CRAZY ASIAN KNICK KNACKERY - Slightly better than a two dollar shop, this place is beyond…read moreclassification. They stock mattresses. Cheap mattresses for the poor Uni student who find themselves living in some weird share house. Carpets. Doggy beds. Kitty scratching posts. Duct tape. Measuring tape. Jewellery. Sunglasses. Reeds for the vase in the hallway. Don't have that vase? They have many vases! Wigs for halloween. Vampire teeth. Paint. Facepaint. Canvas boards of varying sizes. Thongs. Stockings. Novelty lighters.The list goes on and on and on. When you walk in, you want to walk straight out but something compels you to stay - that little voice in your head that says maybe, just maybe you could find something in this treasure trove of awesome junk.

There are so many of these knick-knacky type shops on Sydney Rd it's a bit of a joke. Along with…read morebridal shops, jewellery stores and textile places - it seems like an Italian woman's dream street. Brunswick Clearance Centre is probably the biggest knick-knack store in the area. It has everything from party supplies, picture frames, art, furniture, manchester, homewares etc. etc. As with all of these stores the gear is cheap (ish) and they are a bit of a mish mash of things that are hard to find anywhere else. I recently bought a cork board, candle, ribbon and plastic champagne flutes. Good for a look if you're stuck trying to find something specific.

Mine Ours Yours is quite a small shop in Vermont South Shopping Centre. It stocks gift type items…read moreand has a lot of vases and candles. For the shopping centre that it is in and the demographic of the patrons, I think the items are quite overpriced. While there are some great items in there, I was still shocked each time I picked something up to look at the price tag. I found a handmade photo album that was a whopping $150! I'd rather buy a new machine made one for that price, just saying. I also found a reasonably cheap material bag that was quite boho in appearance. That was only $28. The prices got pretty random at times and it was hard to see the logic behind them. The staff member who greeted me was quite pushy when I all I really wanted was to browse. It really turned me off the shop as I had to be quite abrupt to get some breathing space. Afterwards I felt quite awkward in the shop and I left pretty quickly. If you're after something different and of nice quality then I can see how this shop would be an option for you. If you're just having a casual browse then perhaps not.

Wow, what a different shopping experience. For once I felt comfortable shopping in a gift shop…read more There was room to move throughout the shop without knocking things off tables and stands and they have a great variety of wonderful gift ideas to choose from. The prices on the goods were reasonable considering the quality of the goods. There is NO cheap made plastic or poly-resin rubbish here. I had a large choice for my $50 budget and bought a lovely, bright, red plate and a puzzle for less than $50. I would expect to find such variety and quality either in the Dandenong Ranges or inner Melbourne. It was really fantastic to find a gift shop with such uniqueness within a suburban setting. The staff were engaging without the pushiness and it was nice not to be ignored. They even offered me a mug of tea and biscuit as I had had an horrendous day. For unusual and unique gifts of high quality with interactive staff then this is a great place to visit.

This pink-tastic building is a smorgasbord of accessories, jewellery, handbags, ornaments, cards…read moreand knick knacks of different styles and tastes. There's even a Christmas section out the back of the second room (though it's doubtful as to whether it's there year round), chock full of tinsel, Santas, wrapping paper and tree decorations. The sales assistant will throw out prices and discounts as you wander the shop but is thankfully content to leave the salesmanship at that, so you're informed but not pestered. Like most gift shops, some of the stock is a tad on the random side, but just might be the very thing you're looking for. There's less of the notebook/journal/diary style of gift and more of jewellery and sunglasses (the latter of which were a tad dusty, but hey, they're UV ray protected) and patience will reap rewards. The prices are low, and eftpos is available. If you're in the area, it's worth a peek, particularly if you've got an occasion requiring some kind of gift exchanging coming up.

My Range located near the corner of Bourke and Queen Street in Melbourne City is a narrow little…read moregift store with a big heart. Whenever I am last minute gift hunting (hope my friends don't see this) in the city, this is my go-to place. But be warned, there are heaps of gimmicks and clever little things so try and stick to your cause and buy you gift. I have to admit, I've been side tracked before and ended up buying some cheeky baby rompers for my nephew and a scarf for myself. That's the good thing about this store, it's stocked well enough to offer a wide range of products for all sorts of characters - from funky alternative sorts to mainstream lovers to those that appreciate a little humour. I'm a sucker for bird-motif items so this gets me everytime.

Pretty cool gift shop with a really adorable range of babywear. I bought my expecting best friend…read morean "as seen on Facebook" little baby jumpsuit thing. It seemed appropriate, as she's documented the entire process online. They've also got a range of rubber duckies in all sizes, colours and patterns, so you can have your very own Ernie impersonation party in your very own bath. Service is friendly and helpful, and the prices are definitely in the "gift" range rather than the "practical purchase" range. As I said, pretty cool, and worth a look around if you're after a gift for someone who already has all the practical things.

Quirky, colourful and so much fun - would be my description of this busy little shop that never…read morefails to get my attention. It's one of those stores that you need some time to browse and take everything in because there are so many little things to look, feel and experience. Check out the clever little gimmicks such as the stacking Babushka doll measuring cups, the matching measuring spoons and the more recent water carafe. Other interesting décor items include bird cages, bird motif frames and elegant candles stands and candelabras. Gizmo Gifts also has a wide ranges of kid's toys, quirky non-slip socks and slogan t-shirts plus humorous collectibles for the big kid in you. Every time I step into this store, I end up buying something that I really love so if you're in the market for a unique gift idea, Gizmo might have exactly what you're looking for.

This is one of those stores that if you don't like crowds, then don't go there on Christmas Eve…read more This is a tiny little gift buyer's paradise. There is everything from novelty mugs to calendars, to adult toys to key chains, scented candles and wacky mouse pads. The aroma as you walk in, is a fusion of bubble wrap and vanilla incense or whatever cheap incense they seem to be burning. I'm really not a fan of these stores - this is like the epitome of commercialism, I'm surprised that Christmas doesn't own it. This place is like an up-market $2 shop. Most of the products aren't made in china, so they cost you an arm and a leg - but unfortunately it's still worthless crap. Maybe I'm being a bit offensive, especially to those who have a "Magpies supporters only" parking sign in front of their house. If you don't, and you enjoy worthless crap, now you know the place to find it!

Melbournalia is a souvenir shop that sells stuff people will actually like. This news is the good…read morekind of shocking. I'm a fan of gift giving, but souvenir shopping is such a chore. It takes forever and there's a good chance that the recipient will be polite but never use it, or you'll buy something that's more gag-gift than keepsake. What bugs me even more is when you see the same damn souvenirs relabelled in every country you go to. The wares at Melbournalia are different. They sell well thought out items from local Melbourne designers, with just the right hint of local charm (trams, postcode designs, aussie animals). You wouldn't have to have a foreigner in mind to buy something here either. They sell the kind of stuff you could have in your own house without it being embarrassingly ironic. Cute+

Bourke Hill based Melbournalia carries all manner of Melbourne-themed (and Melbourne-made!) goods…read more From local rooftop honey and tea towels to tram t-shirts and kids books, this small shop pretty much corners the market on local gifts. A wise stop if you want something to remember your trip to Melbourne, or want to send a gift to a homesick Melburnian living abroad.

Wilkins and Kent stock some beautiful things. Kitchenware, ceramics, organic soaps and candles, and…read moreof course well-made and divine woodwork are scattered around the space. On my last visit I spent a lot of my time eyeing a long handmade redgum bench. Sleek and simple it stood in the middle of the store and radiated comfort. Unfortunately the price tag (well over $1000) and lack of space in my house meant that I didn't have a hope in hell. But I can dream. Wilkins and Kent have some great kitchenware ranges including the Nigella Lawson range, and some exquisite ceramic bowls. On my last visit I bought some ceramic birds that hang from the wall - glazed with beautiful colours they are beautiful little pieces of art and around the ($50) mark, weren't too expensive. The service at Wilkins and Kent is always great, although the store can get very busy so it may take a while to get some service. But friendly and well meaning, the sales assistants are helpful and knowledgeable about the products.

Wilkins and Kent is one of those must-visit stores for me on Brunswick street. Filled with a…read morekaleidoscope of products from pretty table ware to chic bakeware and printed lamps. This is also one of those stores that you need to slowly work your way through in order to appreciate it for what it really is. Incidentally, it would be easy to mistake this shop as a homeware store, but in actuality, Wilkins and Kent specialise in custom designed furniture. And from what we hear, the bosses Jeremy Wilkins and Stephen Kent are the actual furniture makers. If you're looking to create a custom designed piece or are just looking for something to complement your home with, check out this lovely store. Wilkins and Kent also carry a wide range of household décor items, stationery, gardening tools and other bits and bobs - perfect as gifts.

Presence on Puckle is a delightful giftshop/variety store, with plenty to tempt you, and not just…read morefor purchasing presents!! At the moment they've a major emphasis on the spring racing carnival, with the largest range of fascinators I've seen in the North, as well as jewellery and other accessories. And if you're looking at sprucing up your kitchenware range, Presence on Puckle has you covered, with brands including Maxwell and Williams and Bacarrat. Not your usual junky giftshop, they have a spattering of almost everything gifty, but only if its of high quality. The perfect place to purchase presents for people you like, or to spoil yourself!