Since arriving in Hot Springs in 2020, Audrey Smith has become a familiar name along Central Avenue as an entrepreneur whose boutiques have reached the community in a variety of ways. As the owner of Wrapped Gift Boutique in the historic downtown district, Smith has created a retail space for gifts, quality customer experiences and giving back to the community.
Her success led to more opportunities; she now runs Aqua Gift Boutique, adjacent to The Waters Hotel, and soon, she will open her newest venture, Unwrapped Event and Gift Boutique, at the corner of the Hamp Williams Building. This latest venture will blend retail with pop-up experiences and events, further giving Smith the ability to help the community.
Smith’s journey to becoming a small-business owner began long before she knew Hot Springs would be home. A Connecticut native, she made her way south with a degree in marketing and fashion merchandising from Johnson & Wales University in Rhode Island and a professional background that stretches back to her early teens.
“I started in retail at 14,” she said. “Customer service has always been important in my career.”
From selling shoes to working at Gap at just 16 years old, she later moved into positions at Ann Taylor and ultimately ran a flagship store for Bath & Body Works. Her work took her through Missouri, New York and Chicago, eventually bringing her to Hot Springs with her husband, Wayne Smith, as he joined Oaklawn Hot Springs.
Upon arriving in Spa City, she noticed the community lacked a strong selection of gift items. That became the foundation of Wrapped Boutique. She said building a business one is passionate about comes with challenges.
“The best part of running a business is also the hardest,” Smith said. “I love my staff and giving people great job experience and watching them grow. I have amazing employees, but finding new people who are reliable and want to work is also my biggest challenge.”
Smith’s impact extends far beyond her storefronts. Her dedication to mentoring young women on her team comes from her own early days in retail as she looks to provide them experience and confidence.
Since moving to Hot Springs, she has also become a committed supporter of local charities and community initiatives. She has previously served as auction chair for the Hot Springs Heart Ball benefiting the American Heart Association and contributes her time to organizations that include The Call, Ali’s All Created Equal food pantry and the Hot Springs Women’s Leadership Alliance. Her boutiques often host giveback days, during which they donate a portion of sales to local causes, something Smith wants to be a vital part of the mission behind her businesses.
The whole operation looks like the natural outcome of welllaid plans, but Smith said nothing could be further from the truth. She recalled those early days on Central Avenue, learning to let the store guide her.
“I never saw this coming,” she said. “I haven’t intended to have the growth I have, but I stay open for things to evolve and have new experiences. I love creating things and watching them come to life.
“I had to listen to the store for it to tell me what it was going to be. People would come in looking for magnets and coffee cups, so I found magnets and coffee cups that I would want to buy myself.” For those dreaming of opening a business, Smith offers both encouragement and life lessons.
“It’s the most fun you can have. Stay strong and focused. Nothing replaces hard work,” she said. “Some owners open things on a whim, whereas I’m always here. If I’m here working hard, it makes others want to, as well. Our customer service experience cannot be beat; we’re open the earliest and latest on the avenue, and while it’s not always easy, we’re consistent. We don’t close for a rainy day.”
This consistency and her dedication to the community are the pillars of the Wrapped Boutique mindset. As Smith prepares to open her newest boutique, she continues to shape Hot Springs’ retail scene and hopes others will continue to attend the pop-up shops and Friday-night Gallery Walks to see all the city has to offer.
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