Finding a good carpet cleaner is always tricky - so glad WOMO comes to the rescue! I chose Aquila from the WOMO site and was not disappointed. He was prompt, friendly, thorough, obliging and did a great job. I also appreciate a tradesman who is polite and displays genuine good manners! I would thoroughly recommend Renardo and would use his services again.

Approximate cost: $130

Seems everyone is getting into lash extensions but once you have had great service and products there is no going back. I'd had lash extensions before from another salon (btw, Ellie also does nails) and sort of got used to the harsh, prickly lashes and the gobs of glue; the way they held water when showering, then got caught in your towel and came right off; and felt uncomfortable brushing against sunglasses. Ellie has been trained in Europe, and uses only products sourced from Europe. The lashes are mink - ethically sourced from brushing the animal - and soft and flexible like real lashes. They look more natural, are feather-light, aren't brittle so don't break off and don't need lots of heavy glue to hold them on. As they are not heavy, they don't pull your own lashes into growing out at weird angles. And if you don't like how the salons put sticky tape over your lower lashes while they apply the extensions to the upper lashes, you will be please to know Ellie uses a soft, cool pad instead. No "panda" eyes as you get when they rip the tape off! The service is perhaps a bit more expensive than you pay elsewhere, but for the comfort, quality and durability of the products, and the kind, friendly service it really is the best I have found. I work as an image consultant so can recommend this service from a professional, as well as personal, point of view.

Approximate cost: $65-90

I have experienced many kinds of massage over the years and recently had my first Thai massage while on holiday. It is a very complete, holistic style and I find it very effective.
I visited Mayfield Thai Massage Centre today and was very happy with the whole experience. The therapist was excellent, I will be returning and I would recommend this centre without reservation. Only downside is no eftpos facility so you must take cash with you.

Approximate cost: $70.00

My husband and I purchased two new vehicles from Brad Kellick at Audi Newcastle and the whole experience has been a pleasure! Usually we would use a buyer's agent to buy cars as we hate the leg-work and hassle; and dealing with car salespeople can be stressful. Brad is very professional, great on detail and provides frequent updates on the sales and shipping process. We have both been very impressed with the service and professionalism and would definitely buy from Audi again.

I have done my banking with the Greater for more than 10 years and always experience a welcoming and efficient service. They are wonderful to deal with and sort any issues effectively. I have used a number of banking institutions over the years and must say that the Greater is by far the best.

I organised a conference for a group of professional image consultants at The Carrington. It was fabulous! So good in fact that I am currently organising another one. The accommodation is beautiful; staff helpful; facilities excellent and the food incredible. Our weekend stay was perfect and I would recommend this venue for anyone who wants to impress and treat employees or clients to a wonderful get-away-from-it-all break.

Approximate cost: $35

I engaged the local Uticolor franchisee to do a deep clean of my leather lounge. He quoted an hour's work for $120, which I thought a bit expensive but agreed to. 20 minutes after the appointment time, I phoned to see where he was. Said he was 10 minutes away. After another 20 minutes he showed up - no apology or explanation for being 40 minutes late. He proceeded to scrub the lounge with a brush and soapy water - saying he couldn't get out any stains and that he could recolour the lounge for another $270. After a leisurely 30 minutes of cleaning he held out his hand for $120. He refused to give me a receipt unless I paid him GST on top of this amount. The work was patchy and I have had to do 3 applications of leather treatment to get some protection back into the leather. This was the worst value for money experience I have ever had. I work as a professional decorator and charge less for my time than he does for a poorly done job with a scrubbing brush and soapy water. I would never engage him again, never recommend to clients, and would advise anyone needing leather cleaning services to go elsewhere. I am sure that Uticolor employs some reputable franchisees - just avoid this one.

Approximate cost: $240

As a personal shopper and stylist I am very careful about who gets to work on my hair! I also needed a good hairdresser to refer my clients to. I found Kelly about a year ago and haven't looked back. She had just opened her own salon at the time - and it has grown in leaps and bounds. She is an expert in cutting and colour and keeps up to date with the latest trends. This is a salon that does not pressure you in any way - you never feel forced to book for services or to buy product. What I love most about Kelly is her personable and gentle disposition. She really listens; she also takes the time to show you how to achieve great results at home. As an image consultant I have found many women over 40 are given the 'same old thing' by their hairdresser. If you want a change for the better, a smart new look, and the advice to keep your style looking good, give them a call.

Approximate cost: $Very reasonable

I bought some sheepskin slippers from this business and found balls of wool forming under my feet every time I wore them. I showed the owner what was happening with them - as after 6 months the foot-bed was completely bare. Another salesperson had said to me that the skin was of poor quality. However the owner told me I should buy some sheepskin inner soles to place inside the slippers, and keep replacing them if they also went bald! I was not impressed. The solution to a faulty product is to spend more money - not good service at all.

Approximate cost: $70

Rocco is my go-to guy to help with shoes and bags that need special attention. I have found that if he can't fix it, no-one can. I recommend Rocco to my clients - I am a personal stylist - the condition of shoes and bags cannot be underestimated. Poorly cared for or worn shoes or accessories are a give-away, and speak volumes about you that even the most expensive clothes can't cover up. Rocco takes extra care and often will recolour scuffs etc at no cost when resoling a shoe. He also does key cutting and is an agent for dry cleaning; can r-esize handbag straps; stretch shoes; and keep your favourite shoes alive long past their use-by date!