HauteLook
| File:Hautelook logo.svg | |
| Company type | Public |
|---|---|
| Industry | Retail |
| Founded | 2007 |
| Founder | Adam Bernhard |
| Headquarters | , US |
Key people | Terry Boyle, President |
| Products | Clothing, jewelry, beauty, shoes, home furnishings, decor |
| Parent | Nordstrom |
| Divisions | Nordstrom Rack |
| Website | www |
HauteLook operated as an exclusive membership shopping platform specializing in flash sales and time-limited promotions. Its offerings included fashion for women and men, jewelry, beauty items, children's apparel, toys, and home decoration products. The site featured daily sales events providing discounts ranging from 50% to 75% off standard retail prices. Established in 2007, HauteLook was acquired by Nordstrom in 2011 and ultimately discontinued in 2021.
History
The company was established in December 2007 in Los Angeles, California by Adam Bernhard, an entrepreneur with previous experience as senior vice president at Joie clothing. Originally launched under the name liquid8usa.com to target surplus inventory markets, Bernhard rebranded the business to HauteLook while operating with a team of four employees.[1]
In March 2011, Nordstrom purchased HauteLook for $180 million in stock, representing a strategic entry by a conventional retailer into the online private sale sector.
Bernhard resigned from his CEO position in October 2013 but continued to serve as an advisor; meanwhile, President Terry Boyle maintained leadership responsibilities without appointing a successor CEO.
By May 2014, HauteLook enhanced its digital presence by launching both an e-commerce website and a mobile application to support its online sales growth.
In August 2018, the company experienced a security breach affecting more than 28.5 million user accounts. Information exposed included email addresses, bcrypt-hashed passwords, and user names; this incident was publicly announced in early 2019.
Nordstrom decided to retire the HauteLook brand in 2021 and transitioned its merchandise to NordstromRack.com.[2]