Evolution is a fabulous place to shop for unusual gifts. Everyone has friends and relatives that…read moreare hard to shop for and this is the perfect place to get gifts for them. The atmosphere is really relaxed and peaceful. It is full of Buddhas and Incense sticks and scented candles and novelty candles. They have little sets of candles that spell out I LOVE YOU and HAPPY BIRTHDAY as well as for the festive season candles that spelt out HAPPY NEW YEAR and MERRY CHRISTMAS. They also have a large selection of hand made jewellery as well as ethical begs and accessories. I bought Christmas presents for my best friend there - A glas wall plaque saying PEACE and a gorgeous incense stick holder in the shape of the Buddha. Another great accolade to this store is the friendliness of the staff. They are helpful but not intrusive. They say Hi to you as you enter but in a pleasant polite and friendly way as opposed to being in your face. As the asistant carefully wraped my gifts, we chatted about the holidays and the weather and as I left she wished me farewell and welcomed me back again. I can't wait to visit again - even if it is just to browse.

Hook & Eye is a brilliant little haberdasher, with all the bits and bobs you could possibly want…read morefor customising clothing, sewing and crafting. They have hundreds of buttons and beads, ribbons and zips, felt and braid, and are very happy to help you pick something out if you're having difficulty in choosing. They also sell some knitting patterns and cross stitch kits, although the range is pretty limited - a case of trying to stock a little bit of everything I think. But if you like your cross stitch, it's worth knowing that they do stock Anchor branded embroidery threads, as well as a small range of cross stitch fabric.

Absolutely excellent service and a vast array of habberdashery meterials inc dress makimg patterns…read morealong with large selection of buttons and fastenings for all your needs.

Elegance has a decent collection of different materials for all your dressmaking needs. Over two…read morefloors, the shop sells bridal, dressmaking and craft materials, as well as wool, accessories and sewing machines. Staff are friendly and helpful. They also offer classes for those who are either new to sewing, would like help on a particular project, or just to meet other likeminded people. I did a few classes there recently and the teacher was really helpful and knowledgeable. I would highly recommend it.

Left a sewing machine, foot controller, bobbins and tools with these people as it needed a repair…read more All the items were logged on a receipt which my daughter produced when she went to collect it. The repair quote was ridiculously high, and diagnosis vague. I checked the price of the part needed and my suspicions were confirmed that this was overpricing. The shop told me my machine was worth only half of it's true worth and to consider trading it in for one of theirs. I refused their offer. When my machine arrived home, I took it out of it's box to find the foot controller missing. Shop denied having had a foot controller, which is nonsense as I was with my adult son when I put the machine in for repair and, of course, the items were listed in the inventory. I won't be using them again, but I will be going to trading standards.

A small shop in the Derby Market Hall catering for alternative fashion and music & film…read moremerchandise. For somewhere so small, manages to cater for everything your could want in the goth, emo and punk categories. They have a huge selection of band t-shirts and the cheapest body jewellery in Derby (£2.50 a piece!). Also have hair dye, bags, belts, buckles other fashion accessories. They also carry living dead dolls, which are tricky to find nowadays! Very highly reccommended.

I'm 40, and in my years I've travelled all over the world with bands and as a journalist. In that…read moretime, I have never, ever found such rude and bad mannered staff as I have at Viva Hate, Derby. We were in mid-afternoon and my son, 6, was looking at badges to buy. My partner bought him a Minecraft badge, and left the shop. As me and my son were getting ready to go, my son spotted some other Minecraft items, as six year old's do. I called him over, then looked at the counter assistant, who was looking supremely annoyed, and was grumbling to himself. I called my son over, and then looked once more towards the counter which is next to the door, and the assistant was literally scowling at us, and shaking his head. I said to him "what is the problem" Counter Assistant: "I want to go out, I have to go". (There was no way of us knowing this) I call my son, who came over... Me: "There's no need to be scowling at him, he's six years old!!!!!" C/A "It's not him" Me: "So I'm a problem now?, all I've done is bought an item and spent at most, 4 minutes in your shop, and you have the nerve to scowl at my six year old son" I was furious, and once my son was out of earshot, I gave the assistant a piece of my mind, not that he was in the least bit bothered. He shut the door and left the shop. I popped into the next door unit, which is also part of Viva Hate, and asked the counter assistant there what was the problem with the person next door. This counter assistant just scowled too!!! I have never, ever been to a shop that so clearly didn't want custom. It was like the sitcom Black Books, but nastier. Incidentally, we went straight from Viva Hate to a store next door, and they saw the look on my face and were totally, totally wonderful, and pretty much put me, my partner and son back on the track of having a lovely day out. Anyone heading derbywards, I IMPLORE you, do not go to Viva Hate, go to Asylum, find a Blue Banana, go to brum on a train. There is zero excuse for such rude behaviour from counter staff.

A little gem of a shop for music enthusiasts. It is a tiny little shop but they are like an…read moreAladdin's cave of musical instruments and accessories. The staff couldn't be more friendly and will bend over backwards to help you. Nothing is too much trouble. The prices in there aren't too bad at all. OK the nature of the business means there are no cheapies but certain stores are still well over priced but not here at Music man. The after care service is great, nothing is too much trouble for them and they want their customers to go away happy. My daughter is quite happy to go back here for all her guitar accessories as well as the next time she needs her guitar restrung.

This place has a bunch of stuff. They are willing to order things. They surprise me with their…read morerange sometimes but really they don't seem to understand what I want to do or what I want. They specialise in the cheaper range of gear like behringer and their clones and they strike an uneasy balance between musical instruments and accessories and mobile DJ's and karaoke machines. I get the impression that they started out as a mobile DJ and karaoke machine supplier along with some cheaper PA's and sound systems and branched out into a few of the budget guitars and things and now they've got this uneasy mix. I'm always going for either highly technical queries regarding professional equipment which they can't really help with and would have to order in anyway or I'm on the musical instrument side which they only cover the basics of for the purposes of the beginner. It is nice to see independent businesses though.

I stumbled on this Jewellery shop whilst working in the Westfield Shopping Centres as a sub…read morecontractor. It's perfect for unusual gifts and provided me with a solution to a ring for my partner. I saw the ring in the shop, then went online and bought from their website shop at http://www.identityonline.biz It turned up on time and made me look like an organised boyfriend! I used the website for my Christmas Shopping, gifts and some smaller valued Jewellery. Terrific service. Highly recommended.

From the owner: Identity The Jewellers is home to over 100 brands of mens and ladies jewellery and watches to suit…read moreall ages and tastes, and leading designers include the very best of Endless, Nomination, STORY, Trollbeads, Hugo Boss, Fossil, Bering and Kate Spade. Shop the best for less at a leading High Street retailer for designer jewellery, charm bracelets and watches, offering only the latest and most stylish of premium jewellery and watches. Shop online today or visit us in-stores and discover some of the most stunning collections in the jewellery and watch fashion world... With more than 100 brands to choose from, other exciting and British-made designers include that of Anchor And Crew, Tateossian, UNIQUE Jewelry and Fred Bennett for him, as well as Babette Wasserman, Coeur De Lion, My iMenso and Chrysalis for her.

Warren James is a brilliant jewellery shop which has a wide range of earrings, necklaces, rings,…read morebracelets, ornaments and so on. If you are ever stuck for gift ideas, a visit to Warren James will sort you out. Staff are very knowledgeable and helpful and always answer your questions fully. Prices are fairly reasonable compared to most jewellers and products are of a high quality. They offer various services such as repairs and the store is in such a convenient location meaning you can go shopping whilst you wait. Overall a good store. If you are looking for top quality jewellery, its maybe not the best place to go, but anything below this, its brilliant.

Warehouse (located in Westfields Derby) used to be located on St Peters Street upstairs from Miss…read moreSelfridge, but dissapeared a few years back. It wasn't until last year that it reappeared in the new Westfields Centre development with a new layout and image to boot. Warehouse clothing is aimed at women between 20-30. It is quite highly priced and yet the quality isn't fantastic. You are without a doubt paying for style though, as the clothes look good until they have been washed a fair few times. They do a lovely range of special occassion dresses which look great. Jewellery and accessories are often very good too.

Good range of sarees, salwars, and lehengas for hire, very helpful with finding the right sari in…read morethe end, and great customer service.