Odegard's second rug warehouse sale

By JOHN EWOLDT, Star Tribune

Last update: October 9, 2008 - 10:10 AM

Rug buyers would be hard-pressed to find a better selection of high-quality contemporary rugs at lower prices than at the Odegard Inc. warehouse sale (129 N. 2nd St., Suite 103, Minneapolis, 612-455-6100, www.odegardinc.com). More than 1,000 rugs will be available at prices ranging from $600 to $1,200 for 6- by 9-foot (regularly $3,000 to $6,850) and $1,200 to $4,000 for 9- by 12-foot (regularly $6,000 to $13,500). Most of the rugs are contemporary in the above sizes, but some 3- by 5-foot and 12- by 18-foot sizes are also available. A few copper, silver and white metal furniture pieces are also for sale. The warehouse is a block east of its showroom, on the opposite side of the street. Minnesota native Stephanie Odegard, now a New Yorker, designs the rugs and has them hand-knotted in Nepal and Tibet. Her rugs are produced without child or forced labor.

This week's deals at Opitz

Now's a good time to revisit the clothing and accessory bargains for men, women and juniors at Opitz Outlet (4300 Excelsior Blvd., St. Louis Park, 952-922-2435). This week's sale, now in progress, includes Juicy Couture jewelry ($5 to $50, regularly $20 to $200), Rocket Dog shoes for juniors ($15 to $20, regularly $50), men's Izod leather jackets ($40, regularly $400) and men's Kenneth Cole shoes ($30 to $40, regularly $100). The annex, now under construction, will more than double in size and reopen in about five weeks.

Compact fluorescent sale

Many consumers have made the switch from incandescent bulbs to compact fluorescent spirals, but there's resistance from some. They can be pricey, but prices have fallen. Even better, Xcel Energy, in conjunction with participating locations of Menards, Home Depot and Ace Hardware, is offering CFL bulbs starting at 99 cents while supplies last. More than 20 models are on sale. The bulbs cannot be thrown in the trash due to mercury content, but Home Depot, Ikea, and some Ace Hardware and True Value stores accept them for recycling. Want to avoid the harsh blue hues? Look for warmer red or green spectrums. The red spectrum is best for kitchens, bathrooms and garages. Green produces a warm light like an incandescent. Home Depot does a good job of clearly labeling each spectrum in its N:Vision brand. For more information on participating dealers, go to www.xcelenergy.com/homelighting or call 1-800-895-4999.

John Ewoldt • 612-673-7633 or jewoldt@startribune.com. If you spot a deal, share it at www.startribune.com/blogs/dealspotter.

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