Finnish goods cannot be called cheap, but currently there are a huge number of regular customers and even fans of Finnish goods in the world, since Finnish products are famous for their excellent quality. If your stay in Finland is limited to the capital, but you still want to do some shopping, then we recommend that you read the article “ Shopping in Helsinki”.
When you arrive in the country, try to immediately find the shopping catalog - Shopping Guide. This free almanac is distributed at border crossing points, hotels, tourism offices, major shopping centers and is intended for both Finnish and foreign buyers. The catalog contains information about shops, boutiques, shopping centers, as well as tourist organizations, restaurants and hotels.
Most often, guests to Finland buy dishes and glassware, textiles, wood and fur products. The most famous Finnish brands are Arabia, producing ceramics and porcelain, Nuutajärvi, Iittala and Riihimäki - manufacturers of glassware, Artek (furniture), Marimekko (textiles), "golden" Kalevala Koru and Lapponia, Pentik, producing porcelain and textiles. Also popular is Aarikka, which operates in the markets of jewelry, gift items, board games and toys, Christmas tree decorations and even cell phones; manufacturers sports equipment and clothes Karhu, Järvinen, Luhta, Rapala. And, of course, the world famous brands Finlandia and Nokia.
"Ale" signs » , "Alennus » , "Sale » Sales are announced in store windows. The main time for discounts in Finland comes in the winter, after Christmas (Christmas sale) - from December 25, and in the summer, after Midsummer - from about the 20th of June.
Discounts can be 30%, 50% and 70%. The price tags may say “Maksa 4, saat 5”, which means “Pay 4, get 5” or “Ota kolme, maksa kaksi” - respectively, “Take three, pay two”, or you can also see “1 kpl - 5.5 € , 4 kpl - 20 €" - "1 pc. — 5.5 €, 4 pcs. - 20 €.”
In Finland there are outlets (outlets) - sales stores of trading companies and large commodity producers. Prices in such stores are significantly lower than in regular retail outlets. However, after the New Year everything shopping centers Finland is turning into outlet malls for two weeks. Information about outlets in Finland can be found using the links below.
In all cities of Finland there are so-called flea markets, or in Finnish kirpputori (“kirppu” - flea, “tori” - market). They can be used to buy used goods at very affordable prices. Finland also has a lot of kirpputori consignment stores, which are very similar to second-hand stores. By the way, second-hand stores in Finland are marked with the inscription “UFF”. In general, UFF is an association that collects used clothing. Most of these clothes are sent for retail and wholesale sales, the rest goes to help residents of third world countries as free aid.
Today in Finland there are many shops selling luxury products from famous world brands. The latest example is the opening of a Louis Vuitton store selling haberdashery in Helsinki.
Shopping centers and shops in Finland are open on weekdays from 9:00 to 21:00, on Saturdays from 9:00 to 18:00. Small private shops are open from 9:00 to 18:00 on weekdays and from 9:00 to 14:00 on Saturdays. During the summer and Christmas sales, most stores are also open on Sundays, from approximately 12:00 to 21:00.
Inscriptions in stores in Finnish:
ALE, Alennus - discounts or price reduction
Loppuunmyynti, poistohinta – sale
Uusi, Uutta tavaraа - new collection, new items
Tasarahalla - all for one price
Alkaen 5 – price from 5 Euro
Tarjous - offer
Sovitus - fitting room
Kanta-asiakkaille - for regular customers
Plussakortti, Etukortti - for discount card holders
Shopping centers and shops in Finland*
*Excluding the city of Helsinki
Other shops in Finland
- Lidl - cheap pan-European stores (food, manufactured goods, clothing).
- Alko - monopoly stores selling strong alcohol.
- S-Group is a whole service for searching for various products in Finland. Available in English.
Shops in Helsinki and Rovaniemi
Unfortunately, discounts on fashionable clothes and high-quality electronics are rare and very insignificant. Also, when making purchases at a discount, do not forget about the opportunity to apply for tax-free. (savings approximately 12-16%, from food - 10%). Refunds occur upon departure from the country upon presentation of a receipt, which is valid for three months. Purchases must be presented in store packaging and must not be unpacked or used before leaving the country. Tax-free is not issued when purchasing books and tobacco products. On the Global Refund website, tourists can apply for a plastic card to make purchases at a duty-free store - this will significantly speed up the process when issuing a tax free check.
Sales in Finland 2019
An excellent option to treat yourself to real European shopping, without spending astronomical sums and without leaving far from your homeland, is to go to Finland during the period of grandiose sales, which are usually held twice a year - after Christmas and in the summer months after the Johannus holiday, which takes place in end of June. You can find out about the sale by the inscription ALE or Alennusmyynt.
In all department stores and shops in the city, prices are reduced by 50-70% of the original cost.
Tourists going shopping in Finland should remember that some stores hold their own off-season sales. Thus, the Stockmann department store chain has been holding “Crazy Days” for almost 20 years - sales in April and October with 50-70% discounts, and Sokos department stores have been holding “3+1” promotions twice a year, in spring and autumn ( detailed information should be searched on department store websites).
Christmas sales in Finland begin on the 20th of December, immediately after Christmas, usually on the 27th, when goods begin to be sold at huge discounts. The range of discounts is impressive - from 10% at the beginning of sales and up to 70% towards the end. Moreover, discounts apply not only to general goods such as clothing and shoes, but also to cars and various services. In total, seasonal discounts can be valid for two months. Russian shopping lovers fill the Finnish border cities at this time - Lapeenranta, Kotka, Imatra. Here, discounted items are sold out instantly. If you wish, you can go to the shopping centers of Helsinki and other cities far from the border - Turku, Lahti, Tampere.
In this article we will tell you about winter sales in Finland. Winter in this country is amazing in all respects and nature itself has taken care to soften the oppressive effect of the harsh northern climate. Wonderful landscapes, wonderful winter trails and the opportunity to celebrate Christmas and New Year in a cozy country cottage attract many tourists here. And immediately after the Christmas holidays, winter sales start in Finland and every self-respecting buyer tries not to miss this event. The quality of Finnish goods is known all over the world and it would be unreasonable to miss the opportunity to purchase them at great discounts.
If you see the signs “Ale” and “Alennus”, it means that you have arrived on time. This is how the concepts of “sale” and “discount” sound in Finnish. Another magic word is called “Tarjous”, which means that there is a special offer for some product. There are also so-called crazy days, which the largest department store Stockmann in Helsinki organizes for its customers twice a year. Summer days big sales begin immediately after Midsummer, and winter sales after Christmas. The inscriptions on the price tags -30%, -50%, -70% attract many who want to purchase the treasured item at a reasonable price.
In addition to traditional percentage discounts, there are offers to buy five things for the price of four or three for the price of two. Note that there is not a single store that does not have winter sales. In Finland, even the smallest shop in a small village tries to please its customers with some surprise. The biggest price cuts are announced for clothing, shoes, cosmetics and electronics. Now let's talk about the peculiarities of Christmas shopping in different parts of the country. Let's get started. As befits the Finnish capital, it is always crowded here.
Moreover, many tourists are in a hurry to celebrate Christmas and New Year in this country. However, winter sales in Helsinki are the most varied and inclusive, and there are several explanations for this. All the most important large shopping centers and supermarkets are concentrated in the capital. You can also always buy unique designer items here. All the main ones are located in the central part, not far from railway station. Note that in this ancient city shopping goes well with the cultural program.
It is also important that the main Christmas and New Year performances take place in the capital. Tampere is located far from the Russian border and getting there is a little difficult. But this is precisely the main advantage for real lovers of shopping. Even at the end of the discount period, when winter sales in Finland helped clear the shelves of most stores in other cities of the country, the assortment remains quite large. Note that all the largest European shopping centers are also represented here.
Photo: Tiia Monto / Wikimedia Commons The city of Kouvola is located 130 kilometers from Helsinki and it does not belong to large centers. But the list of shops here is quite impressive and there are not many tourists. Therefore, very decent things can be bought at very good prices. But where experienced tourists are not willingly advised to go during winter sales in Finland is this. The explanation is simple: since this is a border city, there are many times more travelers from Russia here. Already in the first hours of trading, most goods disappear from the shelves. And the owners of retail chains, seeing such an influx of buyers, are in no particular hurry to make a big reduction in prices.
Photo: website Located near our border. The most convenient route will be through the Svetogorsk border checkpoint, since it is located only 7 kilometers from this settlement. Imatra is also very popular among our fellow citizens and here you can buy a variety of products from well-known and world-famous brands, but due to the large flow of tourists, the assortment is sold out quite quickly.
When to go shopping?
Winter sales in Finland begin on December 27, although some retail outlets begin to attract customers as early as December 22. But these days, serious discounts are only on Christmas tree decorations, and the rest of the goods are sold at a maximum of 15% cheaper. From December 24, almost all stores close and Finland celebrates Christmas. Starting from January 27, a gradual reduction in prices and those wishing to take advantage of them begins huge variety. Until the end of January, the decline sometimes reaches 50%, and only at the beginning of February does the real holiday begin for buyers.
Photo: website The number of tourists has decreased, but there is still a lot of goods. Winter sales in Finland end at the beginning of March. True, during this period the assortment is already extremely narrow. Many of you have heard about the so-called crazy days or “Hullut päivät” in Finnish. The Stockmann department store hosts them in October and April. The peculiarity of these sales is that it is not stale or discounted goods that become promotional items, but collections prepared for this purpose. However, in this madness lies one secret that is not perceptible to everyone.
Stockmann is one of the most expensive hypermarkets. Therefore, it may well turn out that a discounted product costs the same as in a neighboring store. Our tourists should not forget that they have the opportunity if they buy goods in the amount of 40 Euros or more. And a few more tips that may be needed during sales. Be sure to try on or carefully check the item you are purchasing, because in most cases, items purchased on sale cannot be returned.
During sales it is often difficult to choose exactly what you need. The largest reduction in fur prices in all of Europe is offered by Finnish brands. You should not take a large amount of money with you and sweep away everything in your path. It is better to give preference to practical things. Happy shopping and we hope you find our tips helpful. In our next material, you will find out which events take place twice a year and with the help of which you will have a great opportunity purchase many products at very significant discounts.
In addition to incredibly profitable Christmas offers, summer sales in Finland in 2018-2019 promise to be no less attractive.
In the summer, an item you like, during the sales period, will cost 15-40% from the original cost. We will provide a list of networks offering this opportunity at the end of the article.
Tourists who travel to Finland for discounts most often prefer shopping tours from home by minibus ( short trip for 1 day). However, in Lately Many people plan their trip and choose a city in advance. In any case, summer Lappeenranta will not let you down!
Rules.
In Finland there are some rules for holding promotions and sales. It is prohibited by law to hold a sale that lasts more than three months: this insures the buyer against tricks with regular price goods that are passed off as discounted. Sales cannot be held in newly opened stores or at fairs. But at fairs you can get a good deal.
When?
Summer discounts in Finland in 2018-2019 begin immediately after the Finnish holiday Juhannus (a holiday analogous to our Midsummer Day), which is celebrated this year 21st of June. From now until mid-July, tourists buy clothes and shoes, souvenirs, bags, jewelry and other accessories, ceramics and electronics at impressive discounts.
How ?
The Finnish language is unusual for the Russian eye, so in Finland it is not always possible to “recognize” discounts and summer sales. In Finland the most common markers are the words "Ale", "Alennus" and already familiar "Sale". A word that signals to the buyer about a special offer on a particular product or group of products is in Finnish: "tarjous".
What?
At the summer sales in Lappeenranta in 2018-2019, you will have the best opportunity to purchase all kinds of children's goods, clothes and shoes from famous brands, as well as jewelry. By the way, sendingGo on a shopping tour to Lappeenranta for discounts, at reasonable prices, children's toys, strollers and other things in Finland can be bought not only in the summer: the chain stores “Jim & Jill” and “Anton & Nina” hold sales all year round.
As for household goods, the Kodin Anttila and Kodin Ykkönen stores offer an excellent range of goods. For pillows, blankets and other bedding items during summer sales, it is best to go to Jysk. Tiimari stores offer souvenirs and other small items at reasonable prices.
In addition, in the summer of 2018-2019, Lappeenranta will delight you with sales of a variety of sportswear and equipment, as well as high-quality Finnish glass.
Where?
Here is the promised list of treasured places where a stream of tourists literally flocks in search of crazy discounts in Finland.
large shopping complexes in the center of Lappeenranta.
It will offer a wide selection of clothing and shoes (including sports shoes), cosmetics, electronics and goods for home and office.
Gastronomy and clothing of famous brands.
LIDL is a German discounter specializing in food, clothing and footwear.
Large supermarket in Lappeenranta.
— a clothing store with year-round discounts.
— electronics hypermarkets.
Absolutely everything is sold here: from food to perfume. Before leaving Finland, do not forget to apply for a tax free refund. It implies the return of part of the money spent on purchases (from 10 to 16%), that is, it provides foreign tourists the opportunity not to pay taxes on goods. Throughout Finland, more than 3,000 stores operate this system. They can be identified by logos with the inscription “Global Refund” on the cash registers, doors or information desks.
The minimum for a tax free refund in one store is 40 euros. In this case, a mandatory condition is the presence of all positions in one receipt. By the way, this also applies to products! After the check has been cleared, ask the cashier to issue a tax free service. In the vast majority of cases, this does not pose any problems.
All you need is a passport: you will receive a receipt indicating the purchase price and the refund amount. You must enter your address on the receipt and put your signature there.
Important! After the receipt is issued, the goods will be specially packaged, and this packaging cannot be opened in the EU, otherwise the right to return under the tax free system will be lost.
“Tax free” does not apply to services, alcohol, cigarettes and other tobacco products, as well as books.
When we go abroad, we willy-nilly become literally hostage to stores with tempting brands and their prices. It all starts at the airport, when we buy perfume, cosmetics, and alcohol at duty-free.
And when we get off the plane in some country in the world, we sometimes don’t even realize what an abundance of consumer goods awaits us on the shelves of vtcnys [ stores... Many, going on vacation to one of the countries that set this or that fashion, bring Russia additional suitcases.
Where can you go for some useful shopping? And how not to go into all serious troubles, forgetting about the financial crisis of the world economic system?
For a successful shopping experience
- Arm yourself with maps and guides right away. They are available to travelers at airports, hotels and offices travel companies. Such brochures describe in detail how to find popular retail outlets in a particular city, as well as their opening hours. Be careful with this, since in most countries the opening hours of offices and stores differ from Russian ones. So, in Italy all shops are closed from 12 to 16 for siesta, and in Crete shops are open only until 14 hours.
- The most profitable purchases are goods from local producers. You shouldn’t immediately rush to world-famous brands whose names have already set teeth on edge. Better take a closer look at local brands that are not inferior in either quality or appearance. At the same time, in Russia you can boast about an outlandish purchase - such a thing will definitely be exclusive.
- The main thing is not to forget about Tax Free. This will be a pleasant addition to the already favorable prices. But pay close attention to how the checks are filled out. Moreover, each country has its own rules for filling out and registering Tax Free.
- Be careful about how you transport your purchases so that problems do not arise already Russian border. Take care in advance about what can be imported and what cannot be imported, and what requires a declaration.
- And, of course, all expenses must be thought out and decisions weighed. Then the pleasure of shopping will not be overshadowed by an empty wallet at the end of your vacation.
Shopping tours with and without obligations
Shopping tours with obligations are primarily of interest to “shuttle” businessmen - those who resell goods purchased abroad. In order to go on such a trip, you need to enter into an agreement with the agency under 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 (this system usually operates in Greece).
As part of this tour, you will be taken to all current warehouses, factories and stock centers, where you can buy good things at low prices.
Shopping tours without obligations are, in fact, ordinary tourist trip. However, her goal is to acquire some thing for herself. Naturally, this option will not work for serious trading.
The cost of such a no-obligation tour consists of the cost of airfare, hotel accommodation and meals, as well as the amount 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 this tour, you will be provided with a guide who will show you the best shopping spots.
However, you should not completely trust the guides (there have been sad cases) - it is better to play it safe and explore the main retail outlets on your own.
World shopping capitals
- Italy
Naturally, the fashion capital of the world is Milan. However, you can make profitable purchases in other cities of Italy. Especially if you come here during the discount season: from early January to the first ten days of February and from early July to early September. And an endless number of outlets (stores where they sell items from previous collections at discounts) will make shopping enjoyable in any season.
- France
Paris is the cradle of fashion traditions and the most brilliant fashion designers. However, things (especially branded clothing) are very expensive here. Business card Paris is cosmetics and perfumery. The prices for these goods here are very tempting in any season.
- Spain
Barcelona is the country's shopping center. Tourists are most attracted to Spain by shoes - high-quality, stylish and at a good price. Also, when you arrive in Spain, do not be 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 amazingly beautiful precious stones, for example, two-color sapphires. Here, jewelry can be specially made for you - in just two to three days. Shopping lovers should also visit Ceylon and Colombo, where, in addition to tea and spices, you can buy leather goods and textiles at competitive prices.
- UAE
Dubai is a global trade center. There is even a famous shopping festival here, 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 when it comes to purchasing fur products. Fur tours to Greece are perhaps the most popular destination among Russian travel agencies.
For all lovers of foreign shopping, the word “sale” is almost like a magic spell. Every year, thousands of tourists travel from Russia to sales in Finland.
Traditionally, throughout Europe there are two seasons of price reductions - summer and winter, after Christmas. At this time, large retail chains announce discounts of up to 70%, which sounds very tempting for buyers. However, we should 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. The exception is Stockmann department stores - here they announce discounts in spring and autumn and release special collections for sales.
There are two types of sales: in Finland these are seasonal ( ale, alennus, sale) and special ( tarjous) offers. If the dates and locations of seasonal promotions are always approximately the same, then you can stumble upon special ones completely by accident - for example, it could be a discount on some product in a supermarket or the opportunity to buy several things for the price of one.
Seasonal sales in Finland
Summer sales in Finland begin after Johannus, Midsummer, which falls in the last week of June. At this time, buyers have an excellent chance to purchase goods for sports, fishing and active rest, summer clothes, accessories and, of course, non-seasonal items from last year’s collection.
In winter, Christmas sales take place all over the world. In Finland they begin on December 27 and end by the end of January. At this time, every store is replete with signs promising huge discounts - up to 70-80%. However, it is worth considering that the maximum price reduction occurs towards the end of the season, that is, when the bulk of the goods have already been sold out and the store shelves are almost empty. Therefore, you should count on discounts of 20-35%.
Most of the discounted goods are clothing and shoes, food, as well as accessories and a variety of household goods. When 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 do not become too cheap even during seasonal sales in Finland. If you are planning to purchase a new gadget during your shopping trip, it is better to familiarize yourself with special offers in electronics stores. Large retail chains often organize 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 originator 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 begin. At this time, discounts are announced on all goods - from clothing to household appliances. Prices are indeed reduced by more than half, but it is worth remembering that Stockmann is one of the most expensive chains in Finland, and even on sale their products can cost the same or more than similar ones in neighboring stores.
Together with Stockmann, some other companies are also spending “crazy days”: for example, the airline FinnAir sells cheap tickets for flights from St. Petersburg and Moscow. However, you can only buy them at a reduced price in Stockmann stores during sales periods.
