I think I may have just found my new favourite gift shop - introducing Matchbox Studios!…read more Matchbox Studios originally started up in Wellington three years ago, where they are a large art and crafts store plus an art gallery. I recently discovered them on Instagram and saw that they were opening a store in St Kevins Arcade on K'Road (full of exciting things). I was so thrilled because it is a seriously awesome shop! It is a haven for all things colourful, whether it be art, jewellery, stationery, books, candles or homewares! I loved everything I came across in Matchbox, but here is a taste of what you might find: - Funky colourful cards (for example the Koala dressed in a Hawaiian shirt) - Range of art prints, including skulls (yay!), famous people, grumpy cat, etc. - The Beatles tea bags (check out the picture!) - Candles and soaps (all with very nice scents) and - Colourful cups, straws, plates and napkins - perfect for picnics or parties at home, plus so much more! The shop assistant was friendly and she was really happy when I signed up to their mailing list. How could I not - everything at Matchbox is fabulous and fun! So, if you need a gift or want to decorate your room with bright colours, then I highly recommend you visit Matchbox Studios today - I am sure you won't be disappointed!

It seems Japanese shops such as this one are growing like mushrooms!…read moreI would rank this one as my second favourite, the kitchen section in particular has lots of pretty soup bowls and pans and steamers. As mentioned in my fellow Yelpers's reviews there are also the stationery and bathroom sections and lots of random cute thingies no one needs... But oh they' so cheap so why not?!

This place is pretty awesome, hidden in an obscure location, you almost miss it. Thankfully for the…read morevibrant orange and black sign to mark the narrow entrance you begin your decent into the lower depths of Queen Street to find yourself in a rather large store that I could not accurately categorise. This is because there is a lot of stuff here, stationary, the gift bags and paper section is great, Hello Kitty and Snoopy are well represented here. There are aisles of all kinds of things for your home, a massive chopstick section, Hello Kitty cling wrap, food bags and plasters. Interestingly a big range of nappies and other baby things. It is fun just to look around, there are some odd things here too, especially in the bathroom and cleaning sections. Good fun I say, you'll walk away with things you didn't need but make are entertaining none the less. (Hello Kitty keeps my food fresh now).

I ordered a lovely classic notebook from Passion for Paper online - it was to be a very special…read morepresent for someone and when it arrived it was gift wrapped beautifully with a gift tag and string - all without charge, with a little note saying thank your for the order, and I might want it wrapped as it was to be a present. The order came quickly and the product is going to be well loved.

As a kid I used to be so excited for the day that we would get to go and buy stationary for the new…read moreschool year, And a trip into Passion for Paper is like the grown up version of the same excitement it's great. So much classier than typo or Kikki D, the items sold here are really well made. Indeed they are specialists in stationary and paper products. I often find myself buying little gifts for my friends and familia when I am in here. They do their own printing service for engagement and wedding invitations etc and if you so desire you can even choose wax seals as a finishing touch! Totes the real deal. If you want to check out the rest of their offerings, hit up their website. It has most of their catalogue online.

I took art and graphic design all through school and university, which meant a lot of visits to…read moreGordon Harris and many dollars spent there. If you're looking for any kind of art supplies - paper, brushes, pens, foam board, design books, notebooks, sketch pads, paints, easels, pencils, erasers, fix, spray glue, you name it - this is the place to go. It's kind of a dark, dingy-ish building, but it does the job and the staff are nice and pretty helpful. If you've got student ID you can get 10% off which is handy, because it's likely you're going to be spending a lot there. A lot.

I have never been good at art. One time I drew a bird with a beak AND a mouth. But that doesn't…read moremean I don't appreciate artists and their tools. I have always been a fan of new stationary, so strolling around Gordon Harris gives me a nice little buzz. Newmarket is a pretty styly place anyway so the scene is set before you even go in. The staff are always really friendly and arty looking and are generally people that you want to like you and be friends with. This is the place for everything in the way of art supplies. From easels to pens to paper in many different forms and spray glue, if you're wanting to get crafty, Gordon Harris should be your go-to. The place itself could do with a bit of a spruce up, but it doesn't really matter, and the stuff they have there is the best quality. Student IDs get you 10% off and they've always got something on special. Even if you don't actually know what you're doing, walking arounf Gordon Harris is a lesson in creativity and is enough to inspire you to get crafty.

Gifts Galore is crammed with fun and one of those shops where you don't know where to look first…read more There's everything in here from soft toys of all sizes (even those excellent giant Hello Kittys that I'm really not allowed to buy because it's silly), to stationery, hair accessories, socks, mugs, posters, and make up. And everything has that awesome Korean twist to it, so if you need stickers of your favourite K-pop artists, here's where you head. The staff don't speak heaps of English but they are really sweet and approachable, and I'm sure their Korean is top-notch! When I had trouble figuring out if the alarm clock I bought there would play music or not (I really can't stand that end-of-the-world beep beep beep of doom), they unpacked the clock, put batteries in, and demonstrated it for me. Now that's good service.

I have been coming here for over a decade, just because you get older doesn't mean you have to grow…read moreup. Gifts Galore has just that, a lot of gifts, packed from wall to wall with cuteness. There are two sides to the store, one mostly stuffed toys and the other is stationary. Everything from pens and notebooks to mini staplers and writing paper, you will find it with Winnie the Pooh, Hello Kitty of Miffy the Rabbit all over it. The fun doesn't stop there, umbrellas, earphones, bento sets and flasks, absolutely everything. Gifts Galore also boast an impressive range of scented pens. If you haven't written with ink that smells of oranges, you're missing out. Such a fun shop, great for the young and young at heart.

Askew is the epitome of designer goods: hand-picked items including children's school bags, Alessi…read morekitchenware, timeless gift cards, luggage, clutch purses, jewellery, moleskin notebooks etc... When I want a unique or quirky present, I always go to Askew. On the quiet, I have purchased a lot of secret gifts for myself too (love my kimono key ring). Great, personable service, who talk to you like a human being. Hurrah! Parking all around, open long hours. I encourage YOU to check Askew (Ponsonby) out if you haven't already...super stylish store that offers luxury, and you 'feel' valued! Quite uncommon in modern life.

The original cool random crap shop. I can remember this place being around in the 90s and being the…read moreoriginator of designer gadgets and funky gifts and homewares. There are now loads of other similar shops around but they perhaps don't have quite the same sense of style as Askew. Whoever does their buying has impeccable taste, and a champagne budget perhaps too, as you will not get much on the cheap here. Currently I'm eyeing up the Hunter wellies and cable knit socks. It's good to have something to look forward to this winter! The wooden sunglasses are also very cool.

Amaze is Ponsonby's one stop gift shop. You can literally walk in there and walk out five minutes…read morelater with a funny and funky gift, complete with quirky card and gift wrapping. Amaze is that good. With numerous stands housing a seemingly infinite number of gift cards, regardless of whether you're after one for your best friend, mother, uncle, grandmother, for a friend's wedding, an anniversary, bereavement or baby shower - there are dozens of cards for every occasion to pick from. And they're all quirky and perfect in their own ways. I love just perusing the cards, let alone the rest of the store! Though, that's not to say the rest of Amaze isn't equally as AMAZING... It's the perfect place to find funny hens night-type products with candy G-strings, penis straws, and naughty dice stocked by the dozen. Amaze also stocks an array of journals and diaries, and as a real stationary lover I find I could spend hours just ogling over these products, let alone the choices of wrapping paper they also possess! Talk about overwhelming! It's like a dream come true in this store, sad as that may sound!

'Amaze' is just that. A shop that offers every type of card you would ever need - plus quirky gift…read moreideas. There are a few card stands outside to tempt you or you can go in-store and be spoilt for choice. I have purchased many birthday cards from 'Amaze', unique wrapping paper and gift fillers. Service is friendly & always sincere. Nothing can ever replace a fantastic card, from $5-$8 to say it with words! I love cards - writing in them, gifting them & especially receiving one too! Yelp, yelp, yelp!

100th Review!!! Iko iko for me has been a stalwart for…read morethose quirky gifts for yourself or others. A huge online selection and a great way to do your Christmas shopping (life hack 34: shop online to avoid stressful mall crowds !) With everything from qewpie baby key rings and awesome phone covers , I personally have had my eye on a native bird side lamp forever . It's all here . This shop has moved from K'rd back to Ponsonby rd and I tell you they've done themselves a massive favour in that department. Super friendly helpful staff who genuinely care about their products.

From the owner: At Iko Iko, we cater to all with an eclectic array of colour and style. In-store you'll find pretty…read morethings for your house, cool books on design, amusing things to make you laugh, crafty things for the crafty mind, and nostalgic bits of Kiwiana for those who like to reminisce.

Kikki K can be summed up in four words: A stationery lover's dream…read more The Swedish designer stationery and gift store is pretty popular. If you like clean, very cute, matching books and notepads and cards, this is where you go. They stock pens and gift wrap and boxes and storage options as well - all of it is pretty adorable. If you want to make your house look like something that would go viral on Tumblr you can find pretty much every single item to make that happen, right down to the post-it notes for your wall planner and the red and white twine and wooden pegs to hang your Christmas cards. Prices are high at Kikki K. Designer stationery does not come cheap. That being said, you could go in there and walk out with the best looking gift of all time - completely matching wrapping paper, tag and ribbons. Can you put a price on that?

Kikki K is only losing one star because I feel the place is a tad expensive for what it is. Yes the…read morestationery is beautiful, quirky, cute (depending on what one chooses) and of quality. But still. I bought numerous items on their most recent sale and loved all the goodies with a 30% or 50% markdown. The service is always friendly and the girls working there now recognise me. It's worth noting Kikki K also holds organisation and happiness workshops. Great place to go shopping for gifts.

This is a fantastically run store. Halfway through me rummaging through their super-bargain bins,…read moresomeone (customer or employee, I can't remember) knocked over a display of water bottles and everyone in the store rushed to help. Everyone. People gave up the treasures they were clutching in their grubby hands and ran over, and let me tell you, there are some considerable bargains here. This is the kind of goodwill this place gives. There are great deals, great bargains to find, cool stationery, hilarious greeting cards and just a well laid out store. This is what I want my Urban Outfitters gifts section to be like, but they've decided to turn up their nose at me. A lot of the designs run heavy on Paris, New York and skeletons - this is not a complaint. This is me wanting to buy a mini iPad so I can have one of their "Paris, je t'aime" iPad skin. I love it here.

I am currently on a mad stationary/ general homewares spree, for no particular reason, just because…read moreI can really and Typo on Queen street ticks all the boxes for me. There's lots of cool little knick knacks available that you don't see elsewhere (well not for these prices anyway) While the goods are evidently mass produced in some third world country, if your a trade aid groupie, probably best not to shop here. They are constantly having sales on already reduced prices which you can't really complain about. I have found many canvas prints at Typo that are currently hanging out pride of place in my apartment and little lantern fairy lights that just look awesome hanging in my bedroom