Nordstrom Buys Into Hot Online Sample Sales with Purchase of HauteLook.com

Tapping into one of the fastest-growing segments of the retail industry, tony department store retailer Nordstrom has acquired HauteLook, the private sale website, for $180 million.

HauteLook, like competitors Gilt Group and Rue La La, have popularized the online sample-sale format. These private sale (also know as "flash sale"), websites offer steep discounts, usually for 36-hours to 48 hours, on high-end and designer merchandise in limited quantities.