Opus

Since 1968 Opus has been peddling a quirky mix of wares, including greeting cards, books, vintage Atari consoles, retro board games, bags, homewares and a long list of lifestyle brands including Lumiera, Happy Socks, Kate Spade and Elk.

CEO Chris Tourgelis’s (he’s “gift guru” on his email signature) parents bought the original Opus store in 1978, when it was already 10 years old. He attributes the success of the family business to its future-proofing strategies, and the irreplaceable experience of a bricks-and-mortar store.

At 500 square metres, the current Opus site is larger than the original (which was also on Oxford Street) and has a second level for furniture, art and soft furnishings. Australian brands such as Glasshouse candles and Kip and Co linen take pride of place on the shelves of this colourful emporium, which Tourgelis likes to think of as a homage to the heritage of the store as a homewares shop. Opus also has its own online store, and a second space in Newtown called Octopus.