7 Nordstrom Anniversary Sale Tips 

See my 2023 Nordstrom Sale picks here once the preview is live

The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale is one of my favorite sales each year. (Tied with the ShopBop and Tuckernuck sales!) Since I purchase a lot from Nordstrom (especially shoes, given their generous return policy), I am always excited to see what’s included every year since the deals are SO good. Since Nordstrom has been running the sale for years and years, it’s built up quite the following.

If you’ve never heard of the Nordstrom Anniversary sale, here’s what you need to know: Once a year, Nordstrom hosts a HUGE sale online and in stores called the Anniversary Sale or “NSale”. It’s different from most retailers because instead of discounting last season’s products, Nordstrom marks down NEW products before listing them on their website at retail price for the rest of the season. It’s essentially a preseason sale. And it’s also unique because you can shop the sale on a first come, first serve basis, based on your card holder status. And that matters because stuff sells out quickly.

If you don’t carry a Nordstrom credit card, you can still shop the sale, but you have to wait for public access to open, which is typically two weeks after the sale opens to the card holders. I’ll explain in more detail below.

Since the sale is coming up this summer, I wanted to share a post with my tips for preparing to shop the Nordstrom Anniversary sale since it’s slightly overwhelming (even for me!) each year. Check out this post since I’ve updated it with this year’s picks now that they’re live!

Here are the 2023 sale dates:

• Sale Preview: July 3 (see my picks here once it’s live)
• Icons Early Access: July 11-16
• Ambassador Early Access: July 12-16
• Influencers Early Access: July 13-16
• Everyone: July 17 – August 6

7 Nordstrom Anniversary Sale Tips

To see my sale picks from last year so you have an idea of what is typically included, read this post. You may also want to bookmark that post for later since it will contain all of my 2023 picks!

Here are my 7 tips for the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale:

#1 Get a Nordstrom Credit Card *optional*

This is an optional tip since it may not be the smart thing for you to do financially in some cases. However, if you’re responsible with your credit cards AND tend to spend at least $500 at Nordstrom per year, it’s a good option. You’ll get early access to the sale, which is a great perk since things DO sell out quickly. You’ll also get free basic alterations, at least 3 double points days per year (which you can plan to use DURING the sale!), free two-day shipping in most areas, and more. The points convert to Nordstrom Notes, which are store credit.

I’m a Nordstrom Cardholder and really love it, but keep in mind, part of my career is fashion blogging, so I shop more than most.

#2 Browse Early and Add to Wishlist

Even if you don’t have early access to shop, everyone will have access to browse early (on June 29). Download the app so you can create a wishlist. You can make wishlists on desktop too, but I like the app because you’ll get notified there if things come back in stock. Since the sale includes so much, creating a wishlist early will save you lots of time when you’re ready to check out. Since I blog about the sale each year, I spend an hour or more each day, for a few days, shopping and adding items to a wishlist. That way, when the sale goes live, I know exactly what I am going to share on my blog and order for myself.

I have found that Nordstrom will add new items before the sale is officially live, so plan to browse early and check back a few times to make sure you haven’t missed anything.

You’ll see all of the items you’ve added to your wishlist in your account profile, and from there, you can move each item to your cart when you have shopping access.

#3 Become a Nordys Club Member

While not everyone should get a Nordstrom Card, EVERYONE should sign up for Nordys Club. It’s free, and you’ll earn rewards while you shop. Again this can be redeemed through Notes, i.e. store credit. This is a great way to save money down the line. Unfortunately this does not get you early sale access, however.

#4 Follow Influencers who cover the sale

This is where I come in to help you! Each year, I cover the sale by shopping FOR you, so that you don’t have to spend hours sorting through items you’d never buy. Many influencers cover the Nordstrom Sale, so make sure to follow someone who’s style aligns with yours since they’ll make shopping the sale more fun. I share via this blog post, my email list, and my LTK profile. Be sure to follow me on all of those channels for easy shopping during the sale this year.

I keep the blog post updated as items sell out, and I also send email reminders when the sale opens to the public in case you don’t have a Nordstrom Card.

Keep in mind, bloggers and influencers make a commission when you shop from their links, called affiliate links. You don’t pay anything extra, but we make a small percentage of that sale. Shopping through my links is a great way to support my blog and my business. I truly appreciate it every time someone orders something I recommend through my links since it helps me earn a living and keep my employees employed.

#5 Shop early and QUICKLY

It may sound crazy but things truly do sell out SO fast. But since Nordstrom has free shipping AND a very generous return policy, go ahead and place your order for anything you KNOW you want, and then make another order with any items you decide on later. I always place more than one order since I know I’d rather secure my #1 picks and then shop more leisurely for other items later. Items like the UppaBaby Vista Stroller and Dyson products were included last year, so if you are planning to purchase something specific, do it immediately.

And this may sound even crazier, but don’t wait until the afternoon to place your order. Wake up early and start shopping, especially if you’re looking for something specific. The Nordstrom Sale is a great time to get items you’re planning to buy anyway, but at a steep discount. It’s also a great time to stock up on things you know you’ll need and use like underwear, socks, etc.

#6 Order multiple sizes and return

Like I said, things sell out SO quickly, so if you’re shopping online and there’s a clothing item you’re dying to have and don’t know which size to order, get both and return the one that doesn’t fit. You’d hate for the right size to sell out if you order the wrong one.

#7 Check for your favorite brands

While you’re browsing the sale, be sure to search for your favorite brands to see what’s part of the sale. A few brands to keep an eye out for that are usually included are Barefoot Dreams, T3, Peter Millar, Barbour, etc. This is how I typically browse the sale: I do a quick scroll through each sale section, and then I spend the most time looking for specific brands to see what they’re including. This is the same tip I use for any sale. When I’m shopping Saks sales or Revolve, I tend to search for brands I already know and love first, which makes the sale feel so much more manageable.

I hope these tips help you feel more prepared for the 2023 Nordstrom Anniversary Sale! Make sure you’re checking this post for my sale picks this year!

Shop my favorite Nordstrom items from the 2022 sale!