How to screw up a business in a short amount of time. Was a great business but one man managed to…read moremurder a long standing business within a year, didn't listen to the staff and bought in crap and sold it st stupid prices.....

I love stationery - ergo I love stationery shops. Shopping for a new notebook or decent pen makes…read moreme happy. Osborne's for me then, is a real treat - encompassing a wide range of notebooks and pens as well as diaries, address books, (do people still use these? I hope so) notelets, paper by the sheet, stickers, rulers, pencil cases, plastic folder things, index cards, hole punches and card. There's a photocopying service that always seems very much in demand and a comprehensive crafting range where you can buy paper flowers and best of all GLITTER and they stock a nice range of cards and non-fiction books - the latter best described as 'stocking fillers'. At Christmas I also like perusing their calendars which seem to consist almost entirely of cute kittens or scenic shots of the canal network (but never both at the same time sadly). It's the place to go for reams of paper and printer cartridges and situated by the 22/23 bus-stops is the ideal place to waste a few minutes before your bus is due.

With the triple whammy of the Euro Championships, the Queens' diamond Jubilee and the Olympics,…read moreCarly's is another shop window decked out in Union Flags, as well as cushions, wine glasses, trinket boxes and bunting in red, white and blue. Having spent a lot of time this spring in small touristy villages that are rife with gift shops, I have seen enough variations of the Keep (insert almost ANY word here) and (something else, something else), phrase to last a thousand tired life-times. It is then with GREAT caution that I open to door to Carly's. Phew! She's a far classier bird is Carly than to bow down to populist cliches. There are some lovely gifts in here targeted at yummy mummies like wine caddies in the shape of high-heel shoes, frog prince ornaments and make-your-own-in the-shop craft facilities. A wide range of home furnishings, interior design, and objects d'art all beautifully displayed with taste, style, and elan. A large warehouse at the rear of the shop stocks larger furniture items. Carly's also offer a bespoke interior design service and if the layout of the shop is an indication of this you know that your money will be well spent.

A card emporium is the way I would describe this store. Through the first part of the store you…read morecome to a kind of corridor that leads to a very small back section of this shop. This fairly wide corridor is stacked full of greetings cards of all shapes, sizes and costs. You really would be hard pressed to not find the card of your choice here. The rest of the shop stocks gifts and home decor products that you might find of interest. They also stock some furniture. But for me it was all about the cards. A great selection.

Located on Station Road in Solihull, Osborne's is a very good stationers, albeit not with the most…read moreconvenient location. The selection is huge, and extremely impressive for a non chain store, and the prices are more than competitive with the likes of Smiths and Ryman's. In fact, many of their items I've found to be cheaper than the equivalents in the latter store, so if you're a glutton for saving literally pennies on your stationary, Osborne's is the place for you. They also have plenty of great deals on at any given time, such as £2 for a lever arch file, or 2 for £2 on shorthand notebooks (the one I'm writing this very review in!).

Have been using Greetings House as the supplier for my business for around a month now and I cannot…read morefault their services at all. The staff are so kind and helpful, the prices are fantastic and top of the market and products are always brilliant quality. I recently decided to switch helium suppliers and have decided to use Greetings house due to their unbeatable pricing. Penny was extremely helpful in finding me the canister that I required. She spent around an hour liaising with my local suppliers to arrange this for me. Checked that I had the correct nozzle attachment and placed the order for me. Cannot thank greetings house & Penny enough!!

Oh wow. I have found crafty heaven and it is a trade…read morewarehouse in the Midlands. This place has every arts supply and events decor piece your heart could possibly desire - sequinned ribbons to artificial peonies to bubble wrap to cards and invitations. Everything comes in 30 different colours and is bought wholesale, so you can buy in bulk if you so desire and also keeps it affordable. We raided it for supplies for my sister's wedding - high quality paper and card for the table plan (home-made by my own fair hand!), a box of 50 wedding confetti pouches (such good value), 15 pretty jars and a tonne of coloured beads for centrepieces, artificial cherry blossom branches (they just fitted the theme), and a lifetime's supply of blu-tack. And that was only the first of several (awesome) trips. Here's the big fat catch though - you can only get in if you're a business owner as it's officially aimed at trade buyers not amateur craft enthusiasts like me. In this case I had a useful aunt with a shop who registered for an account and brought us along. You still can't just wander in though - you need to show ID and leave any bags in lockers. And thus its existence has remained a closely guarded secret ;) Looking forward to any excuse to get to go back!

This a really lovely local card shop. They have a great selection of cards for all occasions and…read morethey are all very well price. Some of the cards are as low as 59p, and the quality is much nicer than some of the other cheap card shops found in town centres. They don't just sell cards though, there is also a selection of stationery at very reasonable prices, great if you've run out of something. They also stock some small gifty type things although I'm not so sure about these, the quality doesn't seem so great. But if you're after a card I'd definitely give this shop a try.

Had a piece made by Artful Expression and I'm thrilled, they gave me a number of designs and worked…read morewith me until it was perfect. they then produced it in double quick time for my required date. couldn't thank them enough and will use them again.

I absolutely love this shop and I think it is my favourite in the Jewellery Quarter. It acts as a…read moreplace to showcase and sell lots of individual jewellery makers' work, including many local artists. I have bought many pieces from here, normally for my girlfriends' significant birthdays. The chap who runs the shop doesn't rush you and is more than happy to take piece after piece after piece back to original piece (I'm an indecisive shopper) out of the cabinets. He has plenty of knowledge about the designer and takes the time to wrap everything perfectly including any relevant literature. If you are looking for something a little bit unusual, totally unique and stunning in the jewellery stakes I'd start here.

Smithsonia is an exceptional jewellers and gift shop based in Birmingham's Piccadilly Arcade. They…read moresell many things from gorgeous silver jewellery to Japanese Kokeshi Dolls and amazing sculpted pieces in ceramics and glass. There is something for most budgets in this shop and it's a great place to browse. I bought some cute button earrings for just £10 but there are plenty more extravagant gifts, believe me! You could spend forever just gazing in their windows as you walk past; there is so much to see - it must take them forever to clean! They do beautiful and unique silver rings by up and coming jewellery designers as well as pieces by established brands such as Pilgrim. Every time I walk by I can find at least 15 or so items in their window that I want to buy; I'm sure everyone else can too which is why they are so successful. Smithsonia are the longest running business in Piccadilly Arcade, they've been there for around 30 years. If you are looking for a gift then definitely check them out first and impress your loved one with something a little different.

A wonderful independent gift, card and jewellery shop. If you are looking for a birthday or…read moregreeting card that is a little different to what you might find in one of the chains this is a good place to start. Their collection is not huge but you will definitely find something a little different. They also stock fabulous gift wraps and papers. To entice you into the shop the window displays are made up of some beautiful and unique silver jewellery. Again, here you will find pieces you can't find anywhere else. If you are looking for special pieces of silver jewellery at fairly reasonable prices start with this shop. Inside the staff are welcoming and very helpful.

I entered Unit 7 Cards and Gifts hoping to be surprised. This didn't happen as I was greeted by a…read moresmall room packed with the most uninspired selection of cards and gifts imaginable. Independant shops and small chains are meant to stand out from the crowd! Why be a rubbish version of Clintons when you can be a cheaper version of Paperchase, maybe showcasing cards from some of Birmingham's many talented illustrators and stylish gifts to rival those on offer at the near by House of Fraser? Shops like this make me sad. They need to head down to Covent Garden for a real wake up call and realise they can make something amazing of themselves. *heads to bank to ask for loan to open rival gift shop*

Although the interior looks quite old fashioned, out dated, you can still find some nice gifts in…read morehere. Cards, gifts, photo frames, scarves, brollies, 'personalised' door plaques - designed by you, ornaments, mugs etc, they offer a bit of everything. I felt most of the items can be bought elsewhere, at a better price. Still nice to visit and browse at what they have. The service was ok and the shop is welcoming, but I don't think this one is for me.