After dedicating 20 years to the plaster craft industry, Carol Hackshaw, owner of Taradale Crafts, has decided it's time to retire. Her journey began when she received a few plaster moulds as a Christmas gift, creating items that quickly became popular among friends. This initial success prompted Carol to start selling her creations at a local market.

As demand grew, the logistical challenges of market selling led Carol to establish a permanent location opposite the Taradale My Ride bike shop. She later relocated to her current premises, where she has operated for the past six years. With her lease expiring in March and her 78th birthday approaching in April, Carol feels this is the perfect opportunity to pursue her long-neglected passion for travel.

Reflecting on her business experience, Carol admits she won't miss the demanding hours required to run a small business or the constant struggle to recover from disruptions caused by COVID-19 and Cyclone Gabrielle. However, she will deeply miss the connections she formed with customers over the years and witnessing how both children and adults embraced hands-on crafting activities.

Approximately half of Carol's business came from grandparents visiting with grandchildren, highlighting how crafts serve as a wonderful intergenerational bonding activity. Many adults also found therapeutic value in the shop's quiet crafting corner. Beyond selling crafts, Carol became an unofficial Taradale information center, fielding daily inquiries about various topics. One of her famous pieces of knowledge shared with customers is that plasticine is now known as modeling clay.

When asked about her most popular moulds over the years, Carol quickly identified hearts, Minions, SpongeBob, Spider-Man, and Lego figures as consistent favorites. Taradale Crafts has been a valued resource for numerous craft groups, schools, and kindergartens, which frequently purchased bulk figures for educational purposes and holiday celebrations such as Valentine's Day, Easter, and Christmas.

Carol now faces the substantial task of clearing out both her Onekawa plastering workshop and the beloved Taradale Crafts shop. Until the store closes permanently at the end of March, everything is available at a 20% discount. Community members are encouraged to visit the shop to purchase affordable crafts suitable as gifts for people of all ages, helping ease Carol's transition into retirement.