Nordstrom Admits It Just Can't Quit Its Half-Yearly Sales

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Late last year, Nordstrom announced that it was switching up its sales strategy and doing away with the retailer's famous Half-Yearly sales—a move that, as it turns out, did not go over well with Nordstrom's loyal customers. At the time, Nordstrom explained that the change was for the better, but the shopper reaction was swift and full of dismay.

Apparently, it was so disheartening that Nordstrom was forced to retool the strategy and bring back the name of the Half-Yearly sales. The retailer still maintains a new schedule of six smaller sales per year, timed around holidays (one is going on right now, in fact), but the promotions are now back to being called Half-Yearly sales so as to avoid confusion.

"Last year we experimented a bit with communicating our clearance events and confused some customers with the abrupt name change," Nordstrom spokesperson Taylor Droddy told Racked over email. "We did bring back the Half-Yearly Sale name to keep it more familiar for long time customers. We will continue to evolve our strategy of six storewide events that include two Half-Yearly Sales and four Clearance Sales and how we communicate these events our customers."

Nordstrom's website has been updated to reflect the name change:

Our best sale of the year—the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale—is July 17-August 2, 2015. This event has become legendary among Nordstrom customers who enjoy outstanding savings on the most exciting new fall merchandise, along with plenty of stuff for summer.

We also have a Half-Yearly Sale each spring and fall. These much-anticipated events, along with four additional seasonal sales, offer great deals on clothing, shoes, accessories and more for men, women and kids.