I admit that when I'm in tramp casual attire I do look a bit like a raging homicidal maniac or, at…read morethe very least, a pickpocket with social anxiety issues. However, I do not appreciate getting stereotyped immediately when I enter a store as a perfectly lawful possible patron. When I walked into Unikob I got sharp glares and stares that would have outdone the slicing capabilities of any of the shredders the store had in stock. Before I took two steps toward the Post-it section I was stopped and asked 'Can I help you?' by both the store manager and the cashier. Believe me, this was not a customer service induced question; they obviously thought I was bad news. I told them that I was looking for Post-its and when they heard my American accent their faces were visibly relieved. When I was finally taken off of the Stationary Stealers Wanted Roster I got a chance to peruse the store. They have everything you need for your office or for your studies at reasonably cheap prices. I paid £1.30 for a packet of Post-its and I'm quite happy with my purchase. They were quite happy with my purchase too and as I exited the store they were all smiles. So if you're not up for travelling to the nearest Ryman's and you live in the area, this is a good place to go for your clerical needs...unless you're wearing a hoodie.

Card wise is located on Church Street, I got two birthday cards only costs me 3 quid. Small saving…read morehere and there can make our life different.

Clinton cards not only sells cards but balloons, teddies, gifts , wrapping paper, candles ect…read more I popped in to get some helium foil birthday balloons and they offer a free service of filling the balloons with helium for you. As I was in a rush and there was 12 balloons that needed to be blown up so the staff member managed to get two more staff and I was out of there with my balloons in 15 mins! Top marks to the staff for excellent fast service!

I have only the time to check an on line presence these days, and I did this one recently. It also…read moreI noted has Clarks Stationers ,I am not familiar with that name but no doubt those whom live in the areas they inhabit will be?

Popped in again on my recent surveys of Banstead High Street, love the Stationery Shops.read more

There were two sales assistants behind the counter, one with a mask and one without - both at the…read morerear of the small shop. Quite a few people were closely packed around the counter. Addressing the sales assistant without a mask, I explained that I'm a pensioner and that I'm nervous about being around people in small spaces, particularly if they're not wearing a mask. He told me he had an exemption. I was just about to say something along the lines of, "Oh, fair enough, but I'm still nervous about being in a small space, particularly at my age," but before I had the chance to say anything, he asked me if I could read, and pointed to his badge. Then he told me it was none of his business whether he wore a mask or not, and that I didn't have to come into the shop if I didn't want to. He did go on with the rant, but those were the two main points he was making. I think it's such a pity that as a customer-facing member of staff he didn't take a moment to empathise with my concerns, that after all are based on genuine reasons to feel threatened by Covid 19, particularly given it's growing. I wasn't being rude or doing anything wrong in asking about the mask, and if he'd just left the matter after he'd pointed out he had an exemption, all would have been fine. But he chose to go on and hammer his points home, and meanwhile I couldn't go anywhere as the other sales assistant was in the process of packing up my goods and getting me the change. The whole episode was needlessly embarrassing, unpleasant and left a nasty taste in my mouth. I hope he will be more empathetic with the next anxious old lady.

Have you ever wanted to find that card that's too clever or funny for Clintons but didn't know…read morewhere to find it? Postmark is that place! It was recommended to me by a friend when I wanted a valentines card that didn't come with the usual sickeningly sweet gushing prose and declarations of love that would make Romeo drop his codpiece. Postmark is a teeny-tiny shop that sells all the usual card/wrapping stuff you might want. It has a range of obscure, odd and outright different stuff including the greatest cards in the world! I can't say what they are because there will be a stampede and I know how limited these bad boys are. Imagine a handmade card by someone with a funky sense of humour and the design talent of a 5 year old with a pot of glue and some button eyes....mad but brilliant! The piece de resistance - Postmark was the first place to sell I love Balham mugs: 5 stars for that alone!

Brand new to North Cross Road and very much welcomed…read more This card shop sells a fantastic range of cards for all occasions, wrapping paper and also a collection of nice quality stuffed toys. The shop is clearly and simply laid out and unlike most shops in Dulwich, they sell only a select product rather than attempting to sell a little of everything. Many of the cards are very highly priced but suitably beautiful. For it quality and simplicity, Postmark is perfect.

From the owner: Postmark is an independent award-winning card shop with a fantastic range of quirky, quality and…read moreoriginal cards at affordable prices. From birthday's to weddings to thank you's to congratulations we've got thousands of cards to choose from. We opened our first shop in Balham, southwest London in 2004 followed by Postmark East Dulwich and more recently Postmark Chiswick. At all three of our stores our customers can use our in-house postal service to send their letters and parcels anywhere in the world. Simply bring in your post and we'll frank it and post it for you. We offer the same great service and price as your Post Office, just without the queues! We take great pride in bringing the very best of British and international designed cards, stationery and wrap to our customers both instore and online with a fantastic array of brands including Caroline Gardner, Alice Scott, Happy Jackson, Art File, Pigment, Lagom, Rifle Paper, Hello Lucky, Peter Pauper, Moleskin, Lamy, Leuchtturm 1917, Rachel Ellen, V&A and many more

Having been a scientist for my training and working life, I have the retail business knowledge of…read moreinstinct of, well, a scientist! Thank goodness for programs like Dragons' Den on TV, which have taught me, in the midst of humiliating and tearing applicants to pieces in the name of televisual entertainment, about certain basics of retail One of the gems I've gleaned is that margin is very important and that has set me thinking about products with great margins. One of the products I came up with has been greeting cards - providing you know someone who is half decent at rhyming, you could have a nice little business churning greeting cards with good margin The Card Factory sells greeting cards and little gifts in the Whitgift Centre. I do like to take time to find the perfect card for an occasion and it's always nice to find more variety in my hunt. The cards here are cheaper than those at places like Clinton Cards but the quality doesn't feel quite as good. However, there were some nice ones that I picked up. Although I rarely write proper letters these days, I still like to give greeting cards and I hope that they don't go the same way due to electronic greeting cards, which I regard as a lazy option. It's worrying therefore to hear that Clinton Cards (and their associated Birthdays brand stores) are in financial difficulty. Go on. Make someone's day! Send them a card!

Do you fancy getting quality cards for a decent price? Well, look no further. Card factory has…read morecards for all seasons and occassions. They make high quality cards, with very good inscriptions, ranging from humourous to semi formal and formal. This is the only store that I know of where a large card can be bought for 99p. They also do gift accessories, gift bags, christmas decorations, rolls and many more items.

The shop is kitch all over. I wouldn't call it terribly original but there are certainly gifts here…read moreyour novel gift craving friends will like. This store has a lot of 50's retro things with snarky sayings on them. You'll memorabilia with sayings on it like" I wanted to save the world but I couldn't find a baby sitter". Thank god, this isn't my problem. I'm just lazy. This store is reminiscent of many small gift shops. You know the ones like Cards Galore or Maps of Holloway or Cherry Tree of East Finchley. You catch my drift.

Chain Reaction is a really cute little shop just before you go into Camden Market. It has a…read morenostalgic feel to it because of items they sell in there. There's floral jewellery boxes and European style coat hooks and wall signs. It's a great gift shop with funny books and joke place mats, cards and posters to name just a few things. The staff in here are really sweet and friendly and I love the laid back feel to the shop. There's girly gifts for the ladies in your life and silly gifts for the blokes. It's a great little place and I always make a point of popping in when I'm near by as the prices are so, so good. This is definitely one of my fave shops in the area.

1st choice for all my cards. A great range and great prices, the service is good to…read more Not only do they sell cards they aell a range of other things, wedding gifts, novelty items, calenders and paper for Christmas.

Love the card factory they are the best in the area for cheap cheerful cards always go there for…read moreall my cards !