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Design Stores

Mokuba

  • Currently 2.44/5

Rating: 2.4/5 (68 votes)

Posted by Staff / Posted on September 9, 2007

45 Comments

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Mokuba is Toronto's one-of-a-kind design centre featuring over 27,000 high-end ribbons, trimming and lace.

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45 Comments

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Norma / July 23, 2008 at 09:47 pm
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Second time in the store, second bad experience. You're selling ribbon ladies, not curing cancer, so lose the attitude. Don't start helping me and then suddenly ignore me because the girl on cash has a problem. Don't hand me a book written in japanese and expect me to find the answer there.
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donya / December 8, 2008 at 10:36 pm
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yeah the girls aren't forward to greet their customers. They do need to have a mindset of being "helpful". don't really care much about it, will shop there again, the best trim store i've ever seen in my life.
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replying to a comment from Norma / December 11, 2008 at 11:52 am
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relax norma - don't be such a bitch
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Anonymous / January 4, 2009 at 02:16 pm
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I agree Norma!
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keira / January 28, 2009 at 10:36 am
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norma is not being a bitch. she is just telling it like it is!
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squeak / February 18, 2009 at 12:35 pm
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Thanks for the info, Norma. At least I know what to expect if I ever go in there. That's the kind of service I used to get at Romney Wool, which is why I stopped buying wool there. It's frustrating when you go into a store wanting to make a purchase and wanting to support local business, but the service puts you off (or they act like they're doing you a favour, or you're not worth helping 'cause your questions are too "novice"). I've worked retail and food service, so my advice is, if you don't like people, don't work in those fields.
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Carolyn / April 22, 2009 at 03:03 pm
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I shop at both places, Romni's since it was near Queen and Mokuba when it was in Queen's Quay. I like not being hounded as I take ages to browse and always seem to get attention when I need it. The thing it both these establishments have the best selection and real keeners and addicts will shop here so being overly attentive isn't really needed to bring folk back.
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Valerie / May 7, 2009 at 07:38 pm
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I had read the comments so expected crappy service but got just the opposite. The staff spent a long time helping me even though it was i was only there to buy a measly bit of ribbon and were really nice. And the selection is huge.
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gg / May 18, 2009 at 11:01 pm
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Are there prices reasonable? I dont' know how much ribbon usually costs, but i need to buy quite a bit for my wedding guest favours. I'm betting i'll be able to find the colour i need..but want to be prepared re: price point.
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Carolyn replying to a comment from gg / May 20, 2009 at 01:33 pm
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You get what you pay for so you may pay high prices but for silk or really god quality ribbons. I recently paid $27 for a metre of ribbon for a wedding dress, but if you are looking for something for wedding favours you might just try Michael's.
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Hilda / June 11, 2009 at 09:06 am
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i need some ribbon for a project, sounds like an expensive place but it looks like I will find what I need. Sometimes one stop shopping is worth the extra expense!

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May / July 3, 2009 at 03:38 pm
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I do love this place - selection and quality like no other. The other comments are pretty right on though...there is quite a lack of engagement on the part of the staff. I don't get it either, because there always seem to be at least 3-4 people who work there at a time. Why do they need so much staff for a small specialty store? You'd think someone could at least greet you!
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Monique / September 7, 2009 at 03:54 pm
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I had a fantastic experience with Mokuba and with their staff. Very helpful and the girl who helped me was cool enough to tell me abut other shops where I might find stuff. I'll be back here for sure.
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Karla / October 19, 2009 at 10:55 am
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I have just finished reading all the comments and as a Mokuba staff would like to apologise for any frigid or unfriendly service anyone has received at our shop over the years. Hope to see you soon! ( We have a new window display going up soon so keep tuned!!!!)
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Nancy replying to a comment from Karla / October 27, 2009 at 07:53 pm
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The store is on my list of places to stop every time I visit Toronto. I particularly love to hunt through the remnant bin. The care they take to parcel up left overs is an art form. I think the staff have been nice each time I visited. I will keep returning.
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louc replying to a comment from Norma / October 28, 2009 at 12:50 am
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It's ribbon, get over yourself, if you can't think creatively on your own, and too lazy to browse yourself, then you're the one who needs to get off their high horse.
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Emily / November 7, 2009 at 12:21 am
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I was by the store today and there are signs up for a sale next week. 75% off the original price of all discontinued products from Nov. 9th to 15th!
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Karla / November 7, 2009 at 02:16 am
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The rumours are TRUE! we are having our first ever SALE!....we are all very excited due to an immense amount of styles that have been hidden in the basement for years and are now coming to see the light of day, not mention that all of these discountinued styles that are being braught to light are 75% off!
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Madox / November 14, 2009 at 10:14 pm
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Mokuba is a student-friendly store, and an absolute dream if you're an art or design student who cares about quality.

Say...if this is where we can find up-to-date info about the store, could someone please post Mokuba's hours? Thanks!
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Karla replying to a comment from Madox / November 15, 2009 at 05:59 pm
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MON-WED(9:30-5:30)
THURS-FRI(9:30-7)
SAT(10-6)
SUN(12-5)*best to call ahead and make sure we are open as we open on sundays on a seasonal basis.
Our Holiday display has kicked in to high gear, all the mokuba staff have been busy designing and producing. In other mokuba news our big sale ended today,a large thank you to all of you who stopped by, it was a real success!!
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Danielle / November 24, 2009 at 06:34 pm
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I found the staff to be delightful, it was the other customers in the store who were rude!

Being able to drop over $300 bucks on ribbon doesn't make you god!
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Jeff / April 3, 2010 at 07:58 am
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This store is amazing I have to say, every type of ribbon you would ever need. I do agree with the comments about the staff, they are kind of aloof and not very customer service oriented. I went in and was ignored even when I was paying...the two ladies just talked to each other instead of acknowledging that I was spending money in their store. Won't deter me from going back trust me, but anyone going in should be aware of the fact and not judge the store by it's employees.
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Ellie / November 4, 2010 at 08:44 pm
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Mokuba is having another sale next week (Nov. 8 - Nov. 13) - 75% off all discontinued products!
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ian / February 8, 2011 at 05:28 pm
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does this store have a web site and can you buy from them online?
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Jeff / March 24, 2011 at 02:10 pm
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I posted a comment about this store and its customer service last year and I am here to rescind what I said about the customer service. After the first time I didn't let it keep me away since their selection of ribbon is unmatched anywhere in the city. All visits after that incident, the customer service was friendly, courteous and helpful. I suggest everyone check out this store if you have an interest in ribbon or use it for craft/sewing projects. Keep up the good work Mokuba!
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Ellie / March 26, 2011 at 11:18 am
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Hi Ian, I'm afraid we don't have a website at this time, but we're happy to take orders over the phone or by email! We can send out samples, sample books for particular products, and we have catalogues available as well. Or better yet, come by for a visit!

Jeff - Thank you for your kind comment, We're very glad to hear you've had good experiences in our store!

Our approach to customer service has been to maintain a balance between being helpful and allowing the customers to peruse the store at their own leisure. If anyone ever needs assistance, please just let us know and we will be happy to help you select the best ribbons or trims for your creative project!
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Jeanne / April 8, 2011 at 11:04 am
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Hi Ellie,

How could an out of province customer peruse or buy your products ? Toronto is 6hr drive away and although I have heard about the great selection, it is a little bit far
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Shea replying to a comment from Norma / April 13, 2011 at 10:35 am
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I could not have said it better myself. Love the store, abhor the shopping experience and was beginning to wonder if other customers thought the behaviour was acceptable. Thanks for the relief and the post.
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Ellie / May 5, 2011 at 04:42 pm
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Hi Jeanne,

Sorry for the late reply - there are several ways to see our products without coming in to the store. We sell several catalogues or we can get sample books/cards for any product. If you are looking for individual items, our sample cut is 10cm. We can also scan items and email them to you if you're looking for something particular - but of course always with the warning that the colours may not be exact! Feel free to give us a call or send us an email (mokubatoronto at rogers dot com) and let us know what we can send you!

Shea - Once again I'm very sorry to hear the service you received wasn't up to our standards! If you need additional help please just ask and we will do our very best to help you with your projects.
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Jane / June 16, 2011 at 11:53 pm
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Product is beautiful the staff not so much. Full of attitude and rude.
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Caroline / June 26, 2011 at 11:15 am
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After reading all the negative comments about customer service or lack thereof, I feel almost as if I must have been shopping at a different store than all the naysayers have. I must say that Mokuba is getting a really bad rap here, and in my experience, it's completely undeserved. I've visited the store many times over the past couple of years, and have never experienced anything other than helpful, pleasant service. I always walk away satisfied with the experience and with my purchases. Yes, the staff do give you some space to browse the aisles, but isn't that what most people coming into the store want to do? The selection is vast and the quality absolutely unsurpassed. I intend to keep going back to Mokuba.
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Sophia / June 26, 2011 at 11:25 pm
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Well, I am one of those customers who are thrilled with the selection and quality of the ribbons, but dismayed by the attitude of at least one of the salespeople at Mokuba! To be fair, I have only been there twice, and both times had the misfortune to be "served" by the same person. The first time, she was just dismissive and snobby, but the second time she was downright rude. For some reason, she was giving me attitude about measuring out the ribbon I wanted to buy, and for the life of me, I cannot understand why... the store sells ribbon by the meter, so surely asking for a specific, measured amount is to be expected!?? I wanted to buy 30 meters. The roll on the shelf was marked as containing 25 meters, but was not sealed, and obviously at least some ribbon was cut from it, but she wanted to sell it as a whole 25-meter roll without measuring. When I insisted on measuring, she got quite snotty about it, but finally started to unroll it. She measured off 13 meters, then came to a cut end. There was a pin holding the rest of the roll in place, which she then insisted HAD to be a full 25-meter roll. I was doubtful, because it was only a pin, the roll was not sealed, but let her convince me it was a full roll. So I bought it as 25 meters, plus 5 meters from the other piece. When I got home, I measured what was on the roll, and there was only 20 meters. So now I paid for 5 meters that I didn't get, and I am 5 meters short on the quantity I need for a time-sensitive project!! All because a snotty salesperson at Mokuba is too lazy to measure 30 meters, which would take less than 5 minutes! (And yes, I know, ironically if I had just bought the roll without asking her to measure anything, I would have had 20 meters plus the 13 meter piece for the price of 25 meters... but if she did her job and measured all of it, it would have been correct.) I don't have time to go back to the store to try to get another five meters, and frankly with the service I received, I doubt she would admit that she made a mistake anyway. Maybe the other salespeople are better, I sure hope so. I may have to go back someday, if I need something I can't find anywhere else, but it will be a last resort for sure, and I will avoid that lady like the plague!
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CAG / June 27, 2011 at 09:20 pm
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I read all of these comments and headed out one Sunday morning expecting a battle. I was a few minutes early and the lovely sales associate arrived and let me in with her and excused herself for a few moments to open up the rest of the shop. I am inexperienced in the ways of ribbon and all things related and the sales associate was nothing short of professional, helpful, insightful about packaging and totally patient. I have experienced the Queen street bitchies before, but not here on not in Mokuba.
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Issabella / January 16, 2012 at 05:26 am
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Stuff are very high end but the staff doesn't have a welcoming attitude!!!!!i think they judge the customer the way they look but hey!!!! You want my money and if you want me to spend!!!!! Be friendly and smile because a smile can make a big difference!!!
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Camella Browne replying to a comment from squeak / February 16, 2012 at 12:56 pm
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I agree with you Squeak!
Customer service plays a big factor in where I shop and would rather pay a little extra for the better service.
I come from the UK and when I came to live in Canada I was disgusted at the, so called customer service here. I can guarantee you that half of the people working in customer service in Toronto would be fired on the spot if they took there, so called fine tuned Canadian customer service to the UK.
Heads up MOKUBA & ALL YU OTHER BUSINESSES OUT THERE!!!!!!
Its very simple! If you want people to shop in your stores because they want to and not because they have to, you would get a lot more business.
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JPM replying to a comment from Ellie / March 12, 2012 at 11:38 am
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Hi - What is Mokuba's e-mail address?

Thanks!
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Janice / April 25, 2012 at 03:20 pm
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They have great trade prices and the retail prices are really reasonable. I've never had a problem with the staff at all. They've always been very helpful. Maybe they read the customer comments on this site though and decided on a different, more friendly approach.
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Sally D kelly / May 6, 2012 at 10:09 am
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I was actually just looking up Mokuba's store hours [today is Sunday[ and was then drawn to the 'Comments' section. I was amazed at so many negatives and felt obliged to add my two cents worth... I have shopped at Mokuba for years for my own projects,as have my girls. I also do some work for a Toronto designer and have to come to this store quite often for her. I LOVE this store. I am always excited when I know it is on my errand list. I have no comaplaints at all about how I am treated or about their 'product'... superior quality is always going to cost you, but the ribbons and braid you find here, not to mention the extraordinary selection, are well worth the extra $$$ you will spend. It is all so beautiful.
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Sally D kelly / May 6, 2012 at 10:11 am
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PS I should just add that I am not a pushover as far as service either. I have complained more than once when I feel that I am being treated in an inferior manner. Never at Mokuba though.
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S / August 25, 2012 at 02:11 am
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Wow I thought I was the only one who thought there was terrible service. The woman was absolutely so pretentious and unhelpful.
Lovely store, many beautiful ribbons, but I would rather not go back if I can find the same supplies somewhere else.
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Rosemary / September 23, 2012 at 05:14 pm
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I have shopped at the store 2 or 3 times - looking for trims with fairly complicated objectives for projects. The staff always tried to help me - in fact I needed to look by myself at first, lf first because my objecives for each one were hard to explain to someone else. After identifying what area I should be in, then they could help me narrow it down by advising washablility etc. One visit I was there past closing as I hadn't found what I had driven a long distance to byuy. They were still patient and kind. I don't know who the enployee is that upset some people - but it is unfortunate because obviously others are doing a good job!
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Elizabeth / October 20, 2012 at 05:34 pm
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Does this store carry washi tape - the real kind made in Japan? Or does anyone know where I could find it in southern Ontario?
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Juliana / November 3, 2012 at 05:55 pm
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Hi Elizabeth! You can find great washi tape at www.omiyage.ca, they have great stuff and I love their service and price too! About Mokuba I really believe its worth going there, it is an amazing store, with good or bad service... :D
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Carolyn / February 18, 2013 at 07:44 am
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I am trying to send an email, but my program keeps telling me your address is not good, I took the address from the comment from Ellie, May 5th 2011. If there is another address, could you please post it here. Thanks.
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Ellie replying to a comment from Carolyn / March 25, 2013 at 04:23 pm
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Hi Carolyn,

I removed some of the symbols from our email address to avoid receiving spam emails. Simply replace the "at" with @ and "dot" with a period. Or feel free to give us a call at 416-504-5358!
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Location and Contact Details

575 Queen Street West (Get Directions)
416.504.5358
Queen West
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