I remember this store from when it was located in the Wintergarden, and then it just disappeared!…read moreBut recently while I was roaming around the Emporium in the Valley it popped up out of thin air. I was so glad to see that this shop had just relocated and hadn't closed for good, because I've purchased many a gift from Essensuals and it's always been perfect for those people who are difficult to buy for. I must say though, I much prefer the old store to the new one. I'm not sure if it has changed hands or they just decided to change it up a little bit, but it was a little disappointing. The new store seems to have stock piled up everywhere, like a teetering tower of doom that could crush the shopper below at any second. It also seems like they don't have as much stock as before, which is unfortunate because you could find things for both men and women in the old store, whereas the new one appears to be very female oriented. Despite the disappointment that Essensuals has changed quite a bit, it's still full of pretty things like crystal wine glasses, decorative trunks and vintage perfume bottles. It's worth a look if you're not quite sure what you're looking for, but certainly isn't as impressive as it used to be.

Need to find a gift for that person who literally has everything? Or in desperate need of a mask…read morefor a masquerade party? Then Essensuals has got you covered. This place is piled high with unique gifts, home decorations and of course, ceramic masks (yes, never fear, those tacky plastic masks covered in sequins and feathers do not have a home here). There's a seemingly large emphasis on Parisian prints and artefacts as well as London-esque decorations and canvas prints depicting rainy days in New York City. So definitely a perfect gift idea for those jet-setters or dreamers who long after a city-change. So when you're next in Emporium, keep an eye out for a large, hollow dog - it stands guard outside the shop.

Not just another toy shop for kids. These toys are toys you don't usually see in any other…read moreeducational toy shop. They have those ribbons that you clip onto dummies to keep them from dropping on the floor from Germany. They have little animals on them, what a cool idea! They have toys from around the world, cool little replica cars for your boys... I know my son couldn't put them down. The prices aren't too crazy expensive either. What kids toy shop would stop a wooden puzzle of a Japanese sushi bento box? This one does. If you're looking to buy a gift for a birthday, or a special toy for your children that you wouldn't be able to find anywhere else, this is most likely the store for you. It's not a huge store, but it is jam-packed with crazy ideas for toys as gifts, accessories for kids, cooking sets made of wood, trains, train table sets and all of the above. I found the owners very knowledgeable about toy origins and the purpose for creating specific toys as well. My kids really liked this shop and I would definetly come back if I wanted to get something original to gift to someone for a birthday or for kids when they get older. Not a lot of toys are for newborns or babies, but the range is vast and I'm sure there is something for all mums and dads out there. This is a cool shop.

I love Growing World. I don't even know that many kids but I love Growing World. It's so different…read moreto many other toy shops out there - it reminds me of my own childhood. You will not find a Barbie or a Lego man here. It's all old-school and traditional, which I absolutely adore. They have a fantastic range of Playmobil sets, which I used to love, wooden dolls' houses, dressing up clothes and also wooden Brio train sets which I remember from pre-school. They have a great range of picture books and puppets - among my favourites are the legitimate Fraggle Rock puppets and the storybook puppets. 'There was an old lady who swallowed a fly' features amongst them and I didn't know whether to laugh or cry when I saw the toy, it was absolutely hilarious! An old lady with a big mouth into which the fly, spider, cow and assorted friends can be stuffed as the rhyme goes on... Makes you reassess what lessons we get taught by nursery rhymes as children...! Husband and wife owners Maria and Peter are absolute toy enthusiasts who travel the world visiting toy fairs and bringing back delights from all corners of the globe. They bring a natural flair and passion to their business, and can also be found at the Eumundi Markets and Eagle St Markets on Sundays. If you're looking for something different for someone small, look no further than Growing World.

I went to the downtown Brisbane location on my last night in Australia looking for some Australia…read moregifts that didn't seem corny. These folks have everything from, yes, corny keychains to higher end clothing and bags. I was able to purchase some great gifts. I would definitely recommend.

Jasinda was rude and condescending. We asked why there were no pocket knives with women's names and…read moreshe said "women should get more hobbies".

One of my most favourite stores in Brisbane, the Oxfam shop is a wonderful, ethical stop on your…read morenext shopping trip. The store is run by volunteers and all of the profits from sales within the store supports Oxfam's charity endeavours both locally and globally. In store you'll find a huge range of beautiful handcrafted items from across the globe, fair trade coffee and treats, a range of books including children's titles and cookbooks, beautiful home wares, toys, various apparel items, gift cards that support numerous causes (the 'Oxfam Unwrapped' range and tax deductible), jewellery, and Cd's. You will always find something unique and original here. The prices in store range from fairly cheap to moderately expensive, but it's well worth it.

I love, love the stuff Oxfam Shop carries, and I appreciate the fact that they do fair trade and…read moresome of the items are handmade. I was fortunate to be the recipient of a gift certificate to Oxfam, and after going in a couple times (and leaving empty handed), I finally picked out a "secret" jewerlly box (the secret is in how to unlock/lock it). It's a beautifully carved wooden box, with velvet lining the inside. The staff here has always been pleasant and I didn't feel any sort of urgency in this small shop.

LARGE souvenir shop on Queen Street…read more Tacky? Yes. Postcards? Yes. Boomerangs? Yes. T-shirts, magnets, stuffed kangaroos and koalas? Yes, yes, yes and yes. Obligatory UGG boots? Of course. Plus dozens and dozens of other items you never knew you needed or wanted. Staff was friendly. Location was convenient.

I went shopping with a friend from overseas. We stopped by Tourist House to have a look. As I…read morewandered around while my friend tried UGG boots on, I noticed they sold Golliwogs (aka golly dolls, golly), the dark skinned doll, with clown-like red lips and frizzy black hair. There was a collection of them sitting in a woven basket by the entrance. It is rare to find places that sell this type of doll these days and I thought it looked a little out of place in this souvenir shop. Or was it? Despite this odd encounter with a doll popular in the 60's, we found the store useful and my friend successfully purchased a whole heap of things. One of which, includes her beloved UGG Australia boots which she praises for being half the price here, compared to overseas. An insightful souvenir shopping trip.

JV Laser City looks like a video shop until you go in and realise it is more or less. The store has…read morea great a vibe, with interesting looking posters plastered on the walls and a range of anime collectables, random decorations and a small but fun range of clothing. The biggest thing they stock however are Asian DVD's, mainly movies and TV Shows. It is a unique store and I believe it's success is due, in at least a small way, to the fact that it is located at Sunnybank.

Really cool little shop, it's certainly changed a lot from when these business photos were…read moreuploaded. The store is spacious and organised, they have one side dedicated to Asian drama (Korean, Chinese, Japanese), and the other dedicated to Anime, they've got the biggest range of Asian Cinema I've seen outside of Sydney and their prices for it are pretty good. One thing that irked me was that all of the Anime dvds had a discount sticker on it, if you come here, disregard these stickers. The anime dvds that they sell are not worth $59, they're the same edition and print as the ones you buy on Ebay for $15-25 from Malaysia and Singapore. Most of the anime comes out around $25-30 for an entire season, so it's still cheaper than Madman editions but the quality isn't at the same standard. They also have some posters, figures and miscellaneous merchandise. Nice staff. Rad store, will definitely be back.

As I grow older and wiser, I'm finding that the ABC Shop and I have more in common. For instance,…read morewe both agree that documentary DVDs make a great present for the older branch of my family tree. Natural history DVDs such as March of the Dinosaurs and Living Planet. Not to mention all the lifestyle shows on DVDs like Grand Design or French Food Safari. I'd probably be able to find the same DVDs at JB HI Fi or online but committed shoppers like me enjoy browsing DVD covers, finding interesting shows that I've missed on tv or never knew existed. This place is also great scouring grounds for kids presents. On my last visit, I found a gorgeous Giggle and Hoot stuffed owl plushie. It was originally intended as a gift for my young nephew but I've since claimed it as my own. So the next time you get stuck on a gift idea, check out the ABC Shop.

Although the prices may not be this shops forte, you can always find your ABC show here…read more For example, my kids love the Wot Wots. For those of you who don't watch enough ABC2 or have kids, the Wot Wots are Wotty Wotting and they are blue and purple and learn about funny animals, they draw them, play with them and show live video clips of specific animals in general. Very educational, just trust me on this one. No where else will sell you a Wot Wot dvd in Brisbane except the ABC Shops. Or if you go to the ABC Shops online, you can probably broker a better deal than inside the shop itself. Something else the ABC shop sells that others done... the Justine Clarke CD series. With songs like Watermelon, I Like to Sing and Part of the Gumtree Family (going over and over in my head), you might want your kids to entertain themselves in the car when their feeling sad. Justine is always the answer. If you're looking for that special gift, they have cute girl and boy Giggle and Hoot PJs for summer here as well, we have the winter ones. ABC yay! Love this shop, ever since I had kids, I tend to gravitate to the kids sections, but i'm sure you can find some killer dvd's here and books as well too.

This Paddington op-shop is, as its name suggests, full of second-hand designer clothes as well as…read morebric-a-brac, old vinyl records, books, and a huge collection of vintage clothes from the 50s, 60s and 70s. Upstairs is full of shoes, bags, jewellery, hats and men's, women's and kid's clothing from big and small designers. Downstairs is a veritable treasure trove of high-waisted 50's skirts, pleated dresses like the ones grandma wears, evening gowns from all decades, leather coats from James Dean's glory years and my favourite, a rack of enormous faux fur coats from a time when people were a little bit classier. The clothes in here might not be as funky as what you will find in a dedicated vintage store but the prices are much easier on the eyes and if you dig deep you can often find something a bit special.

Ah Endo's, the place where clothes go to be reincarnated. Endo's is kind of like a bit fancier, bit…read morefunkier Vinnie's where the clothes have been sorted to ensure that only things with the potential to be reborn are allowed through the doors. This is great for op-shoppers in a hurry who would rather skip trawling through pilled Kmart dresses that aren't quite vintage and more early 2000s. The convenience and funky factors do mean that the prices are a little higher than in your average secondhand charity store, but usually you'll find something in Endo's that makes that worth it. Especially since you can find it in half the time thanks to their excellent stock selection. Whether you're a novice op-shopper or just a lazy one like me, Endo's has done half the work for you and all you need to do is pick what you want and pay for it! And then when someone compliments you on your new dress or jacket and asks you where you got it, you can feel very suave and hip when you reply with a wave of your hand 'oh, this old thing? It's vintage'.