Winter sales begin on Monday 12 January
CORFU. During the sales, all price reductions must clearly show the previous price.
This year’s winter sales will take place from Monday, 12 January until Saturday, 28 February.
During this period, shops may optionally open on the first two Sundays of the sales, on 18 and 25 January 2026. The recommended opening hours are 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
During the sales, all price reductions must clearly show the previous price. This means the lowest price at which the product was sold in the 30 days before the sales started on 12 January.
Retailers are reminded that following the law is mandatory and that violations carry heavy penalties. Fines can reach 1% of a business’s annual turnover, with a minimum fine of €10,000. If discounts are found to be misleading or inaccurate, the fine increases to 2% of annual turnover, with a minimum of €20,000.
The previous price is defined as the lowest price applied during the 30 days before the discount. If a product has been on the market for less than 30 days, the lowest price during that shorter period applies.
If prices were gradually reduced in the 60 days before the sale, the previous price is the one that applied before the first reduction. However, there must be no price increases at all during those 60 days, even on discounted prices, otherwise the original pre-sale price cannot be used.
According to the law, shops may also optionally open on the first two Sundays of the winter sales, from 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Finally, the Trade Association reiterates its long-standing position against Sunday opening of retail shops.
ELENI KORONAKI
