Seasons of discounts in Italy. Winter and summer sales in Italy

Shopping in Italy in 2017 is a great opportunity to buy exclusive items from the best brands at an attractive price. To do this, you need some information about the specifics of sales and shopping tours in this country.

A trip to a sale in Italy: what, where, when?

Many tourists come to Italy for Sconti - sales that allow you to save between 15-50% on purchases of famous brands. Until recently, different regions held them at their own time, but now there is a single schedule for the whole of Italy, which is reported in advance by the media. Most often, winter clothing sales in Italy start on January 6-7, and summer sales in most regions in 2017 will begin on July 2 and last about 2 months.

Among Italian cities there are shopping centers recognized by shoppers as the best places for shopping. These include:

Florence

Sardinia

Each of them has its own specifics. For example, the further south the city, the cheaper the products, but you can also buy counterfeit goods. In the north, only original items from leading brands are presented. Shopping tours to Italy: what you need to know about the specifics of local trade

When planning your first shopping trip to Italy in 2017, it is important to know that there are different types of stores with certain operating principles. The first category includes boutiques that have the following differences:
1. small store sizes
2. trade in products of one or more fashion houses
3. items from previous seasons are sold at good discounts.

The second type is stores operating directly at factories. Products there are 10-30 percent cheaper than in boutiques.

The third type is warehouses, which have the following distinctive features:
1. large assortment
2. prices are lower than in boutiques
3. models are presented from the current and previous collections
4. Advantage for wholesale buyers.

The fourth type includes stock stores. Their differences:
1. a large number of products from different brands
2. clothes are presented from previous seasons
3. low prices and access for everyone

The next type is outlets, that is, large shopping centers with things from different brands. When going on a shopping tour to Italy, you should know that there is its own type of outlet - spacci. Their specificity:
selling goods directly from the factory
We have “prototypes” in stock - samples that were made before the model was put into production, with discounts of up to 50%
on items with minor defects there are big discounts - 30-50%
products from previous seasons are sold at 30-70% cheaper
they also sell leftover fabrics and other materials from production.

In any case, shopping in Italy in 2017 is a great opportunity to update your wardrobe, including products from famous brands and designers, for very reasonable money.

Discounts and sales in Milan take place twice a year, and many people know about it, but! In fact, there is a huge amount of misconception and deception surrounding the Milan sales. Today you will find an article that will become your guide to the world of Milanese shopping and will help you make your own purchases and have a lot of fun, while saving a lot.

When are the sales in Milan?

In Milan, as throughout Italy, there are winter and summer sales. Accordingly, the items on the winter sale are predominantly winter, although, of course, there is no clear limitation.

Sales in Milan in winter

Winter sales begin on the first Saturday in January (the date varies from year to year). Official sales last for 60 days, but those who have popular clothing and shoe sizes risk being left without purchases if they come to conquer Milan during the latest wave of sales. Most popular sizes sell out by the end of February! But not all)

Sales in Milan in summer

the summer sale starts on the first Saturday in July and also lasts 60 days.

Saldi - fair sale in Milan

Fashion and shopping attraction for Italy is not only prestige, but also a significant part of the country’s income. Therefore, sales here are approved at the level of the Legislative Branch. There are practically no unscrupulous sellers who refuse to organize sales within the allotted period, but there are those who begin to sell out goods ahead of schedule.

Beware - marketing ploy: There are sellers who take advantage of the illiteracy of tourists when it comes to holding sales in Italy. When the discounts are legally 30% (in the first wave of sales), they paste the store windows with messages like “Sale 70%.” This is done to get you into the store, most of them are in no hurry to reduce prices ahead of schedule, and the inscription explains that prices have been reduced by 70% on a very limited range.

When are the biggest discounts?

The biggest discounts are in the last weeks of sales. But the larger the discount, the greater the risk that you will not find the item in the right color and size. If you are not whimsical and just want to buy original branded items cheaply, then you will definitely find something for yourself. If you like a large assortment, then you shouldn’t take such risks and it’s better to come 3-4 weeks after the start of sales, before everything is sorted out.

For our calculation example, let's average the cost of things up to 200 euros

200 euros is +/- the amount for which most things are sold not in luxury boutiques, but made in Italy from natural ingredients and the latest collections

In the first wave of sales you can buy things for 140 euros, in the second - for 100 euros, and if you are lucky and the item waits for you until the third wave, then for 60 euros.

Payment for purchases in Milan and purchase taxes (VAT)

In addition to cash (euro), most stores also accept bank cards from most payment systems. Information about cashless payments is posted at the entrance (door to the store or window at the entrance) and near the cash register. If you are offered or asked about payment in another currency (not euros), then keep in mind that in this case no one will offer you the exchange rate or even the rate of a nearby bank, the conversion rate in this case will be strongly in favor of the seller!

VAT (value added tax) is included in the price of the product. It can range from 10 to 35% depending on what you purchase.

Minimum purchase price for the possibility of a tax refund - receiving Tax Free ( Tax Free)— 154.95 euros.

We won’t talk about Tax Free in this article, it’s not short anyway))

Milan has the famous fashionable Golden Square of Milan. These are essentially several intersecting streets on which the main “shopping points” are located.

Via Monte Napoleone - top-notch shopping

Via Monte Napoleone stretches from Piazza San Babila to another shopping street in Milan - Via Manzoni. It is included in the Golden Square along with Spiga, Manzoni, and Corso Venezia.

There are the most famous brands and only new collections: Armani, Louis Vuitton, Hermes, Bottega Veneta, Valentino, Salvatore Ferragamo, Cartier and others...

The length of the path is about 700 meters

Monte Napoleone on the map

Via della Spiga - the second side of the Golden Quadrilateral

This is a pedestrian street, some of the most famous stores on which are Tiffany, Dolce&Gabbana, Lanvin, Chloe, Prada.

The most expensive and fashionable area is considered to be the area with the streets via Spiga, via Montenapoleone and via Manzoni. Almost all the shops on these streets sell expensive, fashionable and prestigious brands. Such as Dior, Armani, Brioni and others like that.

Length about 600 meters

Via Della Spiga on the map

Via Manzoni - long, popular and expensive

Brands such as Coccinelle, Armani and many other famous brand stores are represented here.

You may see a lot of offers, but when you start to find out, it turns out that you are paying for air, since flights, accommodation and meals are not included in the tour price... be careful. They can offer you exclusively their knowledge and experience in this matter, that is, shopping accompaniment and an entertainment program (trips to family Italian restaurants, joint trips to outlets, etc.

Benefits of shopping in Milan

In Russia, of course, it is possible to buy Italian things, although it is difficult to be sure that this is not a good Chinese counterfeit! In addition, online boutiques and online outlets can sell you an item “from the new collection,” although its relevance has long passed and for the same price you could afford to buy an original from a real new collection in Milan during the sales period.

That is, in Italy, things from Italian manufacturers are cheaper, despite the exchange rate and contrary to myths, the main thing is to know where and when to buy!

This is very important for the development of the site and the motivation of the author, that is, me)))

Hello, friends! Last time we started talking about shopping and... But, according to knowledgeable people, not in every European city that hosts seasonal sales, you can find something that suits you in terms of quality and price. Therefore, today we will begin to look at the countries and cities where the most tourists go for shopping.

We'll start with shopping in Italy. And this is not at all accidental. This is not only because there are a lot of outlets in Italy. Italy is still the leader in global shopping tourism. The number of shopaholic tourists (including Russian tourists) wishing to purchase haute couture goods or branded clothing in this country has grown significantly in the past year.

In the cities of Italy that are popular among shopping tourists: Milan, Rome, Florence, Venice, Verona, you can not only admire the architecture and beauty of these places, but also return with tightly packed suitcases and sparkling eyes (by the way, an excellent remedy for depression). There are many shops, a large selection of goods. And all this is of excellent quality and affordable.

The winter sales season in Italy opens approximately after the New Year holidays and Christmas (from January 4-5) and lasts until the beginning of March. There are no exact dates for the entire country, and each city has its own sales periods, the beginning of which can be found in the press, television or on the Internet.

During the winter sales period, shopping lovers from all over the world come to Rome and Milan (the main centers of sales in Italy). This creates certain difficulties with housing. Therefore, it is advisable to take care of it in advance.

Successful shopping will also depend on when you get to Italy. The sooner, the more chances you have to buy what you want. After all, the best assortment of goods awaits you in the first weeks of sales.

Rome has plenty of places for shopping lovers to roam: there are an incredible number of shops, boutiques, and outlets. As elsewhere, the most expensive, prestigious and fashionable shops and boutiques are located in the city center. And here you are unlikely to be able to find a good discount on a designer item.

And if you really want to save money, concentrate your searches in stores away from the center and move to the suburbs and outskirts of the city. The rule “the further from the center, the greater the discount” in this case applies unconditionally.

In order not to get lost and confused while shopping, it would not hurt to outline what you would like to buy first and decide on the location of the stores before the trip. In other words, it is advisable to have a shopping route at hand.

Experienced tourists advise not to start shopping from large shopping centers, but to start by browsing through small shops and boutiques, of which there are a lot on the streets of Rome, in particular on the main shopping streets of Rome: Via del Corso, Via Nazionale ), Via Cola di Rienzo, Via Condotti.

The range of goods presented there is varied: a huge selection of women's, children's, men's, youth clothing, shoes, bags and jewelry, both well-known brands and quite affordable brands.

On Via del Corso, which stretches for many kilometers, there is a huge number of shopping centers, small and large shops, designed to suit different wallets.

The peculiarity of these stores is that the prices for goods in them are very different: from high to quite affordable. You can find almost everything here. And among the variety of things there are a large number of inexpensive brands: Le Group, Sandro Ferrone, Sisley, Zara, Guess, Marella, Diesel, Max Mara, Miss Sixty and Benetton.

Large shopping centers in Rome

In Rome it is Gallery Alberto Sordi and department store La Rinascente , which houses boutiques of famous world brands, Italian companies and many shops. Their prices are quite high and are aimed primarily at wealthy buyers.

More reasonable prices in the stores of the UPIM retail chain and in Oviesse. These shopping centers are loved by both locals and tourists for the opportunity to update their wardrobe with quality items for every age and taste and at very affordable prices.

Roman outlets

Popular and famous among tourists Castel Romano Designer Outlet And Fashion District Outlet Valmontone .

Castel Romano

The largest shopping center in Italy, where 113 boutiques present models of famous fashion designers from around the world and Italy (Patrizia Pepe, Adidas, Diesel, Calvin Klein, Dolce & Gabbana, Ermenegildo Zegna, Etro, Guess, Fratelli Rossetti, Levi's, Dockers, La Perla , Nike, O'Neill, Puma, Pal Zileri, Burberry, Reebok, Roberto Cavalli, Valentino, Salvatore Ferragamo).

What is sold in these outlet centers is in no way inferior in quality to similar goods in expensive boutiques, but taking into account significant year-round discounts (from 30 to 70%) and VAT refunds, the prices for things are quite acceptable, and therefore profitable.

The outlet is located 25 km from the center of Rome (special shopping tours are organized here). If shopping is organized independently, you can get there by car or bus, which runs between Via Marsala (near Termini station) and Castel Romano.

A round trip will cost you 12€.

Valmontone Outlet

Another large outlet center, located 40 kilometers from Rome, which houses more than 200 stores with a standard range of goods and also with big discounts.

You can get there for €7 round trip by bus from Termini Station.

In Rome you can also visit the fashion stores of Fendi and Dolce & Gabbana, located on Via Borgognona, Tiffany and Versace on Via Frattina, vintage boutiques on Via del Boschetto and boutiques with very high prices in Piazza di Spagna. But it’s hardly worth counting on discounts or inexpensive items in these stores.

Shopping in Milan

In Milan, considered by many to be the center of fashion, sales also begin in the first week after the New Year and last for more than a month.

The city has many large shopping centers and brand boutiques, but tourists who come for shopping are primarily interested in outlets.

Moreover, it is in Milan (more precisely, about 100 kilometers from Milan) that the best multi-brand outlet in Italy is located - Serravalle Designer Outlet (Serravalle) .

Serravalle Designer Outlet

This center consists of more than 150 stores, which feature products not only of famous brands, but also of their lesser-known counterparts: Guess, DKNY, Versace, Trussardi, Burberry, D&G, Hugo Boss, Nike, Calzedonia, Cacharel, Benetton, Roberto Cavalli, Mandarina Duck, Rifle, Diesel and many others.

Big discounts attract shopping lovers here not only during sales seasons; here you can buy items from designer collections at a good price throughout the year (at least a 30% discount). And during seasonal sales, the chances of purchasing a quality item at very low prices increase significantly.

You can get here by bus or car.

Franciacorta Outlet Village

After Serravalle, Designer Outlet is the second most attractive for tourists (good discounts on items from famous brands) and the largest outlet center in Milan.

You can save even more by purchasing a Village Card, which provides an additional 5-10% discount on merchandise at local stores.

You can get there in about an hour and a half by car, special bus or train. Open daily.

Expensive luxury shopping

The most expensive stores in Milan are located in the high fashion shopping area, where famous fashion houses are located - Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Prada, Trussardi, Hermes, Dolce & Gabbana, Gucci, Versace, Missoni. This place is known as the Golden Quadrilateral (formed by four streets - Via Della Spiga, Via Monzani, Via Montenapoleone and Via Sant’Andrea).

New items from the most prestigious collections of famous designers from all over the world, the most expensive and chic boutiques in Italy await buyers in this area.

An equally expensive pleasure is shopping in Galleria Vittorio Emanuele . This is a unique attraction in Milan in itself, but its main purpose is shopping, albeit in extremely expensive boutiques.

If the purpose of your trip is to spend an insane amount of money, this is the place for you. Those who are limited in their desires and possibilities by a more modest budget can simply wander through the streets of this chic area, as if in a museum, and admire the shop windows that delight lovers of beauty, and the luxurious mansions where millionaires and celebrities live.

Shopping is easier

For those who are looking for new unconventional ideas in the fashion world, original items from emerging designers and good discounts, the area will be of interest Station Ingrosso with many discount and wholesale clothing stores. It is no coincidence that experts in the fashion world call this area in Milan the “Milan Fashion Center”.

Designer discounts

In such stores (on Corso di Porta Ticinese, Corso Buenos Aires, Via Vitruvio) you can find excellent men's and women's clothing, fashionable shoes from famous designers for very little money.

According to tourists, one of the best places for shopping in Milan is Department storeLa Rinascente .

This eleven-story shopping complex, which sells literally everything, is open every day and closes very late on weekdays (by Italian store standards) (at 10 pm).

For those who arrived for a short time and do not have time to visit other stores, La Rinascente can be a real lifesaver.

The majority of shops in Italy are closed on public and national holidays, on Sundays and Monday mornings. Opening hours for large stores may vary.

The peculiarity of shops in Milan: large shopping centers are open every day, until late in the evening and without a break for siesta.

This means that you are in a store where prices for goods have been reduced to the limit (60-80%).

Another sign of such a total sale can be taped up or completely draped store windows and a large number of customers.

Don’t be fooled by signs “ vendite promozionali"("promotional prices") and " sconti"("discounts"). Sometimes such advertisements can be a simple marketing ploy used to attract buyers.

Much more attractive than the sign “ Saldi”, which means that the store is having sales.

The price tag must indicate: the cost of the product before the start of sales, its new value and the exact amount of the discount (this is required by Italian laws). Sometimes prices for goods are indicated without tax, then you will see its real cost when paying for the goods at the checkout.

In some small shops, sellers refuse to accept payment for goods by card. This is illegal: you can pay with cash, credit or debit cards.

Purchase receipts must be kept for 2 months (according to Italian law, defective goods can be exchanged during this period). Also keep your tax-free receipts for refunds.

Happy shopping in Italy. And next time awaits us.

Tourists to Italy are attracted not only by numerous attractions, natural beauty, festivals, etc., but also by the excellent opportunity to replenish their wardrobe with new interesting things. Blogoitaliano has already talked about the features of shopping in Italy in an article, now let’s talk in more detail about sales. During sales seasons in Italy, you can make many very profitable purchases: clothes, shoes and accessories from famous Italian trendsetters are put up for sale at significant discounts.

When are the sales in Italy?

The biggest sales in Italy happen twice a year - in winter and summer. Actually, winter sales are typical for all European countries, but only in Italy can you find such stylish items and such attractive discounts. Winter sales in Italy Traditionally, they begin on the first Saturday of January. In 2013, for example, this day falls on January 5th. Stores cannot start sales before the appointed day - this is fraught with serious fines. Summer sales in Italy start at the beginning of July.

The biggest sales in Italy happen in winter and summer

Sales here last, as a rule, 60 days, but actually end a little earlier - when the goods intended for these purposes run out.

What to buy at sales in Italy

First of all, of course, stylish items from famous Italian designers, as well as their equally high-quality, but cheaper analogues produced by Italian factories. The assortment in stores is huge, so the question is: what to buy at sales in Italy, easy to resolve.

During winter sales you can find excellent demi-season coats, jackets, luxurious hats and scarves. Pay attention to leather goods - shoes, wallets, bags, as well as jewelry and costume jewelry. But you shouldn’t buy fur coats during sales - furs are quite expensive, so they are sold either without discounts or with a very slight difference in price. At summer sales in Italy, people buy summer clothes.

You can find great jackets and coats at winter sales

Many people mistakenly believe that sales are interesting only in the first days: that’s when, supposedly, all the most interesting models and popular sizes are snapped up. This is far from true: stores often divide the range of goods into parts so that they can update it every week.

In the first week of sales, crowds of people gather in stores, queues form, in the crowd and rush it is not always possible to carefully examine and try on clothes, so there is a danger of spending money on an item that will later disappoint. Discounts at the beginning of sales are small - about 30%, and only towards the end of the season they reach a maximum of 70, and sometimes even 80%.

Knowledgeable people prefer to shop at sales about two weeks after the start - there are few tourists at this time, the assortment is still extensive, and the discounts are quite sensitive.

Sales in Milan are considered the most profitable

You should know that the cheapest things can be bought at - a discount is added to the already reduced price, and as a result the price turns out to be more than attractive. But in stores located on popular tourist routes, discounts are minimal.

Where are the best sales in Italy

Usually tourists try to combine shopping with an excursion program and, when going to sales in Rome, you will definitely be able to combine business with pleasure. famous primarily for branded clothing and shoes. The best luxury boutiques are located on Via del Corso, Via Nazionale, Via Condotti and Via Cola di Rienzo, where a free bus runs during sales periods. In addition, in Rome there are enough shops with average prices and outlets, where items from both famous designers and little-known brands are presented.

Having gone to sales in Rimini, you can have a wonderful relaxation at sea and make some very profitable purchases. People usually go to Rimini to buy bags and shoes, since there are many factories producing these products in the city and its surroundings. Also here you will find a huge assortment of goods in the middle price segment: business suits, wedding and evening dresses, swimsuits, clothes of non-standard sizes.

Popular shopping area in Milan - Fashion Square

But the most popular and profitable are considered sales in Milan, which we briefly mentioned in . Milan has everything: clothes from luxury brands and little-known young designers, expensive boutiques and mid-price shops. The cult place of all advanced fashionistas is Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II - there are shops of the most famous brands, famous restaurants, exhibitions and concerts. Another popular area in Milan is the so-called Fashion Square, located between Via Sant’Andrea, Via Montenapoleone, Via Della Spiga and Via Manzoni. More affordable brands can be found on Corso Vittorio Emanuele and Corso Buenos Aires.

Shopping in Italy is the dream of every fashionista. And it doesn’t matter whether such trips are ordinary for you, or this is a long-awaited shopping tour, hurry to find out when the 2016 sales begin in Italy so that your shopping raid will be not only interesting, but also profitable. For discounted designer collections, head to the Italian fashion capital of Milan. And although there are mass-market boutiques there, it’s still better to make budget purchases during. No less popular shopping destinations during discount periods are Turin, Bologna, Florence and, of course.

Summer and winter sales in Italy 2016

There are two official sales seasons in Italy – winter and summer. Previously, "Sconti" began at different times throughout the country. They usually started in the southern regions (the region of Basilicata, Sicily, the province of Campania and the Valle d’Aosta region), and within a few days other territories joined the mass excitement. Discounts in Italy also ended differently, in some cities at a time clearly established by the authorities, in others - at the discretion of the store administration.

Since 2011, there has been a unified sales calendar for the entire country in Italy, and for violating the established schedule, ordinary boutiques can be fined by city services. True, we are not talking about outlets and spats that want to attract the attention of buyers and announce discounts in advance. Thus, the first promotions in stock boutiques can be found in late autumn and early summer. All other stores can start winter and summer sales in Italy 2016 only with the permission of the Italian authorities. Calculating the final dates of the sale in Italy 2016 is quite simple, just count 60 days from the start, but if the discounted goods are sold out earlier, then “Sconti” may end before the end of February and August. At the end of the sale, unsold goods end up in outlets in Italy.

So, when will winter sales start in Italy 2016? They will officially begin on January 6, as evidenced by the “Sconti” signs decorating shop windows and crowds of happy people rushing with purchases from one boutique to another. Sales in Italy in the summer of 2016 will begin on July 7, at the height of the summer holidays, and will end in early September.

Closed sales in Italy

In addition to the official sales in Italy in winter 2016 and summer, many boutiques and showrooms in the country hold so-called closed sales. You won't find them in the calendar, because they are hidden for public access. Regular customers registered in the customer database are invited to such events via SMS. Discounts for “friends” are usually 20-30-40%.

Features of the sale in Italy

Experienced shopaholics know that when the 2016 sales begin in Italy, there is no time to hesitate. After all, the most “delicious” goods are sold out in the first days of the long-awaited “Sconti”. And although the discounts at the start are not large, there are queues at the boutiques. So be prepared for busy fitting rooms, police officers supervising stores and general excitement. In addition, if you go to sales in Italy in the winter of 2016 or in the summer, keep in mind that initially not all goods are discounted. Typically, the store's assortment is divided into parts and gradually put up for sale. So it’s up to you to decide when it’s better to go to Italy for new clothes, and what’s more important to you: the opportunity to buy the best models of the collection, albeit at minor discounts (20 - 30%) or a collapse in prices for the latest sizes (up to 70%).

You can visit the Christmas or summer sales in Italy 2016 on your own, with a personal shopper, or in the company of like-minded people by purchasing a shopping tour to Italy. Read more about each type of trip in Shopping Expert's material about