Shoppers who think the best deals are online should check out local warehouse sales this weekend (Nov. 10-12) and beyond. Many items are discounted about 70 percent and are rarely discounted online.
The popular Thymes annual warehouse sale (corner of Hoover and Kennedy Sts NE., Mpls.) is a bigger sale than past years. In addition to body washes, lotions, soaps, diffusers and gift sets, Thymes added the Capri Blue and Aspen Bay brands. Sale items at $1, $2, $3, $6, $8, $10 and $15 are retired scents or a previous season's packaging. Hours: 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday and Friday and from 8:30 to noon on Saturday.
A few blocks away from the Thymes sale Eversharp Knives (344 Taft St. NE., Mpls) will sharpen straight blade knives for $2, serrated $4, and home blender or food processor blades $6 while you wait. Display model Wusthof black handle Ikon knives are $50 each, ($100 to $160 new). Ends Dec. 24.
Make time for a suburban road trip to Shakopee for savings on dried soups, Vikings sports apparel, gift wrapping accessories, gourmet coffee and candles. Shakopee sale hours generally start by 9 or 10 a.m. and end by 5 p.m. Get a map of the sales/hours at any sale location. Delish gourmet foods sale (670 Valley Industrial Circle S,, Shakopee) includes dried soups sold on QVC, desserts and appetizers at 50 percent off or more. Ends Sun.
Next door is Gage & Gage (660 Valley Industrial Circle S.). Save 40 to 90 percent on giftwrap, bows, gift boxes, gift bags, decorated shipping boxes, ribbon, tissue, napkins and paper plates through Sun. The sale also runs Nov. 17-19 and Dec. 1-3.
Cameron's Coffee (5555 12th Av. E., Suite 170) includes organic, fair-trade and shade grown coffee varieties as well as syrups and mixes through Sun. Next door, MyPillow (5555 12th Av. E., suite 110) is discounting discontinued styles of bed pillows, travel pillows and dog beds through Sun.
Dianne's Custom Candles (1278 Vierling Dr. E.) includes discounted designer brand candles, reed diffusers and gift packs. Open daily through Dec. 23rd.
Near Dianne's is Primetime Sports (1128 Vierling Dr. E.), a licensed sports apparel wholesaler with jackets, youth jerseys, hats and accessories from MN, WI and other collegiate and pro teams, including the Vikings, Wild and Lynx. Open Fri-Sun through mid-Dec.
Not that far from Shakopee in Burnsville, Spectacle Shoppe (2001 Burnsville Center) will have about 12,000 eyeglass frames at $59 each, regularly $200 or more. Lenses are not required with frame purchase. Sat-Sun. only.
