Maia

Really nice little gift shop. Had a great playlist when I was in there (early 1975 EP’s). A bit hard to find — it’s tucked in a basement, but a really nice interior.
Was somewhat expensive, (£6 for a candle), but had some very nice gifts, which weren’t in line with usual touristy stuff.
:)

This is a fantastic little shop!
I’d never been in before, but went in a few days for Christmas to look at the lovely things. What a great shop to browse in — perfect for presents or treats for yourself.
They have some beautiful household items — little decorative touches, as well as mugs, bath things, candles, and plenty of cards.
Despite it being crazily busy, there was a nice atmosphere in the shop, as people gently shuffled past each other wrapped up in their own wee world of lovely things, and the chap at the till was really pleasant and chatty.
This will be my first stop next time I have to buy a lovely thing.

I walked in here based on Carolyn E. (as she often does) pointing this out to me while a short wander around that area of the city centre.
I think this may become my happy place, what a wonderfully adorable and cute shop! They have so many cards for every occasion you can think of — but cards that cracked me up!
It reminds me of the shop Papyrus in the way that it has a bit of everything, from the previously mentioned cards, to smelly candles, to mugs and bags and jumpers and dresses (I have my eye on a dress and a jumper in navy with flamingos on them). I think just as Carolyn suggested in her review, it would be possible to find a gift for everybody here.
Never having bought anything here, I am quite keen to change that, but today I was more than happy to go for a little browse and have a proper laugh at some of their cards. Can’t wait for peoples birthdays to happen so I can go back and buy cute things and amazing birthday cards.

Deep breathes, Nicola, deep breathes…
If like me you’re inclined towards all things super cute, then you’re going to have a hard time leaving Maia empty handed. In fact, you’re going to want to buy one of everything, because Maia is a wonderland of kitsch and quirk. It’s just so inviting and cosey with an abundance of cheery and bright stock that it’s near impossible to leave without a smile on your face.
Owing to their great variety of stock, Maia makes for the perfect spot to browse for a gift, or even something special to treat yo’ self when you need a little pick me up. The shop is fun to browse; a good size and jam-​packed with lovely items at a wide range of prices, catering to even the most modest of present-​buying budgets. There’s lots of smaller novelty gifts too which would make for a nice little surprise to accompany a larger gift.
Struggling to find the perfect present for someone special? — Maia to the rescue! I double dare you not to leave with a little something for yourself.

What a great wee hidden gem of a shop this is & I have to thank Unilocal/​Briony for bringing it to my attention as I had meant to pop in here ages ago but always forgotten & when I saw the Unilocal Shops Local check-​in offer of 10% off I just knew now was the time to get me some Xmas presents.
For quite a wee place they sure do cram a lot of great stock in ~ this is a simply brilliant shop for a gift. Just wandering around I saw plenty of cool, funny & cute gifts & even if you don’t have a clue what you’re looking for you soon get inspired wandering around here.
The items are grouped into themes which I like; so if you are looking for gifts for a little/​dog/​cat/​gadget person they’re all in the one area. Further into the shop they also sell jewellery, a few bits of clothing (the dresses & cardigans were super cute!), scented candles (I liked all the Scottish themed ones), cushions, ornaments, kitchen appliances, gadgets, cards & loads more.
I picked up some great presents for my family and if money was no object I could’ve easily bought LOADS more. There is something for pretty much everyone in here; I personally loved all the cat-​themed items & the Guess Who? kitschness! Fab.
For a shop that is in town they have done a really good job at stocking something a wee bit different and also at a very reasonable price. If I had to compare it to another shop I would say Papyrus (although personally I would say Maia is actually better) and now the shop in the city centre has closed down Maia does a perfect job of filling that wee gap left in the market.
The lady that served was delightful & said it was great Unilocal was getting folk into the shop as I can imagine being a basement shop a lot of people probably tend to just walk by… please don’t! This place is a true gift haven & you’ll kick yourself if you make the same mistake I always did & pass it by without stopping for a wee look inside.

I’ve been in this shop before and my guy recently bought one of his cousins a Christmas gift here, so I’ve been a fan for quite some time! I went in today looking for that same cousin something for Christmas and I was not disappointed in my options.
This shop really does have something for everyone. From candles to jewelry to Christmas crafts to a wee kids section, if you’re looking for a cute and affordable gift, you’ve come to the right place. They have fun gag gifts, wedding presents, cards and even wee reusable totes, which come in handy since it’s now 5p to get a carrier bag with your purchase!
The staff here are really a joy to speak with. They made my shopping experience even better by being as friendly as they were. I took my item up for purchase (I won’t say what I bought since it is a Christmas gift) and the barcode for scanning was a bit worn off. So, the clerk asked another clerk to see if there were any other in the stock room so he could get the bar code. Not only did he get the bar code, but I was able to get a brand spankin’ new item, fully wrapped up untouched by anyone other than moi! It’s the little things, people!
This is one of my go to local shops in Glasgow that has stolen a piece of my heart and I’m ok with it! :)

Love this wee gem of a gift shop. Could have spend a small fortune but am trying to be very restrained, only buy for other people and not be a selfish mare like usual.
An eclectic mix of moomin candle whirlers, ipad desks, quirky jewellery, amazing cards and everything in-​between. Well worth a wander if you are searching for the illusive gift for that hard to buy for sod at the bottom of your Christmas list who wants for nothing.
I was in for stocking fillers for the girls and did not leave disappointed. Smudge is going to be utterly delighted with her scarf wearing panda necklace and Santa was pleasantly surprised at the less than terrifying price tag. With the additional 10% check in discount I felt positively virtuous and absolved of all the sinning I had just been committing in Waterstones. Where my restrained buying for other people plans had failed spectacularly.
By the time I had reached the till I had already decided this was going to be a five star review but then the wonderful staff at the till tried to help me lug the buggy up the stairs. I say tried because I may have been using the handy basket at the bottom of the buggy to hide all the books bought in Waterstones, meaning that the buggy weighed more than a family hatchback and actually couldn’t be lifted even by two people and Puff just had to suck up bumped up the stairs.
A great wee shop that I’ll probably be back in again before Christmas. If only because I need some of the amazing Christmas cards with huge Rudolph noses and really my tree isn’t going to be finished until I have a rocket decoration hanging from it. I didn’t even know I needed a rocket tree decoration, well now I do…

Come for the Moomin tea light holders, stay for… all the other amazing gifts!
I was initially drawn to Maia because of photos of the aforementioned tea light holders Briony put up — I’m a fan of all things Moomin and so is the bf’s sister, so when I saw them I knew that was her Christmas sorted! I must admit that the 10% off check-​in deal definitely made me more eager to come here, but I think even if without it, I’d still have visited the quaint, cosy little shop that is Maia.
Before I popped in, I decided to have a swatch of the website just to see what the rest of their stuff is like… and I ended up with a fairly long Christmas list! There were just so many gifts that I thought would be absolutely perfect for my family and friends, and the things they sell are definitely way more interesting than the usual guff you find in more generic gift shops — especially at this time of year.
The staff were extremely friendly and helpful during my visit — even though the shop was pretty busy as it was a Saturday afternoon. They were relentless in their search for items I was looking for which weren’t out on display, and if it turned out things weren’t in stock at all then they were able to tell me roughly when they’d be back in. There were only a couple of things they didn’t have, which considering how much I was after is pretty good!
Some of my favourite things I got were: a bell inscribed with «Ring for TEA» as one of my pals is an utter tea fiend and he’s always trying to get people to make him a cuppa, about 5 different types of the tea light holders (they have more than just Moomin ones, and they all SPIN when you put a tea light under them!) and a soap I got for my cousin which says «Stay Away From Assholes!» on it because she’s rubbish at picking boyfriends. (Like seriously. So bad.) But I absolutely love all the other things I bought as well!
I felt that even without the discount, everything was very reasonably priced for what it was. I’ll definitely be back when I’m after other gifts, or even for a wee treat for myself because I loved so much of the stuff in there! (Many hints have already been dropped!!!)

I visited yesterday and was immediately wowed by one of the window displays featuring loads of cute wee fox items. I’d generally describe their stock as higher end gifts which are quirky, unique and interesting — my ideal gift shop, in other words. Or maybe not, seeing as most of the things I saw that caught my eye are now on my wish list for Santa, whereas I should really be shopping for other people!
Notable items include a Sriracha-​esque cocktail shaker (yes please), some of the Happy Jackson range, an amazing selection of cards (including Psychopants and Gemma Correll), adorable tealight holders (the Moomin one is particularly cute) as well as some nice stuff for small people like soft toys and the like. They also stock a small range dresses which I didn’t let myself look at on this visit, and they have some lovely jewellery. My only «wish» would be that they stocked more stationery, but I am a total stationery fiend and they can’t cater to everyone I guess!
This time I just grabbed a couple of cards and a small present for my sick husband (I thought a beer journal would speed up his recovery) but I’ll be back again soon to stock up! Be sure to check in on Unilocal as well, they have a great check in offer!

Clearly there is some confusion with this listing, as the Maia I went to was a wee basement shop full of knick-​knacks and quirky gifts on Bath Street, not the huge glass-​fronted expanse with coffee shop that people talk about in the reviews… the Buchanan Street one closed in 2011.
Anyway, I was on the hunt for a particular ‘Glasgow Patter’ tea towel and was guided here by my online personal shopper Briony (that’s Unilocal for you!). Sadly, they only had a Scots patter one, not the Weegie version, so my search continued.
But it looks like a nice wee store if you’re looking for a gift or greetings cards. It’s easy to walk past though as it is in a basement. (Didn’t this used to be 23^rd Precinct?)

Located just off Buchanan Street, this lovely gift store is a much visit if you’re looking for a quirky gift or just a little treat for yourself.
The store has a great selection of greeting cards for all occasions — a lot of which are handcrafted and embellished. They also have a great range of stationery and novelties — some of which can be a little pricey for what they are — but all good quality stuff.
The jewellery section has some lovely Scottish inspired designs and other goodies include bath bombs, candles, mugs and bags and generally a whole lot of other vintage inspired goodies!
I love stores like this. You don’t find them often enough these days, and I know that the store is owned by a lovely couple who have a real passion for their products/​store. Definitely well worth a visit — but don’t blame me if you end up splashing some cash on a little treat for yourself!
Update — December 2014 — Unilocal shops local!
With the craziness of Christmas — Black Friday deals, mega discounts, spending hours online looking for a gifts, it was nice to go to back to basics– by stepping into a nice wee shop having a browse and picking a gift.
I was on the look out for a gift for my best friend and was spoiled for choice, but settled on a pink BFF mug. It sounds slightly tacky, but is in fact really good quality with nice words, and was pretty good value even before my Unilocal check in 10% discount.
As usual the staff were really friendly without being overbearing and I was really tempted to splash out on a few things for myself. The card selection at this time of year is also pretty unique with quirky characters and humorous sayings although some of them might not be totally appropriate for your wee granny!

One of my fave shops in Glasgow, my first go to for gifts, It’s right next to my work which is always handy and the selection is great. The variety of things available is always changing, its good for if i want something sweet and nice for my nana or something quirky and fun for my brother. Great card selection too, Staff are always so chatty and helpful. Would always choose to shop here as an independent shop and avoid bigger chain shops makes what you buy people more individual and exciting.

A lovely gift shop with lots of quirky products.
You can normally find something for most people. I used them for lots of stocking fillers and for unusual cards.
They stock everything from stationary to quirky bags to mugs and hip flasks. It is one of those shops you will go in and find something you never thought existed.
I loved the original store on Buchanan Street and this one is great too. Its only downside if the location.
Hidden a little out of the way in a basement premises on Bath Street means it is missed by many potential visitors.

Like a wee independent biz oasis in the big ol nasty chain nonsense that is Glasgow city centre, this wee place is a life saver for those who abhor the insanity that is x mas shopping.
I popped in here a few days afore Christmas (I know, my own fault!) to pick up some wee stocking stuffers for the Mrs and left with my sanity very much in tact. Win.
Add to the chilled out vibe a selection of cool wee trinkets that feel pretty reasonably priced, and the fact that it’s located next to Good Spirits Co (pop in for a sample? Why the hell not!), then you have an awesome wee shop.
Me like.

This place, beside The Good Spirits Co. On Bath Street, is another of those little treasure troves that seem to be popping up. They stock all the cool cards and gifts that you used to have to buy online. I just popped in again looking for a cool and unusual Grandma birthday card for my daughter to my Mum and of course I didn’t leave empty-​handed. Now that all those generic card stores have mostly closed I hope this means more people will discover the delightful charms of Maia.

I popped into Maia when looking for a couple of presents for a particularly tricky friend, and left a very happy bunny. Lots of very tempting things meant that I had to resist buying for myself too!
The stock is a great mix of the kitchy /​retro items and some lovely Scottish gifts too — I’m a huge fan of the Gillian Kyle range. Tunnocks tea cake mugs? BOUGHT. But like I said, had to restrain myself over the apron… There were also some lovely owl cushions and candles. The girl who was working when I went in gave great service and we had a moan about the weather (yes I am that dull, and possibly have an inner pensioner) leaving me feeling like customer service was important to them. I will definitely be back before long!
Located under Rumours and next to the Good Spirits Co, a visit to this wee corner of Bath Street will make you much poorer but you’ll leave fed and laden up with great presents for your beloved ones (and maybe just a few for yourself)

Maia is a great gift shop that sells some lovely cushions and flasks that fall into the retro revival category. I hate throwing the phrase retro around, but the floral patterned owl cushions and unusual little trinkets to be found in here are inspired by bygone era’s.
Selling tongue-​in-​cheek giftcards, hip flasks with old Flying Scotsman logo’s emblazoned on the front, tea flasks with 70s patterns on them and a variety of books, Maia is full of lovely surprises. They have a rather unusual cushion collection, complete with spooky looking prints features girls with big eyes and scowls. They may appeal to fans of the doll Blythe, or just anyone who likes the goth genre. As a contrast to these solemn cushions, the staff are very smiley and always happy to give you a hand. They greet you when you enter the shop and always say bye when you leave, giving it a homely, «come back and visit us soon» kind of feel.
Maia’s cute, kitschy gifts have sprinkled a little bit of life into this section of Buchanan Street, which was hitherto littered with chain stores. They might give Urban Outfitters a run for its money, and they sell ice cream too! What else do you need?

Where did this come from? Seems while I was away tons of little shops started cropping up all over.
I met a friend here, and at first, had NO IDEA where she was talking about.
Boy, am I glad she took me there!
I was in coffee/​cupcake/​gift heaven. I could easily roll out a sleeping bag and stay there forever.
The staff are very friendly, and not in that coffeehouse-​condescending way. When they say, ‘It’s no bother’ they mean it.
I spent ages walking around and looking at everything in the shop. Everything I found was something I could see myself having, and now that I’ve seen it. WANT.
Upstairs, I sat later, with a cupcake and a latte and making yummy noises. This place is heaven, and you won’t want to leave.
However, though, you do have to leave. Because it is mine.

This lovely little shop is a quirky mix of a café and coffee shop, with a scoopalicious ice cream parlour and a little boutique section selling gifts, books and lovely things.
I was drawn in here today on this icy January day, by the sign advertising hot coffee to takeaway for only £1.50. I was welcomed in by the friendly girl behind the counter, who offered me a tasty sample of rocky road as I browsed the menu on the wall. I decided on an Irish cream flavoured latte to takeaway, as I had a little look around the beautiful boutique. I particularly liked their retro kitsch telephones that are a lot nicer than some others I’ve seen in similar shops and at a much nicer price.
This pretty little shop is a great addition to Buchanan Street, offering service with a smile and lots of lovely things to browse and buy whilst enjoying a good cup of coffee.

Maia is a brand new shop on Buchanan Street, just up from the subway entrance. At the door stands a counter selling ice cream and hot drinks, and the rest of the store is given over to gifts.
There is a range of gifts such as as books, jewellery, pictures, cups etc. For anyone with an owl-​phobia (yes it does exist! I have it!), be warned that there are a lot of things with owls on them. There are some funny gift cards on the right hand side on the front wall. I particularly like the jewellery — it’s unusual and not as expensive as I was expecting. The guy behind the counter is dead friendly and even offered me a free sample of ice cream, although we both agreed that it was hardly the weather for it.
Another one for Papyrus to watch out for!