Meat is always fresh and cheap. The staff is friendly and knowledgeable. Many of the small goods…read moreare made in site and you can really taste the difference. I recommend the double smoked ham it is amazing. Member specials are plentiful and meant to get you in store because once you are in you will fill the freezer If you can get in first thing in the morning that's when they mark down the older stock. They do sell fruit and veg which I will occasionally buy however I personally prefer to get meat at the butchers and fruit and veg at the green grocers

I adore this RSPCA thrift store…read more I have found quite a number of designer dresses for dirt cheap here in past years. I have my suspicions about why RSPCA thrift becomes a home for beautiful clothing. Lots of people with good taste and disposable income live here, and fashion does have it's seasons after all. What else does one do but give their last season threads to the op shop? It makes sense, right? I'm fairly sure this op shop doesn't have any weaknesses. It's got sizable collections of pretty much everything. For some mysterious reason, RSPCA thrift doesn't ever seem to get raided for all the things keen op shoppers look out for: pressure cookers, frames, vintage manchester. Win! If you're on a stroll from James Street down down toward the Powerhouse, stop on by this local treasure. It's a goldmine.

This rather nondescript store is a veritable treasure trove of vintage goodness…read more RSPCA thrift holds the regular formula of an op shop, Stacks of bric-a-brac, dusty shelves and oodles of bargains. You have to trawl hard through all the racks but with patience (and a small amount of luck.) there are some truly sweet finds to be had (Think giant picture frames for $5 or skirts and tops for $3) With stacks of furniture out the back as well as sweet home ware's, you will spent a happy couple of hours investigating this little store.

The Furniture Shack mainly stock outdoor alfresco style furniture and at that, most of it is made…read moreout of synthetic woven cane material. Still, it looks pretty good and with their low prices, makes it hard to resist. It's quite a big showroom filled with furniture which you meander through and around. During the times I've been both of weekends and weekdays, I didn't find it to be too busy inside, so it gives plenty of time to peruse the options. One thing I noticed which I didn't like to much is that they lack in good customer service. I walked in and circled the entire store without so much as a glance. I didn't take it personally, because I noticed it happened with all the customers they had in store at the time. The staff waited until they were approached by customers first. I don't know about you, but I think that's all back to front! In the end, after I approached them and asked for assistance. They were relatively nice and helpful enough. Not the most pleasant of shopping experiences, but it will do.

The products are good quality and durable We have had all…read moreour cupboards fitted with sliding draws and I don't know how I ever did without them The ease of ordering and fitting is outstanding the help from the staff was always done with patience and kindness. Howard's is always my first choice

I've developed a bit of an obsession with organising my home of late and there was no better place…read morefor me to head (to assist with this) than Howards Storage World. With more storage options and ideas than you could poke a stick at and friendly staff, I can see this will be the first trip of many. Heaps of parking in the shopping centre and close to bedding, rugs and other home goods stores. They are a little on the expensive side however they have a really really really great range.

Foodies, Domestic Goddesses or those who just simply like kitchen ware you will find yourself in a…read morenirvana of sorts at Taste on James Street. As you walk in you are greeted by an abundance of kitchen gadgets, pots, pans, saucers and even a extra large Le Creuset Tea Pot. Wander upstairs and there are more kitchen delights to be found. As I wandered around the lofty upstairs I imagined how beautiful this would be for an event or long table dinner. Taste is fantastic if you are the serious home cook who wants the right tools OR you are an ok cook who feels like you can achieve more with names like Kitchenaid surrounding you. Either way, pop in and I dare you not to leave with something in your hot little hands.

Last Christmas I wanted to make gingerbread cookies, but I had a very specific vision (yes, a…read morevision - very artistic!) and it involved large christmas tree shaped cookies. I strolled into numerous kitchen shops assuming that finding a large christmas tree cookie cutter would be like finding a tree in the woods, but it turned out to be a bit more like Where's Wally? NO ONE had them! Small christmas tree cookie cutters were everywhere, but my VISION involved christmas trees were big enough to decorate with lollies and give as gifts. I recruited the help of numerous friends and family, asking them to keep an eye out for me. On Christmas Eve, when I'd all but given up and was rolling out my gingerbread dough ready to cut it into disappointingly small tree shapes, my Dad walked in with a large Christmas tree cookie cutter. 'WHERE? WHERE did you get this?', I asked him and ever since hearing his response ('Taste') I've had a new favourite kitchen shop. Upon my many subsequent visits I've always found what I needed and had a grand old time browsing their awesome range of things you never knew you needed but did!

Dudes take note, before you start the panic over what to buy…read morethe lady in your life (Whether it be partner, galpal, mamma or aunt gladys) you should check out the Thousand Island Dressing stores. This little store in New Farm is determined to win over the grouchiest person on your christmas list. It boasts an impressive range of eclectic jewellery, accessories, fascinators, handbags and home wares. Perfect for those with magpie tendencies, you will love the myriad shiny things on display. (My favourite part of the store are the beautiful earrings) I wasn't too impressed with the spotty service, but if you require a quality gift in a hurry I definitely recommend giving this store a go.

Ah, Thousand Island Dressing, where else would I have been able to find a pair of sausage dog…read moreearrings? Nowhere, because you stock the quirkiest of quirky jewellary and that's why I love ya! In terms of location, this shop is a little hidden in the boring section of Merthyr Village (stuck near the Doctors, Post Office etc) so it's not in the spotlight as much as I'd like. It hosts an array of cool, hippie-ish things for the home such as cushions, lamps and the like, but it's the jewellery that is really worth a gander. I found myself looking at things and thinking "Oh that's perfect for Alex" and "Oh that's sooooo Rachel". There were lots of people working in the small store when I popped in, but I'm assuming that's a precaution during this busy Christmas period. They seemed friendly and were happy to leave me to wander around in awe of all the sparkly things. This is a great store for anyone who loves to hang something unique around their neck or form their earlobes. The prices are super reasonable and you're bound to have something that will prompt the question "Oooh, where did you get that from?!".

As someone who lives in an apartment, it's not often you'll see me in a shop that devotes itself to…read moreoutdoor living. My Secret Garden in Teneriffe is the exception. The shop is treasure chest full of beautiful things for your garden, balcony, outdoor table as well as lovely art and gifts. I recently ducked in to buy a friend a wedding present and was highly successful in buying a unique gift that I was sure they could cherish for a long time. But it's possible to buy for yourself (even if you live in an apartment) with items such as pot plants which sit over a balcony railing, candles, deck chairs and hammocks. The owner Rick who mans the shop is friendly and always willing to chat. It's obvious that he is passionate about creating comfortable spaces and an urban oasis for us Brisbane dwellers. My Secret Garden is a treat of a shop whether you're shopping for yourself or not. Definitely worth a visit if you're in Teneriffe!

What better way to escape the heat of summer than to drop into what has to be the coolest…read more(temperature cool and awesome-cool) boutique outdoor living store in the inner-north. You feel like you've reached the inner-sanctum of serenity as you're greeted by the sounds of chilled out meditation music blended with the gentle gurgling of splashing water. Bliss? Yes. Dark wooden shelves are adorned with outdoor table decorations - from scented candles, to table cloths and an assortment of cups, saucers, cutlery and iced tea pitchers. The middle of the shop features outdoor furniture draped in bright cushions, towels and lamps. And of course, discounted, high-quality Christmas decorations and oversized deer (why not?). A perfect place to unwind and begin hoarding those decorations for your garden which you know you'll have to have once you step foot into this oasis of calm.

Belle Pot is a little kitchenware store, stocking anything and everything you need to add a splash…read moreof colour to the most important room in your house. The carefully arranged shelves reach all the way to the ceiling, towering over you full of utensils you never knew you needed but are sure to make life ever so much easier. Clocks adorn the walls as a variety of kettles jostle for space below. The completely open front of the store is partially obscured by a display of unusually designed plates and other crockery. My favourite thing they stocked were the water bottles, which may sound strange, if you don't know me. I carry a water bottle with me everywhere, something which has led to a great deal of lighthearted teasing on the part of my friends. Belle Pot had a display of a few different brands out the front, so I amused myself for a while deciding whether it was time for a new faithful friend. This is the perfect place to go if you're in the market to revamp your kitchen.

I thought Belle Pot was overpriced the first time I visited and there are some prices I wouldn't…read morepay for goods, but on the other hand, there's always some little enticing thing on the table out front to hook me when I'm walking by to lunch. The man who runs the store is always keen to help; I like to have a bit more of a browse before I commit, but like all tiny stores, we're very aware of each other's presence as soon as I go near the place. I've bought stable trays, tea cups, a knife, and some pretty glasses. No doubt I'll go back for more.