I know it isn’t Montreal, but the Burlington Town Center in Vermont is trying to entice us to shop at their indoor center by offering a chance at a $250, $500 or $1500 shopping spree. The shops inside are high end (Macy’s, Coldwater Creek, Hollister Co., Abercrombie & Fitch, Aeropostale, J. Jill, Chico’s, Ann Taylor Loft, Pottery Barn, Williams-Sonoma, American Eagle) but if you win, then it’ll be free. Just log on to www.burlingtontowncenterpromotions.com until Sept. 7th for your chance to win.

Premium Retail Group gets the clearances of famous name brands in denim, handbags, jackets, tops, sweaters, dresses and footwear and then sells them off to us at great prices at clearance sales during the year. Right now you can stock up on G-Star Raw, Firetrap, baby phat, Superdry, Hooch, Bench, Fullcircle, Golddigga, Juicy Couture, Miss Sixty, Coach, Nine West, Tory Burch, Via Spiga, Stuart Weizman, Kate Spade, Michael Kors, This sale will feature high end designer boots for women. Put yourself on their e-mail list and you too can know when the sales are coming up.

4454 Rue Garand (Off 40 West Service Road near Cote Vertu), Ville St-Laurent
corner: Boul. Thimens
Dates: August 28th to Sept 21
www.premiumretailgroup.com

The permanent liquidation space at 5075 Jean Talon West is now filled with both brand name Buffalo David Bitton, Fila, Levi’s, Izod, DKNY apparel and household items that they are clearing. The Buffalo pricing is as follows: tops $10, pants $15, shorts and skirts $10, slippers and sandels $3. Other clothing: Fila ladies Basso jackets $15, Fila men’s shorts $5, Levi’s or Izod men’s golf shirts $12, Russell Athletic or New Balance dri gear $8, DKNY ladies sweaters $20, ladies racer back tank tops 4/$5. For your home: bath towels 3/$10, 800 thread count sheets $80, bathroom rugs $6. You may spot Adidas body spray $3 and items by Sunsilk, Dove, Vaseline, Axe or even Lipton soup.

Location: 5075 Jean Talon West
Dates and Times: Mon-Fri 10-8, Sat & Sun 10-5, for one more week while supplies last

When you walk in  to J. Sonic Services, it is a like a giant candy store of televisions and electronics at 30%-50% off retail. These are mostly liquidated or refurbished TV’s, home theatres, IPods, laptops, portable DVD’s, digital cameras from major chain stores. Technicians have gone through and checked out all the sets and they come with a 3-month warranty. At this week’s warehouse sale some of the items on special (some are brand new): 42″ plasma TV $499.99, desktop computer $598.99, Toastess cordless kettle $29.99, digital DVD camcorder $168.99, 12-bottle wine cellar $99.99, espresso machine $99.99

Location:300 Montee de Liesse, VSL
corner: Cote de Liesse
Tel: 514-341-5798
Dates and times: August 21 & 22 4 pm-9 pm, August 23 & 24, 10 am-4 pm
sonic_info@jsonic.ca (to get on e-mail list)

Dalia is known in Montreal for their pretty blouses, tops, sweaters, jackets which are made under the monikers of: Dalia, Katherine Barclay and Renaur. They have finished their Fall line so now is the time for them to sell off all of their samples. Perfect timing to load up on a school or Fall wardrobe. Prices can’t be beat – All the way from $10-$20.

Location: 225 Chabanel, Suite 315
Corner: Meunier
Dates and Times: Aug 21 & 22, 11-8; Aug 23, 9-2: Aug 28 & 29, 11-8: Aug 30, 9-2: Sept 6, 9-2: Sept 13, 9-2

On Tuesday August 19th, at 7:40 in the  morning, I will be chatting it up on the radio on the Andrew Carter show on CJAD-AM. Our topic will be back-to-school and we’re supposed to be discussing backpacks, uniforms, school supplies, etc.

Location: CJAD 800AM
Date and Time : August 19th at 7:40 am

Suburban shoppers have enjoyed scoring deals at H&M at Fairview Pointe Claire, Centre d’Achats Rockland and Les Galeries d’Anjou for a couple of years now. Downtowners are all in a tizzy because they have finally opened smack in the heart of the city at Peel and Ste. Catherine. Families worldwide have been flocking to this European-inspired knock-off queen of the hottest new styles. North American companies lag, as they only do a few buying trips a year, but at this chain the trends reach here faster – and they’re very affordable. Made in places like Bulgaria, Roumania, Turkey and China, you’ll find lots of cotton – make sure they’ll wash and wear okay. On August 28th a second location closer to St. Denis will open with more of an emphasis youthful fashions. Old locations: Centre d’Achats Rockland (514-340-7763); Les Galeries d’Anjou (514-352-8150); Carrefour Laval (450-682-8220); Mail Champlain (450-766-1371).

New locations: 1100 Ste. Catherine W.; 450 Ste. Catherine W. (opens Aug 28)
Hours: Regular plus Sun 10-5
www.hm.com

On Saturday, I will be on the radio with Beta Wayne on CINQ-FM Radio Centreville Consumer. We will be discussing back to school clothing, deals on summer leftovers, shopping in the US, what’s happening up at Chabanel and perhaps get to some travel topics like vacation plans in the Fall and the differences between motel chains. The show will be podcast and available for a week on their website.

Location: 102.3 FM
Date and time: Aug 16, 12:30-1 pm
www.radiocentreville.com

Reboot sells refurbished guaranteed computers at amazing prices. They have just relocated from their digs at Riverdale High School to Dorval. This Saturday, they are having a one day back-to-school sale” – would you believe prices at only $20 to $100? All computers are Internet ready and come with a keyboard, mouse, licensed Microsoft Windows O/S, Office Suite, Virus and Spyware protection and a 90-day warranty.

Location: 697 Meloche, Dorval
near: Cote-de-Liesse
Tel: 514-636-8279
Date and Time: Saturday, Aug 16th, 9-4

Have your ever wondered about where you could go to buy snuff? Nah, me neither. What’s snuff? Back in the olden days it seems that men (mostly) liked to sniff this tobacco product close their nose in order to absorb the different aromas. It shouldn’t go up your nose.
I guess there are people who enjoy it because they still sell it in Montreal at H. Poupart.  Open since 1905, this is the arist ocrat of Montreal’s tobacco shops. Each brand of cigarette is kept in its own old-fashioned walnut drawer. They have the largest selection of cigarettes, cigars (yes, Cubans) and pipe tobaccos from all over the world – United States, Turkey, Italy, France, Cuba, Brazil, Holland, England, N. Africa and Scotland. You can pick up your snuff or chewing tobacco or get your pipe repaired. They also sell and repair fountain pens such as Mont Blanc, Lamy and Waterman pens, offer Reidel glasses and Laguiole knives.

Location: 1474 Peel
corner: de Maisonneuve
Hours: Mon-Wed 10-7, Thurs & Fri 10-9, Sat 10-6, Sun 12-5
Phone: 514-842-5794