This is one of the treats of living in Montreal. You can go up to this sample sale and score next season’s separates and knitwear for a mere $10 or $20. The labels you’ll see at the sale are Dalia priced at $10, Renuar and Katherine Barclay which both will be sold for $20 each piece. You’ll find them at:

Dalia
225 Chabanel St, Suite 315
Dates: May 1 & 2, 11 am – 8 pm, May 3, 9-2, May 8 & 9, 11 -8, May 10 & 17 & 24, 9-2
www.daliacollection.com

FDJ French Dressing is having a final moving sale so we get lucky. All womens’ jeans, pants, shorts, jackets, tops are $10, that is unless they are $5 or $3. Sizes run from petite to XL for the tops and 2-18 in petite and regular for the pants. And taxes are included in those prices. Start your engines…

Location: 4500 boul. Thimens, VSL
Transcanadienne, Exit 62
Dates and times: May 1 & 2: 12-9, May 3: 9-5, May 4: 11-4, May 8 & 9: 12-9, May 10: 9-5

The Farha Foundation, in memory of Ron Farha, has a huge fund-raising event which is held twice a year The next one will be on Sunday May 4th and then again in November. $5 gets you in the door for great deals (50% to 90% off) on 20,000 family ‘ fashion items which are sold by 80 different clothing companies and designers. The event raises about $150,000 a year for those with HIV and AIDS.
Here is a list of this season’s designs: Au Anastasia Lomonova, Apple, Bottoms,Barilà, B.S.A., Carrefour Ivanö, Ça va de soi, Chilli Pepper Uk, Collection Iris, Concubine, Couture Outlet, Dalcci, Dex Clothing, Dinh Ba Design, DKNY, Envers par Yves Jean Lacasse, Eve Gravel, Füshia Bijoux Urbains, Guido & Mary, Harley Davidson, Harricana par Mariouche, Hörst Düsseldorf, Hush Puppies, Ivanö Costume, Kärv, Kimojo Kimono, Kitchen Orange, Ladydutch, Pantoufles La Senza, Lily Rose, Linda Lingerie, Lingerie Blacko, LTDM imports, Lydia Lukidis, Micalla, Mika Design, Miss Sixty & Energie, Nylon by Dex, Olivia Cosmetics, phelie Hats, Pashminas Canada, Pedro Sport, Regalo, Report Collection, Rudsak, Re-find, Rufen, Sabrina Rheaume Créations, Second, Sebago, Shine Jeans, Station 8, Stella, TXT, Twins Accessoires, Uranium, Valérie Dumaine, Vas & Co, ant Agency, WeSC, Will B

Location: Palais des Congres. 201 Viger Ave West
Date: Sunday May 4th
Hours: 10-5
www.aucoeur.ca

At the end of April (this year it is April 29th), to welcome Spring, you can get in line as many times as you want and try out as many flavors (Chunky Monkey, Phish Food, Coffee Coffee Buzz Buzz Buzz, half-baked frozen yogurt, Imagine Whirl Peace, Cake Batter) as your tummy can hold. Don’t worry – the line moves quickly, because there’s no money changing hands. Ben & Jerry’s was one of the first corporations to set community support as a founding value of the company. It pairs Free Cone Day with a charity, and you can, if you so choose, make a donation.

Locations: 1316 boul. de Maisonneuve W. (514-286-6073) ; 5582 Monkland (514-488-6524); Old Montreal, Place Jacques Cartier (514-876-4121); 2172 Ste-Catherine Est (514-524-3672); Laval: 920 Desserte Ouest/Autoroute 13 (450-689-3611); McGill College (514-392-1226)
Date: April 29
www.benjerry.com

You used to know this brand as Rugby, so if you love their purses and clothing, it’s time again for a sample sale at their head office. During the same three days, they will also be offering 20% off at their two regular stores: Complexe les Ailes (Ste. Catherine St. Ouest and 3526 Boul. St. Laurent.

Location: 3981 boul. St. Laurent, suite 444 Tel: 514-842-1221
Dates and times: April 25 9-5, April 26 10-5, April 27 12-5
www.m0851.com

St. Lawrence Textiles (you can they have been around a long time by the way they spell their name) has taken warehouse space in Ville St. Laurent (they had been up North). They are currently having a sale of samples, balances of stock and discontinued styles for baby and children’s clothing in lines that wear well – Baby’s Own, Creme de la Creme, Cora and Solzsun.

Location: 6869 Henri-Bourassa Ouest
Corner of Felix Leclerc
Tel: 514-387-7373
Dates: April 24th – May 10
Hours: Mon-Fri 9-6, Sat 9-5

If you have my book, Smart Shopping Montreal, you know about the fabulous Bikini Village Entrepot where women and men can score great prices on swim wear all year long. As if that wasn’t good enough, they have started warehouse sales when the stock piles up too high. From now until April 30th, you can just feel the summer breezes when trying on swimsuits and have enough money left over (prices are 90% 0ff) for a day at the beach.

Location: 2727 boul. Taschereau
corner: boul. Marie
Tel: 450-923-1754
Hours: Mon-Sat 9-5, Sun 12-5
Date: Sale ends April 30th
www.bikinivillage.com

In the new section of the Plaza Pointe Claire, there is a pet food store called Pitou-Minou which specializes in high-end brands as well as frozen food, and treats of course. However, every Saturday the shop is a stage for the local animal rescue operations: Animatch, Steri-Animals and Rabbit Rescue where they offer adoptions of dogs, cats and rabbits

Location: 245F St. John’s Blvd at Highway 20
Phone: 514-694-2152
Dates: Saturdays

Females who love labels (south pole, Inkslingers, Cezer New York, Miskeen Originals, David Brooks, Phat Farm, baby phat, pellepelle, Black Sheep, A.B.S. Collection, Coogi, Crown Holder, akademiks, Parish, Pastry, triko, aka Stash House, etc.) will enjoy this warehouse sale. Three or four times a year (September, November, April, June) at least 2 dozen of them are available in samples, ends-of-lines and seconds. Sometimes stuff for the guys and kids can be found as well. Sign up at the sale for e-mail or snail mail notifications.

Location: 5540 Rue Ferrier at Devonshire
Phone: 514-731-7070
Hours: April 25 9-9, April 26 10-5, April 27 12-5

That’s all you have to say in Montreal, I’m on Tommy’s show and everyone knows you mean Tommy Schnurmacher on CJAD 800 AM. Tommy has been an anchor on daytime radio for years, and we have a good time together talking up a shopping storm. You have an opportunity to call in for a whole hour and ask me about whatever shopping problems you are stuck with. I’m there to help you find a solution. This has been my longest running gig as I have appeared on that show for the past 22 years!

CJAD 800AM
Date and Time: Wednesday, April 23 at 10-11 am
www.cjad.com