Ready to spend some of those Shoppers Drug Mart Optimum points? There will be a bonus redemption event on Saturday where your points are worth even more than usual. Bonus redemption is only valid on the top two redemption tiers.
Redeem 50k Optimum points and get $100 off (regularly $85)
Redeem 95k Optimum points and get $200 off (regularly $170)
If this is your first redemption or you are unfamiliar with redeeming your points, you cannot redeem for gift cards, transit tokens, lottery and some products where required by law like prescriptions. Any taxes and deposits will also not be included in your redemption.
If you are a little short of points for the redemption, check your personalized offers as you may have one that will give you enough points for a top tier redemption as there are not many bonus offers in the current flyer.
If planning a redemption, I find that some prices are much higher during these events. If you are redeeming for high end makeup, fragrance or electronics, the prices rarely change but for the regular day to day stuff, you are sometimes better off redeeming during a good sale rather than bonus redemption.
In conjunction with the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission, Healthy Canadian is warning you that The Manhattan Group has recalled the Busy Loops Table Top Toy pictured above due to choking hazards. This toy is designed for babies and toddlers and features colourful plastic loops and rings.
More specifically, the plastic round beads that are found at the base of the loops have been found to break into small pieces thus resulting in the choking hazard. The Manhattan Group received two reports of the plastic beads breaking; however, no injuries have been reported in either the US or Canada.
Approximately 448 Recalled Busy Loops Table Top Toys have been sold in Canada between September 2015 and January 2016. The item number is 700470 and UPC 011964476329 with the date code FH. If you have purchased this toy, be sure to remove it from your child’s play area and return it for a full refund.
If you want to change your makeup look for the warmer weather and are not sure what to buy, the spring beauty gala will be held on Saturday 30th April. Tickets to the event are available for $10, with $5 donated to Beauty Gives Back with a makeover and skin consultation included. The remaining $5 is redeemable on any purchase made at Shoppers Drug mart during the event as a one day coupon plus stores will have gifts with your ticket purchase.
Makeovers and skin consultations vary by store. I regularly shop at three local Shoppers Drug Mart stores, the one that does the best makeovers and has a wider selection of high end brands does the bare advertised specials for these event while the smaller store bakes goodies, holds additional contests and gets extra freebies for customers. One even had someone doing manicures for an additional donation.
The gift bags have varied over the years and also vary by store. In one, they had clear bags where you could choose what you wanted while the fall one had stapled white bags and one of the lipsticks I received had even been used so it is worth finding that perfect store for this event.
Shoppers Drug Mart usually as a 20x beauty promotion and brand offers to coincide with their beauty galas so expect that at the end of the month.
Just a reminder that major changes are coming to the Starbucks reward program starting on soon. No longer will you have to annoy the baristas paying for your items individually for the extra stars as they will reward your stars based on the amount spent. You may want to make use of the various personalized offers they have sent out recently to get to Gold level or your latest reward if the new system doesn’t work for your spending habits and only have a few days to do so!
Currently you earn a star for each visit (or payment if you pay for each item separately). Starting in April, you will earn 2 stars for every $1 spent on drinks, food, mugs, accessories and more. When you get to 125 stars, compared to the 12 current stars, you will be able to redeem for a free reward – but only if you are a Gold member which means you need to earn 300 stars to be able to redeem anything.
To help Gold members, they will surprise you with a monthly double star day where you will earn 4 stars for every $1 spent and we will still receive bonus star offers in-store and personalized card offers.
If you are currently at the welcome level, they will upgrade you to Green level as the welcome level will no longer exist. Green and Gold members will keep their current status and any stars you currently have in your account will be multiplied by 11 when the new program takes effect in April.
Cineplex Canada has released their new schedule for March, April and May, 2016. Watch a family favourite film every Saturday morning at 11am each week for only $2.99 per ticket. A portion of the proceeds goes towards supporting Free The Children. It’s a fun and affordable way to enjoy the weekend with your family! Each week features a different movie.
Here’s the upcoming movie every Saturday morning at 11am for Cineplex Family Favourites at $2.99 each:
March, 2016:
March 26, 2016: Hop, 1h 35m, Comedy, Family. $2.99
April, 2016:
April 2, 2016: Peanuts The Movie. $2.99
April 9, 2016: Alvin and the Chipmunks: Road Chip. $2.99
IKEA Canada is recalling all GOTHEM floor and table lamps as cables damaged during manufacturing of some units could contact the metal body of the lamp, posing a shock hazard to consumers.
IKEA urges customers who have a GOTHEM lamp to immediately stop using it and to bring it back to any IKEA store for a full refund, even if the lamp is working.
All three models of GOTHEM lamps, (one floor lamp and two table lamps), are affected by the recall. The GOTHEM lamps have been sold on all IKEA markets since October 2015.
Customers should return their GOTHEM lamps at the Returns and Exchange department at any IKEA store for a full refund. Proof of purchase (receipt) is not required by IKEA for this recall.
IKEA takes product safety very seriously. All Ikea products are tested to and comply with applicable testing standards and legislation. At IKEA, the safety and security of everyone who comes into contact with their products is of the utmost importance.
In December of 2013, Simons Canada announced that it would be opening a flagship store in Square One, Mississauga. Two years later, the company is finally opening its doors today at Square One as it’s first location in Ontario. The store will be located in the space that was once a Sears Canada not too long ago.
The Quebec City based company that specializes in women’s and men’s clothing didn’t start off selling clothing. Peter Simons, who was born in Scotland, settled in Quebec City in 1785 where he lived and worked on a farm. His son, 17-year old John Simons, opened a store selling dry goods imported from Great Britain. It was a successful business that later turned into a department store and eventually Simons, the clothing store we know today.
The 110,000 square foot location in Square One not only has clothing and private labels, but also features a cafe and terrance inside. Simons is trying to create something different for consumers by offering a unique in-store shopping experience and differentiating itself from stores such as Forever 21 or H&M.
It will be a challenge for Simons here in Ontario, a place where few people have heard of the company, and only time will tell if it’s new look on the shopping experience will translate into more sales than its competitors.
As always, the Nordic and Scandinavian countries are near the top of the World Happiness List with Denmark at the top, followed by Switzerland, Iceland, Norway, and Finland. This year, Canada took a tumble out of the top five but still placed number six on the list.
The World Happiness Report, a UN-backed project, was released yesterday to coincide with World Happiness Day on March 20, 2016. It ranks 156 countries on their happiness levels based on numerous factors and elements including GDP per capita, life expectancy, social support, freedom to make decisions, etc.
Top 10 happiest countries:
Denmark
Switzerland
Iceland
Norway
Finland
Canada
Netherlands
New Zealand
Australia
Sweden
Denmark is consistently at the top of these lists due to their gender equality, parental leave allowances, work-life balance, and general safety in the country. America got spot #13, not surprising considering their social trust and their faith in the government is deteriorating. Coming in near the bottom of the list include Burundi, Syria, and Togo.
Soon after we posted a blog about Loblaws removing French’s Ketchup from its shelves, the grocery giant heard the Canadian outcry and reversed its decision! “We will restock French’s ketchup and hope that the enthusiasm we are seeing in the media and on social media translates into sales of the product” said the company in a statement yesterday. Loblaws will continue to sell French’s Ketchup at all of its stores including No Frills, Superstore, SaveEasy, among others.
. @LoblawsON needs to support Canadian farmers and jobs by putting French's ketchup back on the shelves, otherwise face #BoycottLoblaws
Canadians were on all forms of social media including Facebook and Twitter expressing their support for Canadian farmers in Leamington, Ontario and French’s Ketchup. Many people were calling for a boycott of Heinz and even got a hashtag trending to “Boycott Loblaws.”
“To have all the social media take off the way it did, by totally innocent people, and the response it generated, has been great” Leamingon Mayor John Paterson said yesterday. “I’m very happy. It’s good news for Highbury Canco, good news for French’s and good news for farmers” he said.
If you shop at your local M&M Meat Shops store, watch for some changes coming in the next few months. After the sale of the chain in 2014 and subsequent closing of 100 stores, the new owners are ready to make some changes to the existing and new stores.
They will be rebranding the stores to M&M Food Markets, introducing 100 new products and making changes to put an emphasis on their eOrder system where you pre-order online and pickup instore. Since my local M&M Meat Shops is always out of stock on sale items, it is great to pre-order and know that if I make the trip there, I can actually buy the sale items.
So watch for sales and promotions over the coming months as they sell off products in the older packaging and promote the new chain name to customers.
You may remember our post from the beginning of this month, which discussed Heinz’s exit from Leamington, Ontario and French’s subsequent entrance. Things were looking up for the small town in Southern Ontario as many local workers got their jobs back and support for local tomato producers increased.
Unfortunately, that’s not the end of the story. Just announced, Loblaws Canada will no longer offer French’s Ketchup on any of its stores’ shelves. For those who don’t know, Loblaws owns many banners including Superstore, Provigo, T&T, SaveEasy, SuperValu, Freshmart, No Frills, among many more which combine to represent 34.1% of the market share. The reason for the discontinuation is because of low demand for the ketchup and competition for high-demand shelf space.
What’s odd about Loblaw’s decision is that not only did it decide to remove French’s ketchup after a surge in sales but also because it came right after a promotion in their stores back in December which advertised two new flavours of French’s ketchup in Buffalo and garlic. The change in heart is quite sudden and contradictory to recent sales and media attention. This is a big blow to French’s and according to a statement by the company, “It is not our place to understand why [Loblaws] made this decision, but to say we are disappointed would be a huge understatement… .”
It’s unsure what will happen now that French’s Ketchup has lost such valuable shelf space at one of Canada’s biggest grocers, but perhaps this will force the company to rebrand and market itself as a Canadian product in order to increase the awareness of Canadian consumers.
Best Buy Canada has a program called The Baby Samplers Club where you can get the chance to receive awesome baby items for free! Best Buy carries a wide range of baby products and maternity items and if you’re selected to be part of the program, you’ll be able to test and keep the baby products in exchange for writing a review.
Parents-to-be or parents with a baby under the age of two are eligible to be part of the club.
After 21 great years, Kitchen Stuff Plus Canada at Yonge and Bloor in Toronto is closing! Their lease has expired but they plan to be back in the neighbourhood as soon a possible. As a result, Kitchen Stuff Plus at Yonge & Bloor is having a lease expiry sale. Starting today, March 14th, until March 26th 2016, save an additional 25% off.
Exclusions apply such as appliances, furniture and gift cards.
This deal is valid only at Kitchen Stuff Plus on Yonge & Bloor – 703 Yonge Street, Toronto, ON.
Best Buy Canada has a Friends & Family Sale on right now! Unbeatable deals on the hottest smartphones and accessories are available during this Best Buy Friends & Family Sale! It’s a one day only sale and valid in-store and at Best Buy Mobile stores today, Saturday, March 12, 2016.
In conjunction with the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission, Healthy Canadian is warning you that The Manhattan Group has recalled the 
In December of 2013, Simons Canada announced that it would be opening a flagship store in Square One, Mississauga. Two years later, the company is finally opening its doors today at Square One as it’s first location in Ontario. The store will be located in the space that was once a Sears Canada not too long ago.
The 110,000 square foot location in Square One not only has clothing and private labels, but also features a cafe and terrance inside. Simons is trying to create something different for consumers by offering a unique in-store shopping experience and differentiating itself from stores such as Forever 21 or H&M.
As always, the Nordic and Scandinavian countries are near the top of the World Happiness List with Denmark at the top, followed by Switzerland, Iceland, Norway, and Finland. This year, Canada took a tumble out of the top five but still placed number six on the list.
Soon after we posted a blog about 
