A shopping tour is a tourist trip, the purpose of which is to purchase certain types of goods characteristic of the host country.

The essence of shopping is to go through as many stores as possible in the shortest possible time, spend as much money as possible and buy as many things as possible. The first to use the concept of “shopping” was the American Barbara Zelinsky in 1956. She formulated the main principles of shopping and set a world record: she spent her husband’s salary in a supermarket in 1 minute 55 seconds.

Shopping is done in the country of residence and in foreign countries. The latter are of the greatest interest to shoppers, as they produce goods that cannot be found at home.

The semi-legal Russian shuttle business, whose representatives dressed and put on shoes for their compatriots in the early 90s, no longer exists. Now this type of activity is called in the English manner - shop tourism

The shuttle traders, accordingly, turned into shopkeepers. Now among them there are fewer and fewer market traders and more and more housewives who can spend $50-100 thousand on one trip to Milan. The geography of trips has also expanded. Instead of Greek fur coats and Chinese slippers, Russians are bringing the latest European fashion from Paris and Milan.

Anyone who today goes to Italy and France for shopping, calling himself a shoptourist, probably no longer remembers that ten years ago he would have been called an ordinary shuttle. Tent traders from the markets of free Russia, having quickly mastered the markets of Poland, Romania and Bulgaria, began to gain authority in Turkey and China. According to calculations by experts from the Institute for the Economy in Transition, in 1995-1996, shuttle traders imported $2.5-3 billion worth of consumer goods into Russia per quarter, that is, they accounted for a third of all Russian imports. And according to the Turkish Trade Representative Office, in 1995, Russian shuttle traders purchased $3-4 billion worth of goods from Turkey, which amounted to approximately 25% of the total volume of “shuttle imports” from this country.

We can only talk approximately how many Russians regularly went abroad to “cheat” at the height of perestroika and in the first years of reforms. According to Goskomstat, in 1995, Russians made about 1.5 million trips for shopping purposes. According to participants in the tourism market, owners of small shops and market stalls make on average 10-15 trips a year. It turns out that in 1995, when this business was flourishing, about 100 thousand people were actively shuttling in the country.

The first signs of the decline of the shuttle industry appeared on the Chinese border at a time when the business was still thriving. In 1994, the Chinese government tried to stop Russian shuttles from entering the country by taking appropriate measures. The logic of the Chinese authorities was simple: the Russians were harming the country's reputation by purchasing mostly cheap, low-quality goods. Soon Russian officials also began to take a closer look at shopping tourism. In 1996, a government decree was adopted limiting the duty-free import of goods into the country. Without paying customs duties, it was allowed to import goods worth $1000, and their weight should not exceed 50 kg. Looking ahead, we note that this restriction was in effect until recently. The cost of a duty-free consignment of goods was increased to $2,000 only on January 1, 2003. However, the most serious blow to the shuttles came in 1998: air tickets became more expensive, and the markets were overflowing with things that no one was buying.

As the Russian economy began to recover from the consequences of the default, the shuttle business was revived, but under the name “shop tourism.” True, tour operators note that the number of shopping tourists in the country has decreased several times, but they do not undertake to give a specific figure. The fact is that the share of non-professionals in the total tourist flow has decreased. According to tour operators, only 50-70% of shopping tourists are owners of small shops and market outlets. The rest are just private individuals, very often housewives, who in recent years have begun to actively travel abroad for shopping.

Shopping tours in their current form are a unique phenomenon unique to Russia. Although Europeans do some shopping during their trips, they rarely go out for two or three days just to wander around the shops in another country, and even accompanied by a guide. And especially not buying shopping trips. Europeans mostly go shopping to a neighboring province or to a free economic zone: for example, from France and Spain to Andorra.

The same countries that are in demand among shopping tourists today are the same as ten years ago. People go shopping to China and Istanbul, where the quality of goods has increased noticeably in recent years. The United Arab Emirates, where they buy household appliances and electronics, and Italy, where they go to buy clothes, are still popular. True, Russians are now interested in shopping not only in Rimini, but also in Milan. It is interesting that if at first shopping trips to this capital of world fashion were organized to order at the request of wealthy clients, now less wealthy Russians are also actively interested in them.

Compared to the nineties, shopping tours are becoming more and more European. Customers today often place orders at European factories and order deliveries of new collections. Denis Bashkirov, general director of the Open Sky travel agency, notes that the French destination is now actively developing, which was not previously in demand among Russian shopping tourists. In particular, those traveling for shopping really fell in love with the Parisian district of Saint-Denis. People go there for trendy youth things. But for classic suits, evening dresses and plus size clothing, it is customary to go to Germany, which has recently become increasingly popular among Russian buyers. The reason, according to Alexander Laiko, is that goods from German manufacturers are more accessible to most Russians compared to products from other European countries. Shoes are usually bought in Austria and Italy. Russians still willingly go to Greece for fur coats, and to Istanbul for sheepskin coats.

New shopping destinations are unlikely to appear in the near future. Rather, already well-studied countries will be “worked out” in more detail. For example, in Italy, Russian shopkeepers have not yet mastered Naples, which could be of interest to representatives of the middle class: prices and quality of goods here are higher than in Rimini, where most Russians go shopping, but lower than in elite Milan. However, for now tourists are stopped by the rather high price of a ticket to Naples.

The peak of professional shopping tourism occurs in September, as well as on March 8 and the May holidays. Hobbyists do not have clear seasonal preferences. Housewives most often go shopping twice a year to stock up on clothes for the whole family and close friends.

Shop tours are of the following types:

Group shopping tours (available with and without obligations)

Individual V.I.P. shopping tour

Shop tour + relaxation

Group shopping tours with obligations are very profitable for the so-called shuttles, who are engaged in the resale of goods purchased abroad. The peculiarity of these trips is that an agreement is signed with an agency, according to which the tourist must spend a certain amount, usually from 4 thousand euros. At the same time, flights and accommodation are quite inexpensive, and in some tours, for example to Greece, all expenses are borne by the seller. The program includes visits to wholesale warehouses, factories, shops, where everything is sold at purchase prices.

Shopping tours without obligations are not much different from a regular tourist trip. They are ideal for those who do not intend to engage in trading on an industrial scale, but want to buy something exclusively for themselves. The cost of these trips consists of the price of flights, accommodation, food and, in fact, the amount that the tourist is willing to spend to satisfy the raging shopaholia. The approximate price of a trip to European countries will be $550–700 for a week per person, and to Greece even cheaper – $300–600. The tour operator is obliged to provide a guide who will show and tell about the best shopping places. But here you have to be careful. It is advisable to familiarize yourself in advance with shopping routes in the country that the tourist is going to visit, and refrain from shopping in nondescript, abandoned, unknown shops, even if the guide strongly recommends them.

Individual V.I.P. A shopping tour is developed for one person or one specific group, taking into account all the wishes of the clients.

Shop tours + holidays are usually carried out in the summer, combining a holiday on the resort coast with a visit to fur shops or factories.

Group, individual V.I.P. shopping tours are held year-round.

Budgets for professional and amateur travel vary greatly. Merchants purchasing a certain product spend approximately $8-10 thousand. The expenses of shop owners are usually from $5 thousand. The budget of the average amateur is even more modest - from $2 thousand. A wealthy housewife can spend $50-100 thousand on one trip to Milan.

The shopping tourism market is developing so actively that recently travel companies are refusing to sell so-called tours with obligations. Now, instead of selling a client a trip at a minimum price and then requiring him to purchase goods for a certain amount, travel agencies are increasingly switching to a “floating percentage”: the more you spend while shopping, the trip costs less. When buying a shopping trip, the client pays, for example, €600 for a week's shopping in Paris. Then, if during the trip he purchases goods worth €7 thousand, the company returns €300 to him. Anyone who spent from €5 thousand to €6,999 thousand will be paid €250, and so on in descending order. The cost of a shopping tour usually includes air ticket, visa, accommodation, meals, medical insurance, services of a purchasing consultant and a Russian-speaking guide in the store.

Since ancient times, a knife has been considered more than a tool of labor or hunting. In the Middle Ages, knives were decorated with precious stones and handles were made of expensive metals. The higher the status of a person, the more beautiful his knife was.
Let’s talk about choosing a knife, what types there are, the main characteristics and, of course, the ratio of price and quality - there’s no way around it. Nowadays, the knife is the main weapon in battles; firearms have long been pushed into the background by edged weapons. Where a knife and its quality are very important is in hunting, when cutting up a carcass, or the last chance for salvation.
For a city dweller, a knife is primarily a means of self-defense against criminals. As a rule, the criminal, seeing that the victim is armed, retreats. Small knives are suitable for self-defense; to avoid problems with the law, folding knives may be suitable. In a folding knife, the handle completely hides the blade of the knife; you can even carry it in your pocket without risking injury.
Among the criminal world, “knives”—automatic opening knives—have become widespread. Less popular are “butterfly knives” - in which the blades are hidden in the halves of the handle, but such a knife requires handling skills. “Finka” is also very popular - the name comes from Finnish knives. But the “Finka” has little in common with a real Finnish knife. The name "finks" is suitable for any knife with a straight bevel of the spine and a blade thickness of up to 4-6 mm.
Let's now talk about choosing and buying a knife. First of all, you should decide for what purpose you need a knife, as well as the types of knives:
- Hunter
- Throwing
- Kitchen
- Survival knives (multi-tools)
For hunting, the ideal knife will be with a fixed blade; it is easier to wash it from blood or dirt, and there will be less hassle with it. The steel of the blade should be moderately hard, resistant to corrosion, and capable of holding an edge. Steel on the Rockwell scale from 55 to 59 HRC is ideal. When the hardness of steel is more than 59 HRC, the blade will be brittle. The length of the blade can vary from 50 to 130 mm and a thickness of 3-8 mm. You should also pay attention to the handle. Wood, bone, and polymers are good for handles. The knife should fit well in the hand and be comfortable when working. It is preferable to take a leather sheath with a comfortable and reliable fixation of the knife when worn. Good knives made of Damascus steel, thanks to the combination of two types of steel (high-carbon and low-carbon), they hold an edge well. If you look at such a knife under a microscope, we will see a saw on the cutting edge. Damascus steel is an excellent choice for hunting, but you will also have to fork out some money, because the price of such a knife will vary from 5,000 rubles.
Metal knives are usually a solid piece of metal. A hole is drilled in place of the handle to balance the knife. The handle itself is sometimes wrapped with a cord for convenience. When purchasing, you should pay attention to the general appearance of the knife; it should be symmetrical. The center of gravity should be approximately in the middle of the knife. You should not take a knife with very high hardness; if the knife hits a stone, it will break. The blade length varies from 90 to 160 mm. Also, you should not buy folding knives for the purpose of throwing; they have poor balancing and will break at the first unsuccessful throws. The price of a good knife will range from 1000 rubles. If you buy a set of knives, it will cost up to 7,000 rubles, depending on the quantity and quality. There are many ways to throw knives, the main ones are non-revolving - in which the knife does not make a rotation during flight, and with a revolving knife - with this technique you have to calculate how to throw the knife so that it reaches the target exactly with the tip. Throwing knives is a separate topic...
Kitchen knives - steel should be resistant to corrosion, hold an edge well and be moderately flexible. You shouldn’t trust sellers that their knives don’t get dull, all knives lose their sharpness and everything has to be sharpened. The price of kitchen knives is not high; knives are usually made of stainless steel. The handle is made of wood or plastic; you should choose one that fits well in your hands and will not rub.
As for survival knives (multi-tools), this is a good tool that you can’t do without on a hike, because you have pliers, wire cutters, a file, a corkscrew, etc. in one “body”. This is good. But if you lose your survival knife, you will be left with no hands.
You can't do without a knife on a hike. Slice bread and other foods, peel potatoes, open canned food, whittle a staff, tent pegs, and much more. But in order for the knife to serve you for a long time, you need to know and follow the rules for using and caring for it.

Knife care

After each use, wipe the knife with a cloth (handkerchief), sponge or paper.
The most convenient way to clean a knife is with ashes from a fire, applied to a cloth or paper, then wipe - the blade will be dry and shiny.
Clean the cutout on the blade and the inside of the handle with a match (thin stick).
If the knife is not made of stainless steel, you can wipe it with a cut onion; it will not rust.

Rules for using a knife

Always cut and plan away from you, forward, so as not to cut yourself.
To prevent the knife from becoming dull, cut food only on the board.
Humidity damages the knife, so do not place it on the grass, and do not stick it into the ground, or into living trees.
Pass the knife with the handle forward and the blade towards you, and never throw it while passing it.
Do not hit the knife with a hammer or stone.
When closing a pocket knife, be careful to keep your fingers on the outer sides of the handle.
If the knife is not a penknife, it must be carried in a sheath.

Our online store offers knives from such well-known companies as:

Shopping tourism is trips to other cities and countries for the purpose of shopping in local stores and spending time in shopping and entertainment complexes. Usually, shopping tourism combined with educational travel. Trips of this kind are a type of business tourism and originated in ancient times. Most likely, shopping tourism dates back to the primitive times, when tribal representatives made long journeys for the purpose of barter. The Great Silk Road and the trade route from the Varangians to the Greeks can be considered one of the first permanent shopping tourism routes. Of course, in those days, shopping tourism was the lot of a few; it acquired true mass popularity (like the name itself) at the end of the twentieth century. Today, shopping tourism is extremely diverse and accessible to both wealthy people and middle-income tourists, and even young people.

Types of shopping tourism

There are not many types of shopping tours. We can distinguish traditional shopping tourism, when the trip is not tied to a specific date, since it is carried out to a country (for example, China), where you can always make a profitable purchase. There are also shopping tourism timed to coincide with periods of sales, seasonal discounts or the release of new clothing collections. Such trips are often carried out to countries (for example, France), where you can buy expensive exclusive items at discounted prices. Another type of shopping tour is weekend trips. Due to their short-term nature, they do not force the tourist to make changes to his work schedule and are usually practiced in nearby countries.

Geography of world shopping tours

Las Vegas, Paris, New York, Milan and Miami lead the global ranking of the popularity of shopping destinations. Each of these cities is characterized by certain groups of goods, for the purchase of which travel is made. At the same time, shopping trips to most cities are carried out with the aim of purchasing inexpensive branded clothing. Taking first place, Las Vegas is famous for its chic boutiques of famous brands, where, according to statistics, 69% of those who come to this center of the gaming industry make purchases. Paris and Milan are the fashion capitals of the world and lovers of stylish clothes and shoes from all over the world also go there to shop. And, for example, in Tokyo, which closes the top ten most popular shopping capitals, people often go to buy ultra-modern equipment or outdated (from the Japanese point of view), but very cheap electronics.

Shopping directions relevant for Ukraine

Due to its geographical location, shopping tours from Ukraine are appropriate to countries in Europe and the Middle East, since a trip to Miami for fashionable clothes simply will not pay for itself. Among European countries, the most popular shopping destinations are Romania, Greece, France and Italy. For example, poor residents of Chernivtsi and other western regions of Ukraine often go to Romania to buy cheaper consumer goods and even food. Greece is famous for its cheap fur products, and France is famous for its clothes and shoes from world brands. Italy is a real mecca for fashion lovers. Here you can buy original clothes from Armani, Versace, Valentino, and other brands without any extra charge. Travel is especially popular during seasonal discounts. Among the Middle Eastern countries, the undisputed leader is. Here you can buy inexpensive shoes, clothes, leather goods, carpets and much more with significant discounts. Recently, shopping tours to the UAE have been gaining popularity. The capital of this state, Dubai, is a free economic zone with a very low import duty rate. In this regard, almost all imported goods are noticeably cheaper here than in Ukraine or EU countries. It is especially profitable to buy electronics, jewelry, fabrics, furs, watches and, of course, local souvenirs here.