Going-out-of-business sales: Just a reminder of retailers whose doors will be closing soon: Borders Books (50 percent off or more), Ultimate Electronics (40 to 70 percent off), and Inizio Gifts in Minneapolis, where everything is 30 percent off.

The hottest trend to hit kidswear, toys and accessories is the consignment sale phenom. These aren't bricks and mortar consignment stores. They're occasional sales held twice a year. Local families price their own goods (clothes, toys, maternity, strollers, bouncy seats etc) that are in good condition, and sellers get a larger percentage (about 70%) than permanent stores give (around 50%). At the Just Between Friends sale from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, pickers have carefully looked for stained and recalled items and removed them from the sale. A lot of shoppers wait until Saturday (April 2) when most items are half-price. The sale is at the Eagan Community Center (1501 Central Parkway, Eagan). It will be packed on Saturday, guaranteed,

Haskell's famous Nickel Sale starts Saturday. Keep in mind that although the words "nickel sale" are still used, this is no longer a "buy one bottle at regular price and get the second one for a nickel." Every bottle that is on sale is at the same price so you don't have to buy two if you don't want to. The bottles on sale now end in 5-$11.95 for example. Another reason to visit on Saturday, April 2 between 1-6 p.m. is the more than 50 wines open for sampling at all locations.

If new flooring (carpet, hardwood, vinyl, tile) is in your budget, you might want to head to ProSource on Saturday, April 2. The semi-annual sale doesn't run until Thursday through Saturday of next week (April 7-9), but you'll be able to shop without the hordes if you pre-shop now. You can choose what you want before then and have then wait until the sale to ring it up. To find a ProSource showroom near you, call Jack Rubenstein Wholesale Co. (952-922-4781) . ProSource is open only to the trade, so call Rubenstein to get information. The showrooms are large with plenty of selection. If you've found a lower price on flooring locally than through Rubenstein during the semi-annual sale, let me know. And that includes Empire.