The Elizabeth Arden warehouse opens today for its June sale.

The entire sale schedule for the month is June 10-15, 17-22 and 24-29. Sale hours are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The warehouse is closed on Sundays. No checks are accepted and no one younger than 16 is allowed on the premises for insurance purposes.

A variety of fragrances, skin care, cosmetics and more for men and women will be available at this sale.

The Roanoke warehouse is located at 3030 Nicholas Ave. N.E. For more information, call 983-6400.

The dollar store business in Southwest Virginia is booming.

In March, Roanoke Times retail reporter and blogger Amanda Codispoti reported that between March and April, three new dollar stores were opening in Roanoke alone: one Dollar Tree and two Family Dollar locations. A Dollar General location is also set to open by the end of the year in southeast Roanoke. These are the three major dollar store chains in our area, and it seems everyone has his or her favorite.

When I asked readers on my Shoptimist blog about their preferences, many mentioned that store cleanliness, helpful associates and specific brands kept them coming back to certain stores.

More than 310 readers voted in my poll asking which dollar store is their favorite, and more than 50 percent voted for Dollar Tree. Dollar General followed closely behind with around 39 percent of the vote. About 6 percent said they don’t shop at dollar stores — a total that’s more than the 3.9 percent who said they prefer Family Dollar.

Dollar Tree is the closest store to my home, so I shop there the most out of convenience. It’s my go-to store for wrapping paper and bows, as well as seasonal decorations. I’ve also found some great items in the food department, like brand-name frozen vegetables, candies, salty snacks and bread. It’s also easy to get items for free or nearly free with the use of coupons.

I also like stopping by a Dollar General Market, which has a great selection of produce, seasonal items and party supplies, but the closest one is in Troutville.

What readers like

There are approximately 20 Dollar Tree locations in and bordering the Roanoke and New River valleys, and more than 40 Dollar General locations. Family Dollar has only 15 local retailers, a possible reason why it has fewer fans.

Blog commenter Beth is a Dollar Tree fan. She wrote, “I particularly like the stores that have frozen food sections and carry the Nature’s Own bread products. The bread products are such a great deal. I love that I can get bread products without high fructose corn syrup and artificial flavors and colors at such a bargain price! Especially now that the Dollar Tree takes coupons, I find myself shopping there more and more!”

Jbx2 echoed her response, writing, “Dollar Tree gets my vote! Greeting cards, gift bags, wrapping paper all for a dollar. I also get makeup pads, cotton balls there. And I helped with a wedding where we used dollar store wine glasses as part of the centerpiece. They were super nice and looked great. More recently I bought some storage containers to be used in a closet. The same type of product sells at Target for around $8. They look great and hold everything perfectly.”

Dollar General received some positive feedback as well.

Jeffrey wrote, “Dollar General has my vote, especially the Dollar General Markets. You can get just about anything you need in there.”

Besides the Dollar General Market in Troutville, there’s also one in Christiansburg. These stores have the same policies as regular Dollar General stores but have an expanded grocery section and are larger overall.

Blog reader Kathy has grown to appreciate Dollar General stores all over the country. She wrote, “When we RV’d across the country 3-4 [years] ago we always managed to find one to buy canned goods, bread, cereal, etc. at good deals. Hubby even got a nice camouflage thermal shirt there last year!”

What’s the difference?

Dollar Tree is the only local dollar store where most everything in stores is actually $1, or sometimes less. The biggest drawback to these low prices is that all sales are final and no refunds are issued, unlike at the two other retailers. The store does allow exchanges on everything except seasonal items.

Though each retailer has an online presence, Family Dollar  does not offer online shopping. Dollar Tree requires bulk purchases for online orders, but also offers free in-store pick-up on qualifying products. Dollar General  doesn’t require bulk purchases and offers free shipping on orders more than $25.

All three retailers carry select brand names and accept manufacturer coupons, though Family Dollar and Dollar General also offer store coupons that can be printed from their websites and found in print ads.

These store coupons can be stacked with manufacturer coupons for double savings; however Family Dollar does not accept coupons on sale or clearance items. However, Family Dollar shoppers can use mobile coupons that can be accessed via text message or smartphone browsers.

Dollar Tree started accepting coupons in the past year, and has begun adding more products to its aisles, including clothes, fresh produce, frozen foods and more.

Each retailer accepts printable Internet coupons (like those on Coupons.com), though Dollar Tree limits Internet coupons to two per household, per day.

For readers who aren’t dollar store shoppers, I hope you’ll give them a chance. Start by browsing the Dollar General or Family Dollar ads in newspapers and online. This is a convenient way to compare prices and get a taste of where you could be saving.

I also suggest you stop in various stores from time to time. The merchandise is constantly changing, so you may find something on a second visit.

Do you agree with the results of the poll? If you don’t shop at dollar stores, what’s the reason?

Locally we have three big dollar stores: Dollar General, Dollar Tree and Family Dollar.

Each of these retailers have varying coupon policies, return policies and prices — but which do you prefer? I’ll be covering the ins-and-outs of each store in a column this Saturday, but I’d like to hear your opinions.

Do you like the store with the most name brands or the store with the lowest prices? Do you care about the store’s coupon policy or do you figure you’re getting a deal no matter what? Maybe you just visit the store that’s closest to your work or home.

No matter the reason, share why you love or loathe these local dollar stores in the comments section and take the poll below.

There has been a flurry of deal news lately that affects Roanoke shoppers. Here’s a roundup of some items that have been popular on the Shoptimist blog, as well as some new updates.

End of bag tags at

CVS

CVS has multiple ways for shoppers to earn Extra Bucks, but one program has recently been discontinued.

As of Friday, the company ended the Green Bag Tag promotion. With this program, shoppers could buy a tag for 99 cents that could be scanned every time a reusable shopping bag was used. For every fourth visit with the tag and reusable bag, shoppers would earn $1 in Extra Bucks. According to a CVS representative, the program was phased out “in order to focus on environmental initiatives which we believe will have a greater impact on our local communities.”

Kroger gas points

There are two opportunities for Kroger customers to earn more gas points throughout June.

First, visit www.kroger.com/summerfuel. On that page, you’ll find a digital coupon you can load on your shopper’s card that will earn you twice the gas points on weekend purchases.

You have to download the coupon only once and you’ll continue earning double gas points on weekends through June 30. Pharmacy and gift card purchases are excluded from this offer. Additional restrictions may apply.

Blog commenters originally were having trouble getting the digital coupon downloaded, but according to Carl York, a spokesperson for Mid-Atlantic Division of Kroger, the problem has been fixed.

Shoppers can also earn four times the gas points now through June 22 by purchasing select gift cards. Kroger gift cards are excluded from this promotion, as well as Green Dot prepaid reloadable products, MoneyPaks, American Express Variable Load Gift Cards, Visa Variable Load Gift Cards, and MasterCard Variable Load Gift Cards.

Sears deals in NRV

The Burgs — our New River Valley section — reported in April that the Sears location in the New River Valley Mall would be closing in mid-July, and now the store has started discounting all of its merchandise.

Currently, all apparel is 40 percent off, bed and bath merchandise is 30 percent off, major appliances are 20 percent to 30 percent off, and the rest of the retailer’s merchandise is at least 20 percent off.

Because the store will soon be closing, this location is not participating in any promotions seen in Sears circulars, and the auto center is not participating in any sales events. Additionally, there will be no refunds or exchanges — all sales are final. The store is still open during its regular hours and Shop Your Way Rewards members still can earn points on all purchases.

Coupons

Today is the first day of June, which means most online coupons have been reset. Some of these coupons have limited print quantities, so I suggest you check out the new deals soon. Reliable resources for legitimate printable coupons include: Redplum, Smartsource, P&G, Coupons.com, the Coupon Network and Target.

Elizabeth Arden sale

One of the questions I get most from readers is when the next Elizabeth Arden Warehouse Sale will be held. Good news — I have the June sale dates.

The next warehouse sale will be held June 10-15, 17-22 and 24-29. Sale hours are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. No checks are accepted and no one younger than 16 is allowed on the premises for insurance purposes.

A variety of fragrances, skin care, cosmetics and more for men and women will be available at this sale.

The Roanoke warehouse is located at 3030 Nicholas Ave. N.E. For more information, call 983-6400.

Salem Red Sox Military Family Appreciation Night

On June 12 at 7:05 p.m., the Salem Red Sox will host Military Appreciation Night. During this event, all active, retired and veteran service members and their families can receive complimentary tickets to the game and a free meal of a hotdog, chips and soda.

Those who qualify should call the Military Family Support Center at 400-8301 or email info@milfamily.org and leave their name, number of tickets needed and branch of the service by June 7.

Know of any other good news about bargains?

Will you be one of the first customers on Wednesday? Photo by Matt Gentry | The Roanoke Times

In honor of Belk’s 125th anniversary the retailer is giving a free gift card to the first 100 shoppers at each Belk store on Wednesday (May 29). The fun starts at 9 a.m.

The gift cards will be valued anywhere between $5 and $1,000, and there will also be free refreshments available.

Other giveaways will be available daily through July 12. Read more details here.

To find your closest Belk location, click here.

Take a close look at any of the items around you now and you’ll likely go on a tour around the world.

You’ll see “Made in China,” “Made in Taiwan,” “A Product of Canada,” or maybe even “Made in U.K.” — those are just a few labels from the items on my desk. Then there’s the “Made in USA” stamp many folks are yearning to see on more of their purchases.

According to the Federal Trade Commission, unless the product is an automobile, a textile or a wool product, there’s no law that requires them to include a “Made in USA” claim — though I’m not sure why companies wouldn’t.

The FTC also recognizes that since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, Americans are more interested in buying American-made products. However, if a business claims to make its products in America, “all or virtually all” of the manufacturing must be done on U.S. soil.

That means all significant pieces of a product must be made stateside. There is plenty of fine print that goes along with specific products, especially food and the three mentioned above.

Consumer Reports also notes that if products are manufactured or go through a “substantial transformation” in a country other than the United States, it must be stated clearly. That’s why you may have some confusion over meat, seafood or prepackaged products in the grocery store that say they’re from a certain state, but also list that they’re made in another country.

For example, in the seafood department you could find “North Carolina-caught shrimp” that was sent to another country to be shelled, processed and frozen before being sent back to your grocery store. That’s considered a substantial transformation, so it may be listed as caught in North Carolina but “made” in another country.

Some manufacturers try to mislead shoppers by including an American flag or other patriotic symbols on their product labels. If you want to be sure you’re buying American, read closely — you might find that the product was manufactured in another country. There’s no law that says companies can’t include patriotic images on their labels as long as the product also states where it was made.

But there are a few brands that are manufactured in America or are even moving their operations back.

KitchenAid and Master Lock are just two companies that have in-sourced some of their labor to the U.S. Other popular names that do some or all of their manufacturing on U.S. soil, according to Consumer Reports, include Crayola, Little Tikes, Maglite, Pyrex, Stihl, Lynox, Oreck, Gibson, Martin, Sharpie and Wilson.

American-made clothing can be difficult to find. Stetson, Brooks Brothers, New Balance, Orvis, Woolrich, L.L. Bean and Lands’ End are all doing some manufacturing in the U.S.

If you’re interested in finding out if your favorite products are manufactured in the U.S., it’s best to contact someone directly from the brand. Often a phone number and/or Web address is listed on product labels.

You also can visit websites such as Consumer Reports , the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Federal Trade Commission, www.madeinusaforever.com, www.americansworking.com or www.madeinusa.org to see lists of American-made products and guidelines.

On a more local scale, shopping farmers markets and locally owned stores is the easiest way to find Virginia-made products.

You can speak to the people directly involved in growing, harvesting, crafting or purchasing for their business and know exactly where the products are coming from. The website Shop Virginia’s Finest also has a selection of agricultural and food products approved by the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

Are you more likely to buy a product if it’s made in America? What are your favorite products that are made in the U.S.?

The next J.Crew warehouse sale will be held this weekend, May 25-26. Click here to see a map and get directions to the Lynchburg warehouse, or call 434-316-6324 to get more information.

To get an idea of what this sale is like, read about my experience in this blog post.

The Sears location in the New River Valley Mall is scheduled to close mid-July. Photo by Travis Williams | The Burgs

The Christiansburg Sears located in the New River Valley Mall is closing in mid-July, which means from now until that point you should be able to find some great deals.

Currently just about everything in the store is on sale, but no refunds or exchanges will be accepted — all sales are final. The store is still open during its regular hours and Shop Your Way Rewards members can still earn points on all purchases.

Right now fashion apparel and footwear are 30 percent off in the store, but discounts are sure to get deeper as we approach July.

According to this ad, the Christiansburg location is not participating in any Sears circulars you may receive in the Sunday paper and the auto center is not participating in any sales events.

If you’re a regular Kroger customer there’s an easy way to earn two times the gas points while shopping on weekends through June.

Download this digital coupon to your Kroger card now, and you’ll immediately start earning twice the gas points on grocery purchases made Friday through Sunday now through June 30. You only have to download the coupon once to earn more points each weekend.

Exclusions from this deal include pharmacy and gift card purchases. Additional restrictions may apply.

You may have noticed the coupon in Wednesday’s paper as well (apologies for not pointing it out sooner, I was just returning from vacation), so feel free to use the hard copy instead of downloading the deal if you still have yesterday’s newspaper.

Spring is here and that means your opportunities to shop are even more plentiful. Yard sales, flea markets, sidewalk sales and open houses are popping up everywhere. Locally, you can count on a few big events year after year and new prospects to explore as well.

Hit the road this weekend or mark your calendars now for these shopping events:

This weekend the J. Crew warehouse in Lynchburg is hosting another sale. The warehouse, at 25 Millrace Drive, will be open today from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. You can find more information and read about my experience at this sale on the blog, or contact the warehouse at 434-316-6324.

Another great opportunity to find some bargains this weekend is at the Sam’s Club Open House. This weekend only, the retailer is allowing non-members to shop or try various food samples with no strings attached. Samples will be available from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day, and Roanoke store hours are today from 9 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Current Sam’s Club members may want to steer clear of the store this weekend if possible — it’s going to get crowded.

The Elizabeth Arden Warehouse will host its next sale May 6-11 and May 13-18. This warehouse is located at 3030 Nicholas Ave. in Roanoke, and sale hours are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Shoppers will find fragrances for men and women, skincare products, makeup and more at this sale. It is important to note that no one under the age of 16 is allowed in or on the premises of this sale. For more information, call 983-6400.

Next Saturday from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., the Roanoke Civic Center will be hosting the Monster Indoor Flea Market. About 100 vendors will fill the Special Events Center, and seller spaces are still available for $25 if you’re ready to make a few bucks off of your clutter. For more information, call 853-5483.

On May 11, North Cross School will host its annual Big Flea event. At this event you can find donated furniture, large appliances, household items and clothing for sale to benefit the school. Donations for the sale will be accepted through May 9, and if you have large items, pick-up may be arranged by calling Jenn Mitchell at 230-8584. Kids can also have some fun at this sale by participating in field day events like carnival games, a dunking booth and more. Concessions will be available for purchase. The sale will be held from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. and field day activities will be available from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Another flea event that’s being held for a good cause is the 17th Annual Allstate Flea Market and Craft Event to benefit the March of Dimes. This event is also being held on May 11 between 7 a.m. and 1 p.m. (the rain date is June 8) outside the Salem Civic Center. Shoppers can usually find between 100 and 150 vendors at this event. Interested in selling? Vendors may rent two parking spaces for a $35 donation or four spaces for a $55 donation. For more information, call 776-6163.

Global Partners in Peace and Development is hosting an event called Proceeds for Poverty May 16-18 at the former Kroger location located on Orange Avenue in Roanoke behind the KFC and Denny’s. Sale hours are 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday. Global Partners will donate 100 percent of the proceeds from this sale to one of its four causes: clean water wells, small businesses, orphaned children and food programs. Items in good working condition (excluding clothes, entertainment centers and any TVs that are not flat screen) will be collected for the sale May 13-15 from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. behind the building. If you are moving or have large furniture or appliances ready to donate now, call Roy Carter at 537-2070 to arrange a pickup. For more information about the sale, visit www.gpartners.org.

This time of year you can also find flea markets at local churches and businesses. Many are submitted to The Roanoke Times at calendar.roanoke.com. Enter “flea” or “sale” in the search bar to find other events.

If you prefer adventuring around town and hitting yard sales all weekend, consider checking out the yard sale map on Roanoke.com. You can plan your route with this nifty tool at yardsales.roanoke.com.

Yard sale hosts may post the address, hours and a short description of what they offer on this page, and you may also get directions to each location. If you’re interested in posting your own yard sale on the map, you may do so at the web address above or by calling 981-3311.

You can also stay up-to-date with the local yard sale scene by signing up for text alerts from The Roanoke Times. Smartphone users can text “yardsales” to 96362 to sign up. Once you’re on the list you’ll receive up to four texts per month with a weekly update about yard sales on the map and a link to the mobile-friendly page (which is: http://bit.ly/ZeruCj).

What are your favorite local shopping events?

The Elizabeth Arden Warehouse will host its next sale May 6-11 and May 13-18. The warehouse is located at 3030 Nicholas Ave. in Roanoke, and sale hours are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Shoppers at this sale will find fragrances for men and women, skincare products, makeup and more. No one under the age of 16 is allowed in or on the premises of this sale.

For more information, call 983-6400.

This weekend, April 27 and 28, the J.Crew warehouse in Lynchburg will be hosting another warehouse/sample sale.

Check out the details below, and for more information call (434) 316-6324:

Considering a membership to Sam’s Club? This weekend you can check out what the retailer has to offer during it’s open house Friday through Sunday.

I received this notice from a store representative:

“From Friday, April 26 to Sunday, April 28, Sam’s Club is opening its doors to the public for a three-day spring Open House weekend. Members and non-members across the country will be able to access extraordinary savings on the newest items for spring and summer entertaining including dozens of complimentary warm weather food and beverage items, luxurious patio sets, hybrid grills and accessories for outdoor living from gazebos and pop-up gardens to pool floats and play sets.

During the Open House, Sam’s Club will present a festival of summer-inspired food and beverage samples from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day, including but not limited to:

• Patriotic Pound Cake with assorted fresh berries
• Assorted gourmet cheeses including smoked gouda, gruyere and Jarlsburg
• Fresh Enchilada Bake with Brisket and Salsa
• Grilled Steak Salad with Wish-bone® Dressing
• Applewood Smoked Pork Chops
• Garlic and Herb Chicken with Just Add Juice™ Seasoning
• Artichoke Spinach Dip with Pita Chips
• Italian Deli Pasta Salad with Daily Chef Rotini and Castle Wood® Sliced Salami
• Honey BBQ Pork Tenderloin
• Olive Garden Steak with Olive Garden® Italian Dressing
• Fruity Lemonade Cooler with Country Time® Lemonade and fresh watermelon

Several food pairings are sourced from recipes in Fresh, Fast & Fabulous (Version Three), an exclusive Sam’s Club cookbook provided to Open House guests while supplies last. You and your readers can download a digital version of the cookbook with inspiring recipes, cooking tips and brilliant photography at SamsClub.com/meals. “

Here are some new printable deals for local restaurants and retailers. Be sure to check the expiration dates — some expire soon.

Retail
*Old Navy: $15 off a $75 purchase (Expires April 24)
*JC Penney: 20% off purchases in store or online or 10% off furniture (Expires April 17)
*JoAnn Fabric: 50% off any regular priced item (Expires April 20)
*Michaels: 40% off any regular priced item, 50% off regular priced purchase of Jolee’s embellishments, or 50% off + 30% off custom framing (Expires April 20)
*AC Moore: 50% off any regular priced item and 60% off custom framing (Expires April 20)
*Kohl’s: 20% off everything in stores and online (Expires April 17)
*Belk: $20 off a purchase of $100 or more of Karen Kane products (Expires April 19)
*Belk: 20% off fine jewelry (Expires April 20)
*Ulta: $3.50 off a purchase of $10 or more (Expires April 20)

Dining
*Sbarro: Free skinny slice with the purchase of any pizza slice or stromboli at (Expires April 30)
*Bruster’s : 75 cents off a waffle cone and 99 cents for a kid’s dino or dirt sundae (Expires April 17)
*Olive Garden: $3 off two adult lunch entrees (Expires April 25)

Other dining promotions to remember:

Now through May 5 Olive Garden has brought back the “Buy One, Take One” offer. With this deal you can get one entree with unlimited soup or salad and breadsticks in restaurants, plus you get a second entree to take home all for $12.95.  For more information, click here.

Remember that all month long at Subway you can get 6″ subs buy one, get one free before 9 a.m. Mix and match breakfast sandwiches and deli sandwiches at participating locations.

On April 26 Pretzelmaker will be celebrating National Pretzel Day by giving away free salted or unsalted pretzels. There’s no coupon necessary to get this deal, just mention National Pretzel Day when you visit.

Baseballs sit in the grass during a Red Sox practice. Photo by JOEL HAWKSLEY | The Roanoke Times

We’re finally getting some warm weather just in time for the boys of summer to hit the field.

The Salem Red Sox opened its home season Friday night against the Myrtle Beach Pelicans, and there’s a long season ahead (the last Sox game will be at home on Sept. 2), so you have plenty of opportunities coming up to catch a game.

What makes the start of baseball season even more exciting is that there are lots of ways to save on game tickets and lots of freebies to be earned.

Advance & flex plans

The simplest way to save a few bucks is to buy individual game tickets in advance. Any ticket purchased at least 24 hours before a game is $2 off. That makes premium seats $10, box seats $8 and general admission seats $6. There’s also a $1 discount off the walk-up price (which is $12 for premium seats, $10 for box seats and $8 for general admission seats) for kids 12 and younger or senior citizens 65 and older.

Anyone planning to go to multiple games throughout the season should consider purchasing one of two 10-game Flex Plans available.

The 10th Man Flex Plan is $60 and includes 10 general admission game tickets and your choice of one $5 meal voucher for concessions or a 47 Brand Salem Red Sox hat ($20 value).

The Ballpark’s Best Flex Plan is $80 and comes with 10 undated ticket vouchers good for Strike Zone, box or general admission seats, a 47 Brand Salem Red Sox hat and one $5 meal voucher.

There are also deals specifically for kids and seniors who plan to attend multiple games.

The Kids Club for children 12 and younger costs $30 and includes 10 undated general admission tickets.

With this package, kids also receive a membership T-shirt, two autograph sessions with Red Sox players, five vouchers for the Kids Zone, a 10 percent discount in the souvenir store, a 10 percent discount on baseball camps, two free tickets to each of the three family nights and a coupon booklet for concession items. Additionally, kids will get a free hotdog, chips and soda on each of the 10 Kids Eat Free Sunday games. The total value of this package is more than $250.

Todd Stephenson, vice president and general manager of the team, pointed out that a family of four can purchase two adult Flex Plans and two Kids Club memberships and attend 10 games throughout the summer for $180, plus enjoy the additional perks listed above.

For seniors, groups & dogs

Adults 55 and older might consider joining the Silver Sluggers club.

For $30 members receive 10 undated box seat tickets, a membership T-shirt, a coupon booklet for concession items, a 10 percent discount in the souvenir store, entry to two Silver Slugger events in the club level, an exclusive meet the team party and a shot to be chosen Silver Slugger of the Game. The Silver Slugger of the Game is selected at random during each Silver Slugger game and wins a prize package. The total value of this package is $180.

Scout troops, youth groups and other clubs should look into special group pricing. Groups of 30 or more people can purchase general admission seats for $5 or box seats for $7. Group tickets must be purchased in advance. Stephenson suggests 10 days in advance for general admission seats or 14 days in advance for box seats.

There’s even a special deal for furry friends.

Dogs are welcome to come and enjoy Bark in the Park during every Sunday home game. Dogs can enter the park for $5 per game, or you can buy a 10-game season pass for $20. Four-legged fans are required to bring proof of vaccination to enter.

Other promotions

Throughout the season there are also tons of promotions for all attendees. All weekend games include poster giveaways for the first 500 fans. May 17-19, the ballpark will be supporting breast cancer research with Pink in the Park. Before these games, 1,000 pink T-shirts will be given away on Friday and 1,000 pink tuxedo T-shirts will be given away on Saturday.

For more information about upcoming promotions at Salem Red Sox games, a full game schedule and to order tickets, visit www.salemredsox.com or call 389-3333.

A new warehouse sale in Lynchburg begins today and runs through April 21.

Some brands available at this sale include: Orvis, New Balance, Wolverine, Castaway Nantucket Island, Patagonia and more. The names of some other brands participating were not allowed to be announced.

This sale includes apparel for men, women, and children, work boots, running shoes and more. The hours are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 8 p.m. on Sunday.

Brand Name Liquidations is hosting this sale at 7401 Timberlake Road in Lynchburg. For more information, visit the company’s website or Facebook page.

REBECCA BARNETT | The Roanoke Times
“I’m not a rummager, but this has been fun,” said Virginia Thornton of Lynchburg, as she shopped at a Vineyard Vines warehouse sale on Nov. 14.

You may remember way back in November I wrote about Vineyard Vines having its first warehouse sale — or “Whalehouse Sale,” as the company likes to call the events — in Lynchburg.

 Well, the first time must have been a success, because they’re coming back.

Thursday, March 21 through Saturday, March 30 you can shop the sale from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from noon to 6 p.m. on Sunday.

This sale will be held in the same location, at 7401 Timberlake Road (the former Lowes) in Lynchburg.

For more information, click here.

The March sale dates for the Elizabeth Arden warehouse have been released.

You can shop now through March 23, and then again March 25-30. The warehouse is open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays.

For more information call 983-6594, or click the “A” on the map below for directions to the sale.

View Larger Map

Start your holiday weekend off right with these new printable coupons:

Arby’s is offering customers Reuben sandwiches buy one, get one free Friday through Sunday with this printable coupon.

If you’ve already caught spring fever and can’t wait to get out in the yard, be sure to print out this Lowe’s coupon offering $10 off a $50 purchase. The coupon doesn’t expire until May 18, but you never know when it will disappear online.

Starbucks is offering customers a free tall caramel or hazelnut macchiato with this printable coupon. You’ve got some time to use it, too — this coupon doesn’t expire until March 31.
Meanwhile, at Barnes & Noble Starbucks locations you can get espresso beverages buy one, get one free with this printable coupon from opening until noon, now through March 31. (There are also some other B&N coupons at that link.)

Olive Garden has a sweet new deal for families. Click here to print a coupon offering a free kid’s meal with the purchase of an adult entree. You can get up to two kid’s meals free with the purchase of two adult meals per coupon, and it doesn’t expire until March 21.

Kohl’s is having a Friends and Family Sale this weekend, and you can save even more with this printable coupon offering an additional 20% off your entire purchase in stores and online. This coupon is valid Friday through Sunday.

This weekend at Macy’s you can get an additional 10% to 15% off select sale and clearance purchases with this printable coupon. This coupon expires on Sunday.

Hungry? Denny’s is celebrating bacon in its restaurants right now, and you can sign up here to get a coupon for two free bacon strips next time you dine. You can also use this printable coupon to get 20% off your entire check. This coupon is good through March 23.

Craving something different? Smokey Bones is offering customers $5 off a $15 purchase with this printable coupon, which is valid through Sunday.

If you’re thinking of hitting the mall this weekend, be sure to print this coupon from Aeropostale offering $10 off any purchase of $50 or more.  This deal is good through Sunday.

Don’t forget this printable coupon from The Limited too — you can use it to get $50 off a $150 purchase, $30 off a $100 purchase or $15 off a $30 purchase. This coupon expires March 19.

This is a fun freebie from Ulta: Print this coupon and you can get a free travel size of Redken hair spray. This coupon is good through Saturday, and no other purchase is necessary.
Additionally, you can use this printable coupon at Ulta to save $3.50 off of a purchase of $10 or more now through March 30.

Also, don’t forget about the return of JC Penney coupons, which I posted about yesterday.

Know of any other great coupons I missed? Share them!

This Saturday and Sunday the J.Crew warehouse will be hosting another sale.

See the flier below for all of the details, and for more information call 434-316-6324.

Good news — you don’t have to wait until Sunday for your coupon fix. On page 5 of today’s newspaper you’ll find three Stein Mart coupons.

*30% off entire purchase of red dot clearance
*20% off any one sale item (there are two of these)

All three coupons are good today and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Stop in for savings up to 80% off the retailer’s original discount prices.

(Update: This deal has been extended through today. If you didn’t get to purchase the voucher before, this is your second chance.)

Swing by Living Social now and you’ll find a one-year Sam’s Club membership for 44% off.

For $45 new Sam’s Club members will get a one-year membership plus a $20 store gift card and $19.84 in food-service vouchers. These vouchers are valid for an Artisan Fresh Rotisserie Chicken, a 16″ Artisan Fresh Take-and-Bake Pizza, and two boxes of 6-, 12-, or 24-count Artisan Fresh Cookies.

The Roanoke location is participating in this deal, so if you’ve been considering a membership this is a great time to try it out. If you purchase a voucher you must visit the store before June 18 to sign up.

**Added bonus: After you purchase the deal share your special link with friends. If three friends purchase the deal through the link you provided your voucher will be free.

To purchase your membership, click here.

Friend me on Facebook or follow me on Twitter for more updates.

Have you ever attended an LFA event? Courtesy photo.

The popular LFA Kids Consignment event is being held this Saturday, March 2, through March 10.

There will be over 450 consignors at this event, so if you’re in need of some new gear for the kiddos be sure to stop by.

The biggest savings will be found March 8-10, when the prices are discounted even more.
*March 8: merchandise will be discounted 40%
*March 9: merchandise will be discounted 50%
*March 10 merchandise will be discounted 75%

Of course, if you’re looking for something specific I would recommend visiting the sale early — things will get scooped up pretty fast.

Here are the specifics:

What:
LFA Kids Consignment Event
When:
*March 2 – 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
*March 3 – 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
*March 4-9 – 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
*March 10 – 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. 
Where:
3419 Orange Ave., Roanoke (former Kroger location)
Contact:
www.lfakids.com

Have you been to this sale? Tell me about your experience in the comments section below.

This Saturday and Sunday the J.Crew warehouse in Lynchburg will be hosting another sale.

Here are the details:

When:
Saturday: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Sunday: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Where:
25 Millrace Drive, Lynchburg

Contact:
(434) 316-6324

The stock of this sale will be replenished over the two days, so there’s no particular reason to get there early unless you’re looking for a wedding dress (sometimes those are available, sometimes they’re not, unfortunately you don’t know until you go).

Also, all sales are final and there are no dressing rooms, so wear clothing that pieces can be slipped over to try on.

The As They Grow Consignment Sale is being held Saturday and Sunday at the NRV Fairgrounds in Dublin.

Items for sale include: Clothing (baby to small adult sizes), baby gear, furniture for kids, toys, board games, books, movies and more.

In addition to the consignment items, some vendors, like Tupperware and Amway, will also have booths.

Sale hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday.

For more information, visit www.astheygrowconsignment.com.

**Don’t forget to enter the Valentine’s Day-themed MAC giveaway. Enter by Monday here**

The Elizabeth Arden Warehouse is having another sale just in time for Valentine’s Day.

The warehouse is open today through Saturday, and then again Feb. 11-16.

Sale hours are Monday-Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

All sales are final, and no one under 16 is permitted inside the warehouse.

The warehouse is located at 3030 Nicholas Ave., Roanoke. For more information, call 983-6594.

Click the map below for directions to the sale.

View Larger Map

Photo courtesy of DRI.

Gift cards have long been a standby for family members, friends and coworkers who are tough to shop for or whose birthdays are suddenly around the corner.

Unfortunately, that $50 Amazon gift card isn’t doing anything to support the local economy. An option exists for local residents now: the Downtown Roanoke gift card.

Introduced shortly before Christmas by Downtown Roanoke Inc., the card is accepted at numerous businesses throughout the downtown area.

“Although they are not reloadable, we feel that they are still an excellent alternative to our antiquated gift certificate program,” Downtown Roanoke’s communications and program manager Matthew Klepeisz wrote in an email. The cards are available in any value between $5 and $500. Klepeisz said cards can also be issued for up to $1,000 pending verification.

He noted that the program has been a huge success so far.

In the four days before Christmas, Downtown Roanoke Inc. sold more gift cards than they did the former gift certificates over the entire holiday season in 2011. One difference is that the gift certificate program gave the leftover balance back to the customer. The gift cards retain the balance, so the money stays with downtown merchants.

Cultural organizations such as the O. Winston Link Museum and the Roanoke Symphony Orchestra accept the gift card, as well as many of the shops and boutiques throughout downtown.

A range of dining options is on board as well. Customers can use the gift card anywhere from night spots such as Cornerstone Bar and Grill, to Market Building vendors, to Billy’s or First and Sixth.

“We have seen several come through recently. We much prefer it to the former gift certificate they had,” said Victoria Taylor, co-owner of The Gift Niche. “It’s a really easy transaction. I think it’s just a lot more convenient.”

Daniel Mock, owner of Queso Southwestern Grill in the Roanoke City Market Building, also likes the program.
“I’m a big fan of it and I hope to see more of them. … I think it’s a real easy way to keep business in downtown Roanoke,” he said.

Mock added that the new program is easier on business owners, who previously had to send in the gift certificates wait for a check to be sent to them. “I think a lot of business owners don’t like having that money out in limbo,” he explained.
Hotel Roanoke is the latest business to sign on and accept the gift cards.

“This is a significant addition to the current list of businesses because it will allow the purchaser to use the gift card for a full downtown experience, including entertainment, nightlife, dining, shopping, and, now, lodging,” Klepeisz said.

A full list of participating businesses can be viewed at www.downtownroanoke.org, or just look for the window decal stating “Downtown Gift Certificates Accepted Here” at downtown businesses.

Gift cards can be purchased at the Downtown Roanoke Inc.’s office at 213 Market St. between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, or by phone at 342-2028.

Another J. Crew sample sale (or warehouse sale, whichever title you prefer) is coming our way this weekend.

Shop the sale Saturday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. or Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the J. Crew warehouse location in Lynchburg (25 Millrace Drive).

I’ve had tons of luck at these sales, but you never know what you’re going to find. The selection changes at each sale, though they do replenish the stock (so no need to get there early).
Just beware: All sales are final and there are no dressing rooms. I suggest you wear something that can fit under any merchandise you choose to try on.

For more information, call the store at 434-316-6324  or check out the flier below:

Graphic courtesy of Downtown Roanoke, Inc.

The inaugural Downtown Roanoke Restaurant Week begins today. This is a great opportunity to try various restaurants downtown for a set price. You can pick lunch or dinner from 25 restaurants organized into three price categories: $10, $20 or $30.

Supporting the local food scene while getting a good deal? That’s fantastic.

For more detailed information, including a restaurant list and contact info, read this post on Lindsey Nair’s Fridge Magnet blog.

The biggest shopping news of 2012 included big changes at J.C. Penney and Food Lion, the continued explosion of daily deals, and changes to store rewards and coupon policies.

 JCP

J.C. Penney has remained a hot topic on the Shoptimist blog since it made changes to its coupon policy (they’re no longer accepted), named Ellen DeGeneres its spokeswoman and altered its sale schedule.

Since the initial changes last January, the retailer has done away with the monthly deals and “best prices.” Now, shoppers have two options: everyday prices and clearance prices (the final markdown of the product). The retailer did hold a sale on Black Friday, but otherwise the cheapest prices to be found in stores will be the regular clearance markdowns. There are no other scheduled sales to date.

However, shoppers still miss their coupons and aren’t as pleased with the current selection. The weekly sales are also missed by many.

Still, there are a few things that could get shoppers’ attention in the future. There’s still a chance that Sephora cosmetics could be added to Roanoke J.C. Penney stores by 2015. Additionally, the specialty “shops” in stores will increase to 40 (there are currently 11 in the Valley View location) this year. Even more will be added by 2015.

Will these changes appeal to the angry shoppers who have abandoned the store since early 2012?

Food Lion

Last March, Food Lion made some in-store changes. Aisles were widened, prices were lowered and the produce section was expanded. Local shoppers left mostly positive comments on the blog about the changes. After visiting a Food Lion, I appreciated the ample room for navigating a cart and have noticed the prices are more competitive than in the past. The produce section seems to have a better selection as well.

Additionally, kiosks that dispense Food Lion coupons were installed in stores. These coupons cannot be stacked with manufacturer coupons, which are still not doubled by the grocer, but the coupons offering dollars off your total purchase are attractive.

Doubled coupons and more self-checkout lanes remain on the wish list of many shoppers, which is something we’ll keep an eye on in 2013.

Walgreens

Walgreens introduced the Balance Rewards program in September. It allows shoppers to earn points for purchases that can later be traded in for store discounts. Rewards start at $5 for 5,000 points and go as high as $50 for 40,000 points.

To earn additional points, shoppers can enroll in Walk with Walgreens, which will give them 10 Balance Rewards points for every mile walked and tracked through the website.

This new program did not end Register Rewards, a program similar to the loyalty program at CVS. However, the introduction of Balance Rewards did cause some confusion because shoppers can now receive both points and Register Rewards for purchases.

Can the retailer come up with a better way to combine the two programs in 2013?

Dollar Tree

It seems too good to be true, but Dollar Tree, the store where everything is $1, started accepting coupons in August.

With coupon values regularly reaching 50 cents to $1, this meant lots of freebies and bargains. The retailer regularly has name-brand products that often have corresponding coupons such as Ziploc, Glad and Campbell’s.

But just a few months later, in early December, the store made some policy changes. Now, shoppers can use only two Internet coupons per household, per day and no retailer-specific coupons will be accepted.

I think the first change is the biggest. The previous policy limited it to two Internet coupons per transaction, so you could check out twice if necessary. I’m a little shocked that retailer-specific coupons were accepted in the first place.

Groopdealz

One of my favorite new online retail sites is Groopdealz, which specializes in flash sales and daily deals of boutique and Etsy vendors.

Etsy continues to grow in popularity, so a marriage between the two sites means fantastic deals on unique items. Of course, there are multiple sites like this to choose from, but this is one I can attest is legitimate.

I have found many pieces of jewelry and art prints for $10 or less on the website, and shipping often is free or minimal. I suggest “liking” the site on Facebook. The retailer sends out updates every time a sale is starting or new merchandise has been added.

What retail/shopping changes are you hoping to see in 2013?

If you’re on the J.Crew Clearance Store email list, this is old news to you. (Hint: You should sign up by calling 434-316-6324.)

Recently two coupons valid at the J.Crew Clearance Store (23 Millrace Drive, Lynchburg) were sent out.

Coupon #1 offers 20% off a purchase made from Dec. 14-23.
Coupon #2 offers 15% off a purchase made from Dec. 27-Jan. 5.

It’s important to note that all sales are final and there are no returns or exchanges available. No buyer’s remorse allowed here!

To print these coupons, click the graphic below. Then, on the next screen, click the graphic again for a large, printable version.

If you’re starting off your weekend by shopping or dining out you might want to pick up today’s paper. Here are some of the goodies inside:

Macy’s
* 20% off select sale and clarance apparel and jewelry, and 15% off all sale and clearance watches and home items (valid today through Monday)
* $10 off a purchase of $25 or more (valid today and Saturday)

Stein Mart
* 20% off any sale item today and Saturday (there are two of these coupons)
* 40% off entire purchase of red dot clearance today and Saturday
* 50% off entire purchase of home red dot clearance today and Saturday

Frank’s Italian Restaurant (5933 Williamson Road, Roanoke)
* 2 slices of pizza (one topping) and a drink for $6
* Choice of pasta, salad and a drink for $10
* 2 large one topping pizzas and a two-liter of soda for $17

Ruby Tuesday
* $10 off two entrees (valid through Dec. 23)

Cinnabon (NRV Mall)
*$1 off a Classic Cinnabon (valid through Dec. 31)

Ben & Jerry’s (NRV and Valley View)
* $1 off a small or large ice cream (valid through Dec. 31)