C.W. Moose Trading Company aims to bring positivity to Black Mountain

Robert Hope wants to bring positivity to Black Mountain and he said he is doing it through his store, C.W. Moose Trading Company.

Hope took over the store around six years ago when he moved to the area from Charleston, where he ran a shipyard for 25 years. Though he grew up in the Piedmont region of North Carolina, Hope is a graduate of Warren Wilson College and had visited the area many times before purchasing the store.

“It was time for a life change,” Hope said. “I had friends and family up here in Montreat and Black Mountain and through a series of connections found out the store was for sale, so I just jumped in with both feet and bought the business and moved right up.”

Hope said he had no experience in retail, and the change from shipyard to retail was “dramatic,” but “very enjoyable.”

When he took over the store, Hope said he wanted to curate a shop that was focused on independent artists and companies rather than larger corporations. He said whether the company is local to Western North Carolina or not, he enjoys having a connection with the companies he does business with.

“I’ve often traveled to their workshops and to their little plants and know the owners and know the staff that works there,” Hope said. “I like the personal connection.”

When looking for products for C.W. Moose Trading Company, Hope said he tries to focus on a theme of positivity. He said he is constantly looking for new products that fit with the store.

“We’re not stagnant,” Hope said. “We’re constantly re-merchandising and moving. We’re trying to keep things fresh and provide folks opportunity for designs and products that we like.”

Scattered throughout the store are items that depict the theme of positivity, along with dozens of Black Mountain-themed shirts and gifts.

Hope said he and the staff love the town.

“We’re not ambassadors for Black Mountain, although we feel that way because we love it here and people are so nice,” Hope said. “It’s very amiable, and people are interactive. It’s really a lot of fun.”

When Black Mountain shut down during the pandemic, the store also shut down, but Hope said he was able to keep his staff employed, and they would come in every day to do small tasks around the store. He said business even grew during the pandemic as more and more tourists came to town looking to escape larger cities. Hope said he feels “fortunate” to have been in the town and able to grow during that time.

Looking toward the future, Hope said he wants to see continued sustainable growth for both C.W. Moose Trading Company and Black Mountain as a town.

“We love Black Mountain,” Hope said. “We don’t want to see it explode. We want to see sustainable growth is what I think is best.”

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This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: C.W. Moose Trading Company aims to bring positivity to Black Mountain