Friperie Valois Thrift & Vintage Boutique and the West Island Clothing Initiative (WICI) raises money for charities and non-profits through direct and indirect clothing and shoes collecting.

Direct programs are ones in which individuals can donate clothing and shoes directly to their store and donation centre – or – they can provide free pick up service. All donations are weighed and then they pay cash per pound into a fund for the West Island Community Shares which supports local charities and non-profits.

You can form a partnership with them: for example the Pierrefonds Soccer Association is a partners so their 2300 members know they can donate unwanted clothing and shoes to help raise money for their club.

All clothing is sorted carefully (no stains or damages) with the best items selected for sale in their store, Friperie Valois – for only one dollar! (with only a few exceptions). Customers dig through categorized and sized bins full of gently used name brand clothing for the whole family. They enjoy the hunt for the treasures – and the savings of a lot of money in the process. The combination of quality and low low cost is addictive.

There’s also a household section with antiques and collectibles too at the same aggressive pricing. They even offer free pick up service on these items. While there is no charitable component to this service, because of the high cost of processing these items, this is a much needed service in the community. Charities are no longer able to offer this and junk companies are now charging several hundreds of dollars to haul away items that they will sell anyway. We offer this service free of charge.

All items they can’t use, either hard goods or clothing, gets sent to places that will be able to have them recycled.

Unlike other thrift stores where you have to sift through lots of junk to find the good stuff, their bins are truly all good stuff …. and only a buck!

Location: 77A Donegani Avenue, Pointe Claire Quebec H9R 2W1
Hours: Mon – Fri 11:30-5, Sat 10-4
Tel:514-501-7015
mbiocchi@hotmail.com
www.westislandclothing.com

Right now as you are clearing out closets and sorting bookshelves, think about donating all those books so money can go to a great cause. Every Tuesday and Thursday until Sept. 15, you can drop books off at Redpath Hall, 3461 McTavish St on the McGill Campus.

The McGill Book Fair, held each autumn in Redpath Hall, offers buyers tens of thousands of used books, French and English, in categories ranging from architecture to zoology. In addition to volumes old and new, the Book Fair also offers CDs, LPs, DVDs, and sheet music. One room is devoted exclusively to art and architecture, and another to old and rare books.

The Book Fair is organized and run entirely by volunteers. All proceeds are used to support McGill scholarships. Since its inception in 1971, the Book Fair has raised over $1.5-million. In 2010, the annual Book Fair donation to the University was $75,000.

Location: McGill University, Redpath Hall
(east side of McTavish Street, one block north of Sherbrooke)
Tel: 514-898-8105
Days of drop off: Tues & Thurs until Sept 15
Dates of bookfair: Tues Oct 18-20
http://www.mcgill.ca/bookfair/

Q: I am having a difficult time finding a trunk coffee table. Have you seen any place that sells them?

A: You might take a look at the St-Michel Flea Market, 3250 Cremazie Blvd E, Montreal H2A 3N9, corner: St. Michel Tel: 514 691-1062 . In my Smart Shopping Montreal book there are 5 pages of Flea Markets and Farmer’s Markets all over the Montreal area. You can buy one on this site.

Or try the furniture catalogue company, called Flash Decor : The storefront of this family business does have a small showroom of living room, dining room, bedroom and kitchen furniture, but the majority of what they sell comes out of the assortment of about 24 catalogues from 200 companies in Canada (lots from Quebec), U.S and China. A small sampling of the lines that they sell (about 40% off): Jaymar, South Shore, Mirabel, Rustique, Amisco, Mazin, Concordia, Decor Rest, Monarch, wall beds by Maska and mattresses by Mirobel, Foamco, Dormatek and King Koil. www.flashdecor.com

If you are looking to find some particular music, both new and old, and you enjoy owning the recordings, you can stock up all in one place, Disques Beatnick Records.

It’s right on St-Denis but a bit south of the main shopping area. It’s worth going to for its combination of old and new music in vinyl. To tell them apart, the orange or pink stickers indicate the used items and the green or yellow means it’s new.

Sections for rock, jazz, soul, pop, alternative,  electro, hip hop, jazz, country, reggae, soundtrack, vocal, movie stars, and of course, French, etc. are sold and there are walls showing off the greats of vinyl; don’t miss the little back room.

Location: 3770 St-Denis St., Montreal H2W 2M1 / Google Map: http://bit.ly/29IuFwf
corner: Ave du Pins
Tel: 514-842-0664
Hours: Sun, Mon-Wed & Sat 11-6, Thurs & Fri 11-9
Metro Stop: Station Sherbrooke
www.beatnickmusic.com
E-mail: beatnickmusic1@yahoo.com

Boutique Encore, situated in a pretty townhouse right in the heart of Crescent street, is fully stocked with excellent quality clothes with lots of big-name labels. This is a great place to find one-of-a-kind dress up clothes for men and women – and the prices are not to be believed. Why? The clothes are relatively new.

This well known, well-liked consignment shop is a tony boutique, like one in any big city in the world. The names you will see might be: Gucci, Moschino, Armani, Versace, Chanel, Jean Paul Gaultier, Issey Miyake or Yamamoto.

Yes there’s formal wear and of course, everyday clothing including coats, bags (Louis Vuitton, Dolce & Gabbana, Chanel, Hermes, Cartier), hats, furs, leathers, shoes, Hermes scarves and even estate jewelry.

Look for the same quality clothes for men (Armani, Hugo Boss, Brioni, Prada) in suits, trench coats, shoes and tuxedos.

Location: 2145 Crescent St., Montreal H3G 2C1
corner: Sherbrooke
Tel: 514-849-0092
Hours: Tues-Fri 11-6, Sat 11-5
Metro Stop Station Peel/Station Guy-Concordia
http://www.smartshoppingmontreal.com/store.php?s=6

Q: I have about 170 yards of fabric in one to two yards denominations, folded very neatly in flats. It is my sewing stash that I would like to sell to someone or a store, etc. It consists of half quilting fabrics and about half baby prints for quilting or panels.

Also there is some tapestry and linen pieces. I make bags and quilts myself, but I just have way too much fabric and want to get on to doing other projects. Therefore, I would love to sell all this and get some of my money back.

Are you aware of any places that would take this fabric – even on consignment?

A: There really isn’t a business that buys fabric scraps. Your best bet is to put it up on KIJIJI or Varagesale.com and sell directly to someone else. If you want to donate it to some artists, you can ask at La Gaillarde on page 136 of my Smart Shopping Montreal book. Phone: 514-989-5134. Artists there turn it into clothing, accessories or whatever.

Play It Again Sports NDG specializes in equipment for hockey, alpine skiing, snowboarding, cross country skiing, baseball, softball, lacrosse, soccer and inline skating, etc. They are experts in skate fitting, and they take pride in ensuring a proper fit for each customer. They are now having a sale of up to 40% off a selection of merchandise.

For over 15 years, this shop has helped parents in the Montréal area save money on new and quality used sports equipment. You can trade-in, consign or receive a cheque for your old ski, hockey, tennis, lacrosse, ringuette, baseball, in-line skates, snowboards or soccer gear.

You also have the opportunity to choose from a wide variety of new high value sporting goods. They carry all the top brands you are looking for in a wide variety of active sports – without breaking the bank.
Each season their staff is trained by Bauer®, Reebok® and Easton® equipment experts to be able to provide your budding athletes with the best possible fit in skates and gear. For a great skating experience, the staff can transform them by heat molding, contouring, doing flat bottom V, or blade and chassis replacement.

This weeks flyer has a coupon for $10 off any purchase of  $50 or more new, regular priced products and the coupon must be printed and presented in person to obtain the discount.
Location: 2100 Decarie Blvd.
corner: rue Sherbrooke Ouest
Tel: 514-484-5150
Hours Mon-Fri 10-9, Sat 9-5, Sun 10-5
Date: ends Feb 14
Metro: Station Vendome
www.playitagainsportsndg.com

Q: I would like to sell my 3/4 custom made female mink coat and hat from Alexander Furs.

A: It is very difficult to sell used fur coats and you get very little for them. The last furrier that I knew about who bought them is no longer in my book. There are some re-cycling artisans who use them on clothing. It would be a donation, though: You can call and ask: La Gaillarde, 514-989-5134

You can call the 20 or so second-hand clothing stores in my book, Smart Shopping Montreal (you can buy it on this site) and see if anyone wants it. Or you can post it on Kijiji or Craig’s List and see if you can sell it that way.

During the year, in the Senior Times, there was an ad which said “I buy women’s and men’s fur coats“. I pay cash and pick up anywhere in Canada.

Tel; 514-996-0321
e-mail: recyclefur98@gmail.com.

If anyone uses this service, please let me know how it turned out.

I love this idea. You get to choose your own sale at the Black Friday event at Play It Again Sports Decarie. On sports or fitness equipment, you can get up to $200 off on whatever you want (using the coupon below). Now that’s a sale! The second coupon below is for Kettlebells and Hex Dumbells where you get 50% off the second item.

Play It Again Sports NDG specializes in equipment for hockey, alpine skiing, snowboarding, cross country skiing, baseball, softball, lacrosse, soccer and inline skating, etc. They are experts in skate fitting, and they take pride in ensuring a proper fit for each customer.

For over 15 years, this shop has helped parents in the Montréal area save money on new and quality used sports equipment. You can trade-in, consign or receive a cheque for your old ski, hockey, tennis, lacrosse, ringuette, baseball, in-line skates, snowboards or soccer gear.

You also have the opportunity to choose from a wide variety of new high value sporting goods. They carry all the top brands you are looking for in a wide variety of active sports – without breaking the bank.

Each season their staff is trained by Bauer®, Reebok® and Easton® equipment experts to be able to provide your budding athletes with the best possible fit in skates and gear. For a great skating experience, the staff can transform them by heat molding, contouring, doing flat bottom V, or blade and chassis replacement.

Location: 2100 Decarie Blvd.
corner: rue Sherbrooke Ouest
Tel: 514-484-5150
Hours Mon-Fri 10-9, Sat 9-5, Sun 10-5
Date: Nov 27
www.playitagainsportsndg.com / FB: http://on.fb.me/1bFGiNx
Metro Stop: Station Vendome
www.playitagainsportsndg.com  
FB: http://on.fb.me/1bFGiNx

Classy has been a name Montrealers have always known when looking to buy men’s formal wear.. Right now they are holding a factory warehouse sale of tuxedos, vests from $15-$35, ties between $5-$10, bow ties at $5,  and pocket squares. Prices of tuxedos run only $69-$129. These suits are being liquidated from their rental inventory.

This sale will continue while quantities last. Cash or debit card will be the accepted method of payment

Location: 9965 boul St-Michel (north of Sauvé) Montreal H1H 5G7
Corner: rue de Mont Joli
Tel: 514-728-6200
Dates: While quantities last
Metro: Station Sauvé or Station St-Michel
www.classy.ca
FB: http://on.fb.me/1kd686U
Instagram: www.instagram.com/classytuxedos
Twitter: www.twitter.com/classytuxedos