Introductions
Erika Smith
Erika Smith, the owner
of Ella & Company.
Photo by Callie Lindsey.
Jennifer Jett Prezkop
There’s an energy that exudes from entrepreneurs. Fueled by hope
and determination, it can light up a room, transform an empty building
into a productive space and help shape a community.
Take Erika Smith and her business, Ella & Company, for example.
Smith is a creative soul whose roots run deep in the mountains of
Tucker County. She dreamed of creating beauty and sharing it with
others, and the town of Thomas was the only place where she could
see her dream growing wings and taking flight.
“My heart and home has always been here in the wild and wonderful,
and I couldn’t imagine beginning a dream business in any place
other than here,” she says.
Ella & Company began with wedding and event planning services
as well as a specialization in design and décor. In 2016, Smith was
able to grow the company with a brick-and-mortar shop right in
the heart of Thomas.
In the storefront she stocks her shelves with antiques, home goods
and unique, handmade décor. She also specializes in interior design
and custom projects, and the shop’s showroom is a salute to her
passion for wedding and event planning.
One of the reasons Smith was determined to set up shop in Thomas
was because her own foundation was built on the generations of
family roots and history that exists there.
“Thomas is the epitome of a classic small town,” she says. “We have
a beautiful blend of history, community and creativity, all just a few
steps away from some of the most gorgeous mountain landscapes
and outdoor recreational areas on the East Coast.”
When Smith became a small business owner, she made her own
mark on Thomas, one that will now be a part of the history she
loves so much about this small mountain town. As her business
continues to grow, she is more invested than ever in Tucker County.
“Thomas as a basecamp for Ella & Company was nothing more
than destiny,” she says. “I wanted to create this company to inspire
folks’ homes—a place you want to come back to. This place in the
mountains embodies everything Ella was built on: home.”
WWW.WVEXECUTIVE.COM
FALL 2018
31