Audrey Smith, Owner
Audrey Smith, owner of multiple high-end boutiques in Hot Springs, likes to say she “grew up in retail.”
“My first job was in an art gallery at the age of 14, and by the time I was in high school, I was a part-time manager at a shoe store in a local mall,” she said.
That passion led her to dual degrees in marketing and fashion merchandising.
Smith and her husband grew up in New England and have lived across the U.S. but moved to Hot Springs in 2016 for her husband’s job.
Smith said she found Hot Springs “unexpected,” and she quickly fell in love with the area.
“There are so many amazing things to explore in our city, from strolling historic Bathhouse Row to taking a hike through the mountains, visiting Garvin Woodland Gardens, attending the horse races or spending a day on the lakes,” she said.
While Hot Springs has many local shops, Smith realized that there was an unmet need for an “upscale gift shop created not just for tourists but also locals,” she said.
In 2022, she opened Wrapped Gift Boutique.
“We offer a thoughtfully curated selection of meaningful gifts for every occasion, from a small token to an original work of art,” she said. “Our customers love being able to stop in, find the perfect gift and have it wrapped up and ready for gifting.”
Her success there led to more opportunities. Smith now runs Aqua Gift Boutique and her newest venture, Unwrapped Event and Gift Boutique. She also received the 2022 Hot Springs Metro Partnership Downtown Trailblazer award for her work in the industry.
Smith’s shops feature both local artisans and high-quality brands, all delivered with great customer service.
“I am blessed to have an amazing team, and our No. 1 priority is always our customers,” Smith said. “Visitors are always warmly welcomed, whether they are strolling the street, shopping for a gift or looking for the perfect place to eat. We are delighted to be able to help them.”
Just as important to Smith as her entrepreneurial ventures is her community advocacy work, including volunteering for the Cooper-Anthony Mercy Child Advocacy Center and Our Promise Cancer Resources, serving on the board for the Downtown Association of Hot Springs, and more.
“I share my life with my husband, Wayne, and our two sons, Riley and Dylan,” she said. “My family and community are at the heart of everything I do.”
501.359.3142 — 404 Central Ave. — wrappedarkansas.com
Facebook: wrappedgiftboutique
