Scout

Nice store. Great products. But during dream cruise we went in to browse. Two people on the computer at the desk didn’t take their eyes off of it as they casually said hello. They were busy looking for things for the store I think. We had to ask for help and as soon as she showed us something she went right back to the computer with the other employee. As we left I said to my partner that it was poor customer service. The lady came out of the store after us and asked why I said that. As a store owner I would think you would have put your personal work aside to help the ONLY people in your store at the time. I hesitated to write this, but there you go. You asked.

Let’s start by saying this place is dog friendly so that instantly earns it love. Next is the fact that the staff are so nice. Finally, I pretty much love everything in this store. Their selection of jewelry is particularly fab. And the kid selections are cute too. They also have a good sale section. Yep. It is pretty much my favourite store in Royal Oak.

Scout is a super unique and modern store located in Royal Oak next to some other great stores one of my favorite places to look for gifts great selection especially if your gift hunting since they also sell super cute little cards and it’s a great place if you want to treat yourself to an art book, house gem for example a Jonathan Adler salt and pepper shaker set and more.

Unique and Interesting! One of the best stores in Royal Oak, very stylish and hip!
The owner takes great care in her purchases and displays. A must stop shop!

Scout is one of those boutiques you may not need everyday, but you are glad to have around the holidays. New baby? Housewarming present? Christmas for the picky gal who has everyone? Scout has you covered.
It sits right along the Washington Street stretch of Royal Oak I sometimes think of as ‘hipster lane,’ anchored at one corner by Pronto and the other by Sole Sisters and American Apparel. My favourite section by far are the shops with Lost and Found Vintage, Scout, and Rail and Anchor. Here lies true gold for the patient soul.
Scout does demand patience. You won’t flit in here, find exactly what you are looking for, and dive out without a good deal of fortune or prior window-​shopping. As with so many artsy collectible stores of this nature, time is really necessary to weed through the vintage-​style cards, three dozen different household goods with applications you never imagined, and one little collectible cabinet after another. It can get overwhelming.
My beau and I used a divide and conquer strategy. He went to the back among the kids section and the many humorous books, like Marie Curie explains nuclear radiation or the Frankenstein body book by Mary Shelley. Lots of tongue in cheek, mildly satirical items are present, but quite a bit of good, elegant stuff too. They have taken Portlandia’s famous «put a bird on it» motto to heart as we did see quite a few charming avians about.
The jewelry cabinet, however, was my true interest. They carry Extasia jewelry, which is inspired by ancient Greek and Roman art, my pure weakness. Santa, if you’re listening, you know where to go, right? Buy it all, I’ll be a breathtakingly good girl this year. Prices on this line are steep no matter where you go, so I bit the bullet for earrings and a necklace on the grounds I don’t treat myself nearly enough. That theory will swiftly doom a girl here because you’ll find you can justify almost every purchase from a crystal potato peeler to a lot of gorgeous wall art. Your bank account may run dry before your salivating palate does.

Interesting and very unique selection of items, merchandising is top notch and engaging. I love checking this place out from time to time and seeing what’s new. I usually never leave without buying some artsy home décor.

Always have a great experience here and leave finding something cute, pretty, or smelling nice! Perfumes, jewelry, candles are my fav here, owner is really helpful and nice — recently got an awesome necklace, bracelet and ring, they are perfect and I appreciated her knowledge on the metals and even took out information about them —

I love this place. Pam, the owner, used to own Shine right down the street. I was really sad when she sold it. I guess she just couldn’t resist providing people with excellent items so Scout was born.
This store has a little bit of everything, from scented candles to small furniture items. While most of it is high end, there are things that range from a few dollars on up. It’s a great place to pick up a gift for someone or for yourself. I’d be lying if I said most of the things I buy here were ‘gifts.’ But hey, it’s the thought that counts. I thought about giving it away but I kept it.

Went window shopping this weekend with the boyfriend. This was maybe the 5^th time I’d been to Scout and the experience never gets any better. I have never once been greeted with a «Hello» or a smile when entering the store. The women behind the counter look up as you walk in, practically glare and then continue to talk amongst themselves always keeping an eye on you as you browse through the store.
I’ve never had one ask me if I was looking for anything in particular, if they could assist in any way, or even communicate in any fashion other than to stare at you as you walk through the store as though you are going to steal something.
Every wall in the store has signs telling you not to touch, not to take pictures, etc.
Probably the most unwelcoming store in Royal Oak.
Luckily, a store has opened 2 doors down that has items just as nice and cooler, the staff there smiled the entire time we were in there and offered assistance when it looked like we had questions.
It’s called «Rail and Anchor». I saw a few items in there that when it comes time to buy gifts, I will be going back for them. Scout on the other hand couldn’t pay me to enter their cold unwelcoming store again.

When I’m looking for a unique gift for a guy or gal, I look no further than Scout. I absolutely adore this place and get lost in its world of quirky books, handmade jewelry, vintage goods, and the kids section is so great, too. The owner is such a peach, too, and her little Yorkie helps with wrapping gifts and making sure everyone entering the store is given a proper greeting. Also, her gift wrapping is so perfect. Anytime I give someone from here, they say, «Oh, your wrapping paper is so cute and the ribbon is so pretty!», and then I have to admit that it wasn’t me! I really do want everything in this store, and I’m very happy that it’s a part of Royal Oak.

I really like this boutique. It has a great selection of gifts, and it’s arranged in a really pleasing way. The woman minding the store when I went didn’t exactly jump up to greet me, but once I engaged her, she was very friendly. She even offered to gift wrap my purchases.
I found some nice gifts for a couple of ladies on my list, including Marimekko mugs and quirky Japanese notepads. Although there is a lot of merchandise in the store, you can still see everything and find what you want. Of course, some of the lines carried are a little on the expensive side (Thomas Paul, Marimekko), but that is to be expected. There are less expensive items as well.
The only thing that seemed a little overpriced to me was the jewelry, but honestly that wasn’t what I was shopping for there. I was more into the quirky home goods. I will definitely return next time I’m in the mood to eyeball cool items or find a gift for the funkier people on my list!

Nifty shop with unique jewelry, candles, gadgets, etc. that make the best gifts. Scout is cleverly decorated and is one of those stores where you always find something hip whether you need it or not.
The owner is awesome and regularly swaps out inventory to keep you interested for what’s next to come.

Scout is a great design-​centric gift shop. They sell trinkets from designers like Marimekko and Johnathan Adler. Cute expensive stuff… but they also have great items in a lower price range as well.
It is a great place to stop to buy a gift for that eccentric friend that will appreciate a holographic kitten trash bin. They also had a really great collection of nursery/​baby gifts if you are looking for something special for a hip baby shower.
I walked in just to check it out one day and came out with an arm full of special Christmas gifts for friends and family.

Whenever I am in Royal Oak I make a point to come here. It’ s the closest thing I have to living in Brooklyn Ny and finding cool one off swag at secret spots that seem so far and few between here in these parts.
I’m missing the consumerism gene. But the style gene comes alive in this store. There are always new products, both vintage and new (although it would take a discerning eye to tell the diff) coming through. From clocks, to books, to pictures frames, if your looking for a stellar gift for a bona fide suitor, madre padre, paramour, or for your objectivist ass then drive on over from whatever hipster enclave your riding your Schwinn around in.
This store reminds us that there is something valuable in the tanglible and tactile those who don’t accept payment via PayPal.
Not that I am becoming more altruistic rather– I am becoming more frightened that if we don’t support these cool local businesses then we’ll be stuck going to Target and Restoration Harware. So lets give credit where credit is due. We should be thankful that someone didn’t deflect to a bigger city to share in her tastes and finds and spend accordingly. This store is a treasure. Do your part to keep it around.
Fo rthe people that are saying things are expensive here? You shop at Walmart I guarantee it. Style isn’t free. If you have to check the bottom of the decanter you probably shouldn’t own it.

I went to Scout for the first time a few weeks ago. I am trying to categorize what the store contains, but it’s so eclectic, it’s hard to pin down.
I walked around with a friend for several minutes, and both a man and woman (who we later found out were the owners) offered to help us, and we played with their cute little dog for a while as well.
My friend bought me this really cool little old fashioned glass flask, which I promptly filled with scotch. Now, whenever anybody comes to my house and sees this on display in my kitchen, they exclaim «Where’d you get that cool thing!?»
They have an interesting and diverse selection of what appear to be real antiques, as well as new items. I’m glad that little stores like this still exist in Royal Oak, which is quickly becoming more homogenized and corporate/​boring. I lived in Royal Oak for 7 years and have been a first-​hand witness to the decline. I’m glad Scout can help turn the tide against ordinary.

When you list everything that you can find here (jewelry, cards, soaps, eau de perfume, candles, etc.) you can make it sound like a cheesy hallmark giftstore. I assure you, this place is more like a trip to 1920s Paris.
If you’re an olfactory junkie like me, you’ll easily spend an hour in here. What exists inside is an exploration into some kind of wonder world. Some scents are wonderful and quirky, others are traditional (like rosewater), and others cause me to crinkle my nose in disgust (but that just adds to the adventure). And hey! Turns out tobacco-​scented things actually appeal to me!
Most of the old-​timey things here are definitely reproductions — and by that I mean they are slightly cheapened versions of reproductions. That doesn’t keep them from being lovely, however. Great glass jars and tincture bottles. Soaps with packaging you want to frame (mon dieu! they’re so beautiful and delicate). Candles that can seduce the most obstinate of misanthropes. Everything is in an interesting container.
One slight critique is that this place seems to be hopping on a lot of trends rather than setting them — the whole moss and plants in little glass container, thing, for example. That’s not necessarily bad — one of the few places around these parts where you can find a condensed version of quirky things that aren’t tacky or ultra-​modern. It just means that the buyers have their eye on big-​city trends and import them.
I don’t think I could ever buy something for myself here due to the cost and the extravagance of it all. But for finding gifts, I would come here in a heartbeat — I wouldn’t mind receiving gifts from here either!
And a side note: not much here captures the interest of most males (not even those that I hang out with who are the more artsy and curious type). So a head’s up that you might be rummaging alone if you’re coming with a male friend or date.

If you are like me who are obsessed with interesting visuals you would enjoy this store. they have anything from offbeat home decorations to cute rags and bowls.
if you are looking for an interesting gift this would be the place to shop. but do keep in mind that being interesting would cost you extra. and in this case, a lot extra.

Interesting artwork? Check.
Weird jewelry? Check.
Wildly expensive, but really awesome smelling candles? Check.
Agate coasters? Check.
Jelly-​fish in a glass bottle? Oh, yes. Check.
Cool things you just really want and hope someone will buy you or you’ll just have to buy it yourself? Check check checkity check check.
Look closely in this store and you will find a ton of cool, smile-​inducing objects. This is the perfect place to find a gift that will be unique and personal. While you’re shopping for that gift, it’s also the perfect place to buy your home (not yourself, your home… it sounds better that way) sweet little weird things that give your place personality. Prices range from reasonable to outrageous, so it has something for every kind of budget (except dirt poor, and in that case don’t even come. It’ll be pure torture!).
If you haven’t been here, go take a gander. It’s the seriously fun kind of shopping. But please don’t buy that jellyfish, I think I’m going to go back for it.

A store full of the top-​tier odds and ends you really DON’T need to survive, but convince yourself your desk or dresser or kitchen just may die a little without.
I found lots of fun items — a tasty perfume that ran into the $ 30 range called «Dead Sexy», lots of squirrel stuff (including the squirrel clock photo I submitted to this listing) and cute stationary — at Oakland County-​bearable prices.
Especially good for the Urban Outfitters/​Anthropologie graduate, or somebody looking for a little more funk than those sister stores can offer.

If you’re going to have a store that just sells kitch or art you need to follow a few rules.
1) Be nice to your customers. They don’t have to buy anything and so you better kiss their behinds. Even if they don’t want anything they might feel bad for you because you were so nice.
2) The prices need to be low enough to justify buying something useless.
3) You have to gave good stuff that people want, though they don’t need. Also, it helps to have things that one has never seen before and thus must purchase it because they may never see it again.
Well, Scout is a nice enough store. The store sells kitch, curios and art. The inside is nice and bright. There are some interesting items, but nothing that I can’t live without. Also, I’ve seen a lot of the same items around the area. The prices were probably comparable but were still pricey. I don’t think there was anything for less than $ 10 or I didn’t find it.
I give Scout 3 stars because the lady behind the counter was not very friendly or helpful. When I walked into the store she didn’t acknowledge me right away or ask if I needed anything. Instead she just talked to a friend for almost the whole 15 minutes we were in there. I was the first to say hello as I entered. Eventually, she engaged us in conversation a little, but it wasn’t the friendliest of conversations.
Scout had some unique gift ideas and art pieces. Over all the quality stuff was very expensive. The rest could probably be purchased at other stores of a similar nature. I don’t really have a reason to go back here.