With Exclusive Books you need never be without a good read again. Browse in-store, buy online and now, when you need to feed your book addiction, you can find them on your Under Eats app during shop trading hours. Dinner and a good book delivered to your door, sounds like bliss to us! And don’t forget to claim your Fanatics points for great discounts on your next book binge. And we’re so happy that book launches and meet-the-author events are back… Check the calendar online. They also offer a full range of magazines (yes, they still exist), notebooks (all those empty pages, crying out to be filled) diaries and cards and gift wrap.

exclusivebooks.co.za, 087 365 4677

If you can’t find a dress to say yes to at Bride & Co then you might just be bridezilla. Their range of styles and prices will have you twirling as you try on your dream wedding dress. They will also fit out your groom, groomsmen, bridesmaids, and the mothers of the bride and groom and if you’re slipping into another gown for the wedding supper, they can help with that, too.

Brideandco.co.za, Sunninghill, Rivonia, 011 807 4000

Where else can you find every piece of hardware, software, accessories and more for your home office than Incredible Connection?  And everything comes with good advice and a ‘how to’ for the technically challenged. Even if you don’t know what that thingy majiggy is called but you know you need one, they’ll work it out and show you exactly where to find it. They have great after-sales service, too.

incredible.co.za

For every in-season bloom and even some out-of-season specials, Dunkeld Fruit & Flowers is the only place to go. A sea of buckets filled with every imaginable flower greets you, along with expert bouquet makers so you can choose stem by stem to make up your own personalised, beautifully created bunch. For the undecided or in a-hurry-customers, ready-made combinations of the most vibrant colours and aromas are ready to pick up any day of the week. If it’s exotic or just a beautiful garden arrangement you’re looking for, you’ll find it here.

Jan Smuts Avenue, Dunkeld West Centre, 011 341 0101

Coricraft has stylish, comfortable furniture for every single room in your home. And we mean Every. Single. Room. That includes your new home office, because who hasn’t got a home office these days, as well as your outdoor space. With many locally manufactured items, including super slouchy couches, choose your shape, choose your fabric and there you have a custom-made suite to suit your home.

coricraft.co.za, 087 245 0005

‘Sow, ‘scape, style’ your outdoor living space, says Lifestyle Garden Home and honestl,y you can find everything to do all of that under one enormous roof! With pots, plants, seeds, soil, furniture and garden and patio fixtures and fittings to choose from, a morning spent at LHG is just a pleasure. Imagine refreshing your garden to enjoy through the long summer months –-there’s still time to plant and any time of year is good to re-design the stoep, and LGH has all the tools and equipment to do both with.

lifestyle.co.za, Beyers Naude Drive, Randpark Ridge, 011 792 5616

If you can’t find a gift for a birthday, baby shower, wedding, anniversary, even a gift of commiseration, or any other occasion you can think of at Nikki’s: The Gift Shop (Best Gift Shop for Life’s Little Luxuries) then it simply doesn’t exist. The shop is a treasure trove of exquisite items, any one of which they will gift wrap for you. We challenge you not to find a little something to spoil yourself with too while you’re there!

nikkis.co.za, Victory Park Shopping Centre, 011 888 0605

We all know Poetry for their beautiful clothes but when was the last time you really looked and saw their gorgeous display of gifts, from aromatic cooking oils and condiments, serving dishes, glassware, selection of knobs for cupboards and drawers, cookery books, scarves and more. And if you don’t know what to choose but know the person you are giving to will always find something they love, there are gift vouchers available. We’re definitely dropping hints for Christmas.

poetrystores.co.za

LEROY MERLIN helps you make your home the best place to live! Way more than a hardware store, for which it is a worthy winner, LEROY MERLIN has four departments (do-it-yourself, building, décor, and gardening) which lead us into temptation we didn’t even know existed. Who knew hammers and nails, hoses and flanges, buckets and brushes could be so…appealing? But if you don’t find those sexy, try their décor department…Guaranteed to get the interior designer in you all fired up. You can always try their 3D online modelling and design tool before you commit, then when you do, join their workshops for the proper know-how! Buy a tool or hire a tool, or even have it installed by their experts!  If you’re not into DIY, it doesn’t matter, you’ll love these stores and will find something you need to fix just as an excuse to keep going back!

leroymerlin.co.za, 010 493 8000

Mr Price Home

Now you’re done with your DIY, you need to dress it up, and your home deserves everything Mr Price Home has to offer. Your kitchen counter appliances will be the envy of everyone, and friends will drool over your fall-into-bed linen. There’re scatter cushions, candles (for ambience as well as beating load-shedding), throws and plenty more to pretty up your home at Mr Price Home.

mrphome.com

Where do we go for the sharpest kitchen knives, finest crystal glasses and best crockery, cutlery sets and gadgets to chop, squeeze and peel? To @home, of course. Their pieces of kitchen equipment are works of art, shiny and bright pots and pans that we just love to see on our kitchen counters and in our kitchen cupboards. And they have a fantastic gift registry for anyone setting up home.

home.co.za, 086 083 4834

With the price of petrol through the roof, online shopping is definitely the way to go! Order today and get delivery of any one of thousands of items tomorrow from Takealot.com. There are very few categories that you can’t find and now there are groceries and liquor, too! There are many ways to pay but just one way they deliver – and that’s fast and reliable to your door.

takealot.com

When it’s time to admit your eyesight isn’t what it used to be, get to Spec-Savers for the best, affordable eyecare. Book an eye test and if you can’t decide on the best frames that suit you in the store, you get to take 6 pairs to try on at home for free – so all the family can have an opinion…And if you’re hearing is also a little suspect, they have a full hearing screening service at selected stores, too. Now, where did I put my glasses…

specsavers.co.za

Dis-Chem dispenses more than medication – it gives out great advice from qualified experts in every department – and there is a department for health, beauty, baby products, and so much more. Each pharmacy has a Wellness Clinic on-site, so customers who visit will discover the true meaning of ‘Pharmacists who Care’. And we love that the Dis-Chem Foundation gives so much back to the community, too so we’re always happy to support this great pharmacy.

dischem.co.za, 010 589 2200

We love the great outdoors and so when we need new hiking boots, a warm sleeping bag or even eco-friendly washing products we make straight for Cape Union Mart. And their outdoor activewear is stylish, too. If you prefer more glamping to camping, (that would be us!) they will ensure the inside of your tent is as comfortable as can be, and that you will eat if not of the best china then at least a proper plate using a real (fold up) knife and fork! Is there no end to the innovation in camping and outdoor gear these days?

capeunionmart.co.za, 086 033 3329

Hyde Park Corner epitomises ‘fifty and fabulous’ (in fact, it’s 50 something, but who’s counting!) Constantly upgrading its retail offering and centre aesthetic, Hyde Park Corner defines elegance. Home to literally hundreds of international brands including Louis Vuitton, Emporio Armani, Tiger of Sweden, Okaidi for Kids and Longchamp, as well as firm local retail favourites, medical suites, a banking court, restaurants and cinema complex, Hyde Park Corner has everything you need (want and desire) under one roof.

hydeparkcorner.co.za, Jan Smuts Avenue, 011 325 4340

Sandton City Mall defines the skyline of South Africa’s richest square mile and financial hub of the country and we’re lucky enough to have this prestigious mall right on our doorstep. You will hear all sorts of accents and languages spoken as people from all over the continent and overseas flock to shop here. More than 300 international brands have their flagship stores here, and Diamond Walk is home to many global luxury brands. Specialist stores as well as shops for your everyday needs sit alongside each other and together create the ultimate retail destination.

sandtoncity.com, Rivonia Road, Sandton, 011 217 6000

For ‘gym bunnies’, runners, cyclists, swimmers, or the latest padel tennis enthusiasts, Sportsmans Warehouse has all the kit and equipment for just about every sporting discipline. They also have your favourite team’s fan gear which you can have personalised – so you can do more than just dream about wearing that number 11. They also have a free delivery and installation service for all exercise machines, table tennis and pool tables for hours of fun at home.

sportsmanswarehouse.co.za, 080 000 7030

PNA is a treasure trove for those of us who love a top desk drawer full of rows of sharpened pencils, highlighters, and staplers! The shop is equally loved by hobbyists who’ve been searching for an exact shade of green paint, kids who desperately need a specific item for the school project they left for the last minute, and the person in charge of the office-stationery supply cupboard. With more than 36 stores in Joburg, you’ll be sure to find whatever you’re looking for at PNA.

pna.co.za

The Pantry by Marble has revolutionised forecourt shopping, bringing us a cross between a supermarket, deli, take away and retail store. From fresh produce to ready meals to go, flowers, wine and everyday essentials like cleaning products, you can pull in and stock up on everything you need – and everything you don’t need, but want, desire, just have to have… And fill up with petrol or recharge your electric car while you’re at it.

pantry.co.za, 170 Jan Smuts Avenue, 011 442 4668

We love our fur babies, and Absolute Pets loves them too! From hygiene and nutritional products to toys, beds, bowls, collars and leads, a loyalty programme (for pet parents, not the animals!) to insurance plans (for the animals, not pet parents!) Absolute Pets is an absolute must. And they’re not just for furry friends, either. If you have a feathered or scaly one there’s stuff for them, too! Buy instore or online.

absoltuepets.com,  021 510 0897