Glasgow is littered with places like Rutherglen's the Bargain Store. You know the kind, jack of all…read moretrades, master of none. Sure, you can get a bargain in here but generally for "bargain" you should read cheap. Stocking everything and anything, the Bargain Store is the place you buy your kid a Mickey Mouse toy to appease them for five minutes, before they're left horrified as Mickey's eyes and legs fall off. In saying that, you can always uncover something handy in here, be it Christmas lights, bluetack or a disco ball. It's not good quality stuff, but by rule of thumb, if you can't find it anywhere else, chances are it'll be hidden away in a bargain store.

A visit to The Hardware Hut is like rooting around in your dad's garage, filled with everything…read moreincluding the kitchen sink. This cluttered cavern stocks everything you could ever want in terms of homeware, cleaning, DIY, nameplates, toys and trinkets. This place has been here for as long as I can remember, with the same smiling man behind the counter, accompanied by his long suffering and muttering wife. This comedy duo are always on hand to help and offer advice on your purchases and DIY disasters that are a mystery to me. They say one person's junk is another's treasure, and this place is very much a DIY dad's dream come true.

One of the few places left on the parade that is actually useful. A bit cluttered but stocked with…read moreeverything. Has not let me down yet. The dude at the counter is super helpful too

I've used Stamperland Hardware it more than once and never been disappointed. The owner is very…read moreknowledgeable and helpful. He has a great selection of hardware, and the prices are very reasonable too.

This is a great little independent hardware store and it is full with everything, and I mean…read moreeverything. Need some lightbulbs, check. Clothes pegs? Check. Nuts and bolts? Check. Garden gnomes? Yup. Like I said, they have everything here and it is an exciting place to browse, as there are buckets upon buckets filled to the brim with knick knacks and hardware goods. So if you're feeling inspired and want to do some DIY around the house but have forgotten to buy that tiny screw driver for fiddly nails then this store is a good shout. When the weather permits many of the goods are displayed on the pavement just outside the shop. I came here a few months ago looking for some batteries and they had plenty of them and they weren't too pricey either. The shop owner was very friendly and asked if I needed any help. After that he got me my batteries quick smart and I was on my way satisfied that I could now put some juice in my camera and take some nice new pictures. A great little shop.

Absolutely brilliant wee old school village hardware store - always has what I need and is a joy…read morejust to browse in too - you never know what you might find that you never knew you needed!

Despite being part of the same parent company as B&Q this place actually has what you want to do…read morethe job right. You can either turn up and flick through the catalogues (they have quite a few different ones), download the catalogues on your mobile device or do what I do and browse/order on line after reading the reviews. If placing an online order you quickly get a text to advise the staff in store have your order ready and it's a quick drive round and there you are. The staff are great and often help customers whether they are trade or DIY with whatever queries they have and are happy to compare items or I've seen some customers bring things in to make sure they are buying the right items/parts for the job. There are a few items out on display in the store, usually plumbing, safety clothing and general decorating items that you often forget about or are handy to have for "spares" for those emergency jobs that happen when you don't expect (and every DIY store is shut).

Little independent businesses such as A S Electrics are the shops in Glasgow that pleasure me to no…read moreend when I visit. Old school long counter and packed to the rafters with everything you need to fix anything. I went for coat hooks only a few days ago to fit to the underside of a bar (isn't it so frustrating when sitting at a bar and there is no where to put your coat except on your lap!?) and I was offered a wealth of coat hooks, some one which looked like they were from another planet! A great little stopping place if your just looking to mend something in your house but they also supply to independent business too; everything from manager sign to ashtrays, washers to door handles, this place has it all.

Very impressed with the service at this shop! I called to ask if they could look at my dyson which…read morehad stopped working and wanted them to estimate a price. The man I spoke to on the phone was lovely and very helpful, he asked what model it was and what the problem was. He then talked me through how to fix it there and then on the phone! Happy days!! I have a fixed dyson that cost me nothing and I will definitely use these guys in the future.

Ahhhhhhhhhhh.....sensory overload....cant shake images from mind.....close my eyes and…read moresee........EVERYTHING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I would recommend giving this place a wide berth if your either hungover or feeling a little under the weather as it can be a tad.....eh, mental. One of those shops that sells just about everything you could imagine a shop selling and a little bit more, this place is quite possibly the scariest place i have ever seen. Need a statue of an African lady carrying a water jug on her head? go here. Need a dozen lighters? go here. Random other thing? go here. It really is that bizarre. I would recommend going to this joint and spending a fiver on a random piece of tat for your mates next birthday. Yes they will hate you, but it'll be totally worth it when they unwrap their incredibly life like Gorilla statue....

Well what's not to say about this Aladdin's cave of a place…read more Tourist's and locals in their droves stare in this store window with jaws hitting the pavement. Some of the delights you will see in the window? Well how is a replica of the titanic?, Billy Bass fish, wigs, dreamcatchers, virgin Mary statues, daleks, ornaments of staffy bull terriers and that breed of dog that is the same as Paul O'Gradys Buster, model trains and buses, a plastic dragon with red eyes that light up and wings that move back and forth, real life dolls, prayer books, hoover bags, Elvis statues ohh but to name a few. The real mystery of this place is that they actually sell everthing, every battery and light bulb, these guys have them all. If you went in with a missing bit of the Ark or you needed some bolts for a flying saucer these guys would pop through the back and mysteriously have them, all at discount prices!

This is a wee gold mine of a shop. It looks battered from the outside and it is tiny inside, but it…read morehas everything! The main line of business is...well there isn't really one. It's a amalgamation of watch care (e.g. batteries, straps and the like), DIY supplies, electrical supplies and all kinds of bits and bobs in-between. There are some little knickknacks, candles and candle holders too which are not bad for a quick gift in a hurry or to brighten the place up. Admittedly, some of them are a little dated and the like but if you have a rummage you're sure to find something. Meanwhile, the other side of the business is unlocking and repairing mobile phones and PCs. Sadly, I didn't find this out sooner, when I drunkenly dropped my laptop onto the wooden floor and completely broke the screen right off of it. However, should anything happen like that happen again, I'll definitely make a stop in here and see what they have to say. Other plus points, are good prices and friendly staff who are more than happy to give you some DIY advice.

Nestled in a corner is this lovely holdover from a bygone age…read more This is an Ironmongers. They don't sell garden furinture or kitchen ware. They sell locks and hinges - all things iron. If you live in a tenement - look around. A lot of the stuff you see holding the windows up or attached to your doors, you will not find in a B&Q or a Homebase. Try and describe and they will look at you like a person who needs locking up. To obtain these things and loads of other useful stuff - you need to get to Oswalds. I love this place. Ask for a screw and the guy brings out a board with screws attached to it. You don't need to know the industrial nomenclature. No need to learn builders jargon. Bring a sample of what you need or a picture of it. They will haul out a board and see if its brother is nestled amongst the variety of things available. What a great system! These guys are helpful and very into what they do - which is stuff made out of iron. Be tolerant and they will tolerate you (and your silly questions)

They have a massive selection of home ware from electrical, leisure, tools to laundry products here…read morea bit like crockets in glasgow but more selection and more organised you can easly walk in for one thing and come out with ten items.