The Created in Birmingham Shop is based on the idea of the Created in Birmingham blog -- linking…read moreBirmingham's artistic and creative communites, creating conversation about the arts, events, and interests in and around Brum. The Bullring has kindly opened up a space for the Created in Birmingham shop for a minimum of six weeks, after which a paying tenant will occupy the space. But for now, the CiB shop is in full swing! As the name suggests, the shop features art, products, clothing, music, baubles and tchotchkes in all shapes and sizes -- all created by people who live and work in and around Birmingham. I went in this past weekend, and enjoyed poking around at some of the jewelry (some hand made but still quality, and others looking as gorgeous as something you'd fiind in a couture shop), the posters and the artwork. The store was very busy, with lots of small concessions tables and booths, and loads and loads of customers. Since it's a low-key shop, I wasn't bombarded with sales folk, and instead, browsed around at my leisure. The shop's decor is great -- all clean white walls and minimalist plastic effect, which allows the explosions of colour from the artists and concessions to really impact the eye. It's a great fun shop, and a great fun way to support local artists -- it's something we'd all love to have pretensions to, and now, it's easy, affordable, and right in the Bullring, so you don't even have to go out of your way!

This place isn't exactly crazy but it does sell cards, so the name is half right. It is one of…read morethose bargain card and gift-wrap shops that comes in handy at Christmas time or when you have loads of birthday come at once. The cards are cheap, though they aren't exactly fancy or arty. There are also some gift items, though they aren't the sort of gifts that I'd be inclined to give anyone, unless I really didn't like them. It isn't a bad shop and, let's be honest, cards normally end up in the bin after a week. So spending lots of money on them is kind of a waste.

It's great to discover an independent card shop, and I always anticipate to find a more unusual…read moreselection of cards from places like this. Unfortunately, Crazy Cards isn't as mentally strange as I'd hoped, and the cards were quite standard and typical to most chain card shops. Having said that, the prices of cards do not replicate other shops; In fact, the cards are very inexpensive, and you can pick up most for around 70p. On the occasion that I went in, the store was pretty much empty and very quiet. I think that if the radio was played in the shop, people would be more encouraged and enthused to browse through the shelves. The general layout of Crazy Cards is also quite standard to most stores, but it's easily to navigate between each section to find exactly what you want. I also think that the store could be improved by selling a wider selection of party gifts, as this would bring in a different set of customers.

This is the scariest yet most interesting shop in Birmingham!…read more Don't shoot the messenger, but I was slightly taken aback when I first encountered this place. The dark, greyish and shadowy Fletchers Walk can be somewhat unnerving at the best of times, perhaps the last thing it needs is a shop devoted to automatic weaponry. However, this probably says as much as about my own pre-conceptions than anything. Is a weapons shop really that shocking in a city with such a proud history in the manufacturing of guns? Viewed as a sporting shop, this place has everything you could want if you love nothing more than spending your weekends on the rifle ranges. Don't be put off by the sinister looking mannequins in the window. After all shooting is a discipline Olympic skill, and I'm pleased I took more time to try and understand it. I walked away a little less scared and a bit more knowledgable.

This small clothes shop is well lit, clean and organised. The prices of the clothes here are cheap…read moreand the quality of the goods are average. There is a good range considering the size of the shop and at times there are really good bargains to be had. Another shop that has a very limited selection for boys though, the range here needs to be increased but if you have girls its ideal. Annoying thing their card system you have to sign as it dont have chip and pin. Have been behind people who have gone to sign but have found their cards signature strip is worn out and the shop assistants wont accept their card, cue an irate customer and a trip to the cashpoint, needs to be updated.

the staff are very welcoming and the shop is nice and bright . there is a wide range of styles and…read moresizes .

Cult clothing has moved around several times since I first moved to Birmingham, first swapping its…read moremodestly-sized original store for a much larger unit nearby, and then migrating to the Bull Ring when that opened. While they've always stocked the trendier end of alternative and skater fashion, as the years have worn on their gear has grown more generic while the prices have continued to climb. There are racks and racks of shirts, trousers and shoes in this latest incarnation of the store, but you'll be lucky to find anything that doesn't have the Super Dry brand name plastered all over it. I don't know about you, but I prefer my alternative clothing to have a little less of a uniform feel to it. The clothing is pretty high quality and there are some really funky designs if you're willing to have a bit of a dig through, but at the prices Cult charge you're better off shopping elsewhere for your skater/surf wear.

I remember the original Cult Clothing store just off New Street - it then moved to bigger premises…read morejust up the road, and finally fell to the lure of the Bullring as did most stores that were outside that precious boundary! The new store is average really. Split over two levels, I've always found the clothes quite close together and it quite difficult to manoeuvre around the store. The staff at this new store (whether it's the change of premises affecting their mood, or new staff) seem to be much ruder than before, and in my experience have been quite reluctant to assist! The range of clothes, however, is quite good, and the store is a decent size. A bigger shoe department might be beneficial. At the moment it quite lets the shop down.

This is such a lovely little shop in a small quiet indoor precinct with plenty of free parking…read moreoutside. Such nice individual things lovely to just go and have a look around in and seeing different one off bits. I have never gone in looking for anything specific to buy but more often than not come out with some great one off buy! The shops contents always changes and is very varied from old jewelerry to funiture and memorabilia. Definitly worth popping in from time to time even if just for interest there are some really lovely bits! Kind of like and Aladdins cave that keeps going!

Despite the name, this place doesn't *only* sell online. It was recommended to me by a…read moremanufacturer we were working with on a project. We were making an acrylic piece of art, and needed very specific fixtures to mount it in a shopping centre. I had one of them to hand, donated by the manufacturer, who then steered me in their direction to get more and see my options. The place is quite hilarious and slightly creepy inside - due to the massive range of naked mannequins permanently on display. You have to walk past this strange family (there are male and female, adult and child all standing side by side!) just to get to the counter, but when you do the staff are always very helpful - even with the weird query I presented them with. The man quickly identified what I had, and then brought me a selection of alternatives, and in plain English explained the differences to me and talked about what might work and what else I may need to ensure a secure fit. I left with exactly what I needed, and when I discovered I'd not bought enough and had to go back, he remembered me and brought more out without me having to remember the model or name. I am terrible with jargonny names of things like this, and can only usually describe what I want a thing to do. They were perfect in helping me do that without making me feel stupid. Yay!

Scribbler is a gift, card and novelty shop located on the top level of the Bullring (on the…read moreentrance from the Bull). It's brightly coloured and inviting exterior never fails to draw my eye when I'm taking a shortcut to the Birmingham Markets to grab the weekly shop. Yesterday I thought I would pop in and actually have a look. It's not a large unit, but the walls and floors are totally packed with fun bits and pieces and cards of a good quality. The greetings cards are probably on par with someone like Paperchase in terms of cost, but I spotted some designs I hadn't seen before (and will be back to check regularly to stock up for friends and family). They sell a small range of gift books (including things like Grumpy Cat, Cyanide and happiness as well as other internet webcomics) and items from the likes of "Fred & Friends" for those awesome kind of kitchen gadgets that you don't need, but you definitely want. I spotted some 75% off items on their far wall, left over from the Christmas sales. I ended up purchasing 7 different things that WOULD have been over £40 pre-sale, but I paid £11. The member of staff at the counter was chipper, helpful and welcoming and we had a good old chat about some of the items they stock in the shop. A lot of the gear in here is expensive, but it's unusual and fun and would make brilliant presents for those "hard to buy for" people in your life. Definitely pop on down and give it a look next time you're in the Bullring.