Retailer & Marketplace
Burlington vs Nordstrom
Structured technology and market comparison · 2026
Direct Feature Comparison
Burlington · vs · NordstromUS off-price retailer focused on discounted branded merchandise.
Omnichannel fashion retailer with marketplace and retail media revenues.
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Comparison Analysis
What is the main difference between Burlington and Nordstrom?
Burlington operates as a high-volume off-price retailer focused on inventory liquidation and physical store discovery for value-driven segments. In contrast, Nordstrom employs a premium omnichannel strategy, integrating direct retail with a marketplace model. While Burlington differentiates through aggressive discounting and brick-and-mortar scale, Nordstrom pivots toward platform-based growth, leveraging retail media and data monetization to capture higher-margin advertising and service revenues.
How do the features of Burlington and Nordstrom compare?
Both companies provide extensive branded apparel assortments, yet their functional ecosystems differ significantly. Burlington’s product suite focuses on localized merchandising, loyalty incentives, and store-based deal communication. Nordstrom provides a sophisticated omnichannel platform, featuring marketplace integration for extended assortment and a retail media network for data-driven advertising. Nordstrom’s infrastructure supports complex digital fulfillment and media monetization, capabilities absent in Burlington’s inventory-centric, off-price retail model.
What are the top alternatives to Burlington and Nordstrom?
When evaluating Burlington and Nordstrom, enterprise buyers also consider other platforms in Display, Web & Mobile, Retailer & Marketplace, and Social & Digital Platforms. You can discover the full competitive landscape and evaluate other alternatives by viewing their respective footprint profiles on Polaris7.
How do the corporate scale, structure, and headquarters of Burlington and Nordstrom compare?
Burlington is headquartered in US (founded in 1972) with >5,000 employees. Nordstrom is based in US (founded in 1901) with >5,000 employees. Complete ownership, subsidiary trees, and corporate affiliations are documented across Polaris7.
Market Signals
Recent Market Signals & Activity: Burlington vs Nordstrom
Documented market movements, strategic partnerships, product releases, and regulatory developments mapped across Polaris7.
Burlington
Recent Signals
- ·SEC APIfinancials
10-Q Financial Filing Analysis for Burlington (2026-08-27)
Burlington Stores, Inc. delivered strong financial performance in Q2 Fiscal 2026, with total revenue rising 11.0% YoY to $3.00 billion and net income surging 95.7% YoY to $184.3 million. Revenue growth was driven by a 2% increase in comparable store sales alongside strong contributions from 149 net new stores opened since Q2 Fiscal 2025. Gross margin expanded 250 basis points to 46.2%, boosted by $55.5 million in IEEPA tariff refunds and improved core merchandise margins. Operating efficiency remained robust, with SG&A expenses improving by 120 basis points as a percentage of net sales. The company continued its aggressive store footprint expansion, reaching 1,287 stores as of August 1, 2026, while executing on capital allocation through $167.4 million in share repurchases year-to-date and completing induced convertible note exchanges.
- Total revenue for Q2 Fiscal 2026 reached $3.002 billion, up 11.0% YoY, supported by 2% comparable store sales growth and 149 net new store openings over the past twelve months.
- Gross margin expanded to 46.2% of net sales, aided by $55.5 million in IEEPA tariff refunds, pushing Q2 net income to $184.3 million ($2.88 diluted EPS).
- Operating store footprint expanded to 1,287 locations across 47 states, Washington D.C., and Puerto Rico, backed by $942.0 million of available liquidity under the ABL revolving facility.
- ·Retail DiveFinancials
Burlington to Reinvest $55M Tariff Refunds into Lower Prices
Burlington CEO Michael O’Sullivan said the company will put the full $55 million in tariff refunds it received in Q2 toward lower prices rather than retaining the money to boost margins. Burlington reported Q2 sales up 11% year-over-year to nearly $3 billion, with store comps rising 2% and a record 51 store openings in the quarter (net +45). With the tariff refunds included, gross margin widened 250 basis points to 46.2% and net income doubled to $184 million (excluding a $41 million after-tax benefit, net income was $151 million). O’Sullivan said the move supports customers facing higher living costs and helps protect market share amid competitor strength at Ross and weaker comps at TJX U.S.
- Burlington received $55 million in tariff refunds in Q2 and plans to reinvest the full amount into lower prices.
- Q2 total sales rose 11% year-over-year to nearly $3 billion; comparable store sales were up 2%.
- Gross margin expanded by 250 basis points to 46.2% when tariff refunds are included; merchandise margin expanded 70 basis points excluding the refunds.
Nordstrom
Recent Signals
- ·AdweekBrand Marketing
Scarlett Johansson's Beauty Brand The Outset Winds Down
Scarlett Johansson's vegan skincare brand, The Outset, has announced it is winding down operations, according to a message on its website. The brand, co-founded with Kate Foster Lengyel in 2022, initially launched as a direct-to-consumer venture before securing retail partnerships with Sephora, Amazon, and Nordstrom. The closure is attributed to a lack of prominent celebrity endorsement, as Johansson deliberately stayed out of the spotlight in marketing efforts. Industry expert JP Kuehlwein of Columbia Business School notes that celebrity brands typically rely on the founder's visibility for success, and The Outset's low-profile approach undermined its credibility and consumer interest. Existing orders will still be processed, and products may remain available at retail partners while stock lasts. The brand did not respond to requests for comment, and official closure details have not been released.
- The Outset, Scarlett Johansson's skincare brand, announced it is winding down operations.
- The brand was co-founded by Scarlett Johansson and Kate Foster Lengyel in 2022.
- The Outset launched as a DTC brand and later partnered with Sephora, Amazon, and Nordstrom.
- ·Retail DiveRetail
Nordstrom's NYC pop-up The Corner Market adds gourmet foods
Nordstrom's New York City flagship store has transformed its pop-up space, The Corner, into The Corner Market, a gourmet food and pantry shop featuring products from over 50 local and global brands including Fishs Eddy, Fishwife, and Monte's Fine Foods. The space, which opened in late September and runs through October 10, offers housewares, pantry staples, and hosting supplies, with a focus on luxury gifting. Customers can create personalized gift boxes starting at $20. This is part of Nordstrom's strategy to evolve its pop-up concept beyond fashion, following past collaborations with Nike, Skims, and Adidas. The move reflects the retailer's broader effort to expand its services and offerings, and follows a 7% year-over-year sales increase in 2025.
- Nordstrom's NYC pop-up The Corner Market features gourmet foods and housewares from over 50 brands.
- The pop-up opened in late September 2026 and will remain open through Oct. 10, 2026.
- Custom gift boxes start at $20 with options including wood boxes and engraving.
- ·Retail DiveExecutives
Rent the Runway Appoints Paige Thomas as CEO
Rent the Runway has promoted Chief Commercial Officer Paige Thomas to CEO, effective Monday. Thomas, a Nordstrom alum, succeeds interim CEO Teri Bariquit, who becomes non-executive board chair. The announcement came as the company released Q2 results showing sales growth and narrowed losses. Total revenue rose nearly 21% year-over-year to $97.7 million, while active subscribers declined to 140,826. Gross margin expanded to 36.1%, and net loss shrank to $12.9 million. Thomas aims to accelerate the company's transformation rather than change direction.
- Paige Thomas promoted to CEO of Rent the Runway, effective Monday.
- Teri Bariquit, former interim CEO, appointed non-executive board chair.
- Q2 total revenue rose nearly 21% year-over-year to $97.7 million.
Compare their exact ecosystem overlaps.
Explore all deep relationships in Polaris7. Discover exactly which mutual clients, integrated technologies, and overlapping partners Burlington and Nordstrom share across the market ecosystem.