I have a retail credit card almost entirely so I can shop one sale before the general public.
That probably sounds a little ridiculous coming from someone who spends a lot of her time writing about travel rewards cards with welcome bonuses worth $1,500 or more, so let’s talk about why.
The sale in question is the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale. Because the Anniversary Sale discounts brand-new merchandise instead of leftovers, the best deals go quickly. That’s what makes it so unusual — and so popular.
The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale may have started in the 1960s during the sleepy summer season to drum up business in the Nordstrom brick-and-mortar flagship in Seattle, but it has become something of a shopping “sport,” with people planning for weeks in advance and logging on the moment they’re eligible to shop.
However, since it is a genuinely good sale, the best deals go quickly — very quickly.
If you’ve ever tried to snag a hot concert ticket or hard-to-get award seat, you’ll understand the vibe.
But that’s where the early access provided by the Nordstrom Visa Signature Card comes into play.
The information for the Nordstrom Visa Signature has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Why early access is so crucial
This year’s Nordstrom Anniversary Sale runs from July 18 through Aug. 9.
But here’s the thing: if you wait until July 18 to start shopping, there’s a decent chance you’ll already be too late for some of the most popular items.
That’s because Nordstrom gives cardholders early access before the sale opens to everyone else.
This year, shopping begins on:
- Icons: July 14–17
- Ambassadors: July 15–17
- Influencers: July 16–17
Even if you don’t spend enough to earn one of Nordstrom’s higher elite two tiers, simply having one of the retailer’s credit cards gets you at least Influencer status. That means you’ll get a very important one-day head start before the sale opens to the general public.
One day may not sound like much, but in my experience, it’s often the difference between buying what you actually want and settling for whatever’s left.
Several years ago, I carefully studied the Anniversary Sale preview, built my wish list and excitedly logged on the morning the sale officially opened, ready to stock up on wardrobe staples at 30% to 40% off.
I was already too late.
Several of the items I wanted had sold out before I ever had the chance to add them to my cart.
Some eventually came back into stock after returns, but not all of them.
By the time the next Anniversary Sale rolled around, I had a Nordstrom card, and I’ve had one every year since.
Related: I have 25 credit cards — here’s why
My 2026 Nordstrom Anniversary Sale shopping strategy
If you’re in the market for nice boots, jeans, jackets, cozy sweaters, beauty products, higher-end baby gear or other fall and household staples, the Anniversary Sale can be a great time to buy.
But since the best items move quickly, this isn’t the kind of sale where I’d recommend casually browsing a week later and hoping for the best.
Here’s how I approach it:
- Shop as early as you can: If you have a Nordstrom card, use your early access window. If you don’t, just know that some popular items may already be gone by the time the public sale starts.
- Build your wish list before the sale opens: Nordstrom usually releases a preview before the Anniversary Sale begins. Use it. The goal is to have your cart ready before your shopping window opens.
- Buy multiples if you’re unsure: If you’re between sizes or deciding between colors, I often recommend ordering both and returning the one that doesn’t work. By the time you go back for the other option, it may be sold out.
- Use a Double Points Day if you’re making a big purchase and have a Nordstrom card. This will help you earn more “Nordy Notes” that you can turn around and use on a future Nordstrom purchase.
- Start with a cash-back portal like Rakuten so you can stack a little cash back on top of whatever Nordstrom rewards you’re earning.
- Keep checking if something sells out: Popular items often come back into stock as people make returns. If you miss something on day one, it is not always gone forever.
- Use the right credit card: If you’re not using the Nordstrom card for early access or to earn Nordy Notes, pay with whichever credit card in your wallet earns the most rewards on department store or online shopping purchases, or the one where you’re working on earning a big welcome bonus.
Bottom line
At TPG, we spend a lot of time talking about travel credit cards that can unlock thousands of dollars in flights, hotel stays and other perks. So, opening a retail credit card just to shop a sale a day earlier might sound a little absurd.
If this were a one-time sale, or if I only shopped at Nordstrom every few years, I probably wouldn’t bother with the card either. I’d save that precious 5/24 slot for something else.
But if the Anniversary Sale is already part of your annual shopping routine — or it sounds right up your alley, too — that early access alone can be surprisingly valuable.
Sometimes the best perk of a loyalty program isn’t earning more points. It’s simply getting through the door first.
