MAJOR retail chains in Spain started their sales a week before the traditional opening of January 7, and two high-street giants have begun theirs online today (January 6).
Since Spain's government passed a law allowing shops to hold sales at any time of the year, many retailers stage several per season, although a high number stick to age-old custom and only do so in summer and from January 7 until stocks run out.
In the past, January 7 was day one of the sales, given that January 6 is a national holiday and the night of January 5, the Epiphany, is when presents are normally given in Spain to mark the visit of the Three Kings of the Orient.
But with the start of the financial crisis, retailers keen to keep their profits up will now tend to run theirs early to encourage extra present-buying.
Budget high-street fashion retailers Mango, Cortefiel and H&M, underwear firm Women's Secret, Amazon Spain, online clothing boutique Asos and Spanish-designed accessories and fashion store Bimba & Lola started their sales on Tuesday, January 2, and from New Year's Day on their websites, with up to 50% off selected lines.
Staying with tradition, department store El Corte Inglés, high-street fashion empire Inditex, and cut-price Japanese clothing firm Uniqlo – which set up its first Spanish store last year in Barcelona – will begin their sales from Sunday, or Monday in towns where the shops do not open on Sundays, but the first two will start their online sales from today.
El Corte Inglés began the sales online from 09.00 today (Saturday), offering significant discounts on fashion brands including Desigual, Salsa, Michael Kors, Gap, Lacoste, El Ganso and Levi's, plus 35% off smartphones, 25% off TV sets, and laptops with up to €100 off.
Inditex, which owns Zara and Zara Home as well as Stradivarius, Bershka, Pull&Bear, Massimo Dutti, Uterqüe, Lefties, and underwear brand Oysho will launch its sales online tonight from 22.00, although in-store sales will not start until tomorrow or Monday, depending upon Sunday opening.
Despite the lower prices, high-street retailers see their profits go up by around 3% in the sales, and the industry in general hopes to see growth of around 5% to 10% this year.
Retail sales campaigns created 113,820 jobs last year (2017), up 8% on 2016, according to recruitment agency Adecco.
TWO of Spain's largest high-street banks are reported to be in merger talks, potentially resulting in the joint entity being the second-biggest in the country in terms of share capital.
THE average Spanish resident will spend between €500 and €1,500 on their holidays this year, with three in 10 set to increase their budget from last year and 16% reducing it.
SPAIN'S State post office has launched a new solution for passing travellers who do not want to lug their suitcases around: Lockers for bags are now provided, with prices depending upon weight.
