Australians are apparently notorious for procrastinating on their Christmas shopping, which mostly results in us hitting up the big retailers in a last minute Christmas buying binge. If you haven’t finished (or started) buying your Christmas gifts yet, why not set aside a day (or a few minutes online) and explore and support some hard working local businesses instead? Here are more than 30 ideas to get you started and if I’ve left off mentioning your favourite, leave a comment below!
Arty, quirky or unique…
We are blessed with some great stores that stock the products of local creatives and artists where you can pick up something unique and affordable to spoil a friend or loved one. A few of my favourites are:
Uncharted Collective
745 Beaufort St, Mount Lawley (near the Corner of Second Ave with lots of parking at 2nd Ave Plaza).
A treasure trove of art, ceramics, jewellery, fashion, homewares and body products all designed by Australian artisans. I can never pop in without leaving with something!
Future Shelter
56 Angove Street, North Perth
What’s not to love about a store and workshop where all the items are locally designed crafted and often reference Perth’s famous icons? From bespoke bone china mugs and coasters to stunning lampshades, homewares and prints. Check out their cool fridge magnets too.
Angove Street Collective
31-39 Angove Street, North Perth
Another collective that features a large variety of fashion, accessories, furniture and homewares from a range of local and Australian artisans, many of whom have stalls at the Perth Upmarket. Stocks fresh flowers by Debra Hayes who at the time of writing still had a few spots left at her Christmas Wreath workshop.
Vintage Emporium
216 Whatley Crescent, Maylands
Eschew those mass produced glass and homewares you find at the chain stores and buy those hipster friends or relatives of yours a pre-loved, very on-trend vintage piece instead.
Food & foodie things…
Forget those pedestrian hampers with their their ubiquitous scottish shortbreads, pick up a nice basket or box (or for some of these you won’t even need to!) and fill it with your own selection of local gourmet produce or foodie items from any of the following:
Harvison Gallery & Art Starter Cafe
195 Brisbane Street, Perth (near corner of Lake St).
Owner Mark Walker has a lovely bespoke hamper box that can be filled with any or all of the locally procured goodies he sells through the Cafe including Nakamura Chocolates, Moore River Olive Oil, his own branded Coffee beans, candles and handmade preserves. I often give these to clients and they rave about them!
The Little Cheese Shop
89C Whatley Crescent, Bayswater
Christmas means parties and parties need cheese. Simple. Geoff and the team at the delightful Little Cheese Shop in Baysie will help you out with either one of their ready made (as in made up whilst you are there!) Christmas Hampers to either give as a gift or contribute to an event or cheese related items like a beautiful cheeseboard. Once you’ve sampled Geoff’s cheeses you’ll be ditching the supermarket stuff for good.
Smoult’s Continental Deli
186 Whatley Crescent, Maylands
Smoult’s offer the options of their pre-selected hampers or you can make your own from any of the goodies they stock in the store.
Honey I’m Home Produce
213 Railway Parade, Maylands (between Blackcurrant Clothing and Little Shop of Plenty)
After doing the market rounds for a long time (and still doing them), the family behind Honey I’m Home Produce have taken the plunge and recently opened a retail store selling what is one of the largest selections of locally produced raw honey I’ve ever seen, as well as honey related products such as candles, skin care and beeswax. Either add them to a hamper or make up one that’s purely their products alone – you can’t go wrong.
2nd Ave IGA & Fresh Provisions
Cnr Second Ave Mount Lawley and Cnr Walcott & Beaufort Streets respectively.
Because they’re locally owned, not Coles or Woolies and stock much better quality stuff. Ideal for making your own hampers, particularly if you are looking for gourmet or organic items or catering to those with intolerances, like gluten or dairy free.
Inglewood Night Markets
Monday Nights, 6 to 9pm
Beaufort Street, Inglewood
It’s not all about the food trucks! At the markets you’ll also find stalls with locally made treats and goodies that would make terrific (and tasty) Christmas gifts.
Vouchers!
Sold by any good local restaurant, cafe or bar! Why give a bland Coles/Myer voucher that you obviously picked up at the supermarket checkout when you can give a voucher for most of our local cafes, restaurants and small bars? How about treating friends to a night out at Swallow Bar, your Mum & Nan to coffee and cake at Sugar & Nice or your sister/brother and their crew to a family dinner at Three Coins or Il Pasto? Just google and call!
Clothing…
When I was a kid we always used to get new clothes for Christmas, as an adult I still often buy myself a new Christmas outfit too! Here’s a selection of local options for quality kids, mens & womens clothing.
Method Clothing
557 Beaufort Street, Mount Lawley
A long time supporter of local designers, the gorgeous Dale Emery at Method Clothing stocks a great selection of women’s and men’s clothing at a range of price points as well as some cool accessories. Always worth popping in to.
Alpha Basics
Online and at Perth Upmarket
You won’t need to leave home to buy the littlies in your life something gorgeous designed by a North Perth Mum. Her Alpha Basics is a unisex clothing range catering from 6 month to 5 year olds and best of all you can hand it down whatever the gender! An on trend, street smart new label.
SoSi
Eight Avenue, Maylands
A specialist kids store catering from babies to pre-teens, it recently attracted the attention of a few adults too when it posted pics of its new Star Wars Mr Potato Head toys. Terrific range of children’s clothing, toys and gifts.
Look, Feel, Be
190 Whatley Crescent Maylands
Caroline and her team not only offer a gorgeous range of women’s wear that features their own label plus other designers but also do personal style coaching, make-up sessions and wardrobe detoxing – the latter three of which can all be given as gifts. They stock some lovely jewellery too.
Pafumi Menswear (no website)
656 Beaufort Street, Mount Lawley
Every December, my Mum buys my hubby a voucher from Pafumi Menswear for his birthday and he duly takes himself off for a few hours to buy some new clothes – pretty much his only ones for the year! This menswear shop proves that you don’t need an instagram account to survive and that great stock and good old fashioned service will keep the punters coming back.
Blackcurrant Clothing
209 Railway Parade, Maylands
Run by Maylands local Catherine Ehrhardt, this boutique close to the Maylands train station sells local and internationally designed clothing for women with a fuller figure and stocks sizes 12 and over. Catherine also sells shoes, bags and accessories and holds regular, affordable styling workshops.
Gift, homeware & other retail stores…
Whilst I don’t mind a bit of online shopping for me, nothing beats going into a physical store that offers a well curated selection of items and browsing through them to find that perfect gift. There are a lot of good quality ones around now and these are just some of the local options on offer:
William Topp
452 William Street, Perth
There is literally something for everyone in this very funky store at the top end of William Street (near Brisbane). Owner Kate has a great eye and I dare you to leave without having found something you have to buy!
Daisy & Rowe
26 Old Perth Road, Bassendean
Bassendean locals might not like me spreading the word about this fabulous store on the Old Perth Road but it has to be done! Here you’ll find a fun and interesting mix of homewares, books, cards, fashion items, jewellery, bags, men’s wallets and accessories and baby wear – pretty much everything really! They also sell and deliver fresh flowers. Worth visiting any time of the year!
La Luna
879 Beaufort Street, Inglewood
A recent and welcome addition to the Inglewood section of the Beaufort Street strip with a lovely selection of lots of things. Love a shop with lots of lovely things – your spirits lift just being in them.
That Space
9-11 King William Street, Bayswater
That Space is a pop-up shop that is well worth popping into! With vendors changing approximately every 4 weeks, it currently features a range of homewares, clothing, jewellery and pet accessories as well as serving coffee and gelato.
Ware
Astor Arcade, 3/665 Beaufort Street Mount Lawley
Ware has been one of my go to shops for years, particularly for cards and baby gifts, but it has a great selection of other items too, particularly handbags! A Mount Lawley icon that knows its clients and has kept them for years. A great place for picking up Secret Santa gifts.
Items
434 Fitzgerald Street, North Perth
You can’t have a list of local gift and homeware stores and not mention Items. It’s been a part of North Perth for 25 years and it’s huge. With it’s diverse selection of, dare I say it, items, to buy you have to be guaranteed of finding at least one present for a friend or rellie here. If not, you musn’t be looking hard enough. Ask the lovely staff – they know their stock like the back of their hand and are only too happy to help.
Beaufort Street Books
567 Beaufort Street, Mount Lawley
Because a holiday isn’t a holiday without a good book, or three. Jane and the team have gorgeous store with an excellently curated selection of books for readers of all ages on all sorts of genres. Forget the Target book tables, this is where you find the good stuff and help keep local shop owners who care about their community trading. The staff are all avid readers and know their stuff. Ask for a recommendation or buy a voucher – you can’t go wrong.
Planet Books
638 Beaufort Street, Mount Lawley
Because I can’t mention books without listing that other Beaufort St bookstore – Planet books. You know, you love it, nothing more to say really. Sells the classics through to cult, including a terrific selection of sci-fi and graphic novels, quirky reading such as an Encyclopaedia of Tattoos and a huge array of greeting cards too – just steer the kids away from the rude ones or risk them dissolving into a fit of hysterical giggles. Not embarrassing at all.
Spas and beauty treatments and products…
There are so many terrific beauty salons offering gorgeous products and treatments, as well as stores stocking terrific products that I know I’m going to fail to mention your favourites, so apologies in advance – here’s a very small selection of what’s around:
Bridget Black
20 Angove Street, North Perth
I’ve been using Bridget’s skin care range for years and am a huge fan. In addition to her wonderful face and body products Bridget also stocks beautiful soy candles, herbal teas, make-up and a gorgeous baby care range. She also does gift boxes and vouchers and of course offers a range of terrific in salon beauty treatments.
Keturah Day Spa
500 Beaufort Street, Highgate
Having started in Highgate 20 years ago and been a consistent winner and finalist in the Australian Beauty Industry Awards, Keturah Day Spa is a local institution. They offer a huge range of spa treatments and packages that you can buy and give vouchers for if you’re keen to spoil someone special this Christmas.
Bodhi J
317-319 Pier Street, Perth (opposite nib stadium)
One of the newest Day Spas to open locally, Bodhi J in Perth offers an extensive range of organic and natural beauty and spa treatments that’s way too long to list but you can of course by vouchers for. Check out their website for specials and details.
Museo is pretty much a one stop shop for hair, beauty and spa treatments, has a devoted clientele and online shop for gift vouchers – makes Christmas present shopping a no brainer really!
So who have we missed?
What’s your favourite local place to shop for Christmas gifts or buy gift vouchers for? Who else needs to be included on the list? Leave a comment below and let us know!
