When Jude Turner rang staff at her beautiful Birkenhead homeware and gift store to check in during her well-earned holiday, she heard news that she could never have imagined: There had been a ginormous landslip right behind the shop. 

Returning to see the damage for herself was an emotional experience. “It was very confronting where I came back. To actually see the scale of it was really, really difficult,” says Jude, who has run Crave Home in Mokoia Road for the past six years, following two years in Hinemoa Street.

Suffice to say, it’s been a hard few weeks since the landslip, which happened in the Rawene Road carpark on Sunday 8th October. Jude has felt huge frustration with the loss of parking space, responses from the authorities, and the worry of how far the slip would stretch. “I’ve been wondering if one day I’ll get here to find the whole shop’s disappeared down the hill!” 

Channel visited Jude to cheer her up and help give her business a boost. She was delighted to show us the stylish selection of homewares, accessories and gift ideas, and give us a sneak peak of the shop’s adjoining Christmas Cave, being created ready for opening on November 1st.

“Our Christmas shop is a real attraction - it’s going to be gorgeous once again this year! It gives us the opportunity to really ‘go big’ on Christmas and have fun in this fantastic downstairs space. Our focus is on stylish festive ornaments and decorations for the home.”

Jude is a great ambassador for her brand, and the village. “I love this thriving and much-loved community of Birkenhead. It’s a wonderful village with great businesses, events and people. We hope to give villagers and visitors a fun, festive shopping experience in the run up to Christmas here.” 

Crave Home, 30 Mokoia Road, Birkenhead 09 419 9535 www.cravehome.co.nz 

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