Gifts & Greetings Shops in general

Gifts and Greetings shops like Birthdays and Clinton Cards are present on most town centres. They usually have a large selection of greeting cards, wrapping paper, teddies and other gists, for various occasions. The layout is usually very convenient and attractive to tempt you. The prices, however are not! Just a couple of months ago, I was out with a friend, and she paid £5 for a card - to me, that's a waste of money for a folded piece of card with some decorations on it! Although I may go to these shops for inspiration, or to buy a gift in an emergency, I don't normally think it's worth it to buy from there. I prefer to buy people personal, rather than ...  Read the complete review

Gifts and Greetings shops like Birthdays and Clinton Cards are becoming less and less affordable for me, I know it sounds cheap but the thought of paying £3 for a card that will sit amoung a sea of others in the sitting room and then be thrown out is just a bit much, the most I like to spend on cards at peoples birthdays is £1 and when I am feeling really cheap Tescos have a 25p range in their cards which are maybe not as nice as the £3 cards in Birthdays but are still nice none the less. The recession hit me and my boyfriend quite hard this year, and because of this we have learned how to squeeze every penny. I find Greetings and Gift shops helpful however ...  Read the complete review

I'm afraid due to the credit crunch I tend not to shop much in these stores unless they have sales on or unless I am desperate for something. I think the problem is the price of everything - for instance birthday cards up to £6.99 each or over £1 per sheet for gift wrap... I tend to look,if I have time, in the pound shops to find a similar item. There are bargains to be found though mid summer or post christmas and I have stocked up on boxed luxury christmas cards and gorgeous wrapping paper from Hallmark at well below half the RRP - at the moment our local Hallmark has dumper baskets outside their shop with items all at £1 - although rummaging around in public is ...  Read the complete review

I discovered paperpassions a couple of years back and I have become totally hooked by what they offer. It is a shop that sells all sorts of wonderful things made with paper. They do sell a lot of cards and I have found them to have the most interesting and diverse collection around. They seem to always find wonderful cards that I do not see elsewhere. They also have some amazing paper art including papier mache work but also paper cut outs and collage. If I need a gift I always go to paperpassions because whatever I buy there seems to go down well with the recipients of my gift. They do have some expensive things but I have found some lovely gifts at very ...  Read the complete review

If you live in the Islington area, then Diva on Upper Street might appeal to you. This shop is part of a chain; there are other branches in Camden Town and Richmond. However I like the Islington branch best. It is the largest Diva outlet that I know of and its low white ceiling with exotic lampshades and mobiles always make me feel like I am walking into Aladdin’s cave when I enter the shop. The front of the shop is used to display a huge selection of cards for all occasions. If I have a birthday or other anniversary card to buy then I always come here. I don’t want an anonymous, sickly sweet card with a soppy verse inside. I want something that ...  Read the complete review