The Retail Clearance Calendar: Annual Markdown Schedule Guide

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER: Retail clearance schedules are general patterns that vary significantly between retailers, locations, and market conditions. Individual stores may deviate from these patterns based on inventory levels, local competition, and management decisions. This guide provides educational information about typical markdown patterns, not guarantees of specific deals or savings opportunities. Success in clearance shopping requires significant time investment with no guarantee of finding desired items or achieving specific savings targets.

Understanding Retail Clearance Cycles
January: Post-Holiday Reset
February: Winter Clearance Peak
March: Spring Transition
April: Spring Inventory Management
May: Early Summer Prep
June: Mid-Year Adjustments
July: Summer Clearance Begin
August: Back-to-School and Summer End
September: Fall Transition
October: Halloween and Fall Clearance
November: Pre-Holiday Clearance
December: Year-End Inventory Clear
Retailer-Specific Patterns
Building Clearance Shopping Strategy
Reality Check: Risks and Challenges

Understanding Retail Clearance Cycles

The Business of Markdowns

Retail clearance cycles exist because stores need to manage inventory flow, cash flow, and seasonal merchandise transitions. Understanding these business drivers helps predict when clearances are most likely to occur.

Primary Drivers of Clearance Timing:

Seasonal merchandise lifecycle management
New inventory arrival scheduling
Cash flow optimization for retailers
Store space management and efficiency
Consumer shopping pattern alignment
Competitive pricing pressure response

Typical Markdown Progression:

Initial markdowns: 20-30% off original price
Second markdowns: 40-50% off original price
Deep clearance: 60-75% off original price
Final clearance: 75-90% off original price (limited selection)

Markdown Schedule Factors

Variables That Affect Timing:

Store location and local market conditions
Regional climate and weather patterns
Inventory levels and sell-through rates
Corporate markdown policies and procedures
Competition and local market pressure
Store management discretion within policy limits

Why Schedules Vary:

Different retailers have different fiscal calendars
Regional managers may have scheduling flexibility
Local market conditions influence timing
Inventory levels vary by location
Weather patterns affect seasonal transitions

Important Reality: These patterns represent typical industry practices but are not guarantees. Successful clearance shopping requires flexibility and realistic expectations about availability and timing.

January: Post-Holiday Reset

Major Clearance Categories

Christmas and Holiday Merchandise:

Christmas decorations: 50-90% off by mid-January
Holiday clothing and accessories: 40-75% off
Seasonal gift items and toys: 30-70% off
Holiday food and candy: 50-90% off
Wrapping paper and cards: 75-90% off

Winter Clothing and Accessories:

Coats and outerwear: 30-60% off starting mid-January
Winter boots and accessories: 40-70% off
Sweaters and cold-weather clothing: 25-50% off
Winter sports equipment: 30-60% off

Shopping Strategy for January

Timing Recommendations:

December 26-31: Initial holiday clearance (50-70% typical)
January 2-15: Deep holiday clearance (70-90% typical)
January 15-31: Winter clothing markdowns begin

Categories to Target:

Next year’s holiday decorations and supplies
Winter clothing for current season wear
Gift wrapping supplies for year-round use
Non-perishable holiday foods
Seasonal home decor items

Realistic Expectations:

Best holiday deals typically January 2-7
Selection becomes very limited by mid-January
Popular sizes and colors sell out quickly
May require visiting multiple store locations
Storage space needed for seasonal items

Retailer-Specific January Patterns

Target:

Holiday clearance starts December 26 at 50% off
Increases to 70% off around January 2
Final clearance at 90% off by January 10
Winter clothing markdowns begin mid-January

Walmart:

Post-holiday clearance begins December 26
Progressive markdowns through early January
Winter clothing clearance starts late January
Markdown timing varies by store location

Home Depot/Lowe’s:

Christmas items marked down December 26
Deep clearance by early January
Winter equipment clearance through January
Spring merchandise arrival starts late January

February: Winter Clearance Peak

Peak Winter Clearance Period

February represents the deepest discounts on winter merchandise as retailers prepare for spring inventory arrivals.

Categories at Peak Clearance:

Winter coats and outerwear: 60-80% off
Boots and winter footwear: 50-75% off
Cold weather accessories: 60-80% off
Winter sports equipment: 50-70% off
Heating equipment and supplies: 40-60% off

Valentine’s Day Cycle:

Pre-Valentine’s markdowns on previous seasonal items
Post-Valentine’s clearance: February 15-28
Valentine’s candy and gifts: 50-75% off after February 14
Valentine’s decorations: 75-90% off by month-end

February Shopping Opportunities

Best Value Categories:

Winter clothing for next year
Valentine’s chocolate and candy (post-holiday)
Winter home goods and decor
Exercise equipment (post-New Year resolution period)
Clearance toys from holiday overstock

Timing Strategy:

Early February: Best selection on winter items
February 15+: Valentine’s clearance begins
Late February: Final winter clearance before spring transition

Expected Discount Ranges

Winter Apparel:

Department stores: 50-70% off regular prices
Discount retailers: 40-60% off regular prices
Outlet stores: 30-50% off regular prices
Online retailers: 40-80% off (with shipping considerations)

Home and Seasonal Items:

Home improvement: 40-70% off winter/heating items
Department stores: 60-80% off Valentine’s merchandise
Grocery stores: 50-75% off seasonal candy and gifts

March: Spring Transition

Spring Inventory Transition

March marks the transition period where winter clearance reaches final stages while spring merchandise arrives at full price.

Final Winter Clearance:

Remaining winter coats: 70-90% off (limited sizes/styles)
Winter boots: 60-80% off (limited selection)
Clearance winter home goods: 50-80% off
Cold weather accessories: 70-90% off

Early Spring Categories:

Spring cleaning supplies: Promotional pricing begins
Garden and outdoor equipment: New arrivals at full price
Spring clothing: New arrivals at full price
Easter merchandise: Arrives at full price mid-month

March Shopping Strategy

Focus Areas:

Final winter clearance for next year
Spring cleaning supplies during promotional periods
Garden planning and early equipment purchases
End-of-season winter sports equipment

Realistic Expectations:

Very limited selection on deep-discount winter items
Best spring deals won’t appear until later in season
New spring merchandise priced at premium
Weather may still require winter clothing purchases

St. Patrick’s Day and Easter Lead-Up

St. Patrick’s Day Merchandise:

Limited clearance potential due to short selling season
Post-holiday clearance: 50-75% off (limited items)
Timing: March 18+ for clearance items

Easter Preparation:

Easter merchandise arrives mid-March at full price
Candy and decorations: Full price through Easter
Spring clothing: New arrivals command premium pricing

April: Spring Inventory Management

Spring Category Development

April represents a transition month where spring merchandise is established but summer items begin arriving.

Categories in Development:

Spring clothing: Established inventory, occasional promotions
Garden and lawn equipment: Full season pricing
Spring cleaning supplies: Peak promotional period
Outdoor furniture: New arrivals at full price
Spring sports equipment: Full pricing with limited promotions

Early Summer Arrivals:

Pool supplies: Initial arrivals at full price
Summer clothing: Limited arrivals at premium pricing
Outdoor recreation equipment: New season pricing
Summer camp and activity supplies: Full price

April Shopping Opportunities

Best Value Areas:

Spring cleaning supplies during peak promotional season
End-of-model lawn equipment (previous year models)
Spring clothing during promotional periods
Garden supplies during early season promotions

Categories to Avoid:

New spring fashion at full price
New outdoor furniture at season-start pricing
Pool supplies at peak season pricing
Summer activity equipment at premium pricing

Easter and Spring Holiday Clearance

Post-Easter Clearance (After Easter Sunday):

Easter candy: 50-75% off starting Monday after Easter
Easter decorations: 75-90% off within a week
Spring seasonal items: 30-50% off
Easter clothing: 25-40% off

Timing for Easter Clearance:

Immediate clearance: Monday after Easter
Deep clearance: Tuesday-Thursday after Easter
Final clearance: Week following Easter
Very limited selection after 10 days post-Easter

May: Early Summer Prep

Memorial Day and Summer Preparation

May focuses on Memorial Day promotions and early summer merchandise rollout.

Memorial Day Promotional Categories:

Appliances: Major sales events (20-40% off)
Mattresses: Traditional promotional period (30-50% off)
Outdoor grilling equipment: Seasonal promotions (25-40% off)
Patio furniture: Early season promotions (20-35% off)
Pool supplies: Pre-season promotional pricing

Summer Merchandise Arrivals:

Summer clothing: Full inventory arrival at regular pricing
Pool and water toys: Full season inventory
Camping and outdoor recreation: Peak inventory arrival
Summer sports equipment: Full pricing period

May Shopping Strategy

Promotional Opportunities:

Memorial Day weekend sales across multiple categories
Early summer equipment during promotional periods
Spring inventory clearance at select retailers
Mother’s Day promotions on jewelry and gifts

Categories with Value:

Appliances during Memorial Day events
Grilling equipment during early season promotions
Spring clothing during end-of-season clearance
Garden supplies during peak growing season promotions

Mother’s Day Impact

Pre-Mother’s Day (Early May):

Gift categories at promotional pricing
Jewelry and accessories: Promotional events
Clothing and fashion: Limited promotional pricing
Home and garden: Mother’s Day themed promotions

Post-Mother’s Day:

Limited clearance on Mother’s Day specific items
General merchandise returns to regular pricing
Focus shifts to Memorial Day promotional planning

June: Mid-Year Adjustments

Summer Season Establishment

June represents peak summer merchandise availability with limited clearance opportunities.

Peak Summer Categories:

Summer clothing: Full inventory, regular pricing
Pool supplies: Peak season, full pricing
Outdoor recreation: High demand, limited promotions
Camping equipment: Peak season pricing
Summer sports: Full season inventory

Father’s Day Considerations:

Tools and equipment: Promotional pricing mid-month
Grilling accessories: Father’s Day promotions
Sporting goods: Limited promotional events
Technology: Some promotional events

June Shopping Reality

Limited Clearance Opportunities:

Very few categories in clearance during peak summer
Spring merchandise mostly cleared by now
Summer items command full pricing
Back-to-school preparations too early for deals

Promotional Focus:

Father’s Day sales events (mid-June)
Early wedding season promotions
Graduation gift promotional periods
Summer vacation travel promotions

Wedding and Graduation Season

Promotional Periods:

Wedding season promotions on home goods
Graduation gift promotions on electronics and accessories
Travel promotions for summer vacation season
Limited but focused promotional opportunities

July: Summer Clearance Begin

Independence Day and Summer Shifts

July 4th promotions lead into early summer clearance as retailers prepare for back-to-school inventory.

July 4th Promotional Categories:

Appliances: Mid-year clearance events (25-40% off)
Mattresses: Summer sales events (30-50% off)
Outdoor grilling: Holiday promotions (20-35% off)
Patio furniture: Mid-season adjustments (15-30% off)
Outdoor recreation: Limited promotional pricing

Early Summer Clearance:

Spring merchandise: Final clearance (50-80% off remaining items)
Early summer arrivals: Limited markdowns on slow-moving items
Swimwear: Early clearance begins late July (20-40% off)

July Shopping Strategy

Independence Day Opportunities:

Appliance shopping during major sales events
Outdoor equipment during holiday promotions
Home improvement during mid-year sales
Technology during summer promotional periods

Early Summer Clearance:

Final spring merchandise at deep discounts
Early swimwear markdowns for current season use
Outdoor furniture adjustments for immediate use
Garden supplies during mid-season promotions

Back-to-School Preparation Begins

Late July Developments:

School supplies: Early inventory arrival at regular pricing
Children’s clothing: Back-to-school inventory builds
Electronics: Student-focused promotions begin
Dorm and college supplies: Initial inventory arrival

August: Back-to-School and Summer End

Peak Back-to-School Season

August represents the highest promotional activity for back-to-school merchandise.

Major Back-to-School Categories:

School supplies: Peak promotional period (30-70% off select items)
Children’s clothing: Major sales events (25-50% off)
Electronics: Student discounts and promotions (10-30% off)
Backpacks and accessories: Competitive pricing periods
College and dorm supplies: Promotional pricing peak

Summer Clearance Acceleration:

Swimwear: 40-70% off as season ends
Summer clothing: 30-60% off end-of-season clearance
Pool supplies: 25-50% off end-of-season
Outdoor toys and recreation: 30-50% off
Summer footwear: 40-60% off

August Shopping Priorities

Back-to-School Values:

School supplies during competitive promotional periods
Children’s clothing during peak sales events
Electronics with student discounts
Backpacks during promotional periods

Summer Clearance Opportunities:

Swimwear for next year or vacation planning
Summer clothing for next season
Pool supplies for next year (if storage available)
Outdoor recreation equipment at clearance pricing

Competitive Promotional Environment

Retailer Competition:

Price matching becomes common during back-to-school
Loss leader pricing on popular school supplies
Bundle deals on clothing and electronics
Early fall merchandise begins arriving at full price

September: Fall Transition

Back-to-School Wind-Down and Fall Preparation

September sees the conclusion of back-to-school promotions and the beginning of fall merchandise introduction.

Post-Back-to-School Clearance:

School supplies: Clearance on remaining inventory (40-70% off)
Summer clothing: Deep clearance (50-80% off)
Children’s summer clothing: Final clearance (60-80% off)
Outdoor summer equipment: Final markdowns (50-70% off)

Fall Merchandise Introduction:

Fall clothing: New arrivals at full price
Halloween merchandise: Initial arrival at regular pricing
Fall home decor: New season inventory
Winter preparation items: Early arrival at full price

September Shopping Strategy

Clearance Opportunities:

Final summer clearance for next year planning
Post-back-to-school supplies for home office use
End-of-season outdoor equipment
Summer clothing for next year or warm climate travel

New Season Positioning:

Fall clothing: Wait for promotional periods unless immediate need
Halloween items: Arrive at full price, wait for October promotions
Winter preparation: Early arrival at premium pricing

Labor Day Impact

Labor Day Weekend:

Traditional sales event across multiple categories
Appliances: Major promotional period (25-40% off)
Mattresses: Fall sales event (30-50% off)
End-of-summer clearance acceleration
Fall fashion preview promotions

October: Halloween and Fall Clearance

Halloween Season Dynamics

October focuses heavily on Halloween merchandise with fall clearance opportunities.

Halloween Merchandise Cycle:

Early October: Full price Halloween inventory
Mid-October: Limited promotional pricing
November 1+: Immediate Halloween clearance (50-90% off)

Fall Clothing Establishment:

Fall clothing: Full inventory with occasional promotions
Winter coat previews: Early arrivals at full price
Fall accessories: Regular pricing with limited promotions
Fall home decor: Established inventory at regular pricing

October Shopping Strategy

Halloween Planning:

Early October: Full price Halloween purchases if needed
November 1+: Deep Halloween clearance for next year
Candy: Stock up post-Halloween at clearance pricing

Fall Clothing:

Wait for promotional periods unless immediate need
End-of-season summer items may still be available
Early winter items arrive at premium pricing

Columbus Day and Fall Sales

Columbus Day Impact:

Limited promotional activity compared to major holidays
Some furniture and home goods promotions
Fall appliance promotional events
Pre-holiday shopping promotions begin

November: Pre-Holiday Clearance

Black Friday Preparation and Fall Clearance

November focuses on Black Friday preparation while clearing fall merchandise.

Pre-Black Friday Clearance:

Summer merchandise: Final clearance if any remains (70-90% off)
Fall merchandise: Early clearance begins (20-40% off)
Halloween items: Deep clearance continues (75-90% off)
Pre-holiday inventory management

Black Friday and Holiday Preparation:

Holiday merchandise: Full price arrival
Electronics: Black Friday promotional preparation
Toys: Holiday inventory at regular pricing
Holiday decor: Full price seasonal inventory

November Shopping Strategy

Pre-Holiday Opportunities:

Halloween clearance for next year (November 1-15)
Fall merchandise early clearance
Pre-Black Friday sales events (week before Thanksgiving)
Holiday gift purchasing during promotional periods

Black Friday Considerations:

Research deals in advance of Black Friday
Understand that Black Friday “deals” may not be deep clearance
Focus on actual needed items rather than deal-driven purchases
Consider online vs. in-store shopping strategies

Thanksgiving Week Dynamics

Thanksgiving Week:

Pre-Black Friday sales events throughout the week
Limited inventory clearance due to holiday focus
Travel and food promotional pricing
Final preparation for holiday shopping season

December: Year-End Inventory Clear

Holiday Season and Year-End Clearance

December balances holiday merchandise at full price with year-end clearance on other categories.

Holiday Merchandise Peak:

Christmas items: Full price through mid-December
Holiday clothing: Regular pricing through holidays
Gift items: Promotional periods but not deep clearance
Holiday food and candy: Regular pricing through holidays

Year-End Clearance Categories:

Fall clothing: Clearance begins mid-December (30-60% off)
Home goods: Year-end clearance events
Electronics: Model year clearance begins
Non-holiday seasonal items: Various clearance levels

December Shopping Strategy

Holiday Shopping:

Focus on needed gifts rather than deal-driven purchases
Compare prices across multiple retailers
Consider online vs. in-store availability and pricing
Plan for post-holiday returns and exchanges

Year-End Clearance:

Fall clothing clearance for immediate or next-year use
Home goods clearance for post-holiday updates
Electronics model changes for current use

Post-Christmas Preparation

December 26+ Expectations:

Immediate Christmas clearance begins (50-70% off)
Gift card shopping increases prices on popular items
Returns and exchanges create additional inventory
Preparation for New Year and winter clearance cycles

Retailer-Specific Patterns

Department Store Patterns

Macy’s/Nordstrom/JCPenney Typical Schedule:

Quarterly clearance events aligned with fashion seasons
End-of-season clearance: 40-70% off seasonal merchandise
Holiday clearance: 50-90% off post-holiday
Back-to-school: 25-50% off children’s and young adult clothing
One-day sales and flash promotions throughout the year

Timing Variations:

Nordstrom: Semi-annual sales in June and November
Macy’s: Frequent promotional events throughout the year
JCPenney: Monthly clearance events with rotating categories

Discount Retailer Patterns

Target Clearance Schedule:

Weekly markdowns on Mondays and Thursdays
Seasonal clearance: 30%, 50%, 70%, 90% progression
Holiday clearance: Rapid progression post-holiday
End-of-season: Deep markdowns to clear for new inventory

Walmart Clearance Approach:

Rollback pricing throughout the year
Seasonal clearance varies by location and inventory
Holiday clearance: Progressive markdowns post-holiday
Less predictable timing compared to Target

Home Improvement Store Patterns

Home Depot/Lowe’s Seasonal Schedule:

Spring: Garden and lawn equipment promotions
Summer: Outdoor living and cooling equipment
Fall: Holiday decorations and winter preparation
Winter: Indoor projects and heating equipment

End-of-Season Clearance:

Lawn equipment: September-October clearance
Holiday items: Post-holiday deep discounts
Seasonal tools: End-of-season markdowns
Weather-dependent timing variations

Grocery Store Seasonal Patterns

Holiday and Seasonal Food:

Post-holiday candy: 50-75% off immediately after holidays
Seasonal items: Clearance as seasons change
Back-to-school lunch items: August promotional pricing
Holiday baking supplies: November-December promotions

Building Clearance Shopping Strategy

Strategic Planning Approach

Annual Planning:

Create calendar of known clearance periods for target categories
Plan storage space for seasonal purchases
Set budget limits for clearance purchases
Identify specific items needed for planning ahead

Monthly Execution:

Check clearance sections during regular shopping trips
Monitor specific retailers for clearance timing
Compare clearance prices to regular promotional pricing
Track inventory levels and markdown progression

Inventory and Storage Considerations

Storage Requirements:

Seasonal items require significant storage space
Climate-controlled storage for certain categories
Organization systems for tracking clearance purchases
Rotation systems for using stored items

Inventory Investment:

Capital tied up in clearance purchases
Risk of items being damaged or becoming obsolete
Opportunity cost of money invested in inventory
Space cost for storage areas

Success Metrics and Tracking

Financial Tracking:

Total spent on clearance vs. regular pricing
Percentage savings achieved on needed items
Return on investment for clearance strategies
Time invested vs. money saved calculations

Effectiveness Measures:

Percentage of clearance items actually used
Storage space efficiency and organization
Accuracy of timing predictions for clearance events
Overall satisfaction with clearance shopping results

Reality Check: Risks and Challenges

Financial and Practical Risks

Investment Risks:

Clearance shopping requires upfront capital investment
No guarantee that deeply discounted items will be needed
Storage costs and space requirements
Opportunity cost of money tied up in inventory

Practical Challenges:

Limited selection and sizes in clearance merchandise
Quality issues with heavily discounted items
Storage and organization requirements
Time investment in hunting for clearance deals

Common Mistakes and Pitfalls

Buying for the Deal, Not the Need:

Purchasing items simply because they’re heavily discounted
Accumulating inventory of items that will never be used
Spending more overall due to deal-driven purchasing
Storage problems from excessive clearance buying

Timing and Planning Errors:

Missing optimal clearance timing by waiting too long
Buying too early before deeper markdowns
Failing to account for storage and capital requirements
Overestimating ability to use seasonal purchases

Market Realities

Competition for Clearance Items:

Other clearance shoppers competing for same merchandise
Limited quantities of popular clearance items
Professional resellers competing for inventory
Store employees and insiders with early access

Retail Strategy Changes:

Retailers increasingly managing inventory to reduce clearance needs
Online sales affecting in-store clearance availability
Dynamic pricing reducing traditional clearance patterns
Supply chain changes affecting seasonal inventory timing

ROI Considerations

Time Investment Analysis:

Hours spent researching clearance timing and locations
Travel time and costs for clearance shopping trips
Time spent organizing and managing clearance inventory
Administrative time for tracking purchases and savings

Financial Return Reality:

Typical savings: 20-50% on seasonal items when properly timed
Capital requirements: $500-2,000 for meaningful seasonal inventory
Storage costs: $50-200 monthly for adequate storage space
Time investment: 5-15 hours monthly for serious clearance shopping

Break-Even Analysis:

Most clearance strategies require 12-24 months to show positive ROI
Success depends heavily on actually using purchased items
Storage and time costs often reduce actual savings significantly
Best returns typically come from items with immediate or planned use

Conclusion: Clearance Calendar as Tool, Not Strategy

The retail clearance calendar provides valuable timing information for strategic shopping, but it should be used as a tool to support planned purchases rather than a strategy for accumulating discounted merchandise.

Key Success Principles

Buy for need, not for deals - Focus on items you would purchase anyway
Plan storage carefully - Ensure adequate, appropriate storage before buying seasonal items
Track actual usage - Monitor whether clearance purchases are actually used
Calculate true costs - Include time, storage, and opportunity costs in savings calculations
Stay flexible - Clearance timing varies and shouldn’t drive major purchasing decisions
Maintain realistic expectations - Clearance shopping provides modest savings, not wealth building
Use tools like DealDog to track regular pricing and identify genuine clearance values

Final Recommendations

For Most Shoppers:

Use clearance calendar to time purchases of needed items
Focus on small seasonal items that don’t require significant storage
Stick to categories you know and use regularly
Set strict budgets for clearance purchases

Avoid Clearance Shopping If:

You have limited storage space
You tend to buy impulsively
You’re looking for income-generating opportunities
You have limited time for research and shopping

Remember: The best use of clearance knowledge is often knowing when NOT to buy something. Tools like DealDog can help you track regular pricing to identify when clearance prices represent genuine value versus marketing-driven “sales” that aren’t significantly better than regular promotional pricing.

The Bottom Line: Clearance shopping can provide modest savings on items you need anyway, but it requires significant time investment, storage capacity, and disciplined purchasing behavior. Most people benefit more from focusing on overall budget management and using price tracking tools for regular purchases than from building extensive clearance shopping strategies.

This guide is for educational purposes only and does not guarantee savings or success with clearance shopping strategies. Clearance patterns vary significantly between retailers, locations, and market conditions. Most clearance shopping strategies provide modest savings that may not justify the time and storage investments required. Always prioritize needed purchases and overall financial health over deal-seeking activities.