Kmart Tyre & Auto strategically set up shop right next door to the shopping centre. This is one the…read moremain reasons why I like this Kmart Tyre & Auto in Mt Ommaney. Although I had to bring the car in quite early, 7am, I had some coffee and waited until the shops opened at 9am. I was able to run all my errands in Mt Ommaney Centre as my car was being serviced. This was the best part. Customer service is good and feels personal. They were friendly and clearly explained everything to me. This is one of the most convenient places I've ever had my car serviced at and I absolutely loved it.

I've taken my car here three times now and I couldn't be happier with these guys. I like the way…read morethat the quote is clearly explained before you book it, the way they call you and let you know if they've found anything extra and the way they treat everyone with professional courtesy. I bought tyres from here and they send you a reminder email for a free check and rotation. The Mt Ommaney Shopping Centre is quite a friendly little place to shop as well.

New kid on the block Glory Box might be New Farm's youngest clothing store, but it has all the…read moremakings of an old faithful. I entered mainly to escape the midday heat, but I stayed for the sequins, the taffeta, and the gorgeous pre-loved shoes. Vintage fanatics will have a field day rifling through the well stocked hangers and with service this friendly, why not? The website isn't live just yet, but I was promised by shop owner Amy that it was coming soon. Take advantage of this brand new store's youthful energy and duck in after your next New Farm brunch date.

This beautiful store at the railway end of Park Road features a range of simply-designed lingerie -…read morefrom bras, high-waisted underwear, g-strings and lacy bikini-style underwear. However, their specialty is in selling mastectomy and prosthesis fitted bras. Prices are quite high; however the service you receive is far more helpful than in standard department stores. The staff here are friendly, experienced and incredibly knowledgeable.

When I need some small implement for the kitchen like a spatula or vegetable peeler, I always look…read morein Homes Mart before going into Coles as it's bound to be far cheaper. Of course, if I'm looking for something that I want to be good quality, I avoid both and go to a proper kitchen shop. But Homes Mart does the trick when it's just something small you need. It's also a good place to look for fancy dress and craft items like crepe paper, pipe cleaners, glitter, sequins etc. It's a discount store, not a place to shop for good quality long-lasting things, but it's handy to have in this shopping centre with Coles. It's always kept pretty tidy and staff are eager to help you find what you're looking for.

I know this place may look a bit dubious to some, but coming…read morehere so often has given it an endearing quality in my eyes. This place is like the miscellaneous drawer in your kitchen, if you need it it will most likely be lurking in here. Growing up with a great love of discount stores and $2 shops means I also find it very hard to part with my cash if I know I can get a good bargain elsewhere. So! whenever party times are looming or I need a Halloween mask in February, I boycott the evil clutches of Coles and come to Homesmart. These guys seriously have it all novelty cigarette lighters, streamers, pipe cleaners, rain ponchos laundry baskets, gift boxes, spatulas, greeting cards and a buttload more. Next time you are in need of a vegetable peeler or an inflatable party hammer, I recommend giving these guys a go.

This is a great little op shop with a mixture of small items, don't come here looking for…read morefurnishings you wont find them. It does however have a large clothing and toy section so if you are after something from that range this is the place to be. It does have that 'op shop' smell that you get when they are not great about cleaning their donations so make sure you give everything a tidy up when you get it home just in case that's not just the incoming donation smell.

This is my favourite op shop its very clean it dosn't have that op shop smells and you can tell…read morethat the mananger and volunteers take pride in making sure every item forsale is clean and your always welcomed with a friendly hello and help if needed. The shop has lots of bric-brac,collectables, and really nice clothing and some furniture and even electric goods,Lots of really nice kids clothing and toys and books and shoes and music and dvd at reasonably prices.So if you love a great bargin and love to op shop then give this lovely little treasure in Hillcrest a visit you won't be disappointed.

This op shop is the other must-do-weekly-on-day-off essential. It's a well organised, roomy store…read morewith plentiful designer labels in good condition, great shoes, good selection of linen and furniture; and the stock turns over quickly. They have a loyalty system, so ask for a card. When it's filled you get $$ equal to 10% of what you spent on your card. They will keep your card under the desk too (if you ask) so you don't need to remember to bring it. Parking can be tricky, but it's worth walking a block or two :)

The Vinnies Store in Newstead is the cream of the crop in terms of bargain, thrift & op shops. The…read morefriendly volunteers here tell me that all the best donations from the city usually end up at their store and are price much more cheaply than their West End and Annerley counterparts. I love bargains. What's even more exciting is when you find designer brands in an op shop. More frequently than most, Vinnies Newstead is one place that seems to always come up with gems for everyone. The fact that my friends are always asking where I bought many of the cool clothes I get from here almost guarantees that I'll be back here in no time and lets not forget... it's all for a great cause!

Karene A is right, those looking for a second hand store experience that earns them hipster cred or…read morekitsch points should look elsewhere for their fix. That's not to say that you won't find items that fit that bill at the Red Hill Salvos Store but it's unlikely. Red Hill Salvos has been a spot I've spent many a hour searching for homewares, books and on the odd occasion kooky costumes for a 70s highschool teacher inspired photo shoot. This is the spot you come to if you're looking for something unique for your home- something that tells a story and stands out from the run of the mill flat pack furniture. On many occasions I've found (much to my delight) fantastic crystal pieces including small milk jugs perfect for the kitchen table, vases and other knick knacks for my home. If you're in the market for larger furniture items that tell a story and have a bucket load of character then be sure to wander into their back shed area where you'll find enough desks, dining tables, chairs and wardrobes to fit any decor or need. While I've done my fair share of 'shopping' here it has also been a fine spot to give items I no longer need a new home. Books, clothes and other kitchen items that I no longer need are donated to a good cause and handing them directly to their warehouse teams means I'm safe in the knowledge my donations are not being ruined by weather waiting for a donation bin to be emptied.

Rummaging through the piles of second-hand goods here, one is sure to pick up a bargain antique…read moretreasure. While it's not the place to pick up quality retro clothing, you will find plenty of old picture frames, antique furniture (banged up antique furniture but it's all about character, right?), vinyl records, old-school suitcases and shelves and shelves full of cute little statues and retro kitchenware that all looks like it should be in Grandma's kitchen. Their pricing system is a little haphazard; the price markers seem to know the value of some of the antique items but overlook others. Sometimes I can pick up an old suitcase or port for $20 whereas on other visits the same sort and quality item will be upwards of $50. There are definitely bargains to be had if you visit regularly though. As well as lots of really old stuff (I'm full of such technical terms), they also have plenty of newer second hand furniture, linen, toys, sports equipment and a section with discounted supermarket items such as toilet paper, shampoo, detergent etc.

Walking into St. Barts is like walking into a beachside villa in the south of France. It's more of…read morea lifestyle store than an interior design shop, with racks of women's clothing as well as gifts and home wares. The shop itself is gorgeous, with young and beautiful staff to match. There's a mixture of things to browse from armchairs, to jeweled sandals, to fabrics, to ornaments and statement pieces for the home. Given that it's located on ritzy James Street, I assumed that the prices would be higher, but they're actually quite reasonable. I would very happily add many a St Barts piece to my home and will be back soon to see what else they have to offer. The shop is brand new and has yet to build a hype surrounding its existence. From what I saw in store, it will only be a matter of time before St Barts has a steady following.

Ooo! This place is new. I get very excited when a new shop opens in one of the shopping precincts I…read morefrequent. A new shop always seems so promising and adds a nice freshness to shopping areas that you already know inside out. I actually just came across St Barts on the weekend when I was on my way to Harveys and couldn't resist a peek. St Barts sells clothes, accessories, and homewares and their style seems quite eclectic. They had some lovely cushions and cute accessories, and I got the impression that they're still in the process of fully stocking their shop so I'll look forward to poking my nose back in there in a few weeks to see what it's like when they get fully into the swing of things. The prices are a little bit lower than I would have expected based on St Barts's location and exterior so that was a nice surprise. I exchanged a quick hello with the sales assistant and then she left me to browse which I always appreciate, especially in areas like James street where a lot of the stores seem to employ hoverers. It is interesting to see a few fresh storefronts on James street and this is one of them. St Barts is only young yet, and I'm excited to see what it'll grow into!