Nordstrom Inc. yesterday announced preliminary sales of $398.5 million for September, a 6 percent decrease from the $424 million it brought in during the same month last year.
The retailer blamed the sales drop on a waning retail environment worsened by the Sept. 11 attacks. However, the sales total didn't include the last three days of the month, in which the retailer had begun its first impromptu sale in nearly 40 years at www.nordstrom.com and its 126 retail stores.
Nordstrom, Seattle, yesterday concluded the 11-day sale, which marked down its women's, men's and children's fall racks 33 percent to 60 percent. Normally, the retailer sticks to its schedule of holding an anniversary sale in July and clearance sales in June and November.
The retailer had said that it planned to donate 1 percent of the revenue generated through the sale to the American Red Cross. Nordstrom placed a minimum of $1 million on the pledge.
