Shorthand Craft Studio is a family-run gift shop on Grahams Beach Road in Manukau Heads, Franklin, filling a historic building with handmade goods and local design. It holds a perfect 5.0 rating from its three Google reviews, with visitors calling it a real gem with a great story and something for everyone.
The best gift shops earn their keep by stocking work you will not find in a mall — pieces made by local makers, often in small batches, so the shelves change with the seasons and with whoever is crafting nearby. That means if something catches your eye, it is worth buying on the spot: one-off pieces rarely come back. Regulars also know to ask about the makers; a good shopkeeper can usually tell you who made what, and that story is half the gift.
Out at the Manukau Heads, it is a rewarding stop in one of Franklin's quietest, prettiest corners.