At  TifClip, you can buy professional hair care products and tools like Argan Oil, Babyliss Pro, Biosilk, Dikson, Lakmé,  Pravana, Marrakesh Oil…which the salons use and you can too,  if you shop here at their new location on St-Denis. Styling products such as boar’s hair and ceramic brushes, clippers and trimmers, gels, waxes can be found.

Hair salon quality electrical appliances are available such as blowdryers, flat irons, curling iron, hot rollers, clippers ( Andis, Avanti, Babyliss Pro, Chi, Dannyco, Elchim, Gama, Miracurl, Parlux, Oster, Whal, Zazen )

Professionnal hair dye (Dikson, Fantasy colors) and free consultation is offer and a repair service for your electricals is also available!

Take note that all the taxes are included in the prices

Location: 3901 rue Saint-Denis, Montreal QC H2W 2M4
corner: rue Roy est
Tel: 514-288-4411
Hours Mon-Fri 10-6, Sat 11-5
www.tifclip.com

Q: Great book but I have a question regarding leather supplies. I am looking for belt blanks and heavy scrap pieces, usually 12” x 12”, usually around 9 oz. I’ve been to Tandy but they aren’t really all that helpful. It was suggested to me to see a saddle maker for scrap pieces, good luck finding a saddle maker. Any suggestions?

A: Tandy (8245 boul. Langelier) really is the best place in town for leather hobbies. There are lots of horses out west in Hudson/ St-Lazare so there must be leather harness makers out there too.

Shoemakers are also working with leather, here’s the coordinates for Cordonnerie Rosemere where you can ask about supplies: http://smartshoppingmontreal.com/store.php?s=199

Location: 401 boul Labelle Rosemere QC J7A 3T2
corner: Autoroute 640
Tel: 450-437-3231

You might try shoemaker’s supply stores, Cuir Federal Leather and Cork, 368 Avenue Fairmount O, Montréal, QC H2V 2G4 Phone:(514) 276-4719 used to make belts and had some leather pieces but they sold to new owners and I don’t know what they stock now.

Nothing says you’re special better than a forever piece of golden jewelry. For this Valentine’s Day, buy your love something sparkly. It doesn’t have to take a giant chunk out of your budget if you know where to go – 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 now 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 only two weeks from the time you walk in the door until you happily present it to Mom.

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

A fan wrote, “I’ve listened to you on CJAD in the past so I thought of you for this”:

Q: I bought a 1950s house in Pointe Claire and it has several Schonbek chandeliers (1 large dining room, 2 medium hallway, 1 small entryway). I believe they’re crystal and I would like to use these but the large one needs repair and replacement of some of the wires (hidden and visible).

Would you know which store I can go to get supplies to do the repairs myself?  I would also like to make my own chandelier with one of them so I’d need the wiring/plugs, etc, that you’d need to fashion your own fixture. Please Help! I would like to honor the era of this house.

A: I would head to Union Lighting and Home, 8150 Decarie. They sell Schonbek so should have parts. Half of the store is for repairmen so there’s lots of electrical supplies. They have the both sides of your questions covered.

From my “Smart Shopping Montreal” book: “This family company has been in the lighting business since 1914. Changing with the times, they’ve evolved, still selling all kinds of standing, hanging (mini chandeliers and colored crystal), recessed, track, desk (baby candelabra) and outdoor lighting fixtures, but now have added self-service aisles of bulbs, switches and shades.

From there it was on to fans, address plates, ceiling medallions, door and bath hardware, furniture, mirrors and kitchen accessories. They offer a 14-day no hassle return policy, a repair department and free gift wrapping.

Crystal chandeliers have guarantees – check to see yours. With their Prix Garantis , if you find the same item elsewhere or in a flyer for a lower price within 60 days, they will refund you the difference.

In the left rear of the store, you’ll find their liquidation section.

Location: 8150 boul. Decarie, Ville Mont-Royal
corner: Royalmount
Tel: 514-340-5000
Hours: Mon-Wed 9-6, Thurs & Fri 9-9, Sat 9-5, Sun 12-5
www.unionltg.com

Abat-Jour Illimités is  a shop with one of the largest selections of lampshades in Canada, sourced from across Europe, Asia, the US and Canada. They specialize in finding solutions within your budget. Until March 31, there is a sale of 20% discount on lampshades and 40% on lamp bases.

Bring in your base when you come here and then you can choose from amongst the 5,000 shades in this store at prices from $20 to $3,000. If you can’t find it among the parchment, silk, linen, or artistic hand-painted models, you can have one made-to-order. Look for the display of interesting finials, and on-site repair is available.

– When you bring your base in to the store, their consultants will guide you towards the ideal shape and fabric for your lamp.
– If you want to cover a lampshade, they will show you a vast choice of fabrics (or bring your own) to complement your lamp base.
– – If you have a specific project idea in mind, bring them a sketch, and  they will help you work out the practical details to make your lampshade into a reality.
– If you have a project that is institutional or commercial in scope, several or many, small or over-sized, they can custom-make them for you.

The experienced consultants will find the perfect lampshade, guided by your personal taste as well as your budget.

Location: 4875 Jean Talon St W. Montreal QC H4P 1W7 OR 2267 boul Le Corbusier, Laval H7S 1Z4 (450-682-8280)
corner: Victoria
Tel: 514-344-8555
Hours Mon-Fri 10-6, Sat 9-5
www.abatjourillimites.ca
abatjour@bellnet.ca

Q: J’aurais une question a propos de nu-lustre -55 , j’ai applique ce produit sur mes comptoir de cuisine mais le produit n’a jamais seche. il reste toujours collant. ma question est avec quoi je peut enlever se produit de sur mes comptoire svp, pour recommencer je crois que je n’ pas bien mesurer les quantite et l’effet est un disastre. merci de me conseille.

A: I would call Circa 1850. You can speak to Linda qui parle francais. They have been selling refinishing products for 50 years. Here they are on my website:
http://www.smartshoppingmontreal.com/store.php?s=138

Also, if you want an expert on wood finishing, who can come to your house, read about this amazing craftsman on my site: http://www.smartshoppingmontreal.com/store.php?s=193

Everyone has to shop and I’ve tried to make it easier for all of you by compiling Montreal’s best stores into a guidebook. In English it’s Smart Shopping Montreal ($21.95)and in French Le Consommateur Averti Montreal ($20.95). If anyone is driving South to warm up, I’ve also written a guide about what to find at every exit on the way to Florida called Drive I-95: Exit by Exit Info, Maps, History and Trivia ($24.95). You can have them autographed too!

Here’s a synopsis of the Smart Shopping Montreal book:

There’s no reason to waste time shopping for price when the job has already been done by this bestselling book. Thousands of loyal readers for the past 28 years have learned to buy it to find all the discount stores where they can save money. Reading it will save you time too.

All it takes to be a smart shopper is knowing how to save time and money while shopping. If you know where to go for the bargains, who to call when something breaks, or where to buy that something special, you’ve accomplished that goal. This book covers all three topics:

Part I of this book covers over 800 locations around the city (and then another 200 in factory buildings) where the smart shopper can save at least 20% on clothing, household, food and leisure products. Why not make your dollar go as far as possible?

Part II helps the smart shopper resist the throw-away nature of our society by leading you to the wonderful repairmen and master craftsmen who can fix those treasures or broken household items (and save you money by not having to buy a new one!).

Lastly, Part III explores the wonderful variety of unique or unusual specialty stores (which can sometimes get a bit pricey) that one can browse through and shop in. The smart shopper knows where they are. Develop a spirit of adventure and an inquiring mind, and seek out these terrific spots in Montreal – a city which is a wonderful blend of European couture and craftsmanship with American know-how.

The first bargain you’ll find is this book.

Synopsis of Drive I-95:

Road trips are back and to help those who travel up and down the East coast, Drive I-95 is a new style of guidebook which combines colorful easy-to-follow pictorial maps and fun stories.

Look ahead exit by exit to see which motels (with 800 numbers), gas stations, restaurants, campgrounds, 24-hour pharmacies, radio stations or radar traps are there.
We share stories: history on I-95, museums, trivia, towns to explore or places to run the kids or your pets. These can be read for entertainment during the drive, and may entice motorists to stop, stretch their legs and discover someplace new.

You can order the guides online (autographed):
www.smartshoppingmontreal.com
www.drivei95.com
Tel: 514-684-4020 (If you want to make arrangements to buy in person)

Q: : I enjoy reading your shlog and was wondering if you would know where used furs could be made into fashionable outerwear. I had a mink sheared and then lined into a beautiful walking coat many years ago and am thinking about doing that again.

A: Dubarry Furs, a 34-year-old shop, in a beautiful exposed brick and stone atelier in Old Montreal, maintains low prices by doing all the work themselves. They will glad guide you when turning a older coat into something fashionable and wearable – they even have water resistant reversible ones. They have always been known for the quality of their products and their personalized service.

Ready-to-wear or custom-made jackets, hats, capes with fur trim,  and coats, re–modeling, repairs, cleaning and storage are all available here.

There is a line of cashmere and Alpaca wear with and without fur trim and shearling jackets. Trade-ins are accepted toward the purchase of a new coat.

Location, 206 St-Paul Ouest, Old Montreal
corner: St-Francois-Xavier
Tel: 514-844-7483
Hours: Tues-Fri 10-6, Sat & Sun 11-5 & by appointment
www.dubarryfurs.com

If you love real coffee and live on the western side of Montreal, you now have an option of a place near home to buy coffee makers, coffee, and supplies. La boutique du café Tazza di Mattina is located in Roxboro and they carry Saeco, Jura, Caffitaly, Rancilio espresso and cappuccino machines, and coffee.

For the holidays, they make up delicious coffee and sweets gift baskets – perfect for so many people. For Christmas, you can buy pannetones too.

Coffee imported from Italy is sold there. You can purchase ground coffee and coffee beans from Gloria, Caffé Harmonia and Dolce Vita. They have a selection of tea and teapots from My Cup Of Tea. Accessories for tea and coffee are here as in frothers and cups of different sizes in glass and ceramic. Various cleaning products for all coffee and cappuccino makers are found as well.

If you want to buy a more traditional gift, you can find the old-fashioned Italian stove top coffee makers here. You’ll have a choice of many different sizes in brands Vev, Bialetti & Laila. Pretty colorful lines of accessories of home and tableware by Guzzini and Bugatti are available too.

This is also a local repair depot; They can fix your machine on site  if it breaks – no more lugging it all the way downtown.

Location: 5 Commercial Ave, Roxboro QC, H8Y 2N9
corner: boul Gouin
Tel: 514-684-6161
Hours: Mon-Fri 10-6, Sat 10-5
www.tazzadimattina.ca  FB: http://on.fb.me/1eNfNva

You’re going to have to vacuum the place before and after the company, so you might as well stock up on on one of the best places in town for vacuum cleaner bags and filters, Fix ‘R” Us.

Now with winter coming, more people will be using their automatic starters for cars and Fix ‘R’ Us has the batteries for most car brands and can even install the battery for you. They repair all car audio products and can do speaker re-coning.

All these prices are in effect until the end of January:

– Electrolux Canister Filters: 2/$4 and bags for this model: 12/$10

– Electrolux Style S bags 3/$10

• For Central Vac Systems

– Compatible bags  for Beam, Electrolux and Eureka – 3/$15

– Vacumade bags, also compatible with Nutone & Syclo Vac – 3/$15

– Tristar, Compact and Revelation canister style bags – 12/$10

– Panasonic Canister U-U3 bags – 3/$5

– Eureka CN2 bags – 3/$6

Location: 4791 boul. des Sources
corner: Anselme Lavigne
Hours: Mon-Fri 12 – 6, Sat 12 – 5
Tel: 514-421-1349