Cute little shop seling lots of nik-naks and gift ideas. From birthday ideas to first tooth fairy…read morepots, there's something here for every occasion. They have an excellent online ordering service but I always prefer to pop in and have a good browse around as there's so much to look at. The shop has been running now for 17 years and you can tell they rely on a good deal of repeat business as the staff are very helpful and friendly indeed.

The Sally Army shop in Horsell is a bit of a gem. It's a long way from being the prettiest of shops…read morebut it's jam packed full of stuff at reasonable prices. I tend to look in these shops for children's books and toys and, although not a goldmine for these items there is often a surprise or two. There's not much clothing stocked here but most other things are kept in good supply. Books (and audio) are kept in a room at the back of the shop and this makes it convenient to browse with a toddler. The shop is dingy and dark but the welcome from the staff make it very pleasant. If you fancy a cuppa and a slice of cake then it's available too. Items are very reasonably priced and compare favourably with the other charity shops in the area. Items tend to be in reasonable condition and, where they are not so good then they are priced accordingly. The shop also seems to have larger items of baby equipment from time to time. This shop is well worth a visit, particularly if you're in Horsell to go to the Hospice book shop which is almost next door.

Digital photography means the photo developing side of this business must surely be fairly…read moreredundant these days, but I'm sure they'll survive with the brilliant range of stationery and greetings cards they have here. It's really hard sometimes to find decent cards - they're either soppy pastels or bad jokes, but the range here covers all bases. They have lots of colourful cards with decent pictures, and some humour cards which are actually funny. Also plenty of other useful party stuff such as balloons and streamers, and a small range of standard stationery items. Staff always seem smiley and friendly

This is a small but well-run greeting card and photographic processing shop in Seven Dials,…read moreopposite the 'Good Companions' pub. They have a very good range of cards, including gently humorous ones I have not seen elsewhere, and plenty of those in which you can write your own message. I've never left empty-handed (and I'm quite picky when it comes to birthday cards). They also have a small range of stationery and post-cards. I've not used the photographic services here, but the staff always strike me as very pleasant.

I really like this shop, it is crammed full of all sorts of things you never knew you needed. Its…read morelike one of the poundshops only has a nicer layout. I usually go in there for party bits, plastic tubs silver platters etc. You can get the same stuff in poundstretcher and for the same cost but it is soo much nicer to walk around here, and the staff are always helpful and friendly unlike many of the other cheaper shops!! You seem to be able to get diaries in there all year, rather than most places whichg are impossible after about february!!

Now this is how all jewellers should be. Clean, well lit and with an air of style that belies the…read moreprices. A friend recommended them when I was looking for a gift for my wife and they were every bit as good as they said. Quality service without being pushy, the sales assistant showed me a number of things before I finally chose one and seemed more than happy to help. All items are beautifully boxed and gift wrapped and although to add charms to the bracelet I bought meant sending it away to be done, it was returned very quickly. Superb experience from start to finish.

This is the Hove original of the Bert's Homestore chain (there's now one in Brighton too), located…read morein the pleasantly pedestrianised shopping area of George Street. (George Street is small but reasonably quiet, even on a Saturday - it's the complete opposite of Brighton city centre.) They sell lots of stuff for kitchens and bathrooms, concentrating on accessesories such as knives, chopping boards, tea-strainers, tea-pots, mug tress, washing up bowls in funky designs, etc. rather on standard crockery and cutlery (although there are a few basic items). It's attractively laid out and lovely to browse, and excellent for things such as olive spoons, tea-bag squeezers, lemon rind peelers, which in my book are not essentials, but make those specific tasks so much easier. The staff are lovely too. It's hard to leave without buying something

This is a trendy little shop selling everything you need (and a lot you don't) for your home. While…read moreI try not to shop at supermarkets if I can, the one thing I think is worth buying from them is kitchenware as its so much more expensive in shops like this. I just wouldn't pay £14.95 for a fold away colander. Why have a fold away colander? That said, they do sell a really good range of kitchen knives here at good prices and that's one thing you should spend a but of money on.

If I was dating someone who bought me a present from Octopus, I'd know instantly the relationship…read morewas never going to work. How? Octopus is full of the kind of cute and annoying homeware I loathe. There's umbrella with handles painted like cats heads. Cheese graters that resemble painted ladies in big skirts. Handbags that are shaped and painted like pandas. Jewellery boxes that are decorated like bad canal boats. And bike locks that double as toy snakes. Enough said? Thought so!

With so many unique gift stores, it's hard to find a unique-unique one, but Octopus was impressive…read more There sold things I have honestly never seen before. Half woman-half cheese grater, for instance. Ice scrapers, dust pans and scissors had been transformed into works of art; and the wall of cuckoo clocks released a variety of animals on the hour. The sales clerks were very friendly and helpful - I was immediately greeted, which I've noticed is a rarity, and I overheard one clerk advising a man on what his 25 year old daughter would probably enjoy. She was able to tell him which items were top sellers for that age group. Also impressive. So, it felt more like walking through a gallery - and several of the items would make great gifts and conversation starters.

Lovely little store I found completely by chance. The window…read moredisplay drew me in with it many colourful items and models of Hindu Gods. The store keeper was really kind and helped me to find a model of exactly what I wanted. Many of the items for sale are actually very old and thus the real thing. No where else sells these in Brighton that I have ever seen!

Tulasi is a fantastic little shop filled - literally - with books, trinkets, bags, blankets and…read moreknick knacks of an Eastern flavour. It's one of those places you can just stand still in for long periods of time while scanning the shelves. Everything is so bright and colourful - I imagine any of the items would brighten up my flat, but I was mostly drawn to a mobile dangling little elephants. Really great. The shopkeeper was super-friendly, chatting easily as I browsed around. She was warming herself in front of an electric heater - and nearly dancing to double the effects.