Summer sales begin on both sides of the border this Wednesday, with Monaco’s running two weeks longer than France’s under rules that give the Principality’s retailers an extended sales period each year.

In France, the legally mandated soldes d’été run nationwide from Wednesday 24th June at 8am until Tuesday 21st July, covering the Alpes-Maritimes and the rest of the French Riviera along with the vast majority of mainland departments. The dates, set by the French government under the Code de commerce, apply uniformly across mainland France with the exception of Corsica, where sales begin on 8th July and run until 4th August.

Monaco runs a longer sales period

In the Principality, sales are governed by a separate law and run for six weeks rather than four. Under the rule set out by Monaco’s Business Development Agency, summer sales begin on the final Wednesday in June, which falls on 24th June this year, the same start date as France, and continue for six weeks until around 4th August. Monaco’s retailers, from fashion boutiques to home and multimedia outlets, will be offering discounts throughout that period, giving shoppers in the Principality an extra fortnight of sales compared with their counterparts across the border.

What shoppers can expect

In France, surveys suggest shoppers are approaching this year’s sales more cautiously than in the past, with average spending down compared with last year, even as the majority of consumers say they still plan to take advantage of the discounts. High-tech and home appliance items are expected to be among the most sought-after categories, alongside the usual fashion and homeware bargains.

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