When do Christmas discounts start in Finland. When is the best time to go shopping
Sales in Finland: bright photos and video detailed description and reviews of the Sale event in Finland in 2019.
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A sale is a great opportunity to buy the things you want at affordable prices. The sales season in Finland comes twice a year: at Christmas and in the summer.
During the period of discounts, signs with the words Alennus, Sale and Ale jopa appear in stores. Ale and Alennus in translation mean "seasonal discounts". In stores, you can also find the tarjous sign ( special offer), it means that the discount applies to this particular product.
The winter sales season usually opens on December 27, as most stores are closed on Christmas Eve and a couple of days after. However, this is more a tribute to tradition than a rule. Each store sets the deadlines on its own, so somewhere prices can be kept in full until the holiday itself. For the most relevant products (Christmas decorations, decor and serving items), on the contrary, prices are reduced a couple of weeks before Christmas, which allows you to save a lot on preparing for the holiday.
The winter sales season usually opens on December 27, as most stores are closed on Christmas Eve and a couple of days after. However, this is more a tribute to tradition than a rule.
Prices for clothing, footwear and sports equipment are determined weather conditions. On irrelevant in this moment goods stores are forced to cut prices. Therefore, do not be discouraged if the trip turned into a slushy reality: you will have a real chance to buy ski equipment at a discount. But as regards household appliances and electronics, you won’t have to count on a bargain, all new items are more expensive than in Russia. But the models that were popular last season are pleasing to the eye with their pleasant price tags.
Summer sales are timed to the day of the summer solstice and more often fall on the period of June 20-26. At this time of the year, it is profitable to buy jewelry, souvenirs, summer clothes and sports goods. And in some stores, unsold collections are exhibited at a discount and a few weeks before the holiday.
The season of discounts in the popular Finnish store "Stockmann" comes in April and October. This period is called crazy days - the excitement among buyers reaches its climax. It is on these days that tickets from Moscow and St. Petersburg to Helsinki can be purchased at a significantly low price. It is interesting that at a reduced price they sell not residual goods, but collections specially released these days. But do not forget that Stockmann is not a cheap store, even with discounts.
The biggest sales in Finland take place a couple of times a year, the first of them in winter period- immediately after Christmas, and the second in the summer - after the holiday of Juhannus. For certain types of goods, discounts can reach seventy percent. Throughout the year, there are small promotions in stores. Winter sales start in Finland on Christmas Eve. The moving date is the date from the twentieth of December, at which time Christmas decorations and New Year's souvenirs appear in discount stores. In stationery stores, discounts sometimes reach eighty percent. In Finland, shops are closed on Christmas Day. Immediately after Christmas, they begin to sell the entire range of goods at a discount. Initially, a ten percent discount can grow to seventy percent by the end of sales, but along with the price, the chance to purchase and find a real thing decreases, since almost all goods of popular and popular sizes are sold out in the first days when sales start, besides for a certain product Discounts are valid until the given party will not end in the store. Owners of very small sizes of shoes and clothes can wait and take a chance, but things large sizes do not stay on store shelves for a long time. Christmas sale throughout Finland is held in all cities, but it is worth considering the fact that in the nearest cities, which are located near the Russian-Finnish border (Imatra, Lappeenranta, Kotka, Hamina). Goods are bought up quickly by Russian tourists and the choice remains very scarce. The most "fruitful" shopping is considered in the capital's stores in Helsinki and in cities that are far from the Russian-Finnish border (Turku, Tampere, Lahti, Mikkeli, Kuopio). On December 31 in Finland, shops are only allowed to open until 6 pm, but many of them close earlier. In Finnish stores, collections are updated almost every month, and small promotions are held in stores all year round occasionally. The minimum discount is from ten percent, but most often you can meet discounts in the amount of twenty to thirty percent, but they can also reach seventy percent. The Stockmann supermarket announces its sales, they take place in April and October. They are called Hullut päivät, in our Crazy Days or April Fool's Day, and last four days, from Wednesday to Saturday. The exact date it is impossible to know in advance, in Stockmann it is announced in advance, however. Discounts do not apply to the entire range, but only to certain types goods. It should also be taken into account that this is a very expensive store, and some goods can be purchased without a discount, at the same price as with a discount, only in other stores.
When shopping on sales, you should be guided common sense and follow a few conditions and tips.
If you buy clothes, try them on without fail. Since goods purchased at a discount are non-refundable, and even replacement.
In electronics and furniture stores, the announcement of the "liberation storage facilities' or 'seasonal sale' can be posted throughout the year, and price reductions are therefore mythical.
During sales, it can be problematic in a store to choose a product that will really come in handy in the future, so the Finns themselves prefer to look after purchases on the eve of sales.
Do not forget about free tax, which also applies to goods purchased during sales or at a discount.
For all lovers of overseas shopping, the word "sale" is almost 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 buy goods for sports, fishing and active rest, 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 taken into account that maximum reduction prices occurs towards 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 to New Year's table and buy new clothes at the same time.
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, new items on low prices no one sells, 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 is worth remembering that Stockmann is one of the most expensive networks in Finland, and even on sale, their products can cost as much 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 states, but the most impatient period is when sales begin in Finland, and residents of the country are adorned with signs "ALE" and "Alennusmyynt" St. Petersburg and neighboring areas. This popularity is due the highest quality 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 Active participation they accept stores in the border Lameenranta, Imatra and Kotka, although the cities of Lahti, Turku, Tampere, which are 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 last years some border shops practice work in holidays. 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 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.
The Finns themselves jokingly say that immediately after Christmas, another holiday begins in Suomi - the winter Christmas sales in Finland. It's really worth visiting them. At this time, you can not only buy goods with a 80-90% discount, but also admire the fabulous New Year's windows and the Christmas decorations of Finnish cities.
Christmas sales. Photo: yle.fi
Where to go?
Christmas sales do not bypass any Finnish city. We decided to find out where at this time it is worth going for bargains, and where it is better not to go.
Helsinki
Despite the fact that real pandemonium reigns in stores during Christmas sales, it is best to go shopping in the capital of Finland in winter.
First, it is here that the most a large number of shops. Secondly, several of the largest shopping centers in Helsinki are located in the very center of the city, not far from the Central railway station are Forum, Stokmann and, of course, the Kampi shopping center.
Thirdly, shopping in Helsinki can be easily combined with cultural activities by visiting a museum or a Christmas performance in one of the Finnish theaters.
Tampere
Getting to this large city, located almost 500 km from St. Petersburg, is not very convenient, but for real shopaholics, this is rather a plus. Even at the end of the Christmas sales, the range of discounted goods in stores here remains quite large.
The largest shopping centers in Tampere are famous for their wide selection of goods: Ideapark, Stokmann, Anttila and Sokos.
Kouvola
The small town of Kouvola, located about 130 km from Helsinki, is also the administrative center of Southwestern Finland, so there are enough shops here.
In the largest shopping centers in the city of Manski, Hansa and Veturi, there are not too many people during the winter sales, but discounts on goods often reach 80-90%.
Lappeenranta
Alas, this is perhaps the worst choice for a trip to the Finnish sale. There are not so many shops here, and the influx of Russian tourists due to the proximity to the border is huge. As a result, goods at favorable prices disappear from outlets in just a few hours. Moreover, stores, seeing such demand, are in no hurry to reduce prices for goods.
Imatra
Despite the fact that this city is located only 7 km from the Russian border, it is not as popular among Russian tourists as Lappeenranta. So the "sales" assortment in local stores is quite large. The only negative is that the shopping centers in Imatra themselves are quite small and many brands are simply not represented in them.
When to go to Christmas sales in Finland?
Christmas sales in Finland last from December 27 to early March. What is the best time to go shopping?
December 22-23
Despite the fact that winter sales officially begin only after the Christmas holidays, some stores open the "sales season" 2-3 days before them. True, with a significant "markdown" at this time you can only buy new Year decoration. For other products, the discount will be no more than 10-15%.
27th of December
This is the start of the sale. Please note that on December 24-26, all shops in Finland are closed for the Christmas holidays. So there is nothing surprising in the fact that on December 27 in front of the doors shopping centers Queues have been lining up since morning. Standing in them makes sense only if you really want to buy a certain thing. Discounts at this time are usually only 15-30%, and there are a huge number of people in stores.
End of December - mid-January
For most goods, discounts during this period reach 40-60%, but New Year's paraphernalia and Christmas souvenirs can already be bought with a 90% "markdown".
End of January - beginning of February
The best time to travel to the sales in Finland. There are not so many people in stores anymore, the range of goods is still quite large, and discounts are 70-85%.
Beginning of February - beginning of March
This period of sales can be called "remainders are sweet." The range of goods is not too large, but the prices are really attractive. At this time, shelves and hangers with posters “Everything for 5 euros”, “Everything for 2 euros” and even “Everything for 50 cents” usually appear in stores.
7 Finnish Christmas Sale Secrets
- Do not forget that during sales you can also get Tax Free if you purchase goods worth 40 euros or more in one store.
- Pay attention to additional promotions that take place during the Christmas sales. Finnish stores often offer customers a third item as a gift when buying two items, or give an additional 5-10% discount when purchasing several items.
- Before you take your purchases to the checkout, check if there is a discount sticker on the price tags. Usually it looks like a bright sticker with the inscription -50%, -70%, -90%. If there is no such sticker, it is better to check with the seller how much this item costs. The fact is that sometimes things on which the discount does not apply by mistake get on the "sale" rack.
- Please note that non-standard (that is, the largest and smallest) sizes can usually be bought even at the very end of the sale. But the owners of the most common women's sizes S and M will be left without purchases by this time.
- Don't forget to check out grocery supermarkets during Christmas sales - there are also good discounts at this time of the year.
- Pay attention to the weather. If the winter is warm, discounts on ski clothing, Discounts up to 70%
During sales, special inscriptions appear on the windows and doors of Finnish stores. What do they mean?
- Ale, Alennus - the store has discounts on goods.
- Ale jopa 70% - discounts on goods are up to 70%.
- Tarjous - a special offer is valid for a product in the store. For example, 2 things for the price of one.
- Tasarahalla - all for one price.
- Loppuunmyynti, poistohinta - sale.