Have been using Greetings House as the supplier for my business for around a month now and I cannot…read morefault their services at all. The staff are so kind and helpful, the prices are fantastic and top of the market and products are always brilliant quality. I recently decided to switch helium suppliers and have decided to use Greetings house due to their unbeatable pricing. Penny was extremely helpful in finding me the canister that I required. She spent around an hour liaising with my local suppliers to arrange this for me. Checked that I had the correct nozzle attachment and placed the order for me. Cannot thank greetings house & Penny enough!!

Oh wow. I have found crafty heaven and it is a trade…read morewarehouse in the Midlands. This place has every arts supply and events decor piece your heart could possibly desire - sequinned ribbons to artificial peonies to bubble wrap to cards and invitations. Everything comes in 30 different colours and is bought wholesale, so you can buy in bulk if you so desire and also keeps it affordable. We raided it for supplies for my sister's wedding - high quality paper and card for the table plan (home-made by my own fair hand!), a box of 50 wedding confetti pouches (such good value), 15 pretty jars and a tonne of coloured beads for centrepieces, artificial cherry blossom branches (they just fitted the theme), and a lifetime's supply of blu-tack. And that was only the first of several (awesome) trips. Here's the big fat catch though - you can only get in if you're a business owner as it's officially aimed at trade buyers not amateur craft enthusiasts like me. In this case I had a useful aunt with a shop who registered for an account and brought us along. You still can't just wander in though - you need to show ID and leave any bags in lockers. And thus its existence has remained a closely guarded secret ;) Looking forward to any excuse to get to go back!

While what they sell is lovely, the owner hardly ever opens for business. Which is very…read morefrustrating if you want to mooch and buy something. I've been by several times and I think the shop was only open twice in the spread of my visits across the year!

Smithsonia is an exceptional jewellers and gift shop based in Birmingham's Piccadilly Arcade. They…read moresell many things from gorgeous silver jewellery to Japanese Kokeshi Dolls and amazing sculpted pieces in ceramics and glass. There is something for most budgets in this shop and it's a great place to browse. I bought some cute button earrings for just £10 but there are plenty more extravagant gifts, believe me! You could spend forever just gazing in their windows as you walk past; there is so much to see - it must take them forever to clean! They do beautiful and unique silver rings by up and coming jewellery designers as well as pieces by established brands such as Pilgrim. Every time I walk by I can find at least 15 or so items in their window that I want to buy; I'm sure everyone else can too which is why they are so successful. Smithsonia are the longest running business in Piccadilly Arcade, they've been there for around 30 years. If you are looking for a gift then definitely check them out first and impress your loved one with something a little different.

A wonderful independent gift, card and jewellery shop. If you are looking for a birthday or…read moregreeting card that is a little different to what you might find in one of the chains this is a good place to start. Their collection is not huge but you will definitely find something a little different. They also stock fabulous gift wraps and papers. To entice you into the shop the window displays are made up of some beautiful and unique silver jewellery. Again, here you will find pieces you can't find anywhere else. If you are looking for special pieces of silver jewellery at fairly reasonable prices start with this shop. Inside the staff are welcoming and very helpful.

Paws n' Thoughts from the title suggests this shop is all about pet food and supplies. Spot on. But…read morethe shop has also turned into a florist and offers balloons, gifts and cards. Flowers are reasonably priced and there are many to choose from so that is one positive. There are also a number of cards to choose from whether they are birthdays, anniversaries, thank you cards etc. The cards are pretty cheap as well so that is another positive. I do not have any pets so I did not really pay much attention to the pets part of the shop although I did see dog food, toys for animals etc. The shop is very roomy and the staff are very friendly. If you do have any pets, this could be a place for you in terms of getting pet food at a cheaper rate. Considering the financial difficulties we are facing, there are plenty of cheap items at Paws n' Thoughts and you may want to purchase one or two items from here.

I have to admit, I am not an animal person but my little sister is and she insisted we visit this…read morestore because she wanted to see what food we could get for her recent addition to the family....'Felix' the cat. Having never been in a pet store (yes seriously), I wasn't sure what to expect or even look out for. So, I kind of entered into the store like a lost chicken. My little sister on the other hand, was beaming with excitement and she became even more excited when she realised they sold more than just pet food. We ended up spending a good 40 minutes in the store. She bought her cat a new collar, a gift card from the store for one of her friends who's birthday was coming up (I didn't even realise they sold gift cards in pet shops). I'm not going back in there with her!! Taking 10 year olds shopping is a big mistake but overall this store is actually really cool. They sell what every pet lover would adore and more. I highly recommend it to those wanting to give their pet a little something special. Another note is that the staff are really nice too!!

I love this shop!!! The perfect place to have a wander round and get ideas for the house or gifts…read morefor your friends. Gorgeous jewellery, and beautiful gifts, I bought a lovely baby present for a friend here that was really unusual. The service can sometimes be a little bit lacking in the personal touch- but the lovely items make up for it.

A fantastic shop for unique and bespoke cards, gifts, retro goods and handmade items that can't be…read morefound elsewhere. Definitely well worth checking out! It's great for gifts for the hard to buy for people in your life!

All things American all in the name of 'candy' on the middle mall Debenhams end :-)…read moreOnly a small stall but a nice selection of candy to make you smile. Its always nice to have a treat and this stall has plenty with a few not seen before yummies too. Today at last I got a packet of Peanut Butter M&Ms as recommended by Desta H and I'm looking forward to trying them (^_^). Noticed a few things I need to try esspecially #TAB (brings back memories from the 70's) I brought my son a Million Dollar Bar Chocolate - I would recommend this, I only had 2 squares and it was luxuriously creamy - scrummy. At £2.50 a bar, as a treat I'd say go for it :-)

It's the pun that got me here, but it's the sweets that keep me coming back…read more As the name suggests this place's sole agenda is to sell us Brummies the finest confectionary from the US of A. Whilst Birmingham has done so much for English chocolate already, it's hard not to feel like rationing is still on when you look at all the exotic and gawdy wrappings and packaging from the American brands. Our British sweeties feel a bit bland in comparison. As Yankees is also essentially a little cart, the shop further taps into a neat sense of by-gone Americana. It feels like a tornado has picked this place up from the Magic Kingdom and dropped it here. I fully expect to hear a barbershop quartet start up as I nibble, suck and chew. Just a reminder that Yankees also does American crisps and pop - just in case you want to give your sweet tooth a day off. So, all in all, this is the place that makes us jealous of America consumerism again, I wouldn't be surprised if they also stock the nylons and tobacco I can't find.

Adorable little money-pit of a shop. Contains many, many things you didn't know you needed, but as…read moresoon as you see them, you do. Lots of cards - classy, modern, funny or all three together, including really nice children's age cards. Unusual gifts for all ages. Cath Kidston stuff downstairs, along with cookery books and other mesmerising lovely things.

This is one of those shops that's definitely worth a look around at least once a year. It's packed…read morefull of cool and quirky stuff and you're bound to find something for yourself or someone else in there. The prices are higher than competing shops but that probably reflects its boutique nature.

What a beautiful little shop, down a cobbled street in the lovely town of Leek. This place is the…read moreperfect venue to buy cute gifts and knick knacks for anybody from 1 to 101. I have to mention the owner in this review, she is super duper sweet, and on my few visits, she is very helpful and smiley. This place not only is a lovely shop, but it also holds regular crafty workshops, from crotchet and knitting to dressmaking. These are all reasonably priced and range from beginners level to expertise. They encourage the ladies (and gents) to drink tea, eat cakes and have a natter whilst doing so. I also believe that Bibelots also has something called crafty matters, which are opportunities for people to meet up and socialise whilst making and creating in the beautiful Bibelots environment. This little shop supports the community and does it in style. I really loved the totally locally feel, and I'll be back as soon as I can.

From the owner: Bibelot is the areas only authorised Cath Kidston stockist - we carry a large range including bags…read moreand accessories, homeware, toiletries, bedding, books, stationery and umbrellas. Alongside Cath Kidston we also stock bags & accessories from Disaster Designs, toys from Maileg and much more! Bibelot are proud to support British designers and manufacturers, we stock a selection of homeware, jewellery and cards including Poppy Treffry, Tatty Devine, Love Boutique and Laura Sherratt Designs to name a few. We also stock a variety of gorgeous locally handmade items. We also have a fantastic haberdashey and craft room upstairs - we stock a large range including yarn, fabric & fat quarters, ribbon, buttons, jewellery findings, books and craft kits from names such as Rico, Rowan, Stylecraft, Tilda etc. We run a range of craft workshops including sewing and crochet, full details can be found on our website.

It may be over a century old, but the flowers at this pitch in the heart of the city centre are as…read morefresh as fresh can be. The blooms and bouquets from here are radiant and fragrant and always bring a smile to my face on even the gloomiest of Brummie days. This is an ideas stall. This place invents lovely combinations of flowers to give as gifts, and seems to change the bouquets designs daily - just to keep things as fresh as its flowers. However, it also does the classics perfectly. How many Brummies have heard the words 'I love you' accompanied by a Sutton Flower's single red rose? At certain times of the year things become a little different. Easter sees blooms that reflect the festivities, and at Christmas it's also possible to get gifts, cards and wrapping paper. I like to visit just after work, when Birmingham is winding down after a long day. This is when there are bargains to be had, as Sutton Flowers sells off the day's stock ready to start afresh the next day. Put simply, Sutton Flowers is a little ray of sunshine in a busy corner of Brum.