Self-development 

Winter sales in Finland. Sales in Finland: how to save money on shopping

Everyone loves sales. The opportunity to save on purchases without denying yourself them does not lose its appeal. Especially if these are sales in Finland - a country that produces high-quality goods that have won the love and trust of buyers all over the world. Every year there are more and more fans of Finnish products, including in Russia.

Currently, many Russians regularly visit Finland in order to buy quality food, clothing, and much more. And when the summer or winter sales start in Finland, the number of our compatriots going shopping increases even more.

When to go to sales in Finland?

The most popular Finnish sales are held twice a year, seasonally. The sales season in Finland starts in December, after Christmas, and lasts until the end of January. Discounts in stores increase towards the end of the season, sometimes reaching 70%, but it should be borne in mind that by the end of sales there is not a particularly wide choice in stores. In the meantime, there are all the necessary goods on the shelves, discounts can be as low as 20-35%. In winter, it is good to buy food, gifts for family and friends, souvenirs, household goods, as well as clothes and shoes.

The second season of giant sales across the country is in the summer, before the Juhannus holiday, which takes place in June. Summer sales in Finland can last until autumn, during this period, stores set discounts on summer collections of clothing, sporting goods, and jewelry.

Special sales in Finland

In addition to general sales, some chain stores arrange their own promotions. The most famous are the “crazy days” that have become popular with Russians in the Stockmann department store chain. It is believed that this network was the ancestor of the idea of ​​mass sales in Finland.

Stockmann sales are held in April and October and last only one week. During these periods, prices for the entire range of goods of the network are reduced, sometimes reaching half the initial cost. However, keep in mind that Stockmann is the most expensive chain of stores in Finland, and sometimes even a half-discounted item is still more expensive than a similar one bought in a lesser-known store.

Stockmann in Finland often runs sales in conjunction with other chains. For example, during the Crazy Days period, you can buy discounted tickets for some flights of the Finnish airline Finnair, but you can only buy them in shops.

Special promotions in stores

In addition to seasonal mass sales, in Finland there is a tradition of holding promotions inside the store: many of them make discounts on some specific products, but you can find out about this only in the store itself. As a rule, these are one-time discounts, and they do not exceed 20-30%. However, even on such promotions you can save a lot, so it makes sense to pay attention to them.

Clothing, as a rule, is sold with some discount at the end of the season - especially if there are items from new collections. The smallest discounts are at the end of each month, and the most significant - by the end of the season for which the collection is designed. In this case, discounts can even reach 70%.

In addition, under some force majeure - for example, repair, relocation, change of ownership, ruin - the store will definitely sell its remnants. Often in such cases, discounts are very significant.

The lowest prices in Finland

In addition to large networks, general promotions and sales, there are chain stores with reduced prices - the so-called stocks. As a rule, these clearance shops in Finland sell goods not sold on time, and therefore all prices are much lower than usual. Of course, stocks are much smaller than regular stores, and the choice there is not the best.

There are also shops in Finland that sell used things. Such stores are very popular because they allow you to buy something you need for a very small amount.

Going abroad, we willy-nilly become literally hostages of stores with alluring brands and their prices. It all starts at the airport, when we buy perfumes, cosmetics, alcohol in duty-free.

And when we get off the plane in some country of the world, sometimes we don’t even realize what an abundance of consumer goods awaits us on the shelves of vtcnys [shops ... Many, going on vacation to one of the legislator countries of this or that fashion, bring Russian extra suitcases.

Where to go shopping for the benefit of business? And how not to indulge in all serious, forgetting about the financial crisis of the world economic system?

For shopping to be successful

  1. Arm yourself with maps and guides right away. They are available for vacationers at airports, hotels and offices of travel companies. Such brochures describe in detail how to find popular outlets in a particular city, as well as their opening hours. Be careful with this, as in most countries the opening hours of offices and shops differ from Russian. So, in Italy, all shops are closed from 12 to 16 for a siesta, and in Crete, shops are open only until 14:00.
  2. The most profitable purchases are products of local manufacturers. Do not immediately rush to the world-famous brands, whose name has already set the teeth on edge. It is better to look at local brands that are not inferior either in quality or in appearance. At the same time, in Russia you can boast of an outlandish purchase - such a thing will definitely be exclusive.
  3. The main thing is not to forget about Tax Free. This will be a nice addition to the already favorable prices. But be careful how checks are filled. Moreover, each country has its own rules for filling out and processing Tax Free.
  4. Be careful about how you will transport your purchases so that there are no problems already at the Russian border. Take care in advance about what can be imported and what cannot, and what a declaration is needed for.
  5. And, of course, - all expenses should be considered, and decisions should be weighed. Then the pleasure of shopping will not be overshadowed by an empty wallet at the end of the vacation.

Shopping tours with and without obligations

Shop tours with obligations, first of all, are of interest to "shuttle" businessmen - those who resell goods purchased abroad. In order to go on such a trip, you need to conclude an agreement with the agency, according to which you undertake to spend a certain amount of money - usually up to 5 thousand euros.

The remaining costs will either cost mere pennies, or will be paid by the seller at all (such a system usually operates in Greece).

As part of this tour, you will be taken to all the current warehouses, factories and stock centers where you can buy good things at low prices.

Shopping tours without obligations are, in fact, an ordinary tourist trip. However, its purpose is to acquire some thing for itself. Naturally, for serious trading, this option will not work.

The cost of such a tour without commitment is the sum of the cost of air tickets, hotel accommodation and meals, as well as the amount that you spend on the purchase.

Depending on the country of destination, the price of the tour will vary: on average, from 300 to 700 euros.

On such a tour, you will be provided with a guide who will show you shops for bargains.

However, you should not completely trust the guides (there were sad cases) - it is better to play it safe and explore the main outlets on your own.

Shopping capitals of the world

  • Italy

Naturally, the world capital of fashion is Milan. However, you can make profitable purchases in other Italian cities. Especially if you come here during the discount season: from the beginning of January to the first decade of February and from the beginning of July to the beginning of September. And an endless number of outlets (shops that sell items from past collections at discount prices) will make shopping enjoyable in any season.

  • France

Paris is the cradle of fashion traditions and the brightest fashion designers. However, things (especially branded clothes) are very expensive here. The visiting card of Paris is cosmetics and perfumery. The prices for these goods here in any season are very tempting.

  • Spain

Barcelona is the shopping center of the country. Tourists are most attracted to Spain by shoes - high-quality, stylish and at a good price. Also, having arrived in Spain, do not be too lazy to visit Mallorca to buy artificial pearls produced here, and Andorra - a duty-free zone.

  • Sri Lanka

This is a jewelry shopping center. It is on this island that you can buy gems of amazing beauty, for example, two-color sapphires. Here, jewelry can be specially made for you - in just two or three days. Shopping lovers should also visit Ceylon and Colombo, where, in addition to tea and spices, you can buy leather and textile products at competitive prices.

  • UAE

Dubai is the world trade center. It even hosts the famous shopping festival, which lasts about a month. You can buy everything here: from household appliances and computers to fur and jewelry. It is also profitable to buy branded items here - prices are significantly lower than in Europe.

  • Greece

This country is an excellent alternative to the Emirates in terms of buying fur products. Fur coat tours to Greece are perhaps the most popular destination in Russian travel agencies.

A large number of our tourists often wonder when there are discounts in Finland? In this article, we would like to tell you when discounts and sales occur, as well as which months are the most profitable to go shopping. Many of you have probably already heard from your friends about the low prices in Finnish stores. You need to understand that discounts are seasonal and special, the latter are valid in Finland throughout the year. If we talk about huge seasonal sales, then they happen on holidays in the winter at Catholic Christmas and in the summer, when the Midsummer Day holiday comes.

I must say that this is the best time for shopping and acquisitions. The biggest sales in Finland take place during the Christmas holidays and last until the end of January. It is safe to say that all retail chains provide such prices during the Christmas holidays, from which you can really be very surprised. But you need to remember that there are a lot of people who like to buy goods cheaper, and the most important thing is to be in the right place at the right time on time.

The most favorite slogan of clothing stores when there are discounts and sales: two shirts / T-shirts of the same style for the price of one or three for the price of two. I must say that the price reduction can reach up to 70%. Note that the situation with national holidays in Finland is quite acute. You can come shopping and all shops will be closed. But it is worth noting that recently some shops and large retail chains that are located near the Russian border have begun to work on some holidays.

In shops in Finland, located near the border, almost everywhere there is a seller who speaks Russian, and everyday English is spoken by almost all the attendants. Therefore, you should not have problems with language barriers and you can always ask your questions. In addition to seasonal sales, almost all stores arrange their own special promotions and offers.

Special discounts in Finland

Arriving in this country, you can also get standard discounts that occur every day in stores and retail chains. When you see the "TARJOUS" sign, it means that the store is offering a special offer or price reduction on a particular product or markdown. These discounts can be organized both daily and before various holidays. On the shelves you can always see such signs. You can also get a discount on a particular product when paying with discount and "Etukortti".


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Large retail chains periodically hold their special promotions. The store can make a discount on the product if the expiration date is approaching or there are small defects. Moreover, the prices of such goods can also be significantly lower. To save even more of your money, you can always buy goods for more than 40 Euros.

Seasonal discounts in Finland

1. Christmas sales.

When you see the signs "ALE", "ALENNUSMYYNTI", "SALE", this means that the store has a system of seasonal discounts or sales have begun. As we noted earlier, seasonal discounts happen 2 times a year and this is the largest price reduction that can be during the year. Winter sales in Finland start on December 26 and continue until the end of January. The reduction usually starts from 20-40% and by the end of January can reach 50-70% of the initial price of the goods. The closer to the end of January, the prices for products become lower. But by the end of the season, most of the goods are already sold out and there is no longer much choice.

2. Summer sales.

These sales are dedicated to the Finnish holiday Juhannus. In Russian, this is the day of "Ivan Kupala". Summer discounts in Finland start from 23 to 26 June and last until about mid-August in some stores. Discounts can be up to 40%. Note that this is also a fairly favorable time when you can buy many many things at good prices. In our next article, we will tell you. You will find out where it is better to go shopping and what is the most profitable to buy at this time of the year.

For all lovers of overseas shopping, the word "sale" is almost like a magic spell. Every year, thousands of tourists from Russia go to sales in Finland from Russia.

Traditionally, throughout Europe, there are two seasons of price reduction - in summer and in winter, after Christmas. At this time, large retail chains announce discounts of up to 70%, which sounds very tempting to buyers. However, do not forget that sales in Finland are, first of all, the most convenient way for stores to update their assortment. This means that a significant part of the discounted goods are old collections and remnants of unsold items. Stockmann's department stores are an exception - here discounts are announced in spring and autumn and special collections are released for sales.

There are two types of sales: in Finland they are seasonal ( ale, alennus, sale) and special ( tarjous) suggestions. If the dates and locations of seasonal promotions are always about the same, then special ones can be stumbled upon quite by accident - for example, it can be a discount on some product in a supermarket or the opportunity to purchase several items for the price of one.

Seasonal sales in Finland

Summer sales in Finland start after Juhannus, Midsummer Day, which falls in the last week of June. At this time, buyers have a great chance to stock up on goods for sports, fishing and outdoor activities, summer clothes, accessories and, of course, off-season items from last year's collection.

In winter, there are Christmas sales all over the world. In Finland, they start on December 27 and end by the end of January. At this time, every store is full of signs promising huge discounts - up to 70-80%. However, it should be borne in mind that the maximum price reduction occurs by the end of the season, that is, when the bulk of the goods are already sold out, and the store shelves are almost empty. Therefore, it is worth counting on discounts of 20-35%.

Most of the discounted goods are clothing and footwear, food, as well as accessories and a variety of household goods. Going to Finland in winter, you can successfully get gifts and souvenirs for all your friends, buy delicious Finnish products for the New Year's table and at the same time buy new outfits.

Electronics and household appliances, furniture and automotive products are not too cheap even during seasonal sales in Finland. If you plan to buy a new gadget during your shopping trip, it is better to familiarize yourself with special offers in electronics stores in advance. Large retail chains often arrange their own discount promotions: of course, no one sells new items at low prices, but previous models lose 20-30% in value.

"Crazy" sales in Finland

The ancestor of the idea of ​​"crazy days" was the Stockmann department store chain. Big sales in Finland and other countries where there are stores of this brand take place in April and October and last a week; the exact dates of the sales are kept secret until they start. At this time, discounts are announced on all goods - from clothing to household appliances. Prices are indeed more than halved, but it's worth remembering that Stockmann is one of the most expensive chains in Finland, and even on sale, their goods can cost the same or more than similar ones in neighboring stores.

Together with Stockmann, some other companies also spend “crazy days”: for example, the air carrier FinnAir sells cheap tickets for flights from St. Petersburg and Moscow. True, you can buy them at a reduced price only in Stockmann stores during the sales period.

Discounts in Finland are a great opportunity to pamper yourself with European shopping without leaving far beyond the borders of your homeland. Shopping in the "Land of a Thousand Lakes" is popular among neighboring countries, but residents of St. Such popularity is due to the highest quality of goods, affordable prices and minimal travel costs.

Sale seasons in Finland

Finns throughout the year have the opportunity to buy branded items for promotions, which are classified into seasonal and special. The most grandiose are the Christmas and summer discounts in Finland, where shops in the border Lameenranta, Imatra and Kotka take an active part, although the cities of Lahti, Turku, Tampere, far from the border, offer very tempting prices during the sale. New Year and summer discounts in Finland 2016 are planned in the range of 20 – 90%. The closer to the final, the greater the markdown.

Winter sales in Finland 2016

Officially, Christmas sales in Finland start on Catholic Christmas, but since December 24 to 26 are non-working days in Finland, full-scale Christmas sales begin on December 27. Although in recent years, some border shops have been practicing work on holidays as well. Discounts are usually valid for two months and apply to wardrobe items, cosmetics, jewelry, cars and even the service sector. Winter sales in Finland 2016 are conditionally divided into periods: the first - from the start to the end of January, when discounts grow from 20-40% to 50-70%, and the second, when some boutiques stop dropping prices, and some additionally discount things up to 90% .

Summer sales in Finland in 2016

The next massive wave of discounts in Finland falls on the summer period and starts on the Finnish holiday Juhannus. Summer sales in Finland in 2016 will begin on June 25 and will last until the end of summer. Discounts will apply to clothing and footwear, as well as ceramics, sporting goods, accessories, jewelry and souvenirs.

Special Sales

Finnish stores practice special "Tarjous" sales that take place during the off-season. Promotions may involve a massive collapse in prices, apply to a select range, or consist of additional discounts when buying several items. For example, the network department store "Stockmann" for 20 years in April and October arranges "crazy" five-day, when prices are reduced by 50-60%.

Shopping in Finland during the sale is a pleasure. Ridiculous prices, an exciting shopping atmosphere and even Russian-speaking sellers in the border towns are waiting for you.