Bagging the Bargains in Spain’s Summer Sales

There’s no better feeling than scoring a hefty discount on something you really wanted or needed. And with the current cost of living crisis, cemented by rising petrol and utility prices, for many of us there’s never been a better time to bag a bargain.

In some countries, sales are a constant fixture, and you’ll always find a rail full of discount priced goods if you look hard enough for them. This is not the case in Spain. In Spain there are just two main sale periods: the summer sales and the winter sales, which happen at the start of the New Year. Discounts are generally high, and shoppers head out in force. With the summer sale period fast approaching, here’s everything you need to know about shopping the sales in Spain:

When are the 2022 Spanish Summer Sales?

This year the official sales period will begin on Friday 1^st July. The only exception to this rule is in Madrid and the Valencia region, where local governments set their own sales periods. In Madrid the sales began on 21^st June and in Valencia they will begin on 29^th June.

Whilst the summer sale dates used to be regulated by the central government, they were deregulated in 2012. This means that, whilst most stores will stick to the official sales dates, they are under no obligation to do so. Some household names might start their sales early, for example, to attract some early bird customers. Sales that have already started include:

• Department store El Corte Ingles
• H&M
• All of the Inditex fashion brands (Zara, Massimo Dutti, Bershka, Pull & Bear and Stradivarius).
• Electronics store Media Markt
• Decathlon

If you prefer to shop online, rather than walk down to your local high street, then another key date for your diary is Amazon Prime Day. This is a scheduled two-day sale from the retail giant and will take place on 12^th-13^th July this year.

How Busy Are the Summer Sales?

In previous years, when the sales were strictly regulated, the first days of the sales were a huge retail event. Spanish shoppers would gather around the doors of their favourite stores waiting for them to open and then rush in to score the discounted goods they had their eyes on. This means that the sales gained a reputation for pandemonium: they were busy, crowded, and you often had to be prepared to push through hordes of people if you wanted to get the most sought-after products at a discounted price.

Since sale deregulation, in conjunction with the increased popularity of online shopping, Spanish shoppers are better able to secure good deals on the goods they need regardless of the time of year. Because there is no need to wait until July or January, whilst the shops may be busy they will not be anywhere near as busy as they might have been 10-15 years ago.

That doesn’t mean that the stores won’t be busy though, particularly if you visit for the first day of the sales. According to textile union Acotex, the summer sales are experiencing a 20 percent rise in interest from shoppers compared to last year. This is thought to be due to a combination of Spaniards looking for better prices at a time of rising inflation, as well as the large number of international tourists visiting Spain during the month.

Top Tips for Shopping the Spanish Sales

• If you have a specific item in mind, shop early so that you don’t miss out. But if you’re not shopping for anything specific, the more weeks of the sales that pass the bigger the discount will be.
• Look in store windows to see how big the discounts will be. Signs reading “segundas rebajas” (second sales), then “terceras rebajas” and finally “remate final” (final push) will have progressively larger discounts. 
• Write out a list of products you actually need and try to stick to it. This will help to prevent you wasting money on impulse buying goods you don’t need.
• Always check the original price to work out how big the actual discount on an item is. Just because it features a big red ‘sale’ sticker doesn’t necessarily mean it’s good value.

Are you thinking of moving to Spain with your family? Looking to escape the cold and rainy weather in the UK and make an escape to the sun? Then why not get in touch with our local property experts, who are perfectly placed to help you find the Spanish home of your dreams. We’re excited to help you make your next move your best move!