Our Vision
To curate a gift shop experience as interesting, vibrant, and eclectic as Asheville itself, filled with quality products and interactive fun for our guests and everyone on their gift lists!
The Heart Behind the Emporium:
Heidi Swann
The Emporium’s commitment to community and creativity stems directly from the lifelong journey of our founder, Heidi Swann. She has been on her entrepreneurial and artistic path for over 40 years!
Early Days: Nomadic Beginnings
In the early 1980s, Heidi began her life on the road, seeking adventure and independence. She personally designed and converted a school bus into her home on wheels, traveling for the better part of six years throughout the USA and Canada. Often living in remote, truly wild public lands for weeks at a time, she needed a solid income stream to support this nomadic life. She solved this by creating a line of handcrafted jewelry called “Moonlight Creations,” which retailed in more than 50 shops and galleries across the country—the very first spark of the Emporium’s mission to connect makers with markets.
Planting Roots in the Blue Ridge Mountains
By 1988, Heidi moved to Western North Carolina, settling down to raise her daughter, Gems, on a 50-acre farm nestled in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains. That deep local connection blossomed in 2014 when Heidi and Gems co-founded the aSHEville Museum at 35 Wall Street. The museum was a place to share the powerful stories of accomplishments and challenges faced by women and girls worldwide. While the museum did not ultimately gain enough visitors to sustain itself, the accompanying gift shop proved to be incredibly popular, eventually growing to occupy the entire 4,000-square-foot space in 2017—the foundation of the Asheville Emporium as we know it today.
The Next Chapter: 4 Biltmore Avenue
In 2024, the Asheville Emporium pivoted to its new and excellent location at 4 Biltmore Avenue, right in the heart of downtown. Adjoining the Asheville Art Museum and just around the corner from Pack Square, our shop feels just right in this cozy, historic building dating back to the 1880s. Stop in to see us in this perfect setting for creativity and connection!
A Passion for Mentorship
Heidi’s journey, from handcrafted jewelry maker to community leader, fuels her enduring passion for mentoring emerging artists, crafters, and makers on their own creative journeys!