Gem Outlet in its new bright airy showroom has two halves. On the left side is where it started out, selling wrapping paper (bridal, Xmas, baby), bows, waxed, cellophane and parchment paper, zip lock and fabric gift bags.

On the right side it segued into pashmina shawls, purses, jewelry, hair accessories and scarves. Bonbonniere wrapping and fundraising campaign products are available.

Location: 72F Brunswick, DDO
corner:514-653-6950
Tel: 514-685-4218
www.gementrepot.com

NOVA West Island (formerly VON) is a charitable foundation that offers home palliative care and cancer support groups and runs 2 adult day centers for the elderly, all without government funding.

Their 3  stores  are having a 50% off sale this weekend.  Why not support this terrific organization when doing your holiday shopping?  Gift possibilities could be jewelry, home accessories, clothing, books, china.

The 3 stores help raise money for their great cause. You can scoop up second-hand clothing for the family nicely hung on racks, or look for shoes, purses and hats. “Green” shopping by recycling is a planet saving idea: there’s home knick-knacks, china and glassware. The sale does not include the furniture.

Locations: (biggest) 43 Ste-Anne (514-457-1642); bookstore, 43 Ste-Anne (514-457-1948); furniture, 449 boul. Beaconsfield (514-694-8417); 2750 boul. St-Charles  (514-697-6692).
Dates and Times of Sale: Dec 16 & 17: 10-4
www.thriftshopsfornova.com

For serious or not so serious cooks, with 38,000 different items this store is like fairyland, starting with the massive wall of gadgets. Now you can find all that they sell in the east side of the city.

Many things that you may need for your kitchen can easily be found in this type of restaurant supply business: for desserts – every size of pastry tips, Wilton pans, Kaiser products, 600 candy molds, KitchenAid mixers; for cooking – Cuisinart, KitchenAid, Krups, pots by Le Creuset, All-Clad, Gastrolux, and Paderno, Corning, whisks and strainers in every conceivable size.

Look to your left for the Alessi counter, the sea of pepper mills and Riedel wine glasses, knives by Henckels, Wusthof, Mac and Global.

Locations:  Pointe Claire, 2355 Transcanadienne (514-695-5225);  St-Hubert, 1501 boul. des Promenades (450-926-2737); Centre Laval (450-902-1030); 6855 Jean-Talon e. (514255-3403)
Hours: Regular plus Sun 11-5
www.arescuisine.com

Distributeurs Iann is a terrifically priced landmark Chabanel spot. They sell a mixture of  home linens, family clothing and luggage. You can find some budget busting gifts for the holidays.

To grace your festive table, you’ll find a vast selection of tablecloths – even embroidered ones and for the rest of the house there’s sheets (warm fleece and polar too), towels and bath mats.

If you want to run away from the cold, there’s heavily discounted prices on sample and floor model brand name (Swiss Gear, Air Canada, Atlantic, Travelpro, Roots) luggage.

For the ladies’ look for nightgowns and for the men, pajamas, shirts and jackets, and then socks and undies for all. You can even buy some woolen long johns here. The assortment of baby items (up to 24 mos.) are at really reasonable prices – crib sheet sets, 2-piece outfits and pajamas. This is a great all year round place to stock up for your family and home.

Location: 111 Chabanel ouest, Suite 102
corner: Reims
Tel: 514-383-1589
Hours: Mon-Fri 9-6, Sat 9-5

At Puffy Fashion’s warehouse, they offer children’s wear from newborn up to size 10 for boys and girls. Some of the items you might find: 3-pc sets with fall jackets or sweater knit top or polar vest, skirt sets with matching tights, dresses with matching tights, pyjamas and sleepers, corduroy pant set, fall jackets, winter coats, baby car bags.

Prices are excellent, up to 70% off and taxes are included. The sale will continue for a few weeks.

Location: 9494 Boul.  St-Laurent, suite 600
Corner: Chabanel
Phone: 514-274-6449
Dates and Times: Wed: 10-5, Thurs & -Fri 10-6, Sat 9:30-3

Mega Vente is a huge neat space which has bargain priced clothing for everyone. They are offering you some Boxing Day Sale prices ahead of Christmas.

For kids: baby pyjamas, kids jeans, Hot Paws ski gloves and tuques, licensed t-shirts, 2 & 3-pc kids’ sets, cargo pants, jackets
For women: leggings, jeans, sweaters, blouses, skirts, pj’s, Hot Paws accessories
For men: jogging pants, Polo shirts, casual clothes, pj’s, pkg of 6 boxers or socks, silk ties, sweaters

Notice the coupon when you spend $50, you get a $10 off, if you spend $100, you get $20 back and for those that drop $200, you put $50 back in your pocket.

The rest of the year, you can still shop here, expect about 75%-90% off, from men’s suits/tie/shirt combos at $99 (and a salesman to help you!) to $1, $3 and $5 kids’ racks (0-16).

The first quality clothing is balance of inventory from the current season. Females (XS-4XL) and males (S-4XL) might find: sweat shirts, dress shirts, jackets , t-shirts, jeans, cotton fleece, nylon pants, capri pants, pyjamas, dresses, blouses, sandals, swimsuits, shorts and even kid’s snowsuits all year round.

Locations: 120 St. Joseph Blvd, Lachine (514-637-1116)
2055 Autoroute 440, Laval (450-688-2221)
6766 Jarry Est, St Leonard (514-223-0150)corner: Pascal Gagnon

Homegrown company, MEGA Brands is having a seasonal warehouse sale . Besides their well-known snap together Mega Bloks, they also sell arts and crafts under the RoseArt brand. Expect prices to be 40-70% of retail for toys, puzzles,  school and office supplies, construction sets, trucks and Board Dudes. This sale is for excess inventory and discontinued lines., you may find  some regular priced items.

Location 1: 4505 Hickmore, door 185
Dates and Times: Dec 14-16: 11-8, Sat Dec 17: 10-4
Phone: 514-333-3339
www.megabrands.com

At 4901 Jean Talon West, there is a  shoe liquidation outlet. Mostly ladies are being offered deals.  If you buy one pair of shoes, the 2nd pair is free.

You can find designer brands of shoes in sizes 6 to 10. Brands on the flyer: Guess, Paris Hilton , Calvin Klein, Rachel, Unlisted, Elie Tahari, MK, Marc Fisher.

Some of the names I have seen there over time: BCBGirls, Steve Madden, Guess, Nine West, Anne Klein, Baby Phat, Michael Kors, Easy Spirit, Converse, Coach, Ed Hardy, Crocs, Carlos Santana, Karen Scott, DKNY, Sketchers, Crocs. If you go, you can put your name on a list to be notified of upcoming sales.

Location: 4901 Jean Talon West, Metro Namur
corner:  Victoria
Tel: 514-735-0851
Hours: Mon-Wed 10-6, Thurs & Fri 10-9, Sat & Sun 10-5

Since 1964, The Tailored Man has been coming to North America fitting men (and sometimes women) with made-to-measure suits at Hong Kong’s prices (starting at $495, shirts start at $60). The suits come with extras you don’t usually see in North American stores: sweat shields, cell phone pockets and the pants have a heel guard and knee lining. When you order a shirt, you choose collar style, cuff and monogram location.

Sunder Daswani’s team is back in Montreal so make a personal appointment: 866-751-7868 or 202-591-529-0623 or www.tailoredman.com/appointment. To be added to their mailing list: goodfit@tailoredman.com.

Locations and Dates: Dec 14 & 15:  Centre Sheraton, 1250 Rene Levesque West, Phone: 514- 878-2000
Dec 16 & 17:  Ruby Foo’s Hotel, 7655 Decarie Blvd. Phone: 514-731-7701
Dec 18 & 19:  Sheraton Laval, 2440 Autoroute des Laurentides, Phone: 450-687-2440
www.tailoredman.com