Rapid DIY is a department store with a difference - it's family run and owned which is nice to see…read morein the days of B&Q and Argos monopolising the market. It's located where John Lewis used to be, right underneath the Radio City tower, impossible to miss. They used to concentrate on selling DIY and hardware, however now they sell everything under one roof, from linen curtains to carpets to the traditional DIY. The store has been recently refurbished, and now has a cafe instore which even sells the traditional scouse! Everything is a reasonable price, considering it is an independent store and in my opinion is on track to compete with the big names in the business.

Rapid DIY is a brilliant all round department store serving several floors that once used to be the…read morehome of John Lewis. It has now expanded greatly and made the most of the former (and well recognised) George Henry Lee building. Rapid is now right in the heart of the city centre with many entrances you can't fail to walk past. The massive improvement is that the building is now fully refurbished to give customers an even better, brighter shopping experience all under one roof! It is still going to expand further in the not so distant future which is also great news. Additionally, there is a fantastic Signature Cafe in store serving hot and cold wholesome Liverpool favourites, including scouse (one of my favourites)! As a whole, Rapid is great value for money and has a huge range of quality goods. You won't be disappointed.

Just had my kitchens installed fron Rapide Plus Kitchens. What a great job they did. No messing…read morearound. Great price and a very professional service. Thought id post this as the first review was way off the mark. The showroom is not finished but thats because they are so busy they havent got the time to complete it.

Eames rocking chairs Vegetal stools…read moreMartin sofas Panier tables Componibili storage rounds Mega Tolomeo floor lamps Elephant stools & Squirrel coat hooks As you might have gussed by now, Utility Home Store specialises in quality furniture by leading British and European designers. Beautifully arranged like a series of rooms, the stock ranges from stylish and sophisticated sofas and chairs in muted and neutral tones to more fun and playful tables, stools and bookshelves in fresh acid green, bright aqua, pillarbox red and pastel blue. Naturally, the big pieces of furniture come with equally big price tags but a lot of the smaller accessories are about the same price you'd pay in a homeware store like Habitat. Right now, they even have the beautiful bookshelves featured on the set of Pedro Almodovar's Broken Embraces. In short: a must for design and furniture lovers!

There are two shops on Bold Street, the household and the gift shop…read more First, the household. If you want something kooky and kitsch, or ultra modern and snazzy for your house, this is where you'll find it. Utility have a cool collection of appliances, crockery and furniture - pretty much everything you would find in an upper market Ikea. My favourite is the spoon shaped like a heart, or as I like to call it, the 'bum spoon' (you'll see what I mean if you look at the pics). It is also the place you can get a milk jug shaped like a cow, designer chairs (that are currently in the sale for a bargain £1k each) and ultra modern kettles that look like they're about to launch into space. The shop assistants are nice too - if there is something you can't find and they realise it's out of stock, they offer to take your phone number and call you when the item has arrived. If you can afford the price tag (warning: not a particularly student-friendly shop) it is the perfect place to head for furnishing your new pad.

I am going to completely agree with Emma-Loiuse about this store which upon first discovery, I…read morenever even knew existed until I found out by accident. Branded Bargains is if you like, your large version of Home Bargains as it is very similar in layout and style so don't be fooled for seeing double; this place is like Home Bargains big brother and you will find allsorts of extra items to buy at low prices in addition to the usual Home Bargains products. I like this place so much, that I'm now a regular shopper at this store; its truly a hidden treasure chest (well, not exactly but you know what I mean)! It is out of the way from the main road and situated behind TJ Hughes so not often noticeable. If I had to use a map to find this place, I would say its definitely worth it.

Home Bargains, Bodycare or Savers and Branded Bargains, the big three, the holy trinity of stocking…read moreyour bathroom, below-kitchen-sink cupboard or generally making your shelves feel like they're full, primarily with Supernoodles. Just outside of the little Textile Town on the outskirts of Liverpool's centre is this marvellous store, located adjacently to its furniture offering and nearby to a heck of a lot of fabric and second-hand stuff. If you've never read my reviews before, well, shame on you! I mean, sorry, let me correct myself and say that you might not have HEARD of Home Bargains. Well, Liverpool, you are lucky. Not only do you have the behemoth of good value that is TJ Hughes on your doorstep, you also have the student and freelance writer (not that I'm talking about myself, noooo) Mecca of shopping wonderment that is Branded Bargains. They're Bargains. And they're Branded. Meaning they're cheap, and they're things you've heard of. Johnson & Johnson moisturisers, for instance. L'Oreal shampoos. Heinz beans. Pot Noodles. Jordan's cereals. Not stolen personally from the muesli arsenal of Katie 'Jordan' Price, but rather the ones that Bill Oddie's voice waxes lyrical about when he's narrating the adverts. You name it, at some point (somewhat rotationally, we have to remember, as with Home Bargains) they'll have it. It's a great place to pick up quirky gifts and offers plenty of homeware as well as edibles and toiletries, and if you're even slightly strapped for cash you'll save a bundle here. Put it on your list of shops to visit.