Raw Space

I dropped into this place not to long ago to purchase a gift for a friend, but after seeing the way the owner of the shop verbally abused some people that work under her there was no way I would ever purchase anything here. Being a business owner myself I believe that you need to treat people under you with respect.

For the hard to buy for friend, family or colleague Raw Space is your answer.
Fancy a spaceship shaped ice cube?
An avid fellow owl collector?
Need a card that says everything you’re not trying to say but is hell funny?
Fancy some funky shaped 1m sized clocks for your home?
Seriously, everything and anything quirky is in this store and it can easily consume a good hour of your time.
While I am not a huge fan of some of their pricing on things, Raw Space can get away with it because they stock chique quirky (ie. not tacky unique or «novelty» reject shop style) wares.
This place is perfect for birthday presents, Christmas presents, hey you have everything and I have no idea what to give you presents and self-​gifts!
Go in, but be warned you will end up wanting a whole heap of not very useful but amazeballs stuff because of it’s «cool factor.»

I cannot decide if Raw Space is really cool, really weird or a kooky combination of both. The shop is full of giftware and homeware including cards, jewellery and heaps of knick knack items you could have in your bedroom or lounge room. But be warned there are some very odd things and it appears the more strange it is, the more money you will have to pay for it. I saw a black horses head (fake of course) with a lamp coming out of the top which was labelled at $ 200.00…$ 200.00!
There was some really beautiful pieces including individually sewn cushion covers and a lovely jewellery tree. But as neither of them were anything under $ 70.00, it is not a shop for those looking to save their pennies away. The store is massive and very contemporarily designed, with white walls and white furnishings to make the products stand out. Would be a good place to look for a gift if you have a spare $ 100.00 lying around to purchase a one of a kind piece.

A fresh, funky and evergreen shop filled with novelty items and home décor. The three items which attracted me into the shop were the black hippos on the floor, they looked like they were stone but actually felt like paper mache. I love the wall hung cardboard animal heads and cute little birdhouses, but it just means more dusting and I thought they cost a fair bit, so I didn’t buy them.
It’s great to be able to walk in and get a feel for what is coming into fashion as they have a hint of every aspect of what will potentially be the ‘in thing’ coming season. The shop is a fun place to visit for kids and adults, as there’s something for everyone and for crafters as it’s great to get that creative juices flowing for inspiration.
Raw Space has a great online store also for those who can’t make it to the store or prefer online shopping. It’s easy to browse and too easy to order!

Trendy novelty shop located in the Gawler Arcade, one building East of the Myer Center. A ‘go to’ place for gifts, especially of the last minute variety… there is something for nearly everyone in here!
Owner, Naomi Travers has done a wonderful job of filling the shop with lots of nick nacks and things that make you go «ahhhh» and «ohhhh cool!» Raw Space is slightly feminine.
Outstanding selection of funny and uncommon greeting cards.
A tad pricey, but not unfairly so. There are some homeware items for a couple of hundred bucks, but I’d say the majority of items are priced under $ 50 with plenty of selection for under $ 30.
The staff is fine and professional, but I’ve never received ‘5 star’ service. There’s been a few things that have irked me over the years, but nothing I could mention without sounding too anal.

While a lot of what’s on offer in Raw Space has a gimmicky gift ware feel (not my thing), with a careful eye you can look past the gaudy, distracting displays and find some great pieces of design.
Raw is hidden in Gawler Arcade behind Rundle which for unknown reasons never seems particularly busy. Which does mean you’ll have few other punters to contend with as you shop, however.
The inexpensive gifts would be pretty perfect Kris Kringle fodder. A lot of the gift ware is on the cool yet tacky side: think Urban Outfitters.
But lets talk home wares for a sec. As well as replica Eames and star burst lamps which everyone seem to be digging in a big way, on my last visit I saw a sweet little raw wood goat hair stool and a shiny director’s lamp that wouldn’t look out of place in Mad Men. There was also lots of Dachshund-​related stuff which makes me flip because seriously, can you get dogs any cuter than that? The correct answer is no.

A great place to shop for the person who has everything, ranging from quirky gifts, decorative art pieces, to chic home wares.
Whether you’re shopping for yourself, or a loved one, you’re guaranteed to stumble upon the ideal gift that keeps on giving.
Last time I was there I purchased some flying duck hanging wall plaques and novelty mustache magnets for the fridge.
I know it can be easy sometimes to become a lazy shopper and just buy online, but Raw Space is a great shop if you still like the touchy-​feel experience of shopping.7 Ga