LE PANIER won the title of best gift store in Canada so this store worth a trip from anywhere. The huge shop is chock full of gourmet food items, kitchenware and gifts at prices mostly under $25. You will not walk out empty-handed when you can choose amongst the jams, hot sauces,  toys, jewelry, gadgets and much, much more

Look for the little tasting bowls and crackers to try out new products, buy humbugs (now in different flavors), or feast on their own 5-year-old cheddar and their homemade fudge. If you can’t decide, there are ready-made gift baskets or custom-made ones too.

Flip through the pages of their catalogue online http://thepanier.com/catalogue/ to see the gifts I liked. Then go to the store and buy many many more things.

Sticky Pad for Car – Keeps everything (even a phone) on your dash from falling off . $7.99

Credit Card Shield – Protects your cards from wireless remote readers as you walk about.  $5.99

Reeses Peanut Butter in a Jar – Tastes like the candy.  $8.99

Wine Bottle Umbrella – Looks like a wine bottle but an umbrella pulls out.  $24.99

Mighty Mug – This mug won’t fall over  – EVER – can be used near a keyboard without worries.  $19.99

Hug Doug – Adorable spoon rest saves it from falling in a pot.  $12.99

Chip Kit Chip Maker – In a microwave, make chips out of potatoes, beets, carrots, apples.  $24.99

Kitchen Timer Turntable – Looks like a retro record turntable.  $16.99

Selfie Stick – Holds your cellphone out in front of you to take a better video or photo $9.99

Perfume Atomizer – Fill with your favorite fragrance and keep in your purse.  $13.99

Alex and Ani – Jewelry bangle bar collection in gold and silver with stones, symbols

Mike’s Hot Honey – Spice up all kinds of food  $14.99

Edible Christmas Card for Dogs – Rawhide card comes with envelope to mail to a canine friend.  $6.99

Habs Wool Socks – For men or women.  $27.00

Location: 274-E Bord du Lac, Pointe Claire
corner: de Lourdes
Tel: 514-695-7038
Hours: Regular plus Sun 10-5
www.thepanier.com

Beyond the Rack is an online sale site offering hot brands at low prices. Online sales usually last for 2 days and merchandise is limited to whatever they scored. You have to be ready to pounce when you see something you like.  The time limit makes it feel like an auction creating an urgency to buy.

Since this is a Montreal company, we are about to get very lucky. If you think those online prices are good, you will now have an opportunity to go to their warehouse sale where 50,000 items are priced up to 90% off.

Just in time for holidays, there’s kids’ toys and smartphone accessories, men’s and women’s coats and clothing, tons of shoes and boots (at least 8,000 pairs), handbags, bedding and luggage.

Brands are names you know: Steve Madden, Prada, Balenciaga, Ray-Ban, Matt & Nat, Cole Haan, Longchamps paris, Michael Kors, Kensie, Disney’s Frozen

Beyond the Rack was founded by a team of e-commerce veterans who combine over 40 years of brand and fashion merchandising expertise to offer the most desirable brands at a fraction of retail prices. Membership is free, requiring only a name and email address. You can RSVP on their facebook page.

Location: 2700 Alphonse Gariepy, Lachine H8T 3M2
Dates: Dec 16-24
Times: Mon-Fri 10-7, Sat & Sun 10-5
www.beyondtherack.com

Q: I am looking to buy a Quebec made product to bring overseas as a gift. We were thinking of an apron but want to have something made ‘chez nous’. Can you suggest any stores that have these types of products?

A: There is a section in my Smart Shopping Montreal book called “Handicrafts” on page 190. There, L’Empreinte Cooperative is a 41 year old co-op supporting 39 artists selling everything from ceramics to slippers or jewelry.

Also in Old Montreal in the Marche Bonsecours is “Boutique des Metiers d’Art du Quebec” showcasing 150 artisans selling: wooden boxes,teapots,boomerangs, toothbrush holders, and on and on.

There is another section called “Green and Local” which has more stores with Quebec products. There is also a shop  in the Jean-Talon Market “Le Marche des Saveurs du Quebec” which sells gourmet items only from Quebec.

You can buy the Smart Shopping Montreal book for yourself or a gift http://smartshoppingmontreal.com/index.php?p=buy

NH Inc. has recently received in excess of $500,000 of exceptional  children’s, men’s and women’s clothing. They re-fill their liquidation locale daily with tons of these goods.

For children in sizes newborn to size 10, they have a fantastic, never before seen all in one place, assortment of  snowsuits, boots, sweaters, jeans, tops, shoes, t-shirts, hoodies, slippers and pajamas.

In toys, they have building blocks, Princess lamps, car tracks, tents, arts & crafts from: Angry Birds, Hot Wheels, Mega Bloks, Marvel, Discovery Kids, Playskool, Rose Art and Disney.

This is the kind of place you have to keep going back to because you never know what you might find.

Location: 7155 Transcanadienne, VSL  H4T 1A2
corner: Begin
Tel: 514-339-5997
Hours: Mon-Wed 10-6, Thurs & Fri 10-8, Sat & Sun 10-5
http://www.smartshoppingmontreal.com/store.php?s=294
www.nhinc.ca
Metro: Cote Vertu, bus 121

Les Ventes Trio warehouse sales always offer up great brand names for men and women. with savings of up to 90% off.

Expect to find these names: Bench, Jack & Jones, Vero Moda, ProjekRaw, Ecko Unltd, Kaporal, Point Zero, David Rast, Buffalo,

Covet, Noize and more. There’s hoodies, t-shirts, jeans, sweaters, shirts, shoes, tops and dresses.

If you print coupon below and fill it out, you will receive a 10% off your purchase of $100 or more.

Please take note of their holiday schedule on the flyer

Location: 2862 boul Industriel, Laval, QC H7L 3S2
Dates: Dec. 5-Dec. 28
Hours: Mon & Tues closed, Wed 11-6, Thurs & Fri 11-8, Sat & Sun 10-5
www.triowarehousesale.com
www.lesventestrioentrepot.ca
Facebook: http://on.fb.me/15qVUQH

If you are the type of person who appreciates unusual hand crafted objects and would like to spice up your decor, or are an avid traveler who likes to “travel light”, but would like to own some objects you have seen during your trips, or if you simply wish to buy a gift, this sale is the right one for you.

At Quechua Imports, there are reasonably priced objects for every taste and every price range from places such as: Bali, Java, Lombok, Sumba, Thailand, Laos, Viet Nam, China, Tibet, Morocco, Tunisia, Africa, Turkey, Uzbekistan, India,  Pakistan, Romania, Bulgaria, Peru, Ecuador, and Mexico.

Buying an item from far away as a Christmas gift or even to treat yourself , will always be remembered. This sale will have lots of exotic and unusual item. Taxes are included in the price. All the items are from a wanderer’s insatiable appetite for traveling.

Location: 4710 chemin Queen Mary, # 9
corner: ave Grosvenor
Tel: 514-739-5744
Hours: Sun Dec. 7, 3-10, Sat Dec. 13, 1-5, Sun Dec. 14, 1-5, Sun Dec 21, 1-5
Metro Station Snowdon
www.quechuaimports.com
email: donnadavidson35@gmail.com

Premium Retail Group is a company that puts together great sales to look forward to. This sale which has been extended, will feature Guess and Marciano Brands

At their sale, both men and women can always buy authentic merchandise from manufacturers; Expect the discount to be at 60%-90% off regular retail prices .

Look for denim, jackets, dresses, shirts, hoodies and tops at rock bottom prices.

There is a free registration@www.premiumretailgroup.com

Location: 4454 Garand, VSL H4R 2A3
corner: Pomba
Dates: Dec. 6 & 7
Hours: Sat & Sun 11-5
www.premiumretailgroup.com

Stock up on Liquideco’s great savings on towels, placemats, dishcloths, tablecloths, mattress covers (3 types), pillow protectors, shower curtains, rugs, bath rug sets, etc.

This month’s great deals: cushions for $5, curtain panels for $5, sheet sets starting at $10, 8-pc bed set for $45,  or pillow protectors ($4) or mattress protectors ($10).

Head to their warehouse sale in the east end. It will only be held for 2 days, so at these prices, make sure to stock up on extras.

Free parking available and the sale is only till stock lasts.

Location: 8566 Boul. Pie-IX
corner: Boul. Robert
Dates: Nov 7 & 8
Times: Fri 10-6, Sat 8-3
www.liquideco.com

Mega Vente d’Entrepot is a warehouse with prices are hard to beat, and there is almost always something for everyone there at prices that are generally 75%-90% off.

Prices for family clothing start at $2.85. For school gym pants, hoodies, polos are $5.85 and up and snowsuits (12 mos – size 18) $48.85 and up. Children’s outfits (3 mos-size 7) $4 and up.

Men’s suits including a tie or belt are only $99.99. All sizes of sheet sets are going for $19.85,
There’s a coupon below. If you spend $50, you get an additional $10 off, spend $100 and its $20 or spend $200 and it’s an amazing $50 off.

They have 5 warehouses so no matter where you are in the city, you are close to their deals.

Location: 79A boul. Brunswick, Dollard-des-Ormeaux, H9B 2J5
corner: rue Hotel de Ville
Hours: DDO: Thurs & Fri 10-8, Sat 9-5, Sun 11-5, Rest of stores: M-W 10-6, Th & F 10-8, Sat 10-5, Sun 11-5
Tel: 514 -238-0705
Dates: Dec. 3-10
Autobus: 215 and 209
Other locations: 120 Boul. St. Joseph, Lachine QC H8S 2L3 (514-637-1116); St-Leonard, 8235 Boul. Langelier (514-223-0510); 3259 boul Taschereau Greenfield Park J4V 2H5 (514-226-1497); Laval, 3920 Autoroute 440 Ouest (514-226-5311)

www.megaventemontreal.com

Bouclair Home is focused on fashions for the home that give value for the dollar. The clean, crisply organized stores are a pleasure to shop through. They travel the globe in order to make sure there are exciting new products every single week.

For the holidays, you can re-fresh your home with:

• Decorations
• Cozy cushions
• Beautiful throws
• Comfy/Pretty seating for all your guests

Add spice to your living area with vases or jazz up walls with metal wall decor, shelves and picture frames and finish off the look with lamps and rugs. For the windows, there’s ready-to-hang curtains, blinds in faux wood, or inexpensive verticals or horizontals.

You can get the bedroom ready for guests with linens, comforters, duvets, storage ottomans, baskets and mirrors.  

Their lines are  creative and fun.

With 110 stores in the chain, it’s easy to find one right near you. Some locations:
3149-A Des Sources Blvd. (Galerie des Sources) QC H9B 1Z6     514-683-4711
7250 Des Roseraies Blvd. Anjou Quebec H1M 2T5     514-355-4858
3284 rue Jean-Yves, Kirkland, QC H9J 2R6    514-694-9140
2101 Dollard Blvd. (Place Newman) Lasalle QC H8N 1S2     514-365-7337
4425 Jean-Talon Blvd. E. St. Leonard QC H1S 1J9     514-725-9175
11277 Lacordaire Blvd. (Pl. Henri-Bourassa) Montreal N, QC H1G 4J7     514-327-1113
1001 Marché Central St. Montreal QC H4N 1J8     514-384-8856
3080 De la Gare Blvd. Vaudreuil, QC J7V 5V5     514-455-7701
2585 Daniel Johnson Blvd (Carrefour Laval )Laval QC H7T 1S8     450-682-5541
624 Le Corbusier Blvd (Quartier Laval )Laval, QC H7N 0A9     450-687-2620
5885 Robert-Bourassa Blvd Duvernay Laval, QC H7E 0A4     450-665-0270 e

 www.bouclair.com
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