Dive Brief:
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Seattle-based Nordstrom has quietly ended its tradition of having semi-annual sales, replacing them with six or so clearance sales that better line up with consumer expectations.
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The department store retailer said it will end its mens, womens, childrens, and shoe sales and instead hold shorter storewide promotions, happening around holidays like President’s Day and Labor Day.
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Meanwhile, Nordstrom has posted a Q3 same-store sales increase of 3.9% and rising sales online and in its off-price Rack stores.
Dive Insight:
Nordstrom is futzing around with tradition here, and announced this change quietly in its FAQ section on its website. But retail consultant Allison Andrews, president of APA Business Consulting and Fashion Week San Diego, told the San Diego Union Tribune that it’s a smart move.
"It’s on trend with what other retailers are doing. We just came from a period of a couple of years where there was a sale every other weekend in a different department, and when the sales are that frequent, they lose their allure,” Andrews said.
