BE PREPARED FOR 40 DAYS AND 40 NIGHTS OF SHOPPING MADNESS DURING THE ISTANBUL SHOPPING FEST, MARCH 18 TO APRIL 26!
The idea of an Istanbul Shopping Fest aimed at turning Istanbul into a shopping and entertainment center in the region is not new. This is a project several firms and organizations have been dreaming about for years. Now that dream is becoming reality in a cooperation between organisations under the aegis of Turkish Exporters Assembly.
Around the world, India, Singapore and Dubai also have their shopping fests, which boost retail sales in those cities by some 200-300 percent. The main difference with the Istanbul Shopping Fest is that there will be discounts of up to 30 percent on new season products. Another fest feature is that it coincides with holidays like Easter, Passover and Nowruz, so a large number of tourists is expected in Istanbul since many of the neighboring countries will be on holiday.
There will be discounts of up to 30 percent on many brands and at many shopping centers throughout the festival. What’s more, to keep the shopping excitement going, many retailers will be giving even higher discounts after 8 o’clock in the evening. These discounts will continue until 2 in the morning, rising as high as 50% during certain specified hour. A shopping center will remain open until 2 AM on each side of the city every Saturday.
The festival will center around key shopping points like Taksim, Nişantaşı, Şişli, Bakırköy, Bahariye and Bağdat Caddesi.
A ten-meter special show window will be set up on Taksim Square for the duration of the 40-day festival.
There will be discounts up to 30% on many brands and at many shopping centers throughout the festival. Discounts up to 50% will be available at specified hours.
A contest for an Istanbul-themed vitrines will be arranged among vitrines that will be set up at forty-one locations. After winners are determined by SMS, the top three designs in the competition will be rewarded. An apartment will be awarded in a drawing among those who s end in their votes.
Traditional markets like the Spice Bazaar and the Grand Bazaar will also be taking part in the festival along with the other shopping centers.
Foreign tourists will be able to shop to great advantage in Istanbul in a period outside the usual sales season. What’s more, they will also be able to take advantage of tax-free shopping.
Festival Supporters
- Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism
- Governor’s Office of Istanbul
- Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality
- Turkish Exporters’ Assembly
- Istanbul Development Agency
- Istanbul Chamber of Commerce
- Association of Shopping Center Investors
- Shopping Center and Retailers Association
- United Brands Association
- Turkish Airlines
- Turkish Travel Agencies’ Union
- Union of Touristic Hoteliers and Investors
- Registered Brands Association
- Touristic Restaurants and
- Association of Investors and Operators in Tourism and Restaurants
- TAV
- Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen Airport
- ISTANBUL: SHOPPING AND FUN
- ISF CO-PRESIDENT YILMAZ YILMAZ ON THE FESTIVAL.
How did the idea of a shopping festival in Istanbul come about?
The Istanbul Shopping Fest is not a new idea. It was a project several organizations had dreamed of for years. That’s how we started out anyhow. Istanbul has a dream, we said.
Are there similar shopping festivals in other parts of the world? Can you give some examples?
Dubai, Singapore and India stage similar shopping festivals. But all those shopping festivals are held during the seasonal sales.
How is the Istanbul Shopping Fest going to be different?
The basic difference is that there are discounts of up to 30 percent on the new season’s products in the Istanbul Shopping Fest. Another feature of the fest is that it coincides with holidays like Easter, Passover and Nowruz. What’s more, not only will foreign tourists be able to shop to great advantage in Istanbul outside the sales season, they will also be able to get back a portion of the tax they pay at the tax-free stands that will be set up in the shopping centers and at various points around the city.
What would you recommend to someone who has only one day in Istanbul?
My recommendation to someone who has only one day is that he/she should choose one of the locations with a festival event and take advantage of the discounts and other events in that district.
What about someone who has three days?
I would like him/her to visit all the districts and experience the festival in different locations.
What would be the three must-do’s of the Istanbul Shopping Fest?
Istanbul, shopping and entertainment!
