As many of you know, the year 2020 has been “different” for most of us. We have had to learn to adapt and move forward in the best way possible. While it has had some challenges, there have also been some good things that have come from these challenging times. Joe and I are now eating more homecooked meals, we’ve saved money since we aren’t traveling, I’ve had the time to catch up on some cleaning out some of my closets and a ton of other small things. Another change that has happened this year that is great is, Nordstrom has opened up a Preview of its annual Anniversary Sale to EVERYONE!
WHAT IS THE #NSALE
Let’s start at the beginning because some of you might be new to the BIGGEST sale that happens in the fashion industry. The #NSale, or the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale, is like Fashions Black Friday event. It is your chance to get some steep discounts on new arrivals and the season’s upcoming fashions. The sale is not limited to fashion, you can also find some amazing deals on beauty and home brands also. This is when I take advantage of higher ticket items like a good winter coat, leather boots, and maybe a designer handbag that I’ve been eyeing.
WHEN IS THE #NSALE
Now that you know what the #NSale is, let’s talk about WHEN it is. Normally, the #NSale starts in mid-July and runs until August. But, as I said earlier, things are different this year. The first-ever online PREVIEW started July 24th (more on that later), and all cardmembers can begin shopping online, or in stores (if there is an open one near you) August 13th. Online shopping will open at 9:30 am ET, so set your alarm clock and be ready, and in-store shopping will be at their normal business hours. The sale goes live to the public on August 19th- August 30, and the prices go up on the 31st. Another HUGE difference this year is something that all of my Canadian readers are going to love. For the first time, the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale is coming to Canada! The dates are a little different, but you can shop the #NSale online at Nordstrom.ca from August 19–September 3.
DO I NEED A NORDSTROM CARD
I am not encouraging you to open a credit card with Nordstrom, but it does have some advantages. (Here) is a complete list of all of the advantages of having a Nordy Card so that you can decide for yourself. But, here is what I can tell you, things go quickly in this sale! There is a limited number of items that will be offered at the reduced prices, so the “favorites” get picked over very, very quickly. Getting early access to the sale is worth its weight in gold!
HOW DO I SHOP THE #NSALE
I don’t have a Nordstrom within a four-hour drive of me, so shopping online is the way that I always shop for this sale. I highly recommend shopping online, not just because we have a pandemic happening all around us, but because it can be overwhelming. I get sensory overload when I have too many choices and options to look at. This year Nordstrom has added a great feature to the sale called the WISHLIST. This will make checkout way easier and faster than ever before. You choose at item like the Gucci Sunglasses that you’ve been eyeing and click the ADD TO WISH LIST button. When you get ready to shop the sale, you log in to your account, hover over your name and click on Wish List to see all of your items at once. WOOHOO! This is way easier than creating handwritten lists, and then having to type the names in the search bar. But, you will still need a plan, so keep reading.
THE PLANNING IS EVERYTHING
To quote Dwight Eisenhour, “Plans are nothing; planning is everything.” We are going into “battle” for the best savings when can get. So, the first thing that we need to do is start the planning phase.
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Sign up for a Nordstrom Card
If you don’t have one already, this is the perfect time to grab this card. This card allows you early access which is where you have your best chance of getting the good stuff. If you just ‘can’t” have one more card to deal with, at least join the Nordy club where you will earn “points” on all of your purchases.
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Personal Double Points Day
You earn points every time you shop at Nordstrom, Nordstrom Rack, HauteLook or Trunk Club. And those points add up to Nordstrom Notes that you can spend on anything (yes, anything!) in stores or online at Nordstrom, Nordstrom Rack and HauteLook. Depending on the type of cardholder you are, you can earn up to 3 points for every dollar spent. If you plan on doing a lot of shopping on the day of the sale, then make sure to schedule that day as your Personal Double Points Day! Then you will earn 2x the points, which equals $$$$ for you later.
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Start the PLAN
This is when you need to decide what you need for the rest of the summer, and for the upcoming fall and winter. I try to compartmentalize my shopping list into categories. Some of the categories that I usually use are Jeans, Shoes, Sweaters, Coats and Jackets, Jewelry, Handbags, and Beauty. To shop, go to the website and click on the Early Access site. Then pick your category and find the items that interest you. Add each item to your wish list and then rate them in your mind for your top choices.
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Know Your Size
Every brand seems to have its own version of sizing. If the items that you are considering are ones that you are familiar with, then you will know how they fit and sizing is easy. However, if you are looking at a pair of jeans that you’ve never worn before, check the reviews first, and then order 2 sizes if possible. I know this sounds like a pain, but you get free shipping and free returns, so this won’t cost you any more. And, things will sell out quickly, so by the time that you realize that you need a different size they could be all sold out.
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Set Your Alarm
I know that this might seem crazy, and if you only have one or two items on your list, maybe it isn’t something that you need to do. However, if you’ve been dying for a HOT TICKET item that is going to sell out quickly, then be ready at exactly 9:30 to hit buy now.
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Shipping
I have a list for MUST-HAVES and I add those to my cart first, and then I check out right away. Last year I ended up not getting something that I really wanted, even though it showed that I had purchased it. I found out later that because the computers can’t keep up with the huge amount of sales, that by the time my cart was ready to process the items had already sold out. So, for my MUST-HAVES, I will check out and also pay for expedited shipping. This will help to ensure that my order is processed right away instead of in a few days. I will pay for the extra shipping only for my MUST-HAVES. I will log back in and placed the other orders, but for those, I will use the free shipping option.
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Follow my #NSale Category
As I get my categories and items picked for you, I’ll be adding them to my #NSale Category. The sale can be overwhelming, even for bloggers like me who shop these kinds of sales all of the time. So, let me help you with the process and make your life a little easier. I will try to do some flat-lays for you to show you how you can put the items together for a great fall look. Think of it as my virtual mannequin since you can’t see those in the stores.
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Shop early and often
I’ve already mentioned that you need to shop as early as possible, but you need to keep checking back often to see if additional items have been added to the sale. Normally, as items sell out, new items are added to take their place. So, checking back regularly will help you to find the best items for you.
I hope you are as excited about this sale as I am, but somehow I doubt it is possible. Lol!