Bargain Finds
San Fernando Valley
San Fernando Valley Listings
Armani Wells
This Valley staple has been selling higher end men’s designer apparel for 60%-85% below retail for over 15 years. Catering to entertainment industry insiders, owner Claudia Wells selects only the best in higher end apparel. Using her discriminating taste and cutting edge fashion sense, she quickly pulls unique items for her clients and helps them develop their perfect look
Best Slipcover
Hidden in an industrial area of Van Nuys is one of our very best finds…Best Slip Cover. Immediately, you’ll see the style, quality and workmanship at this factory direct source where you can slipcover your cherished heirloom or have it tailored or loosely slip covered at 30%-50% less than department stores and better chic designer showrooms.
Discovery Shops
These resale shops have a better selection of quality donated new and used merchandise in clothing, jewelry, home decor, handbags, housewares and furnishings at savings of 40%-80% below original retail.
Dressed Up!
Need a special occasion outfit? Heading to a Holiday Party? Then look no further than Dressed Up! in Tarzana.
At this full service boutique, you’ll find top designer names in cocktail, prom, Mother of the Bride and special occasion attire at 25%-70% off on current season designs everyday! Yippee!
Erica Koesler Wedding Accessories
Erica Koesler is a manufacturer of bridal veils and head jewelry that sells last seasons samples directly to the public at 30% off retail to 50% off of wholesale. That’s right… at below wholesale and this stuff is high quality, no bargain basement cheapies here. We’re talking fresh water pearls, Swarovski Crystal, mother of pearl, imported silk laces and more.
Frame Club
In business since 1982, Frame Clubs’ owner Alona Crawford has employed three basic principles to keep prices at 30%-60% lower than other framing sources. Do all the work in-house, deal with local suppliers and services to hold down costs and locate in a low rent district.
Game Dude
Game Dude has simply the biggest selection of games and accessories in town. Whether you’re buying for your 6 year old soon to be princess, teenage techno son or yourself, you’ll find the selection and prices here are just about unbeatable. Prices here tend to reflect consumer demand so you may find the most current popular games probably at or near retail. But when demand changes prices can drop dramatically… sometimes as quickly as a week to a couple of months after original release to as much as 50% off originally pricing.
Goldstar
GoldStar sells prime entertainment venue tickets for nearly half off. The average savings on tickets runs around 50% and there is a service fee which ranges from $3.50-$7.00 per ticket, but still you’ll save at least 40% on theater tickets.
Happy Eyes
Happy Eyes is a gem of a store that has had the same prices on standard ophthalmic frames since they opened in 1992. Single vision lens with frames start at $39.95 complete. Bifocals start at $59.95 complete and at Happy Eyes you can get transitions lens starting at $85.00 and up.
Hollywood Piano Company
The Hollywood Piano Company will help you to find that special piano for the best price in Southern California. From uprights to concert grands, player pianos to digital, they have them all… at 20%-60% below retail everyday, all the time.
Hotel Surplus
Hotel Surplus offers fine furnishings and fixtures from top ranked, 4 star hotels undergoing renovation or redecoration. These home furnishings run from mint to needs some attention and are offered at a fraction of the original price with savings at 35%-80% off of original retail.
In Your Place Furniture
Need some hard wood furniture or household furnishings deals?
Then take a look at In Your Place Furniture in Van Nuys. These manufacturers and direct importers offer eclectic, contemporary and rustic home furnishings at savings of 25%-50% off.
Lucky You Resale Boutique
All of us have a special source we haunt for deals. Lucky for us, there is Lucky You Resale Boutique.
This hip, real world resale boutique offers savings of 60%-90% on contemporary trendy apparel for fashion hipsters who wants rock bottom pricing on resale designer apparel.
Red Barn Feed and Pet
This Valley landmark has been selling feed and pet supplies for over 50 years. First time shoppers are often overwhelmed at the huge selection at Red Barn. Everything from tack to shavings, exotic pet foods to doghouses and known pet food brands can be found here at savings of 20%-60% below retail.
The Weiler Group
The Weiler Group carries high-end, large appliances at 20% -40% off the retail price. These new appliances are customer returns, discontinued, last seasons model, showroom floor samples or a cosmetic scratch and dent by Viking, Thermadore, Miele, Fisher & Paykel, KitchenAid, Dynasty, Bosch, Whirlpool, Delonghi, Leibhern, and Gaggenau.
VikenY.com
When you want the best in web design and development, consultation, and website management , Vik is the way to go. He is thorough, incorporates advanced concepts, is familiar with all programming and works with you to design the best site for your specific business. Very reasonable for the level of expertise he provides.
All Patio
Spring is here and Summer is just around the corner. Instead of purchasing new patio furniture, consider refurbishing the set you have. You can save 50%-80% on the cost of new.
American Lock & Key
Moving into a new home has it’s share of unforeseen expenses. One that we didn’t think we needed initially was a locksmith. But after the dust settled and we found that some keys didn’t match all the doors, couldn’t get a safety bolt to work on one door and we wanted a couple of new keys, we had to contact a locksmith.
Childrens Resale Stores
Shopping at kids resale stores when my daughter was little was a real budget saver. She had a great wardrobe and we didn’t have to spend much. Even now at 13, we go in to our local store and I let her pick a couple of items. I used these stores to pick up books, videos/DVDs, shoes, furniture… anything I may have needed at real budget prices.
Chiropractic Care
This last winter, I needed some chiropractic adjustments. I didn’t have a lot of money to spend on it and needed regular visits.
Considering our difficult move in February, the stressful renovations and a long history of old dance related back injuries, I needed to get back in alignment. I also was hoping to start a more serious work out regime this Spring and knew I wouldn’t be able to handle the exercise if I was out of alignment.
Consignment Warehouse
Trying to spruce up your house with new furniture? There are liquidations sales galore and bargains to be had around every corner. But if you have champagne taste on a beer budget, there are bargain to be found in some unusual places.
Furniture consignment shops can yield unusual furnishings, higher end designer and artwork pieces at surprising prices.
Duty Free
Just when we start receiving our bills for the extra Holiday spending we did, it’s time to start thinking about Valentines Day. So I dug through some really old files and came across my moms old favorite for deals on perfume… Duty Free in Sherman Oaks.
Eco Trader Discount Carpet
One of the best ways to save on carpet, especially if you only have to do one or two rooms to do, is to buy carpet remnants.
Remnants are “end of roll” or discontinued carpet. Dealers who sell remnants are a dime a dozen. But to find one that really carries high grade carpet and has been in the carpet biz for over 20 year is a find.
Encore Nouveau Boutique
Valley bargainistas have a “new on the scene” women’s resale boutique, Encore Nouveau. Not quite your typical resale boutique, this cute, cutting edge, fun boutique is filled with a well edited of women’s designer resale, vintage and new designer samples at 40%-80% off the original retail.
Across the street from It’s a Wrap, you won’t find the upper crust of designers. Just stylin quality fashion designer duds at super affordable pricing.
Foam Mart
An old time favorite for upholstery stuffing, crafts and construction projects is Foam Mart in Burbank. Around since 1963, daughter Andrea has taken over this family run business and is making this place a one stop destination for extremely hard to find products in a large selection of foams as well as fabrics, feather inserts to latex mattresses, insulation, craft and memory foam.
For Kids Only
Beautiful European and American designer childrens apparel and accessories at 25%-65% below retail. Good selection of girls special occasion and boys suits. Top quality shoes, coats and accessories for children 0 to 18.
Handy Market
So I’m having dinner at a friend’s house in the heart of Hollywood and he drops some steaks on the grill. Not just any steak but two inch beauties that must weigh over a pound each. I bite into it and frankly it is one of the best steaks I have ever had. “Where did you get this meat?” I ask. “Handy Market in Burbank” is the reply. When I ask about the seasoning he says “just ask the butchers to season it for you… house specialty”.
Really.
Hot Spots for Valentine Gift Giving
If you are one of the lucky ones who can afford to buy a present for that special person for Valentines Day, but still want more bang for your buck.
These are my top bargain shopping choices for savings of 20%-80%:
Jack Winter Auto Inspection
Shopping for a good used car takes some research and a good mechanic. After doing the initial homework on the car ourselves, including web search, consumer reports buying guide and a test drive, we call in our favorite roving mechanic, Jack Winters, to inspect the car.
Lisa M Clothing Boutique Outlet
Many outlet boutiques tend to stay off the radar of the general public, opting for word of mouth to spread the news. Most of these have inside access to better designer labels, snapping them up at bargain basement pricing and then selling them to the public at substantial savings.
Such is the case with Lisa M Clothing.
Magnolia Commons
This recession has changed some shopping destinations for the better. Cool, funky vintage stores along with antiques stores and consignment stores are popping up all over Burbank lately. New on the scene is The Magnolia Commons.
Technically it’s a women’s and gents resale store. But unlike other stiffer consignment stores it has a cool vintage / classy vibe to it that compels you to shop for one of a kind treasures.
Off Broadway Shoe Warehouse
Men’s and women’s current designer shoes at 20%-70% below retail. Big designer names, huge selection, no kids.
Accessories too.
Once Upon a Child
A larger resale store with a terrific selection of cribs, furnishings, toys, strollers, hi-chairs, books, bedding and apparel from infant to size 12. Good selection of labels from boutique brands to department store. Savings are 50%-85% off original retail
Our Home Renovation Sources
Our new home renovations are finally finished. We spent a lot, but saved a lot on quality workmanship and goods. Here’s who we used and where we bought stuff:
Al Menendez - Contractor.
We used him for everything from our new wood patio cover ($1200) to re-roofing ($6900- half was Spanish tile), garden cement pathways $3500, electrical, garage conversion w/ new foundation and new office finishing.
Rewind Recycled Fashion
A well organized vintage resale boutique with savings of 50%-70%. There are no over stuff racks with old clothes. Just a well edited selection of clothing pieces from the 1940’s to today at some really great pricing. Everything was mint or near mint at pricing that was at least 50% off original retail.
Sterns Drapery and Fabrics
During our home renovation this last Winter, I headed back and forth to fabrics stores in downtown L.A. about 10 times to shop for upholstery and window treatment fabrics. Though the selection and prices were great, driving into downtown and paying for parking each time, got a bit old.
I felt kinda stupid when I completely forgot about long time, tried and true fabric outlet, Sterns Drapery and Fabric in Sherman Oaks. So I went to visit.
Survival Kits Online
At Survival Kits Online located in a small warehouse/ store off the beaten path in West Hills, you can get emergency preparedness kits for less. On average 20%-50% less. You can buy piece by piece or buy a pre-made kits for less.
The Mint Fashion Exchange
Some recommendations are better than others. So I jumped on the opportunity to check out a Simi Valley resale boutique. The Mint Fashion Exchange offers Simi Valley bargainistas a great source for bargain shopping for better quality brand name and designer clothing in mint to near mint at 50%-85% off original retail
Top 10 Bargain Sources for 2011
Here they are…our top 10 new Bargain Sources for 2011!
Every year we research dozens of new stores, outlets and discounters. Out of these we pick the top ten new sources for each year. It isn’t easy ,but here they are.
See if you agree.
Valley Upholstering
Finding an Upholsterer who is well priced, consistency does quality work with exceptional levels of workmanship and design, isn’t easy. But not anymore…
Since 1978 Valley Upholstering has been the source used by chic interior design firms, large retail stores to do “their” upholstery work and custom designed upholstered pieces. Why pay those inflated prices when you can go directly to the source and save 40%-70% on the exact same service.
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APT2B.com
Modern Home Furnishings -
DLM Off Price
Below Wholesale Designer Apparel -
Felikians Carpet One
Carpet & Flooring -
Imperial Design Group
Discount Stone and Tile -
Athena Designs
Jewelry -
Goldstar
Discount Theater & Events -
Dave Berger and Sons
Wholesale Women's Designer Shoes
