Now is the time to score big, like up to 75% off 50,000 items big, in Style Xchange’s Valentine’s Day sale. In their retail stores they sell all the cool brands that you love, so take advantage of this special sale and save big for denim, dresses, pants, tops, shorts, skirts, sweaters, swimwear, vests, underwear, footwear, tees, jackets, leggings and accessories.

Brands from their retail lines that you might find at the sale: Alternative Apparel, Bench, Blank Jeans, Canadian Cashmere, Co-Lab, Dept, Diesel, Fluo, Forty Seven, Fraas, Guess, Heritage 34, J Brand, Judy Blue, Karv, Kurrent Collections, L.A. Idol, Lucky 7, Lucky Basics, Makers Of True Originals, Pink, Montelle, Next Level, NU, Numero, One Green Elephant, Silver Jeans.

and more for men: Antony Morato, Bruun & Stengade, Cocky Brand, Division E, Dom Rebel, Farah, Fresh Brand, Groggy, Its Noize, J.Lindeberg, Jack & Jones, JC Rags, Joat, K-Way, Legend And Soul, New Era, Nudie Jeans, Projek Raw, PRPS, Reception.

Location: 5670 rue Pare, West of Decarie
Metro: Station Namur
Dates: Feb 14-17
Hours: Thurs & Fri 10-9, Sat & Sun 10-5

Q: J’aime beaucoup ce que vous faites, votre livre, depuis sa sortie, a toujours été un guide précieux, compte tenu de mon petit budget. Vous êtes mon dernier espoir, je crois, pour ce nouveau projet.
Je voudrais faire mon propre abat-jour mais je ne trouve pas de structure. J’ai l’impression d’avoir tout essayer ( Oiseau bleu, Bouclair, Fabricville, Homesense (les deux) les grosses quincailleries, Abats-jour illimités) sur internet les structures viennent de l’Australie mais je ne veux faire qu’un seul abat-jour car j’ai reçu un magnifique papier japonais. Avez-vous des suggestions?

A: In my book, Le Consommateur Averti Montreal, there are 5 other lamp and lamp shade repair shops (starting on page 151). They would have parts and pieces of lamps: You have gone to stores that sell finished products so they would not have “structure”. Here’s one from my book, Abat-jour Marie-Elizabeth Tel: 514-695-0045.

– Another idea would be to go to a flea market, like Marches aux Puces St-Michel, http://www.smartshoppingmontreal.com/store.php?s=23  buy an old lamp, take it apart and use the part that you need.

– In fact you can buy any new lamp too and take off the shade and put on your Japanese paper.

– Here’s another idea, call Au Papier Japonais (page 167) Tel: 514-276-6863 and find out if they have any artisans who cover lamps with the paper

Dormez-vous, Canada’s largest mattress retailer, which started out right in DDO with one store, is having a one day warehouse sale. You can score big discounts on their overstocks, demonstrators, floor models and mix and match combos. There will also be some pillows and linens being cleared out.

The sale will be held in the west and the east. In the west, it’s at their warehouse, in the east at their Liquidation store. They are partnered with Sleep Country and offer brand names (Simmons, Sealy, Serta, Stearns & Foster, Tempurpedic, Kingsdown).

Locations: 59 boul. Hymus, Pointe-Claire corner:  boul des Sources
and 6166 Henri Bourassa E. (514-321-4134) corner: boul. Rolland
Phone: 514-695-6376
Date: Dec 9
Hours: 9-5
www.dormezvous.com

At Le Baldaquin Montreal, in Old Montreal, you can find those luxurious sheets that you enjoy when you sleep in hotels. You get very personal service here and it’s like buying custom-made because you can order sheets and towels from Italy and Portugal in 60 colors. Experience the exotic textures distinctive designs, lush colors, opulent charm and incomparable quality of Sferra, S.D.H., Abyss, Habidecor, Dwell, Nambe, Martha Sturdy and so much more

Your bed can be finished with spreads and duvets ($175 & up) , bed covers, duvet covers ($132). The shop also carries gifts by Georg Jensen, Alessi, Chilewich placemats, floor mats,  table ware and baby linens, hand-made beds, accent pieces, throws, pillows, towels, and robes.

Location: 63 rue de la Commune ouest, Old Montreal
corner: St. Sulpice
Tel: 514-288-6366
Hours: Mon-Fri 10-6, Sat 12-5
www.lebaldaquinmontreal.com

Q: I found your web site www.smartshoppingmontreal.com, and I’m very impressed. It has lots of very useful information. We spend about 1/3 of our lives sleeping, so buying the right mattress is really important. Do you have any recommendations for the outlets that have good quality mattress at reasonable price? I’m not talking about big brand names and chain stores. I’m talking about manufacturers in and around Montreal, and their outlets/warehouses.

A: On the top  of each sub-category page (in a highlighted orange box) of the web site it says “Below you will find a tasty selection of the 1500 businesses which appear in the Smart Shopping Montreal book. This is just an hors d’oeuvre and you really need to buy the book to get the whole scrumptious meal”. So in the book there is a section called “Mattresses” and on page 87 you will find a home grown mattress manufacturer called Laval Bedding… and others.

Raffinati has been a well-known well-made Montreal label for women’s coats, raincoats, suits and sportswear for many years and they are now having a 50% off sale off of their new collection up at their head office.

The word Raffinati means refined and that is an apt description for this 30-year-old fashion house. You can be proud to be “shopping local” here because the clothing is manufactured in Montreal using fine fabrics imported from Belgium, France and Italy.

With a sense of what fashionable Montreal women love and the needs of our cold climate, the luxurious and stylish wool coats are fully interlined to keep you protected against our winters – or – select a designer goose down coat.

The elegant suits for the career women, sportswear, blazers, pants, skirts, blouses, dresses, and sweaters are available in sizes 2-18. You can even order custom-made clothing in size 0 and plus sizes

Women love the timelessness of their designs so they can keep collecting pieces to build wardrobes. The company likes to say that you can “wrap yourself in luxury” with their collection.

Location: 9200 Meilleur, suite 400
corner: Chabanel
Phone: 327-4477 X 226
Dates: Feb 6-10
Times: Wed – Sun- 10-5

www.raffinalla.com

Q: Do you know of a place that provides hot nutritous meals delivered for lunch?

A: There are 8 in my Smart Shopping Montreal book, on pages 233-234. Here’s one: Plats Cusinees BVM, Tel: 514-725-1670 .Open more than 19 years, there are over 45 meals to choose from here ($4.95+ for 350g), from pepper steak on rice to chicken with pineapple, roast beef, fish cake, chicken pie, sausages in tomato sauce, veal meatballs, shepherd’s pie, and canelloni with meat or cheese.

For delivery ($6.25 fee), you must order a minimum of 10 meals (11th is free) 2 days in advance, and there are set days for areas: Wed for Outremont, VSL, New Bordeaux and Ahuntsic, Thurs is Montreal Nord, Laval and Ville d’Anjou area, Fri is the center of town, Rosemont and South Shore (here and Laval you must order 15 meals). Desserts are available (mixed berry Baladin, tiramisu).

You can go to the store in person and buy just a couple to try them out whenever you want. There are in-store deals plus fair trade coffee, olives, balsamic vinegars and more.     www.platsbvm.ca

Q: Could you tell me the best month of the year to buy wall to wall carpets. I love your books!

A: The best part about using my book is that you don’t really have to wait for sale time. The stores in the book discount their wares all year long.  There are 3 fabulous ones on my web site. All 3 are family run businesses where they really care about the customer and they have lasted forever so generations go back and buy from them. Normandy Carpets http://www.smartshoppingmontreal.com/store.php?s=154 has been open 43 years, Million Carpets and Tiles http://www.smartshoppingmontreal.com/store.php?s=112  75 years and Lanctot Floor Design Center http://www.smartshoppingmontreal.com/store.php?s=53 an astonishing 129 years! Of the three, Normandy has the most emphasis on designer looks, Lanctot is huge and has lots of choice of everything, and Million is most familiar with downtown situations.

To answer your question: I’d say moving time (before and after July 1st)  is best if you are waiting for a carpeting sale.

If you have never attempted snowshoeing, this is a great opportunity to try it at no cost.

Depot du Plein Air is letting you enjoy a free full day trial of snowshoes, and there is no purchase necessary. While you are there, you can have a look at their beautiful selection of outerwear, much of it on sale now.

Location: 8267 St-Laurent Blvd, Montreal Qc. H2P 2M1

Hours: Regular

www.depotpleinair.com

Tel: 514-381-4399

Q: Would you have any idea where I could buy suit covers? The storage bags to hang a suit. Not special ones, just plain plastic.

A: Probably any store that has a “closet dept” where you buy shelving, storage boxes, shoe racks, would also have garment bags. However, I just called Boutique Jacques (5970 Cote de Neiges) as they sell men’s suits (high end, discounted ones, pg 25 of my book). They will graciously sell them to you for $3 and they are thicker plastic than you would get in the mass market stores.