LoveItaly

I am going to try one more time to post this thread, sigh. Fodor's is not working properly today.

The Italian Government announced that the stores can start their sales so I thought any of you who will be in Italy would possibly be interested.

Starting today the sales will start in Milan and Turin for two months.

July 7th the sales will start in Naples, Bologna, Bari, Genoa and Perugia.

July 8th they will start in Rome, Triste and Cagliari.

July 15th the sales will start in Palermo, Florence and Venice.

Happy shopping to any of you that can take advantage of this!!

Huitres

Hi LoveItaly: Thanks for that update. I always seem to catch a sale when I am in italia and can't wait to stock up at UPIM/Standa in August and Sept. Buona estate!

LoveItaly

Ciao Huitres!! It is nice to "hear" from you. I imagine your little bambina is growing into a big girl now. I hope all is well in your life and with your family. I haven't made it to Italy this year..basically due to my best friend who has to have an operation after the summer vacation in Italy is finished. I want to go when she will feel up to our travelling around the N Italy section.

UPIM/Standa, oh yes, lol!! Buona estate cara Huitres.

Zydecoqueen

YEAH! I'll be in ROMee on the 7th -12th and FLorence from 13-17. AMazing how that worked out! Any suggestions of where to shop and what to avoid? I really want a new purse and of course shoes...they last longer so I don't mind paying a higher price. Mary

LoveItaly

Well Zydecoqueen, consider me one jealous Fodorite, LOL. Enjoy while you pop in an out of various shops.

Don't forget, in the smaller shops see if the clerks want to hand you the merchandise..they usually do. Have fun!!

Huitres

Ciao LoveItaly ~ Sei sempre gentilissima. Mia bambina is fine (6 years old now!) we are looking forward to returning to Italy to visit Sicilia and Malta this time (also Amalfi Coast). Hope you can get back there soon too....take care!

Jean

I just love it that the national government tells the stores in each area when they can start their sales. What do the Italians visiting here think of our major department stores announcing sales every week? Presidents' Day Sale! Columbus Day Sale! Back-to-School Sale!

LoveItaly

Jean, when my various friends come here from Italy they go absolutley crazing shopping in our stores, LOL.

I have had times where some of them have purchased so many items I have had to loan them suitcases so they can get their purchases home. And inspite of my warnings they have had a fit and a half when they have had to pay extra because of the weight of their suitcases and the number of their checkin suitcases. I have some really funny photos I have taken more than once at SFO..they make me laugh to this day.

ekscrunchy

Love Italy, can you let us know exactly how you found this information? I have tried several times to get the dates for January sales before booking my flights but have never been able to find concrete info for each city. Thanks!

For anyone attending the sales: Get there early, expecially if you are seeking shoes in popular sizes! At many designer shops, stores are often mobbed on the first day of the sales and many styles and sizes sell very quickly.......

LoveItaly

Hi ekscrunchy..I sure can.

Two websites that have English translations (sometimes sort of funny translations but that is another story, lol) for Italian news is:

http://www.agi.it/english/news

also

http://ansa.it (no I did not forget to put in the www)

Because of various reasons I tend to check these websites out daily. Also, if you want to "work" on your Italian language skills just read the news in Italian and then click on the English version.

Best regards..and have fun shopping!!

TravelBerry

Although I'm not visiting Italy this summer, thank you for posting this valuable information for those who will need it during their Italian trips. I'm sure it will be great advice for them towards planning their shopping time.

ekscrunchy

Thanks so much, LoveItaly. The first site did not connect for me but the second, the assa site, is a handy one. I only had a cursory look (I can make out the Italian enough to get the gist...) but could not immediately see where the sales were mentioned....how would I find that info? And thank you for being so patient...

I love the emphasis on calcio!!

ekscrunchy

Woah.had another look and turned up those lines outside Gucci in Milan! I TOLD everyone to get there early but I did not think of taking a sleeping bag to be the first inside!

LoveItaly

Hi again eskcrunchy, I just had a thought. I have never seen the government announce the date of the sales for each city/province way in advance. For example, the July sales were just announced the day before yesterday. So I don't think you can find out now what the information is for January. Maybe the government does that so that the tourist do not plan their trips around the store sales and consequently the Italians can't really take advantage of the sales. I don't know, just a thought.
I will ask one of my friends in Italy when I talk to them the next week or so.

ekscrunchy

Interesting thought..thanks. I do remember posting a query about the January sales in one of my earliest posts on Fodor's...it was met with a bit of hilarity that I would actually think of such a thing when planning a trip but, hey........ I also asked the tourist office here in NYC and could not seem to get any kind of less-than-vague answer a couple of months ahead....and it does make a difference from city to city....confirmed shoppers will understand the frustration generated when hearing "...oh, we are all out of your size..you ahould have been here LAST week when the sales began.." After seeing the pic of those lines in Milan my experience does not seem so strange! Thanks for the help, Love Italy..keep us posted when you learn anything...

ekscrunchy

Forgot to add: There are some amazing bargains to be had at those sales...IF you arrive early.