This store is mental. What is it? Where did it come from? Why?…read more I have actually never heard of this chain before, but apparently it is all the buzz overseas. There are a crazy amount of stores all over asia and now they are branching overseas. It has Chinese origin and is jam packed full of stuff. Yes, stuff. Lot's of stuff. I don't know where to begin? Stationary, mugs, slippers, bags, pillows, toys, scented sticks, jars, things... things.. and some stuff. There is also a whole section devoted to gigantic toys. You know the ones that you see at the Royal Show for prizes when you win alley games. Those ones. I think if you are looking for cool little jars and storage containers you might like a few things here. But, otherwise just be prepared to be overwhelmed with things. Actually, I know who will love this store. High school students. This is a store for kids that want cute little toys to hang off their school bags, cool stationary and shiny objects to decorate their rooms. Don't get me wrong, there are some cute things here. Like a whole lot of cute stationary items. Loved the note pads and pens. But then I saw a flower bouquet of rabbits and teddy bears. I mean, who wants that? But, in all honesty, you should probably go have a look. It's not like any other store in Adelaide.

Chocolate and stationery are my major desires and Pencraft satiates one of these in such style and…read morepanache it is breathtaking. Situated in the eternally gorgeous Adelaide Arcade, Pencraft is the Mecca of Adelaide stationery die-hards who crave ink, elegance and beautiful penmanship (with the perfect pen in hand, of course). Selling the luxury scribe-items such as Mont Blanc, Graff von Faber-Castell, Visconti and S.T. Dupont, the window displays are enough to me salivate and my bank account to wince at potential pain. Other brands like Lamy (my personal favourite), Parker and Waterman are on offer for the mid-range buyers and those on a budget with other less known brands offering a surprise. When it comes to ink, Pencraft stocks refills and ink for all of their stocked brands as well as Sailor and Private Reserve in a range of colours. If the colour you need or want isn't in, don't be worried, the staff are more than happy to place an order for you and get it in as quickly as possible. The staff in this store are exemplary. I have never felt so comfortable in my life then walking into this store surrounded by pens worth $5000 and other extravagance and asking at the desk what they would recommend for a present in my dreary work uniform. I always feel welcome in here and staff go out of their way to satisfy your choice and seem generally enthused at their work. I'll always remember when buying cartridges for my fountain pen the lady at the counter showing me the latest Mont Blanc which had just come in and how beautiful the pen, but mostly the box was. Don't be intimidated, come in for a look and be seduced by the ink fumes.

I came in looking for a special pen for the holiday and they looked to be sold out of the Lamy…read moreshiraz al. The staff however looked through all the cupboards until they found the last one! Now that is service! They were very knowledgable and extremely helpful. Highly recommended.

Southern Cross Newsagency is situated in the Southern Cross Arcade near the entrance from James…read morePlace. It is quite a large newsagency with a broad range of magazines, stationary and other do dads. The selection of cards is quite good and out the front there always seem to be a squillion of those cheesy themed calendars (dogs, cats, elephants etc) if you are looking for a present for your grandma. In terms of art supplies they have sketchpads, pencils etc but nothing too grand. Occasionally they will have those generic Mont Marte paint kits and small canvasses and canvass boards. There is a little counter in at the front centre of the shop which is usually packed full of employees, so although it is busy, generally you will be served quite quickly.

if it's time for a meal or coffee o'clock, and if I'm in city, I tend to go to the food court where…read morethis news agency is. i knew this news agency has been around in this place for many many years, so one day, while i was in the food court, i was curious to find out how big the magazine collection was in there. I love magazines, majority of my fave ones are not mainstream type, i specially look for the ones with personal stories of all kinds, home art/craft, street fashion, interview kinda conversations, plus heaps of photos, without being invaded by loads of high fashion ad and stuff...Anyway, this news agency is definitely a good place to try out if you're hunting something special to read. Once, I bought Muff, another time, i bought Space by Frankie Magazine....there was a bit of funny story about Muff purchase, which makes me burst into laughter whenever i think about it...Well, lemme not get distracted by that. Back to the news agency topic, the service is good also, staff were nice and friendly.

Don't walk in here thinking you're "just browsing," because you will pick up a Marimeko patterned…read morevase or a waterproof paper wallet with a map of NYC on it and you will (unbeknownst to your conscious) take it to the counter and spend all your money. The stationary, children's toys and games, deer heads, cushions, travel and birthday gifts, homewares, furniture and more in this store comes at a cost but it also is one of the most unique and beautifully presented collections in Adelaide. You won't find awkward hens night paraphernalia or joke gifts here for Dad but you will uncover educational and well-crafted children's toys, designer crockery and sheet sets, pineapple lamps and even fragrances and candles. You can buy from their online shop but it is much more fun to head in store and play with whatever items you are bound to justify spending some of your paycheck to buy.

What is with the glass case of creepy overpriced dolls? Why would you pay one hundred and fifty…read moredollars for a small doll that looks like it's planning to kill you? This store is so whimsical. So Swedish. So fabulous. They have a variety of educational toys for kids (don't we love those these days) as well as some very politically correct dolls with different nationalities which were great! The kids products were all handmade, and excellent quality, and the homewares featured many adorable owls. I loved pretty much everything in here, especially the Korean diaries and sweet one off stationary. I am going to come here for gifts from now on and my friends are going to love me for it. Good quality, novelty, pretty, and imported? Who wouldn't?

Tucked in beside Foodland in the Norwood Mall, this newsagent looks super unassuming - but it's…read moreactually a pretty OK selection of mags for what is a relatively small space. While not as big as Dillon's Newsagent just across the mall (near Coles), they stock all the usual suspects. If you're after your Vogue or Elle or Frankie or other big titles you will find in on their shelves. I couldn't see many overseas titles. I've found the staff to be pretty chatty and kinda funny. Last time I went in to get Harper's (with the winner of ANTM on the cover) for a friend overseas, I ended up chatting to the guy about Australia's Next Top Model for ages...which I don't actually watch, but I winged it pretty well! Good for your basics!

Weird set up, it's like a walk through newsagency. one side is the bottle shop and the other is…read moreFoodland, people tend to use it as a thoroughfare to get to either side so it tends to get quite busy in there, for the wrong reason. Or maybe it's just really good marketing, people come out of food shopping with the kids and think "man, after that I reallllly need a beer" so they decide to take a short cut through the newsagency and along the way they decide "man, I really need a pen too". You never know. There are books available here too, last time I visited I spent a good 10 minutes leafing through a book about the life and designs of Coco Chanel, of course I didn't buy it because it was $50, besides, I'd already read it hadn't I? If I need a pen I just go in and use one and then leave, they should really monitor people like me! But, considering these guys don't, that makes them 3 stars in my book! There are little gifty things available too, take a squiz on your way through to the bottle shop.

For the hard to buy for friend, family or colleague Raw Space is your answer…read more Fancy a spaceship shaped ice cube? An avid fellow owl collector? Need a card that says everything you're not trying to say but is hell funny? Fancy some funky shaped 1m sized clocks for your home? Seriously, everything and anything quirky is in this store and it can easily consume a good hour of your time. While I am not a huge fan of some of their pricing on things, Raw Space can get away with it because they stock chique quirky (ie. not tacky unique or "novelty" reject shop style) wares. This place is perfect for birthday presents, Christmas presents, hey you have everything and I have no idea what to give you presents and self-gifts! Go in, but be warned you will end up wanting a whole heap of not very useful but amazeballs stuff because of it's "cool factor."

Trendy novelty shop located in the Gawler Arcade, one building East of the Myer Center. A 'go to'…read moreplace for gifts, especially of the last minute variety... there is something for nearly everyone in here! Owner, Naomi Travers has done a wonderful job of filling the shop with lots of nick nacks and things that make you go "ahhhh" and "ohhhh cool!" Raw Space is slightly feminine. Outstanding selection of funny and uncommon greeting cards. A tad pricey, but not unfairly so. There are some homeware items for a couple of hundred bucks, but I'd say the majority of items are priced under $50 with plenty of selection for under $30. The staff is fine and professional, but I've never received '5 star' service. There's been a few things that have irked me over the years, but nothing I could mention without sounding too anal.