I saught out a good, quality framer for some help on the repair to the frame of an already framed…read morepiece (floating photograph about 2 ft by 4 ft in size). I looked on-line and short of walking into a reputable art dealer and seeking their opinion of who they might use and refer me to, I saw Lee Wah Art & Framer continually pop up in my searches. Although it appears they have been in the business since 1973, they are reletively new to the location I found them at on Chancery Lane. Although their space is small, their shop sits on a darling little street and they could not have been more helpful with my inquiry. They seemed knowledgeable and interested in helping me solve my repair challenge. Store was bright, contemporary compared to street side options that you see everywhere and the best to museum quality that I think I was going to find (again, short of walking into Gagosian or another high end gallery and sniffing around for a referall) Now although I opted in the end to do nothing and live with the damage at the moment, I would have no hesitation to take my artwork to Lee Wah to be reframed. They seemed friendly, kind and professional.

It's probably not advisable to write a review when you are seethingly angry. But the juices are…read moreflowing. And you know when you have such a bad customer service experience that it colors your whole day? That was my experience today. I had a poster framed here and they quoted me $450 --mind you I ordered the cheapest frame and glass possible. I talked them down to $400, which I thought was still overpriced. I picked it up two days later. That very day I go home, put the picture (still in bubble wrap and with strings tying It up) on a table with very little force and the glass shatters to bits. Now, I can go off on the lack of customer service in in Hong Kong, but this place takes the cake. When I brought in the frame today (my first opportunity after it broke over the weekend to bring it back) he wanted to charge me $150 to fix it. I said it basically broke on its own. He said "not possible." --I had my assistant call to reason with him in Cantonese and he argued with her. What happened to work with integrity? What happened to backing up your craft? For a place that is in the middle of soho I felt like this guy had it out for me and other expats. Or maybe he is just really angry, hates his job and takes it out on others. I took the picture to another framing place and they quoted me $100. Avoid this place at all costs.

One of the few shops in Sham Shui Po that I know (granted, that does limit the sample size), that…read morespecialise in 'craft' as opposed to wholesale designer supplies. Here you can find ribbons, trimmings and embellishments, but also gift boxes and embroidery hoops. Cross stich patterns and fake flowers. I walked out with almost 200 yards of ribbon for a little (a very little) over HKD50 - bargain! Like all shops in SSP, Tak Cheung Co obviously understands the value of a good business card - you WILL need help to find the same store twice. But theirs is one of the most helpful I've collected on many visits to the area. In fact, it's the one I present to taxi drivers whenever I go to SSP, just so I know where I am when I start and can orientate myself for the rest of the expedition, kind of. Of course one then has to pop in to the store to see what's on offer ... It would be rude not to.

This is an absolutely amazing store. They have virtually everything... office supplies (they have…read moremore types of pens than I knew existed), greeting cards, ribbons, bows, gift bags, decorations, lights. You name it, they have it. Don't be put off by the relatively small space for so much merchandise. If you don't see what you want, just ask and one of the staff will find it for you. I've been going here for 25+ years and have never found a more service-oriented store in Hong Kong.

Sam and Company is a veritable treasure trove of stationary loveliness. Despite its excellent…read morelocation on Stanley Street, and the affect of this prime location on their rent demands, the store is not as jam-packed as many of its competitors in the area. They have struck a pleasant balance of a well stocked store, with plenty of products to browse, but enough space in the aisles to turn around without taking out half the shop. As is expected, Sam and Company sell pens, notebooks, printer paper, craft supplies, card board, red packets, greeting cards, as well as some rather random items like inflatable Hello Kittys, paper lanterns, plastic fruit and footballs. In fact, so good is the stock in there, that when I was recently looking for a non-self inking customisable 6 digit number stamp - yep, that specific, and had already flustered most as though I had asked for a left handed mug, the lovely owner/sales lady didn't bat an eyelid and just asked what size. I kid you not, she had an entire box of non-self inking customisable 6 digit number stamps. The point to the story is that Sam and Company have a lot of stuff. It's on shelves, piled on the floor, hanging off the ceilings, nine out of ten they will have what you are looking for (unless it is the aforementioned left handed mug). If you don't see what you want, ask the staff, there is so much more stuff secreted away behind the counter or out back. My only grumble is the staff can be a bit pushy. If the product you want isn't quite right, they get a bit shirty if you don't to buy. They also follow you around the store, but maybe that's just me and my dodgy looks? A definite must for anyone who needs anything craft or stationery.

Now, this....this...is a stationary store... I came in here…read moreto specifically look for letter size filing folders. To my dismay, the nice man at the counter told me that they don't have letter size folders and that letter size is only a USA size...Well...there goes my plan.. But aside from that, this place would have it all... Any type of office supply in all sorts of types... I'm glad it's in Central.

Stationery stores are all to often underrated. I mean who do you know that has ever went on about…read morehow awesome a time they had in a stationery store? No one is the answer... until now! There are many stationery stores around Hong Kong because, let's face it, they are an essential part of our lives. But not all stationery stores sell every bit of stationery, so I've come to realize. Some sell paper but no ink, others sell everything except envelops. It's a real source of frustration. Reliance Stationery Centre's name tells you that whatever you need you can rely on finding it here. That is to say, everything that I've needed I've found here, anyway. The bottom floor is big in its own right but there's even an upstairs to is as well with even more stationery. I walked in looking for stickers, which I found within 3 minutes, and I walked out with a whole bag of other stuff. A couple pens (why not?), a world map - something I've been looking for for quite some time, and a business card holder. I did not check if they provided printing services, if I had noticed that it would easily be given a five star rating. It's also in a very accessible location between central and Sheung Wan, closer to Sheung Wan, so picking up something between lunch breaks is an option. The morale of the story is that the next time you are fretting because you're missing a pen, printer cartridge, stamp collection folder, world map or some such you now know where you're most likely to find it.