Museum and gallery shops are a bit of a guilty pleasure for me. I don’t mind the museum chocolate and kitsch pencils and toys. I’m happy to skip over those to get to the good stuff, to the trade mags and independent zines, the books and even the stationery when it’s not emblazoned with the name of the gallery or museum.

Of course some do it better than others and Urbis is definitely one of better ones. As well as the books and merchandise tailored towards current exhibitions and their staple local history, Factory Records and the Hacienda wares, they also support local creatives.

Look out for Deborah Zeldin-O’Neill’s wearable and funky contemporary jewellery, made from rubber, silver, pearls and chandelier jewels. Or Linzi Ramsden’s sculptural vessels, tiles and wall pieces. Linzi grows, dries and presses flowers and other vegetation into the clay to create botanical reliefs. She also uses embroidery techniques to create textures in her work. And Francesca Salvini, one of my favourite bag designers, who combines locally sourced Lancashire tweeds with fashion fabrics from Liberty to create functional bags, wallets and purses.

For more information and opening times go to www.urbis.org.uk.

I was out and about in Manchester yesterday and called into the Royal Exchange Craft Shop. If you haven’t been there it’s definitely worth a visit. The shop has a reputation for attracting the best design talent from across the UK, including new and emerging makers as well as established names.

As well as the space in the craft shop the Royal Exchange hosts a programme of six changing exhibitions a year, each running for a two-month period. Each exhibition is connected by a theme or material and is displayed at various locations around the theatre. All exhibits are for sale.

If you’re interested in getting involved you can find more information on the Royal Exchange website.