Q 1: After shopping for us for 24 years, you must be so jaded by now. Do things really change that much?

For each edition of the book, I visit about 1,000 of stores that were in the book and then about 3-400 new shops. Old businesses sometimes reinvent themselves – like Caplan Duval changing from crystal and china to linens and bedding or Shreters adding women’s clothing and then becoming a destination shoe or Simons who just went from bricks and mortar stores to on-line shopping. I have to keep re-visiting to make sure my info is always correct. So yes retail changes all the time.

Q 2: What kind of differences have you seen over the years?

When I first started writing my book bargain was a dirty word – shoppers thought that it meant something was wrong with the item. Then in the recession of the 80’s people who had less income to spend still wanted to buy the quality name brands they always did so they became willing to go to stores a little off their beaten path to find a brand name discounted.

Then Club Price, now Costco, came in and I wasn’t sure how Montrealers would take to shopping in a warehouse but it caught on and others emulated that model. Warehouse shopping is now huge. I shlog about them all the time.

When Walmart arrived and made sure we got the lowest prices all the time, we got used to having that option.

And speaking about low prices, every year as I do my research I still have my “oh-my-god moments”.

Q: 3: Okay I’ll bite, what are oh-my-god moments?

Sometimes I walk into a place that has either a new twist on deals, or sells things you didn’t know you could buy retail or has been hidden for years and now is open to the public. I get so excited about them I talk about them for weeks.

Q: 4 – What are some of the ones you’ve found lately?

I had never thought about this idea at all. Hotels like Sheraton, Hilton, Holiday Inn constantly refresh their rooms and have to get rid of the old furnishings somewhere. Mega Vente Surplus d’hôtel buys entire floors and sells them all off at ridiculous prices. They have 4 crammed warehouses in the east end piled to the ceiling with household furnishings with more  than 10 000 items for sale. You need to make an appointment and delivery service is available.

Some of the furniture you might find: 5-pc. oak bedroom sets (originally 1500$) $75, king mattress sets $145, doubles $115, commodes with 3 drawers & 2 doors $49, oak TV armoires $175, couches $50- 135, sofas-beds $100-175, tub chairs $25-$45, bedcovers $15-$25, draperies $15-37, feather pillows $4, lamps $15-25, old TV’s $29-$60
But you might also score: lithographs, fancy white chair covers, folding tables, luggage carts, blackout curtains and ironing boards. You need to make an appointment and delivery service is available.

Phone: 514-946-7002
e-mail surplusdhotel@gmail.com

Q: 5 Any other wow moments?

Wow. Double Wow. Liquidation Sim is a clearance center for a huge un-nameable low Cost warehouse store, with a further 30% or more off on the price.

Returned items (phones, toys, clothing, furniture, auto, bedding, etc.) and stuff in broken boxes from their huge aisles (except fresh food) are sent to this little store every Saturday, so on Sunday there are sometimes line-ups to get in the door.

All items are checked to make sure they work. The friendly proprietors even keep a reservation book and will call you if an item you are looking for shows up.

Location: 341 Ave. Ranger, Vaudreuil – Dorion
Phone: 450-424-0998
Hours: Mon-Wed 10-6, Thurs & Fri 10-8, Sat 10-5, Sun 12-5
Other location: 850 des Laurentides Blvd, St-Jérôme
Phone: 450-438-8631
www.simcentredeliquidation.com

Mega Vente was a secret clothing warehouse for a long time but now it’s very open to the public. Prices here just blew me away for first quality clothing from balances of inventory from the current season.The huge neat space has something for everyone at 75%-90%. Perfect right now are the suit/tie/shirt combos for graduations or weddings at $99 (34-60 short, reg, tall) including a salesman to help you out. Large guys can find shirts to 5XL.

Kids 2 or 3-piece shorts sets (3 mos.-16) are only $5. Spring jackets for the family start at $7 and there’s Oxygen tops for ladies (reg. $25-$30) for $7.

There are always $1, $3, $5 kids racks (0-16). The females (XS-4XL) and males (S-4XL) might find: sweat shirts, dress shirts ($8), jackets ($39), t-shirts ($3), jeans, cotton fleece, nylon pants, capri pants, pajamas, dresses, blouses, sandals, swimsuits, shorts and even kid’s snowsuits all year round.

Location: 120 boul. St-Joseph, Lachine
Phone: 514-637-1116
Hours: Mon-Wed 9-5, Thurs & Fri 9-8, Sat 9-5, Sun 10-5
Other location: 6090 Metropolitian est
Phone: 514-223-0510
www.5dollardeals.com

Premium Retail Group holds liquidation sales worth waiting for, even if they are only a few times a year.

The next one will be 30,000 samples for females who have always wanted to wear Tommy Hilfiger. There’s jeans, shorts, shirts, skirts and jackets.  In the clearance section look for 10,ooo items by Guess? and Marciano.

Location: 4454 Garand St, Ville St. Laurent
Corner: Pomba
Dates: May 13-June 6th
Hours: W 11-5, Th & F 11-9, S & S 11-7

After 77 years, Ararat Rug Company, Montreal’s oldest family owned carpet business founded by Kerop Bedoukian, is now closing.

Ararat is owned by Harold Bedoukian who”grew up in the business. He has been active in Oriental rug associations in the US and Canada.  He is treasurer of the Armenian Rugs Society, past president of the Montreal Oriental Rug Club and The Quebec Carpet and Textile Society. Harold Bedoukian is the only appraiser in Montreal certified by the Oriental Rug Retailer’s Association, (ORRA).

He works with his wife, Janice Summers, who is an internationally respected authority on Oriental rugs.  She has more than 30 years of experience as a retailer, collector, author and lecturer, and is the author of four books and numerous articles on Oriental carpets.

Harold and Jan’s knowledge of the history, design and techniques of oriental rug weaving extends far beyond their formal education.  They travelled extensively in the Middle East where, for centuries, the manufacture and merchandising of rugs were closely linked to the culture and often the mainstay of life itself.  They spent time with rug weavers from the most primitive nomadic peoples to sophisticated urban communities whose skills have been refined and passed down from generation to generation. Harold and Jan have studied the artisans’ crafts and artistry from the gathering of goats’ hair to the preparation of detailed cartoons from which rugs are woven.

When buying a rug from Ararat you were always able to rely on their knowledge and be confident of its quality and assured of its provenance. Now we have to say “adieu” as they continue the tapestry of their lives.

Location: 3457 Avenue du Parc
Corner: Milton
Tel: 514- 288-1218
www.araratrug.com

Dormez-vous, the chain of mattress stores that really understand mattresses and can explain them to you, is having a one-day warehouse sale. This is the first one I’ve heard of. They sell Serta, Sealy, Beautyrest by Simmons, Kingsdown, Tempurpedic and even the high-end  Stearns & Foster. At the sale they will have brand new mattresses, overstocks, demonstrators, floor models, linens and odds and ends. Bring your teddy bear,  your mate, kick off your shoes and try ’em out.

Location: 59 Hymus Blvd
Corner: Boul. des Sources
Date: May 8
Time: 9-6
www.dormezvous.com

Chabanel, the garment capital of Canada is not dead yet and there continues to be major clothing sales up there. Well known labels at this Miss Sixty one will be Nudie Acne, twenty8twenty, James Perse and Filippa K.

Location: 225 Chabanel W, suite 705
Dates and times: May 6: 12-8, May 7: 12-7

Every so often at the head office of Tupperware, they hold a clearance sale. This sale will last through May on a first come first serve basis.  They are offering limited quantity on very good and popular products.  So any of  my shlog readers can go up there and score these original (and lifetime guaranteed) storage products at up to 65% off.

Tupperware, Centre Les Tournesols
Location: 491 Boul. Lebeau, suite 203, Ville St-Laurent
Phone: 514-331-6964
Dates: May 1-May 28
Hours: 9-4
www.my.tupperware.ca/centrelestournesols

Those in the know have been going up to Papillon Blanc at a certain time of a certain day to scoop up their deals. Nowadays they are announcing sales so another Spring sample sale is on. Women who like made-in-Canada Pucci-like print and slinky tops and dresses, this is the moment to grab them as prices will be up to 70% off.

Location: 7250 Mile End, suite 502
Phone: 514-276-3763
Dates: Thurs & Fri  May 6 & 7
Time: 3-8
http://papillonblanc.com

Q1: For Mother’s Day, (or grads, or weddings coming up), how can you pick a special gift that they know was chosen just for them?

Well usually that is the intention of a gift, however with the availability of gift shoppers, impulse internet buying and even re-gifting, nothing says special more than having the item personalized or monogrammed. You no longer have to just use  initials or names as you can now choose any words (I love you Mom) and even images (a bird, flower).

Personalizing indicates too that you had to do your homework just to find a place that monograms and choose something that you were fairly certain was just for them. Also, These days everyone seems to be of wearing just about every designer name on their clothes, why not their own?

Q2: People might think of bathrobes or towels, but what else is out there that can be personalized?

You’d be surprised at all the hard & soft things you can get monogrammed or engraved: teddy bears,  wine glasses, shopping bags, candle snuffers, blankets, frames and more. The shops I’m mentioning today are gift shops so you can get many ideas, even if you don’t want to write on them.

Q3:  Okay these sound like possible options, so where can we go?

Monogrammes Plus has a showroom is full of lots of things you can personalize by embroidered monogramming:  bathrobes, cosmetic bags, aprons, teddy bears, T-shirts, windbreakers, caps, towels, cushions, or something you bring that you’ve bought elsewhere.

Phone: 514-695-8647

At Plaque Impact, their engravings show a great sense of humor on all sorts of cool things:, desk fans (You’re fantastic or I’m your fan ), vases, crumb sweepers (Thanks being there to help pick up the pieces), salt and pepper shakers (You’re a mover and a shaker), clocks, banks, guest books, etc. Lettering can be done in Russian, Hungarian, Vietnamese, Hebrew and Yiddish, and ask about the hatch style of inscriptions which is very elegant. There are also plaques, awards, trophies, pens, name plates, lamination, framing, and family trees. Bring in objects bought elsewhere, as they can personalize different materials like a golf club, bat or hockey stick or sculpture.

Location: 5795 Victoria Ave. at Bourret St.
Phone: 514-344-9959.Hours: Mon -Wed 10:15 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Thursday 10:15 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., Friday 10:15 a.m. to 2 p.m.
www.plaqueimpact.com

Creations Personelles is a national chain with more than 120 locations which specialize in engraving, glass etching, embroidery and key cutting. However, in Montreal they have shrunk to only two locations, both in the Fairview Pointe Claire mall. The personalized gifts ($.70 per letter) include frames, hip flasks, mugs, ID bracelets, wine glasses, pewter ware, golf towels, blankets, albums and knives.

Location: 6801 Transcanadienne at St-Jean Blvd., in Fairview Pointe Claire.
Phone:  514-695-3636.
Hours: Monday to Friday (holiday season hours) 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
www.thingsengraved.ca

Q4: Are there any negative implications of giving monogrammed gifts?
You’d have to be somewhat confident that the person wants the gift as there’s no returning this sort of item. If it is to be worn or used outside the house, the recipient would have to be comfortable having initials or their name exposed.

It not a good idea for children as it is unsafe to announce a child’s name to the strangers they might come across. A stranger might use the child’s name making him think that person knows him.

All women’s spring and summer coats, jeans, pants, tops, jackets,sweaters, shirts by FDJ, ESPRIT, Boca Performance and Liz Claiborne outerwear are being cleared for up to 90% off. Sizes run from petite to XL for the tops and 2-18 in petite and regular for the pants.

Notice the new address for the sale.

Location: 3610 Boul. Cote Vertu Mega Centre Cote Vertu
Dates and times: Thurs May 6  & Fri May 7: 12-9, Sat May 8: 9-5, Sun May 9: 11-4; Thurs may 13 & Fri May 14: 12-9, Sat May 15: 9-5, Sun May 16: 11-4, Thurs May 20 & Fri May 21: 12-9,  Sat May 22: 9-5