February 14 is nearly here, as the big day fast approaches, you need a gift and you need it quickly. It can be overwhelming to try and figure out where to even start.

Whether you’ve just started dating or have been together for years,  it’s the perfect time to show you’ve been paying attention to the things they like. Selecting a gift that is based on a hobby or passion is a meaningful way to show that you are attentive to details.

Lucky for you Le Panier has something for everyone, this one stop shopping spot is located in the heart of Pointe Claire Village and has a store full of unique gifts for even the impossible to shop for, as well as the person who has it all.

Chocolates are the ubiquitous go-to gift for Valentine’s Day, and they have all kinds of chocolates. If you want your love to remember you, how about Louis Sherry New York chocolates – in beautiful keepable metallic tin boxes? Or for something even sweeter, they are one of the few places in town making homemade fudge so you could choose a delicious favorite flavour.

For aromatics, Michael Design’s shea butter soaps, handwash and lotions are there or look for the big display of everything lavender.

 Consider a scented candle of their favorite scent, a coffee mug with a cute saying filled with their favorite sweets, there’s ED Ellen DeGeneres tableware collection,  winter getaway clothing and accessories, or how about filling up a gift basket with all their favorite gourmet food items, or a wine purse with a favorite bottle of wine.  One corner of the store is filled with jewelry options like Alex and Ani.

For those of you who are looking for practical ideas, a cool gift might be an “upside-down” umbrella which closes without water dripping on you or your car. You will be remembered everyday if you buy the Mighty Mug. It won’t fall over – EVER – and can be used near a keyboard without worries.

Browse around and enjoy the vast selection of just the perfect gift. Need suggestions, their staff is always eager to help you find exactly what you are looking for.

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, kitchenware,  and gifts at prices mostly under $25. You will not walk out empty-handed when you can choose amongst the jewelry, jams, hot sauces, kitchen gadgets and cool accessories.

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

The kitchen is the heart of your home, so when you are equipping it why not buy the same quality products, that are made to last, as the restauranteurs use?

Cooking enthusiasts will love the huge warehouse-style store where Tzanet carries the most popular brands of kitchen appliances, house ware, equipment and kitchen essentials from some of the biggest and most trusted brand names in the industry including Kitchenaid, Cuisinart, Goodgrips, Victorinox, Cuisinox, Wilton, Libbey, Dudson, Vollrath and many others.

Whether you are a home chef looking for professional supplies, or a food service professional looking for some top notch equipment, Tzanet has over 35 years of experience in the restaurant and kitchen industry and is committed to supplying you with the best quality products at the most affordable prices along with exceptional customer service.

Location: 1375 Louvain
corner: boul. l’Acadie
Tel: 514-383-0030
Store Hours: Mon-Fri 8-6, Sat 8-5
Other Location: 710 rue Bouvier, Quebec G2J 1A7 (581-742-9876)
tzanet.ca

These days it is harder to find special dressy outfits for parties, communion, confirmation or baptism. Lingerie Pina & Carmelo Sacco, the go-to place for generations, is still the place to go.

If you have a wedding planned this year, the Mother of the Bride could find an outfit, the bridal party too and you can even get bonbonnieres made-to-order and wrapped.  They offer a Bridal Registry and there are gifts galore.

The name  clearly does not define this family business as you’ll find and housewares galore: silverware, china, toasters and meat slicers. If you are looking for ecological cookware, they sell Cool Kitchen which has no PTFE, no PFOA and can be used for induction cooking. The Italian community knows to come here for Pizzel machines for cookies and Cavetelli machines for gnocchi, Those who like collectibles will find: Precious Moments, Walt Disney Collection and Disney Traditions by Jim Shore.

Designers are here to help you with curtains (free installation), and they have the exclusive Hunter Douglas Alustra line with copper and chrome headers. If you need them, there’s carpet runners by the yard.

Do you know where else to buy housecoats or cotton handkerchiefs?

Location: 8365 boul. Viau, St-Leonard QC H1R 2T6
corner: boul. Robert
Tel: 514-323-0427
Hours: Mon-Wed 9-6, Thurs & Fri 9-7:30, Sat 9-5. Open Sunday 10-5 from Labor Day – June 1st

Imagine my delight when I open my favorite magazine, New York, and recognize a full page photo of a nail file from our very own homegrown company Diamancel. The Best Bet section suggests that you shouldn’t use a pumice stone on your feet as it collects bacteria. It quotes Dr. Krista Archer, a podiatric surgeon who likes Diamancel surgical grade steel foot files and so do I.

I’ve been singing their praises and using a Diamancel nail file for as long as I can remember. It works amazingly well and you never have to buy another one.

The diamond is  the hardest, most abrasive stone known to man.  So Diamancel has created a unique line of genuine diamond files using this property. I stock up on them for gifts.

Each flexible diamond nail file in the Diamancel family has been designed for specific nail types to beautifully shape and enhance both natural and sculptured nails. The Diamancel Diamond Hand and Foot Callus Files are ideal for removing and softening rough, dry skin.

Discover Diamancel’s  Sacha™ Diamond Nail File for pets. A great alternative,  Sacha™ Diamond File replaces the often-unpleasant cutting process with an easy and effective filing method. No cutting required.

Diamancel files provide effective fast, easy and effortless filing. They are durable and will outlast all your files, which make them a money saver.

• The files are washable/sanitizable as they all can be washed with soap and water
• They are hygienic too as they can be soaked and disinfected in medical grade solution.
• The fiberglass base is both resistant and flexible making filing easier

These are  effortless to use as you can use a light hand and the diamonds will do the work for you. All files have been salon tested for maximum performance.

You can order your files now on their website or you can see them and feel them in person in the new showroom is now open every Monday 9-3.

If you head there, you will also discover the Arbonne wellness health and nutrition botanical products for the whole family.

Location: 2477 Rue Guenette, V.S.L. H4R 2E9
Hours: Mon 9-3
Tel: 514-856-9711
http://www.diamancel.com/
www.christelecaron.arbonne.com

While it’s icy and snowy out there, you can still accomplish alot from your keyboard. It’s even better when you can shop-at-home at a store right here in Montreal and keep the money in our own city. Goldtex now has an e-commerce site which is simple to use. You can get your kids all clothed for the Spring – while shopping from the comfort of your couch. They we will also match the price of any online retailer in Canada.

This superb outlet is hidden amongst factories in LaSalle, but if you want to venture out there, it’s worth the trip to find it. Some of the clothing brands in sizes from newborn to 16  are: Nike, Absorba, NHL, Nasri, Rococo, Gusti, Perlimpinpin, Soul & Glory, and much more.

If your  kids have outgrown their school color code clothing – they sell it here: shirts, dress pants, unisex white polos, cargo and Bermuda shorts, cords, tunics, skirts, cardigans, blazers, knee highs and tights.

If the kids are signed up for dance lessons, have a look at their dance wear, which includes ballet and tap and jazz shoes, all by Mondor, Danshuz & Motionwear.

Formal parties coming up? The upper mezzanine has  fancy party dresses, even for flower girls, suits, tuxedos, outfits for communion, confirmation and baptism.

There’s Perlimpinpin, Cocalo and Jolly Jumper bedding and lots of bottles, hats and shoes at the front. For the babies, you can pick up hooded bath towels and sleepers. Baby accessories are by Safety First, Nuby, Graco, Avent, Dr. Brown and Medela and cribs and strollers by Graco, Baby Jogger, Quinny, Peg Perego & Lil’ Angels.

Location: 8875 Salley, LaSalle Click for map 
corner: Dollard
Tel: 514-365-9699
Hours: Mon-Wed 10-5, Thurs & Fri 10-6, Sat 9-5
www.goldtex.ca

Chocolates are the ubiquitous go-to gift for Valentine’s Day, so you might want to head to Le Panier as they have all kinds of chocolates. If you want your love to remember you, how about Louis Sherry New York chocolates – in beautiful keepable metallic tin boxes? Or for something even sweeter, they are one of the few places in town making homemade fudge so you could choose a favorite flavour.

For aromatics, Michael Design’s shea butter soaps, handwash and lotions are there or look for the big display of everything lavender. You can always buy Montreal’s favorite humbugs (now in different flavors), or someone might enjoy their own 5-year-old cheddar. One corner of the store is filled with jewelry options like Alex and Ani.

For those of you who are looking for practical ideas, a cool gift might be an “upside-down” umbrella which closes without water dripping on you or your car. You will be remembered everyday if you buy the Mighty Mug. It won’t fall over – EVER – and can be used near a keyboard without worries.

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, kitchenware,  and gifts at prices mostly under $25. You will not walk out empty-handed when you can choose amongst the jewelry, jams, hot sauces, and kitchen gadgets.

You can even spice things up with their wall of hot sauces and think of things to do with Mike’s Hot Honey.    

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

Chocolates and Valentine’s Day go together like TV and Netflix. How about I tell you where to find wholesale priced chocolates so you can buy more?  Galerie Au Chocolat recently moved to a new larger facility  so there’s extra space for you to see all that they offer. Since 1985, they’ve been producing yummies with fine quality Belgian chocolate and confections for the North American market. They’ve  been a best kept secret spot for years, since they were a wholesale but now they sell retail with wonderful prices.

The delish ultra premium items which are made with fine Belgian chocolate (Kosher) come in many interesting varieties: almond or cranberry clusters, chocolate covered orange peel or apricots, Rice Krispie or candy cane bark, Amaretto creams, mint chocolate truffles, espresso wafers, or their famous almond bark.

They have a variety of packaging options. You can easily see the treats inside their cellophane bags tied with pretty ribbon, or you can buy them in a gift (or just for you) tin or in a beautifully wrapped gift box. You can fax, email or call in your orders any time. Delivery on the island of Montreal is $10.

Whether your taste buds are craving chocolates or you need gifts for everyone you love, head to Galerie au Chocolat.

New Location: 6665 Chemin de la Côte-de-Liesse, Saint-Laurent, QC H4T 1Z5
corner: Migneron
Tel: 514-331-8460
Hours: Mon-Fri 9-5
www.galerieauchocolat.ca

A forever piece of golden jewelry is always a special gift for Valentine’s Day. It doesn’t have to cost a bundle if you head for a jewelry wholesaler.

You can pay full price for gold jewelry in full-price retail stores downtown or you can go up to Bijouterie Oro, a wholesaler, and save half your money. Since 1987, this 3rd generation jeweler has been selling wholesale, and is open up to the public. Lucky us.

There is lots of golden stock to choose amongst, more than you would see in your small local jewelry store. You could go nutsy over the vast assortment of gold hoop earrings – they sell them by weight. You can select amongst the 100’s of chains; they are strong in 2-tone and 3-colors of gold from Italy or Turkey. There’s 14-carat Italian chain bracelets too, and lots of little religious pendants.

If you want to buy illusion diamond studs, they have those too. These earrings give the illusion of a whole stone, but are made up of little ones – for a much littler price.

If you have an older diamond (or any other precious stone) ring and you’d like to change it into something more modern, they can show you trays and trays of semi-mounts (that’s what your stone sits in), so you can see exactly what the ring will look like – it can even be tried on. You can take jewelry which has been just sitting in a jewelry box and have it re-modeled.

Bijouterie Oro still does local manufacturing, so they can reproduce a piece of jewelry from a photo. And they can repair your broken jewelry too.

If you decide to have something made from scratch, it would take about two weeks from the time you walk in the door until you happily present it.

Location: 1255 Phillips Square, Suite 1010
Tel: 514-393-1721 or 514-575-7511
Hours: by appointment only, Mon-Fri 9-4:30
orojewelleryinc@gmail.com
www.smartshoppingmontreal.com/store.php?s=280

Q1 – Can I just expect to be able to just return a gift?A purchase is like a contract you have made with a store. You decided to buy it at the price they offered. The contract is completed and you are both satisfied. No returns are considered. If they choose to change the terms, it is solely up to each business and not a consumer law. Don’t assume when you buy something you can just return it.

Q2- So they don’t have to take it back?

Right. They can choose to offer an exchange policy, a store refund, a one week or one month return allowance or none at all, a final sale

Q3 – How can the customer know this? Are there any rules that a store must follow for returns policies?

– Posting return rules near the cash register or stamp the policy on receipt itself
– Ask at the store what the policy is. Often after Christmas, there’s more leniency and some stores even have a stamp which can allow you to return months later if you are an early shopper.

Q4 – What if it’s broken?
A defective product has to be returned to the manufacturer and it depends on the retailer’s policy and it is up to you to find out if you or they have to do this.

Q5 – Any other important suggestions?
Be pleasant, not rude or super aggressive if you want someone to help you. Make sure you are talking to the person that has the authority to remedy the situation

The JRC Toys mega toy warehouse sale is the one everyone waits for to score incredible deals. It’s the one-stop Toy Holiday Sale for the most coveted name-brand toys and this year promises to be the biggest sale ever.

JRC Toys has amazing deals on the hottest toys around and it’s a great time to cross off items on your holiday list while offering you the opportunity to grab discounts of up to 70% off on all kinds of toys. Shop often as new items appear every week.

Get some incredible savings on some of the biggest brand names toys including: Barbie, CAT, Crayola,Disney Pixar Cars, Disney Princess, Disney Frozen, Fisher-Price, Hasbro, Hot Wheels, Incredibles 2, Leap Frog, Mattel, Mega Bloks, Melissa & Doug, My Little Pony, ORB, Paw Patrol, Playskool, Spin Master,  Star Wars, and VTech.

They are now open every day, Monday – Friday till 8pm. They accept debit, Visa Mastercard, but no cheques. There will be no exchanges or refunds, as all sales are final.

Head here for the best prices on the most recognizable brand name toys.

Location: 5589 Royalmount
corner: Chemin Devonshire
Metro: Station de la Savanne
Tel: 514-342-6979
Times: Mon-Fri 10-8, Sat & Sun 10-5 and Christmas Eve 10-3
www.jrctoys.com
email: info@jrctoys.com