Go junk diving in the Valley at the I Life Shop. It's an amazing jumble of eclectic goods in the…read moregenre of Bargain Variety Asiana. Flags, hair ties, parasols, fake moustaches, 'Sticky shit' fake poo (yes, really!), bags, suitcases, ties, Australian souvenir tack... you could get lost for a couple of days in there. I bought my Dad a very cool parking sign, and loved browsing through the little cards which are almost eloquent - the spirit in which they are written is so heartwarming, I like to buy them for friends. You know the kind, cute hearts, clouds and characters, with words like "It is not for understand, but you and I are lovely together forever one." There are hidden treasure - the parasols are lovely - and the prices are absolute bargain basement.

This shop is adjacent to Fortitude Valley train station and across the street from a few strip…read moreclubs so that should tell you everything you need know ;-) nah I Life Factory is basically a chinese version of the reject shop. Everything is cheap and most of it is nasty. Drop in here and brave the Valley to stock up on much needed trash.

This along with the newly opened Stacks (Myer center) may be the only traditional dollar stores…read moreleft in the city. The Japanese $2.80 shops are squeezing them out. RS has a decent variety of goods and the quality is fine for this sorry of thing. You won't find a container whose lid doesn't fit or a hair barrette that works once. Here are some of the sections on offer: gift wrap n cards, art & stationery, bags/suitcases, containers, decor, candles/oils, frames and pictures, gardening, pets, laundry/linen, car, kitchen, clothes, beauty, phone/PC accessories, candy, tinned food...

I'm not really sure if I should be offended with the name "THE REJECT SHOP"…read more...does it make me a reject if I want to buy everything in its vicinity? ...But judging from the number of people wedged in on a weekday I am not the only reject who relies on this store. This place has saved my butt on numerous occasions, from awkward lunch date fiascos to that time the batteries in my boombox died. This store has everything you could ever possibly need in life. Novelty tins in shape of currency, oodles of stationary, leather belts, cheap candy, garden hoses, office chairs, perfume, speakers, DVD cabinets, small motorized helicopters, solar garden lights, clothing of all kinds, shortbreads, santa suits, blackboards, pottery wheels, diaries, beach tents, boogie boards, miniature drum kits AND a family pool. If you are ever in the city and feel a strong urge for a mini sewing machine or perhaps a rug in the shape of lassie I strongly recommend you give the Reject Shop a gander.

Next time I visit MOZI I'm leaving my coins and cards at home. Yes, it's just that gosh darn…read moretempting to buy everything in this store. I remember when MOZI launched and was such a small collection of knick knacks for the kitchen. And now look at this little Aussie brand that could! Measuring spoons, plastic bag holders (yes, they're a thing!), bowls, tea towels, plates, dog leads, napkins, and even candles are all neatly displayed in their "print story" categories making a visit to MOZI on trendy James Street an organised mind's dream. Everything is in its place and it makes it that much easier to find what you're looking for. It's fun without being frivolous and twee without being saccharine. If you're looking for a quirky and unique gift for a loved one getting married, moving into a new house, having a baby, birthday, engagement, just because...you get the point...MOZI should most certainly be on your list. The prices are what I personally would consider reasonable with most items being under $40. PS: If someone gifts me the sequined fox tote, I might just have kittens.

I went to the downtown Brisbane location on my last night in Australia looking for some Australia…read moregifts that didn't seem corny. These folks have everything from, yes, corny keychains to higher end clothing and bags. I was able to purchase some great gifts. I would definitely recommend.

Jasinda was rude and condescending. We asked why there were no pocket knives with women's names and…read moreshe said "women should get more hobbies".

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.

Variety of sizes available and very much affordable. Located in the perfect area for shoppingread more

I love Big W. I like how it is conveniently placed above Woolworths. It has escalators and a lift…read moreif you have heavy bags. I wish they would make a security system so you could take their basket trolleys (which can't leave Big W) and supply you with regular trolleys to take down to Woolworths to shop there vice versa . I hate carrying bags. I had to buy a granny's trolley for this purpose. I wish they had a underground carpark or something because how are you gonna take your purchases home? I either have to walk far to my car or catch a cab from the cab rank which is thankfully nearby. There are buses and trains but the who wants to wait at a bus stop with all their things? Also buses can be unreliable. The train station is about a ten minute walk up the hill so no go for me. If they had more parking areas and let you take the basket trolleys into the food court I would buy more and heavier things. Unfortunately most things on the Big W website are unavailable to get delivered? Almost makes me wonder what's the point, except I suppose being able to see what they sell. Big store, lots of variety, good prices but not as dirt cheap as Kmart. I would give 5 stars if they didn't always run out of basket trolleys at Big W and Woolworths! Woolworths have regular metal trolleys but usually run out too with the annoying insert coin security system. I don't know how your expected to use the trolley and then catch a cab. How are you going to return the trolly to bay to get your $1/$2 back? Oh well. There are barely any lines at Big W unlike Woolworths and they have self service checkout there. Oh, and only spread over two levels, not three.

Gold Coast's Trash Monkey have recently opened up a store in Brisbane's China Town Mall. Perfectly…read moresuited to the mish-mash of colour and style of the Valley, Trash Monkey stocks an array of vintage and alternative clothing. The store has been nicely renovated and is a pleasure to browse. There is plenty to look at and the range is worth looking at regardless of your personal style. As a bonus, the store is open until 7pm Monday to Wednesday and Sunday, and open until 9pm Thursday to Saturday.

There is something alluring about vintage clothes and accessories. It seems to me that the 50s and…read moreearly 60s had the perfect blend of classy feminine clothing, that makes me want to go all Mad Men or Grace Kelly around town. Some of the clothing at Trash Monkeys oozes this classy sophistication that I yearn for. They stock a whole range of clothing and accessories from your 50s vintage inspired dresses that I was just talking about to 80s glam rock outfits. They pride themselves in stocking rockabiliy, pin-up, burlesque, punk, steampunk, victorian, lolita and queer gear as well. The store is chocablock full of bits and pieces and you can easily spend your time sifting through it all. Everything here is quite unique and definitely different from your average fashion store. The staff are funky and great for giving real and unbiased advice. They won't let you out of the store in something that looks bad and they are totally happy to have a chat or let you just browse your hours away. The store is also open late so it is easy to go and check it out after work or before a dinner out in the Valley. It is hard to really describe everything on offer here so my best suggestion is just to check it out!

Quick and easy to buy food…read more Connected above Brunswick Train station in the Valley. 280 seat food court, Terry White Chemist, fitness first, Foodworks ( grocery store) 10-12 fast food places, 7-11, nail bar and medical centre. Parking building is also connected to the small centre on Alfred street. Major brand names like Subway, Hungry Jacks, Muffin Break, Fitness First, KFC, Hungry Jacks, pollen Florist, BWS liquor, sushi, Indian, etc. It's fine for a quick shop or a bite to eat. If you spend a certain amount at Foodworks you can get you car parking validated.

Valley Metro is more commonly known for housing the Brunswick Street Train Station in the Valley. I…read morepass through here more often than I probably should but it is quite a nice station and the Valley Metro Shopping Centre surrounding it definitely makes it feel a little safer and cleaner than most train stops. Surrounding this train station is a bunch of shops and a little food court. When I was here just before Christmas there was also a lovely group of guys playing Christmas Carols on their brass instruments. While mainly just the train stop, the shops do offer things to look at while you wait. There is a foodworks, newsagent and florist if you need to pick up some last minute things. The food court has plenty of seating but only a few food outlets to choose from. There is a great juice place, and a funky Japanese Crepe shop you should try if you get the chance. Overall, Valley Metro is a small shopping centre, if you can really call it that. Still, it makes the Brunswick Street stop a whole lot easier to bear.

Sorry biased review, see back in my teens I used to work here, I was a terrible employee always…read morethrowing sickies, (I was young and hadn't figured out what I needed was to go back to school and find a challenge) however everyone there including the boss were great. A great selection of Asian food, which I learnt a lot about in the short time I was there, fond memories. Christmas 1988 I believe it was and the boss took all the employees out for a meal, first time I ever had Asian food of any kind, now I couldn't live without it. So Mr Yuen, if you are reading this, thank you for the opportunity to learn and be a part of your business, sorry I was not the model employee but it is great to see the Market is still there.

Haven't bought anything yet. Trying to buy products. This ap is a waste of time when trying to buy…read moreanything. How can a person give a review when they can't see the products

I probably go to the Queen Street Mall too often. At some level, I feel lame for not exploring…read moreother options or areas. However, it's just too easy. It's well located and has just about everything one could want. There's food, drinks, movies, food, drinks, clothes, mobile phones, banks, etc, etc, etc. The current construction is a bit annoying, but it's hard to knock improvements being made. The result is a bit of a bottleneck with the huge crowds walking around on weekends. This is a problem when you walk faster than basically any other human in existence and are incredibly impatient. So, it's probably more of a problem just for people like me, which thankfully, I don't believe can be found in abundance. I like that there is often music and the people watching is tremendous.

Queen Street Mall is a great open air mall to spend a few hours if you're in Brisbane. There's a…read moregood mix of shops, from well-known brands to smaller specialty stores, so there's something for just about everyone. There are also plenty of cafés, restaurants, and quick food options nearby, making it easy to grab a bite or take a break between shopping. One of the highlights for me was the street performers. During my visit there were musicians and entertainers performing throughout the mall, which gave the area a fun, lively atmosphere. It can get very crowded, especially during weekends and peak shopping hours. It's definitely worth visiting whether you're looking to shop, eat, get your steps in, or simply soak up the atmosphere.