Q: Is there a place in Montreal which would sell left over bathing suit fabrics from brands like Nike, Speedo, Tyr, etc?

A: Yes, Les Textiles Bon-Mar ( 8448 boul. St-Laurent) sells new generation fabrics worn in athletics – swimwear, gymnastics, windsurfing, aerobics and also for theatrical events. Their products go from keeping you warm to cooling you off.

When Cirque du Soleil, figure skaters, dance schools and synchro teams need sequins, fringe, netting, jungle prints, holograms, tiaras, costume hats, etc., this is the place where they get it.

Other hard to find items are the Wonderflex and Fosshape for mask making, Scotchlite and high visibility fabric, reflective tapes and bejewelers for rhinestones and Swarovsky crystals. A new division called canucme.com offers luminescent T-shirts which light up in the dark, keeping you safe at night.    www.bon-mar.com

Also in my book is the Tyr Outlet, 160 St-Viateur E., suite 602  and you can ask them about leftover fabric

Beanbags are a versatile decorative item which can bring some fun into a room or the outdoors. You can buy them for you, for your kids’ rooms, for the back yard, for the summer cottage or for your pet!

Beanbags Montreal is a manufacturer who is making them right here and selling directly to the public. Since this is a warehouse and not a store with high overhead, costs are less, and they pass the savings on to their customers. This allows prices to be quite reasonable, up to 60% less than in retail stores. The bags are even available for your dogs and cats – there are 5 sizes and 20 colors available.

The beanbags come in 25 different models ready to walk out the door with you, and are very well made. The interior lining is made from cloth, not canvas, which makes it much stronger. For easy cleaning, the covers are removable and machine washable. They are filled with polypropylene pellets. You can get funky shapes like lips or one turned into a table.

You can choose from more than 100 fabrics, or bring in your own selection for a custom-made beanbag; it can be constructed in 3 to 6 days.

– There is convenient parking on the side
– Telephone orders are accepted
– Delivery is available anywhere in Quebec
– Cash, Visa, Master card or Interac

When you buy a beanbag, you’ll discover many ways to sit or lie down on them to read, watch TV, or relax. Why not throw one into your office for some down time? Buying here at such a reduced cost allows you to buy a few.

Location: 4609 Iberville St.  Suite 10
Corner: Mont-Royal
Telephone: 514-825-3587 or Toll Free:1-888-527-0777
Hours: Mon-Fri 8:30-5, Sat 10:30-4
www.beanbagmontreal.com
Facebook:  http://on.fb.me/14ie4cZ

Let’s face it, we all want to put a fast healthy meal on the table. Expresco specializes in creating top quality, easy to grill skewers. Shopping at a meat wholesale outlet means you get great pricing.

Open since 1987, Expresco Foods is the leading manufacturer of meat-on-a-stick and their state-of-the-art facility ensures the strictest health standards are enforced. They make life easier for consumers’ contemporary lifestyles.

With barbeque season upon us, you can enjoy raw OR grilled skewers which are:
– hand-made
– low in sodium, trans-fat and gluten free
– quick and easy to prepare
– convenient for any occasion
– good for the entire family

You can now come to their factory outlet to buy cooked or raw chicken breast brochettes and raw pork brochettes, among other meat products.

Right now, for 3 days, when you purchase over $100 worth of product from Expresco Factory Outlet, you will save $10 off of your purchase price. Present the coupon below to the manager.

You can find Expresco Factory Outlet up on Facebook. Their new page features special promos, recipes and more.

Location: 8205 Transcanadienne, VSL H4S1S4
corner: Poirier
Tel: 514-344-9499 x270
Dates: Until June 7
Times: Wed 10-5, Thurs & Fri 10-6
http://on.fb.me/11zsnnD
www.exprescofoods.com

Q: Thank you for the outstanding blog (shlog :))!! Have been a huge fan of it for a few years now. Wanted to ask you, is there a place where I could buy high-end men dress shoes (e.g. Hugo Boss, Prada, etc) at reasonable price?

A: A well known high end shoe shop is Tony’s on Greene. Not sure if they have those designer names though.

2) Importations J.E.A, Polcaro 1470 Peel  brings in high end Italian labels of clothing and some shoes and discounts  (Versace, Cerrutti 1881, Lubiam, Giudice, Fratelli Rossetti and Cornelinni and  Byblos shoes).

3) Boutique Encore, 2145 Crescent is a high end consignment shop and they definitely get those brands in. You can stop in and tell them your size and perhaps they can give you a call when they show up.

Every June, or thereabouts, on a Saturday from 8 am to 2 pm, Le Panier gift store holds its only sale, called The Lemon Sale. Everything (gourmet food, toys, gadgets, kitchenware, home decor) that needs to be cleared out is sold really cheaply from 50% to 90% off. Come early – things go fast and it’s cash and carry – no cards.

274-E Bord du Lac, Pointe Claire (at the back of the building)
corner: Cartier
Tel: 514-695-7038
Date: Sat June 8: 8am-2pm
www.thepanier.com

You can fit this NH warehouse sale into  your schedule any day of the week and you’re going to want to when you hear the brands being liquidated below cost. There’s $3,500,000 of inventory so there must be something that you need or want here.

All of the high end furniture and appliances are priced well below cost. For clothing,  there’s women’s purses, shoes and clothing. Men will be thrilled for there is $1,000,000 worth of men’s clothing. And that’s not all – there’s sheets, bedding and home decorative items.

For clothing:  Callaway Golf, Arrow, Haggar,   Bench, Tommy Hilfiger, Anne Klein, Nautica, Denim & Supply, Bianca Nygard, Esprit, Reebok, Dockers, DKNY, Izod, Puma, Ralph Lauren, Nike, Jones, New York, Levis, Nine West, Guess, Point Zero

For household: Bosch, Gordon Ramsay, GE, Frigidaire,  Kitchen Aid, Whirlpool, Nescafe Dolce Gusto, Maytag, LG

New merchandise arrives every day.

Location: 7155 Transcanadiennet, VSL  H4T 1A2
corner:  west of Cavendish Boul.
Tel: 514-339-5997
Hours: M-W 10-6, Thurs & Fri 10-8, Sat & sun 10-5
www.nhinc.ca
Metro: Cote Vertu, bus 121

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 real factory sale 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 climate, their luxurious and stylish coats are perfect for our weather.
The Perfect Pant makes a woman look one size smaller and are available in a variety of colors. Their clothes range in sizes 2-18

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: 514-327-4477 X 226 ask for Kay; or X 230 for Dorinne – or- 514-979-4764
Dates: May 5-9
Times: Wed, 10-6, Thurs 10-9, Fri 10-5, Sat 10-4 & Sun 10-5
www.raffinalla.com
Facebook:  http://on.fb.me/14CNhas
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Raffinalla
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/raffinalla/

Bring cash to buy at Fashion Import’s sample sale for  handbags, wallets, luggage, backpacks and accessories by Le Sportsac, Tokidoki, Tommy Hilfiger, Calvin Klein, United Colors of Benetton, Sondra Roberts, Lewis N Clark Travel Accessories, Antler, baggallini, Yak Pak and much more.

Location: 685 Montee de Liesse, H4T 1P5
Dates & Times: June 6 & 7:  11:30-8, June 8: 9:30-3

Intercontinental Mercantile is an  importer of fine crystal, tableware, house ware, giftware, dinnerware, porcelain, lamps, glassware and flatware. If you are one of the first 400 customers to this warehouse sale, they will offer you a gift.

This is the 17th year they are opening their doors to the public  in order to clear out discontinued, mismatched inventory and items not found in regular retail channels. Look for Guy Degrenne,  Brilliant, Rosanna, Bohemia, Limoges, Crystal d’Arques and more. You need to spend at least $50 to take advantage of this sale.

Location: 960 ave. Outremont
corner: Manseau
Tel: 514-271-1101
Dates and Times: June 6: 10-6, June 7: 10-4, June 9: 10-5, June 13: 10-6, June 14: 10-4; June 16: 10-5
www.icmcanada.ca
Metro: Outremont, bus 160, 161, 119, and 80

With Montreal’s famous moving day less than a month away, it is good to find a company which has many of the supplies you need to pack your valuables (and not so valuables) safely.

Emballages I.S.A. Packaging was established in 1982 and sells corrugated and folding boxes, plain or printed, and  protective packaging and stuffing. some of the shipping supplies: pallet wrap, carton-sealing tapes, strapping & pallets, shrink wrap films, could be used for moving as well.

Just an aside here, the same company can also handle all of your printing and graphic requirements:

– business cards
– marketing materials: postcards, flyers, brochures, door-hangers
– large format printing of posters and banners
– banner stands
– trade show pop-up displays
– promotional items

For those of you who have small quantities, don’t worry, even with full color printing, they will be happy to take care of you. You will be thrilled when you discover their very competitive prices and quick turn around.

If you mention Smart Shopping Montreal or Sandra Phillips, expect to get 10% off.

3767 Thimens, Suite 100, Ville St. Laurent QC H4R 1W4
corner: Begin
Tel: 514-956-1060
Hours: Mon-Thurs 8:30-5, Fri 8:30-4:30
www.isa-packaging.com