anniversary Sale may not be about what specific items will sell the fastest, but rather, who has access to the sale the earliest.
Customers have pointed out in recent years that the sale has become more and more about "influencers" and people with cardmember status (i.e. people who spend $500 or more at the store), and bemoaned that items are sold out before the sale even opens to the public:
Luckily, savvy shoppers have also noted that you can get the items you really want by setting alerts for when returns happen, which are quite common for Nordstrom.
Tips For Shopping The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale
The deals at Nordstrom's Anniversary Sale are Black Friday-level, so going in armed with some advice is a smart course of action to ensure scoring the most items on your list. And if that list is long after the preview goes live on July 3rd, the first step to smart sale shopping is becoming a Nordstrom cardmember and at least attaining that Influencer level allowing you to shop early on July 13th. Keep in mind: Nordstrom's return policy is pretty generous, so if you have a change of heart on any of your purchases, you can feel free to bring 'em back.
If something does sell out that you really were set on buying, have no fear—items will often be restocked even after "selling out", so keep checking the Nordstrom website and you may find those stylish boots or that amazing beauty set is back and available to add to cart.
Also, when the preview goes live, you can add items you're interested in to your virtual online wishlist, making your purchases as easy as a click if you've prepared ahead of time.
Godspeed on your shopping journey!