Quite simply - everything you need , knowledgeable staff and decent prices, why bother with…read moreHomebase, B&Q etc etc when this outlet is around. Nice to be able to buy 1oz of clout nails in a paper bag

This is now two shops - cool and trendy kitchenware on one side of the road and a gift shop with…read morelots of porcelain and ornaments on the other. Good for kitcheny presents, plus there's a good value key cutting service at the back of the gift shop.

I generally find what I want, the staff are great they're friendly and if you need help they are…read morehappy to help. The one thing that they need to so is make sure everything has a price on it, sometimes I go to buy something and there is no price on it.

The Factory Shop basically sells ex-catalogue type stuff. The stock is fairly consistent. At the…read moremoment the balance is about half clothing and shoes. The other half is split between kitchen-ware, toys, and everything which you didn't know that you needed until you see it! Since Woolworths closed it is quite a good bet if nowhere else has it. Like most shops of this type everything is well squashed together. I would guess that things are about 20% off R.R.P., but don't quote me on that. Usefully it is right next to The Gill car-park with pick-up space outside. The easiest way to get there is up Upper Brook St. from Kings St., by the Chippy Bank

Full disclosure; I have met the owners of this shop and like them personally. Nevertheless,…read morespeaking as objectively as possible, I do recommend their unique craftsmanship on its own merits. Their very creative shop engraves gorgeous crystal objects, everything from a set of personalized wine glasses, to any image you care to have deeply etched into a memorial glass, to impossibly delicate butterflies sculpted to form a crystal bowl. Words don't do their artful craft justice, I suggest you check out their web site to see samples of their work for yourself. For me, they created on lovely crystal a personalized memento of my trip through this astoundingly scenic area, as well as a deeply meaningful image of a loved one whom I had lost recently. I was very moved when I saw the results. I also know that they have created treasured heirlooms worthy of the royals, for whom they have created masterpieces on special occasions. Located discreetly in the back of the shop, there hangs a picture of The Queen watching as the master craftsman creates one of his pieces for her. I understand that crystal engraving at this level is a dying craft, so if you happen to be in this picturesque area you owe it to yourself to pay this little shop a visit.

A brilliant little shop tucked awway in the Devonshire Arcade right at the bottom. Although it is…read morequite small it has a huge range of gifts and candles. It also stocks a variety of more ethinic jewellery and clothes. I love to visit here just before Christmas as it is perfect for grabbing a few canndles as presents. I also love to browse their selection of candle holders and you can often find something a little bit different that looks gorgeous. They also sell incencse sticks and room fragrances in scents such as the smell of baby powder which is actually quite nice. Their novelty range is fab and they had the little bath ducks that lit up and flashed before anywhere else around here and they made fantastic unusual gifts. Although it is a little bit expensive the quality is very good.

Find unusual presents here! It looks from the outside like it is all tie-dyed and beaded (and there…read moreis some good stuff in that vein if you're buying for a nut-eating hippy (that's not my term!)) but if you go inside to poke round there's also lots of posh toilettries like neals yard and other niche brands so you can get something much more exciting and cute and stylishly packaged than from e.g. Boots.

Great shop on three floors: art, cards, gifts, kitchenware, jewellery, clothes.. And a fab little…read moreself service coffee shop on the first floor. Tea, coffee, hot choccie.and some lush cakes. Cosy sofas, great music playing (Bob Dylan as I sit here writing this). Oh and free wifi :)

Nice little gallery of local paintings & pottery items with a small cafe within. It's located…read morebehind some houses up an alleyway, halfway up the hill,not quite obvious. Worth popping into if browsing Appleby.

Gildea's Hardware (Rathcoole) is a name I will always remember from my childhood. Gildea's was…read moreestablished in 1958 and this was a sort of pre B&Q superstore. I'm not a hardware expert but I know a good stockist when I see one. He stocks anything and everything for all your hardware needs. You'll find any gadget / device / home equipment you could ever need under one roof. We used to get all our fishing equipment here too and I remember Mr Gildea always giving us lollies from under the counter every time we came. My dad still frequents here as he'd hate to see the superstores taking all his business away. I firmly believe we should keep our community shops/local businesses up and running so I'll be shopping here too when the time calls.