I love nothing more than being able to say the piece of jewellery I'm wearing is a one-off - which…read moreis why I get a thrill out of scouring the aisles of The Bead Centre on Smith Street, Collingwood for an array of charms and beads to create my very own unique treasure. The best bit is, more often than not you come across charms that are identical to those used on current accessories in stores such as Sportsgirl. Being able to create an 'of the moment' piece for a quarter of the price you'd pay for it in store is exceptional. And I love that you can customise it to your own taste. The Bead Centre carries an extensive range of chains, leather straps, clasps, charms, beads, baubles, crystals, stones and more - as well as a huge range of ready-made costume jewellery with the lowest prices in Australia.

I have yet to find a quality bead shop that stocks the particular items I am looking for such as…read morequality leather cord, clasps and metal accessories. Keep searching for better quality, unless you are just looking for something to get you by.

Lovisa at Knox City stocks hundreds of great pieces of jewellery at ridiculously cheap prices. The…read morepieces are beautiful and arranged by theme and the store is almost always having a sale of some kind. As a result, it tends to be pretty popular and visiting on a weekend results in a few traffic jams in the teensy room that is the shop. They have earrings for just $5 a pair, and $7 for three pairs. They have necklaces, rings, headbands, bracelets and bangles.... the list goes on but you get the drift. It is cheap and there is a lot to choose from. My pet peeve about this place is that they have such beautiful pieces yet they break very easily. The earrings and rings are alright, but I wouldn't recommend purchasing necklaces from here. I have bought three from here in the past and all three broke within weeks. One broke ten minutes after I got it home - that's disappointing to say the least. While it looks pretty and high quality and they give you pretty bags to carry home your new treasures, the pieces really aren't well made and are unlikely to last. Not a big fan anymore.

Great place for ear and nose piercing. Quick and cheaper than many other places. Girls are very…read morefriendly and skilled too.

At first glance I thought this was just a typical, Cash Converters rip off type of joint. That was…read moreuntil about 12 months ago, when my fridge decided to just up and conk it at a very financially inconvenient time. What with two kids, a mortgage and car loan my husband and I weren't exactly in the position to go out and grab a brand new fisher and paykel. So we traipsed around Glenroy, the discount and op shops, all of whom either didn't stock fridges, or stocked second hand bangers for about the same price as a brand new fisher and paykel. Cash Traders was the last place and I wasn't even going to bother, but I'm glad I did. We scored a double door fridge with heaps of room and flashy compartments. Sure, it was second hand but it wasn't in bad nick and it was bigger and better than the one we had. And we got it for a steal at only $250! With a twelve month warranty!! How good is that! So don't write them off if you're in need of a bargain, they might just have what you're looking for at the price you need.

Great service. Highly recommend visiting the store. I purchased my iPhone from here. Very friendly…read morestaff

EVITA MOONEE PONDS CENTRAL OPENING DECEMBER 2011!…read more Get your $ out and shop with your sense - because this place is priceeeey! But the reason is they only sell the most prestigious, glamorous bling around. From DKNY, Tesoro, Italys little Treasures, Von Treskow, and Fossil Watches, Evita will have you hooked on all that glitters and shines. As its a family run business the service is great combined with fantastic product knowledge. It's not jam packed and overcrowded like a jewellery junk shop (like, dare I say it, Prouds) so don't go here expecting a lot of variety at cheap as chips prices. Evita is a chic, ultra classy, classic jewellery store so if you're looking at spoiling yourself or your loved one on a large scale, give Evita a go. Just be prepared to pay. Evita has a store in Brunswick, and will be opening this store in Moonee Ponds Central in December.

This shop has some gorgeous pieces of jewellery. Lots of top end fine quality lines and a range of…read moreaffordable yet beautiful pieces. Customer service from a particular middle aged blonde woman lets this store down however. She is rude abrupt and lacks warmth and patience.

Mario's has been in the business for 30 years. There is no doubt that these guys sell quality hand…read morecrafted jewellery at a fraction of the normal retail price. As gold and silver are constantly being marked up you never know if you are getting a good deal. Mario's sells the latest makes and models at great price and if you are buying for more than one occasion be prepared to work some negotiating skills. This is also a great place to go if you are looking to melt down pre-loved jewellery and design something unique from scratch.

My inner hipster weeps for joy when I come here. There's cute jewelery, lambs wool mittens in…read morebright colours (I got watermelon pink), nanna cardigans and other assorted nic-nacs that make me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. It's not especially cheap, but everything is of a high quality and a lot of it is locally made which in my opinion is always worth shelling out a few extra dollars for. A great spot to pick up a gift for your quirky girlfriend, with staff who will help you make a decision on the most appropriate purchase. Love. Big time.

I am so lucky that I live this close to one of the coolest gift shops in Melbourne! If you need a…read moregift for anybody male or female I challenge you not to find it at Lulu. Full of funky designer goods, many from local artists and designers. The products change regularly providing new things to explore every time you pop in. Very helpful staff that will endeavor to help you find the perfect gift. There is every chance that you will leave with the gift you need and a little something for yourself too!

A staunchly monochromatic affair, my wardrobe is in need of some of Alphaville's wares. Now. As…read moreMinh L. noted, Alphaville can come off a little intimidating. It's staff are all gorgeous, its interior almost brutally simplistic and spartan and its clothes, oh golly its clothes, they're to die for. Cultivating a very, very Melbourne look which can probably be summed up as: smart/androgynous/black/white/grey/twisted/sophisticated and intellectual with just a little bit of whimsical print thrown in to stop the whole affair from being too serious, Alphaville is the kind of shop you'd buy ALL of your chic basics from if a singlet wasn't fifty bucks. Probably best as the place you buy that classic but hard to find dress that only really comes alive when you try it on, Alphaville is one of my favourite Brunswick Street stores. And with prices not quite as scary as you'd imagine - think $100 and upwards for a dress rendered in beautiful quality silk and cotton - it's definitely worth a look.

Danger danger!!…read more Abort abort! ALIENS APPROACHING!!! Okay, so there's no aliens but your wallet is in serious danger of being assaulted here. This is one of my favourite Gorman stores in Melbourne. The range is pretty much the same as everywhere else but it stands out as one of the better ones for a few good reasons. 1 - it's big, with a huge change room area that feels a little more discreet at the back of the store, meaning you can come in and out of the change room and strut your stuff in front of the mirror. 2 - it seems to attract a really fun clientele who are all happy to comment on each others outfits and give advice and compliments whilst doing said strutting. 3 - the staff! They are my main reason for coming to the Windsor store. I love that they remember me, know what shapes suit my body and love playing dress up with me. Lucy and Julia are terrific and are exactly the kind of sales assistant you want - they always ask what I "need" in my wardrobe and are great at suggesting I try different combinations and things "just for fun" rather than with a focus on having me spend more than I intend to. Love love love.

Gorman is a store I should steer well away from... I need to drag myself away! There are too many…read moretempting dresses that are calling my name in there. The designs and colours suit almost anyone, from the younger crowd to the more mature of us ladies! Featuring lots of bold colours and prints, some daring moves also, like patterned ankle socks with clog type heels... would not suit me, but if you can get away with it, do it for sure. Their pieces are fairly pricey but they are absolute classics and will be staples in your fashion collection for years to come. There is nothing not to love. When my friend and I went in, we were greeted by very friendly and helpful staff who were happy to go above an beyond in finding an outfit that we would be happy with. Pulling out belts from here, socks and shoes from there... etc. You'll soon be addicted, too! x