Objects of Use is one of the most interesting stores in Oxford. They specialize in unique,…read morehigh-quality goods for home, office, kitchen, garden, grooming, and children with designs that are minimal and clean. As examples, they sell balloon cars and different types of whistles; they sell Japanese gardening boots; they sell razors, chisels, and knives; and they sell carbon-steel and cast-iron cookware, among many other things. My partner is a marine biologist, and I bought her a Kujira Sperm Whale knife, which blacksmith Toru Yamashita made with no points so kids can safely sharpen pencils. The store itself is also minimal and clean; the staff, very helpful. I missed it a few times when I first started exploring Oxford because I went down Market Street to duck into The Covered Market. Objects of Use is just a bit past the Market Street entrances of The Covered Market if one approaches from Cornmarket Street. This is the only location, which surprised me, as a number of stores, restaurants, and cafes in Oxford are satellites of larger enterprises in London. This really is a type of store one would expect to find in London or New York, and yet the only one is right here in Oxford.

very easy to miss, tucked as it is way down market street, however very convenient having a bike…read moreshop in the city centre. Range includes all the essentials (don't want to get stung for a fixed penalty for no lights!) and also able to do whatever maintenance or servicing things you might need. Very helpful pleasant and knowledgable

Exceptionally poor customer service at Laura Ashley store in Summertown, Oxford:…read more I have just encountered possibly the worst customer service at Laura Ashley "Home Furnishings" store in Summertown, Oxford. The store manager was so appallingly rude to me that for the first time I feel compelled to write a negative review and complain to the head office. In summary, do not shop in this store. I telephoned the store to check stock availability and sale price of an item. I spoke with someone who confirmed both that the item was in stock at the store and that it was indeed on sale at the price specified. About half an hour later (5min before closing) I arrived at the store. Although the item was available, it was not priced at the sale price. I explained that I had just called and had had the sale price confirmed. While we were trying to this sort out at the till, the store manager arrived. She proceeded to tell me that I incorrect about the price and that I could not have possibly phoned their store that afternoon. I later double-checked my phone records and had indeed called their store. The store manager was extremely unhelpful and continuously interrupted me and then proceeded to argue with me in a loud and hurried manner. I felt that she was trying to push me out the door. She repeatedly told me that the price they had today was the price stated and that was the end of it. The only concession she made was that they would place the item on hold for me and I could come back for it another day if the price dropped. I found her manner exceptionally rude and completely inappropriate for someone working in professional customer service. In fact, the other two sales associates in store were much more courteous. While I am happy to waive away the actual sales incident, it is the manager's rude conduct and dismissive manner that cannot be excused. I have encountered bad customer service in the past, yet nothing as extreme to prompt me to write a negative review and a letter to the main office. I am resolved to never shop at this store again.

This is a nice store with a good range of homeware items. I went during the January sales and…read morepicked up a few bargains with many smaller items at least 50% off. I primarily went in to buy some wallpaper but they didn't have the particular design that I wanted in stock so could either order online (with a delivery charge) or get it delivered to the store (free delivery). I chose the store option to save on the delivery. I was told they have deliveries on Mondays and Wednesdays. I had ordered it on a Wednesday so was hopeful that it be in the next Monday's delivery but it wasn't, nor the next Wednesday. It finally arrived the following Monday so that was almost two weeks after I had ordered it. Whilst I wasn't in a particular rush for the wallpaper, having to wait nearly two weeks these days when you normally only have to wait a few days for a delivery seemed an excessive time to wait. Especially since I'd ordered something from Marks and Spencer to be delivered to their store which managed to arrive only 3 days later. The staff were helpful and very friendly though so perhaps the manager referred to by JB-reviews has since moved on!

Loads of furniture of the bright and modern variety. Not really my style, but my friend who's into…read moreall things kitch regularly lusts after various things in here. It's better quality than Ikea, but with a price to match, and they have some unique lampstands and funky chairs that wouldn't have looked out of place in the 70s (in a good way). Definitely worth considering if you're buying a present for someone, or if you're into that sort of thing. If not, at least wander past and look at the window displays.

Great place for window shopping and browsing and for finding things you won't find elsewhere in…read moreOxford. Very modern and stylish.

This has got to be the future for garden centres in cities: smart locally-based boutique garden…read moreshops. I can't be doing with hacking around these mega-gardening centres that have now been completely homogenised and stripped of all character. This quirky little shop has a huge range of stuff and the owner is keen to accommodate any individual requests. He will even deliver locally. Thoroughly recommended.

While on a trip to London we made a quick stop here to purchase a delightful umbrella for my wife…read moreto use during our travels. Fair price, helpful customer service reps, and a clean, well-lit store... I've got no complaints at all and we would gladly go back again if we ever visit Oxford again - hopefully we will.

I love this shop. It used to be a real rabbit warren of a place, a bit like an old fashioned…read moredepartment store. (Think 'Are you being served') It was gutted a few years back and although the building looks the same on the outside inside it's a totally different place. There are three floors (as per usual) which are jam packed full of things to peruse and buy! The womenswear floor is large with a wide range of items for women of any taste. They have a Coast branch inside and a big collection of fancy dresses to suit. The homeware floor is big as well with quite a decent range of kitchen utensils which is nice because a lot of stores skimp on things like this. All in all the store is nice and bright, it can get a bit congested on the escalators and in the lobby though so be careful.

A garden centre with lots of added extras. There is a cafe (with a little play area for very small…read morechildren). There is a branch of "the Works" selling books and stationary. There is a branch of Cotton Traders and a picture framers. There is a great shop called eco-street which has lots of different styles of low energy light bulb wind-up radios and wind-up torches. They even have a wind-up front bike light which was going to be the invention that made my fortune since I'd looked all over the place for them. I'm now going to have to invent a wind-up rear light in order to make my fortune since for some reason they don't stock the back lights. They also refill Ecover washing up liquid and cleaning stuff and have bigger stuff such as photovoltic cells if you are thinking of going seriously green. And then there are the fish and reptiles. All parents of young children know that to have a cheap afternoon out on a rainy winter's day you go to somewhere that sells fish. This place has a Shirley Aquatics concession that sells beautifully displayed tropical fish and live corals. They also sell reptiles and stick insects. And sometimes they'll get the snakes out and let you stroke them. They do stock boring, grown-up things like hot tubs, swimming pools, garden sheds and even plants. And useful things like mouse traps. But lots of people go just to potter around and enjoy ourselves and it is a great place for doing just that.

Excellent garden centre offering a wide variety of shops inside. First of all you are greeted by…read morethe works, then the kitchen shop,christys towels, cotwold clothing, shirleys aquatics. My children love looking at the freshwater and tropical fish and seeing the rabbits and guineas in the pet store. There is also an excellent antiques centre run by sally and michael. The cafe does lovely food and there is a small inside play area so the kids can play safe whilst you enjoy your latte.

Great place, wide range of stock and personal, knowledgeable service. You don't need to go to a…read morebig chain.

All sorts of bits and bobs in this alladin's cave of a hardware shop…read more Ask at the counter and the staff will scurry off into the back and return with the items your item (and maybe a couple of alternatives if you were a bit vague in your request). Well frequented by tradesmen who know exactly what they're after, it can be a little intimidating, but the service for the uninitiated is friendly and helpful. Probably best not to ask if they've got fork 'andles.

Really excellent firm, giving you a really good choice of blinds, wooden slats, metal slats,…read morevarious prints and styles of roller and even vellux windows. They come out to your house to measure and bring out samples. Very reasonable established over 15 years, very professional great finish.