Nordstrom holiday plans include in-store photo booths, pop-ups and virtual Santa
Nordstrom is positioning itself as a one-stop shopping destination for all things holiday — from Christmas trees to special pop-up shops to free gift wrap.
The department store retailer’s holiday initiatives include an expansion of its partnership with Balsam Hill — known for meticulously designed, realistic-looking artificial Christmas Trees — to create Christmas tree “lots” in select Nordstrom stores. This year, the trees will be featured in 30 Nordstrom stores.
In addition, beginning Oct. 18, Nordstrom has installed photo booths in 22 stores. The immersive backdrops will vary by location, and four locations will have a booth designed by a Nordstrom brand partner — either Converse, Levi's or UGG. The retailer will send the photo to customers via email, making it easy to post socially, print or create a holiday card. Select locations will offer the option to turn the photo into a digital gif.
In other plans, Nordstrom will offer a private, 10-minute video call with Santa. Tickets are $20 and a portion of the proceeds benefit Operation Warm and Big Brothers Big. And starting Nov. 26, customers can also e-mail Santa and track their letter to the North Pole or drop off a handwritten letter in stores and curbside to receive a personalized response starting Nov. 26. New this year, customers can purchase a personalized, pre-recorded video from Santa to be delivered by Christmas. Tickets are $20 with videos delivered by Christmas week.
Nordstrom’s holiday marketing campaign, called “Making Merry,” features a wide range of people—from a multi-generational family to moms and their daughters, close friends, and partners — coming together during the holiday season. The campaign, produced by Nordstrom, mixes styling from the cast members' own wardrobes with Nordstrom merchandise to authentically showcase each individual's personal style. The resulting photos and videos will run across multichannel media throughout the season, along with a selection of real-life family snapshots from Nordstrom employees and friends of the brand.
Additional Nordstrom holiday plans are below.
• Holiday Gift Shop: Nordstrom’s online and in-store holiday gift shop will offer a wide assortment of gifts, from robes to electric bikes to imaginative toys. The retailer’s online gift hub will allow customers to shop by categories, such as best home gifts, best gifts under $100 and more.
• Pop-In@Nordstrom: The shop features an assortment of gifts from eclectic and innovative brands that span across children's, pantry, home, games & entertainment, beauty and self-care, stocking stuffers and one-of-a-kind items.
• Free gift wrap: Nordstrom will offer four unique holiday gift wrap prints inspired by different holiday celebrations. Full-service gift wrapping is available at Nordstrom and Nordstrom Local stores including a variety of gift wrap, gift tags and ribbon options. Customers can pick up their Nordstrom.com orders with free gift wrapping in-store and curbside at Nordstrom and Nordstrom Local stores.
Customers in select markets can pick up their Nordstrom.com orders gift wrapped in silver gift wrap from their most convenient Nordstrom Rack store. (All holiday gift wrap and gift boxes are 100% recyclable.)
• Santa Sacks: Nordstrom is bringing back its popular, reusable burlap Santa Sacks, with more size and shape varieties.
Nordstrom noted it is committed to leaving the world better than it found it. This holiday season, along with its customers, the company will support Operation Warm and Big Brothers Big Sisters of America and Canada. By 2025, we aim to raise $5 million from cause-marketing campaigns, including holiday, for core partners who support families.