I went there with my parents not to long ago and the owner was very friendly and welcomingread more

I love this little shop. One older fellow runs the place, but visit on any given day and two or…read morethree of his mates will be there, perched on chairs in the midst of an absolute jungle of floor to celing stock, sipping on enamel mugs of tea and talking fishing or whatever the topic of the day is - I talked to them about the GFC last time I was in. I've bought fishing bags, folding chairs, a tarp and inflatable matresses here. The stock is pretty extensive at Wynnum Disposals and Camping, so it gives me pleasure to check here first for an item before I go to one of the mega-chains. None of the small businesses seem to be doing that well so I'll definitely give this guy my money if I can.

Cylinder Surf is your run of the mill surf store, mainly for women. The walls are lined with a…read morevariety of tops, shorts, dresses, skirts and bikinis of all different brands including Billabong, Roxy, Quiksilver and Ripcurl. You'll also find a myriad of thongs and other casual footwear, along with accessories synonymous with these stores, such as leather wristbands and necklaces made using different types of shells. Despite the products being of the same quality and style the big surf brands are known for, I didn't enjoy the atmosphere of this store. The interior was a little stale; the shop could use a bit of a revamp. However, there's plenty of great clothing to be found here and the staff are great.

Cylinder Surf is a nice little surf store in Cleveland. I like the store, the staff are helpful…read morewithout being overly pushy. They have a range of surf wear like colourful swimmers, beach dresses, thongs and casual shorts. You will find the typical brand names you would expect like Roxy, Rip Curl and Quicksilver. There are no real surprises here, it is your average surf store. Great to grab something for the weekend or before your next trip down to the Gold Coast.

SkateBiz at Capalaba should be your first stop for all things skate. Boards, DVD's, Rollerblades,…read moreshoes and of course, skateboards and accessories. I love the great range of shoes with brands like DC, Vans and Nike. They are on Old Cleveland Road at Capalaba, plus they have 2 other locations around Brisbane. The Capalaba store is convenient plus the staff are really helpful, friendly and enthusiastic about their products.

This shop has a aura of being THE fishing experts, from the minute you walk in and look around at…read morethe range of fishing supplies. Fishing is a favourite past time of my Dad's. We came in here recently for a look around was I was really impressed by the range. They have reels, rods, jigs, lures, fishing equipment, clothing and of course fishing rods. The staff were more than happy to have a chat with my Dad and swap the odd fishing story. Overall, a pleasant shopping experience with a great range, helpful staff and although I found them a little of the pricey side, the prices were fairly reasonable.

Pretty little dresses. Insanely classic necklaces and…read morebracelets. Shoes to match the outfit. Nail polish to match the shoes. Bags to match the dress. I could go on. Ever since the big revamp a fair few years ago now, Sportsgirl has successfully catered to the older women. No longer the teeny bopper shop, this place can now compete with the big wigs in my opinion, even Witchery and FCUK. But without the crazy prices... well okay, sometimes still the crazy prices, but for the crazy hot dress! The boom boom boom let's go back to my room dress if you catch my drift... is worth every pretty penny you've worked so hard to put in your pocket. I really love the new layout too, the walk through robe I call it... with the pretty clothes in the front, the jewellery and accessories in the middle and the bargains and change rooms towards the back. Love the shoes love the clothes and love the nail polish and I absolutely (Yelp!) adore the bags.

Sportgirl is one of Australia's first home grown boutiques. From it's humble beginnings on Swanston…read moreSt Melbourne in 1948, to being all over Australia, it really has grown to be one of Australia's favourite womens retail store and rightly so! Queenslands very own Sportsgirl flagship store opened up right on Brissy's Queen Street and it's still going strong. With it's high ceilings, retro yet modern fit-out, it's not hard to see why many young women flock to this store to get their staple seasonal pieces. What I love about this store is the encouraging shopping ambience. The interesting light fixtures provide nice soft lighting making it a relaxing store to shop in. On the other hand, the bright colours from the clothes make a good contrast. The store layout is easy to navigate through, with the new items right in the front, accessories lining the sides of the shop and all the sale items towards the back. Even on busy days there's enough space to move around. Customer service here has always been good and the girls really have an eye for fashion.

One of the biggest and hardest-to-miss shops on Racecourse Road. Savida is a large…read morehiggeldy-piggeldy (well by Racecourse Road standards, anyway) shop stocking clothing, shoes, large hats (see photo), jewellery, accessories, homewares, and all kinds of things you never knew you needed. If you need a present for your Mum, Aunt, or Grandmother this is a one-stop shop. Definitely aimed at the middle-aged ladies, but liable to have a few hidden gems that someone under 30 may even appreciate. A little on the pricey side, but not outrageous. Reminds me of that shop in the city called Essensuals, but the staff here are friendlier and there aren't the 100000 signs saying BREAKAGES MUST BE PAID FOR so that adds a nice welcoming touch. A veritable jackpot of Mother's day gifts.

I trecked out to the place from the north side! Yes folks a lot of our op shops are heavily trawled…read moreon the north sode so a trip across the river was in order. I was not diappointed. First of all the place is very spacious and doesn't feel cramped or that everything is on top of everything else like so many of these opportunity spots. I loved that there seemed to be a great range of furniture and a lot of it in very good nick. You could easily fit out your whole kitchen for a very reasnable sum if you were a student setting up house. An excellent rack of books for adults and kids and the clothes are well organised and tidy. Definitely worth a vist.

This place is a little gem! Lots of good stuff, all reasonably priced (I picked up a perfect Pyrex…read morebowl for $2!) lots of clothes, books, furniture etc. The guy that works there is a nice chap, funny guy - he even knows about Marimekko! If you're after a bargain and prepared for a good rummage - then this place is your best bet in the Moorooka area. Sadly he told us that he can only move about 10% of the kids books - the rest need to be pulped! We bought nine for $3 - great for making my craft with.

This would have to be one of the most beautifully preserved arcades in Brisbane. With it's olden…read moreday atmosphere, you'd expect the shopping there to be a little but classier, a cut above the rif-raf out on Queen Street, but I find it a bit pretentious, particularly the upper gallery. Looking in jewelery stores up there recently, I felt very alienated by icy shopkeepers. Also, there's quite a few empty stores up there which makes me think businesses might struggle up there. Down the bottom is more lively, with a lovely tea shop, selling a large range of tea pots; jewelery stores; and bridal shops. With the exception of the cheap and nasty accessory store, Colette, at the Queen Street entrance of the arcade, the shops in here require you to have money to spend (or at least pretend you have money to spend). Best not to rock up in your Havianas--it won't help things with the already snooty shop keepers.

I love this arcade, I wish every arcade in Brisbane was like this…read more The architecture has a renaissance feel about it that makes you feel like you have just stepped into old European hotel lobby or opulent castle foyer. Its the sort of place most people probably go to look and admire rather than shop but in saying that it is home to some of Brisbane's most awarded retailers especially if you are after jewelery or bridal wear. If you are looking for a unique gift or something for the person who has everything this place is your treasure trove. I particularly love looking at all the beautiful time pieces in the Vintage watch shop and pens right next door.