How Amanda Wilde is Building a New Resource for Asheville
When a community loses spaces that fuel creativity, something shifts. For Amanda Wilde, that shift arrived at the same time she had been holding a long-term vision for a creative reuse center in Asheville. The idea had lived quietly in her plans for quite a while, but the closures of Joann’s and Cheap Joe’s Art Supplies earlier this year made the need impossible to ignore. Those changes created both a gap and an opportunity, and they pushed Amanda to move from planning to action more quickly than she expected.
She began putting herself out there, talking to makers, meeting community members, and hosting small creative activities to get people making and to build awareness around the project she was bringing to life. Sharing her vision for ReMix It took on a renewed sense of purpose, and the response was immediate and encouraging.
Amanda’s reaction after winning two Pitchgiving categories.
The Path That Led to Creative Reuse
Amanda’s career has always balanced creativity, design thinking, and community-minded problem-solving. Over the years, she built strong skills in organization, visual storytelling, operations, and resourcefulness. As she moved through different roles, she began to notice a consistent pattern. Access to affordable materials was shrinking, educators were spending too much out of pocket, and creative people were holding onto supplies they no longer needed because there was simply nowhere to take them.
All of that came into focus when she began exploring how creative reuse centers across the United States operate. These spaces take in donated art and craft materials, sell them at accessible prices, and keep thousands of pounds of usable supplies out of landfills. The more she learned, the more she realized this is what Asheville needed next.
Her first Instagram post in April marked the start of something real, and the community responded right away. By February 2025, she had registered her LLC and started shaping the nonprofit. Support flowed in through classes, a nonprofit board training called Get On Board from AYPROS, taught by Gwynne Ruckenbrod Smith, guidance from the Southeast Creative Reuse Coalition, and encouragement from her network in AIGA Asheville. With that foundation in place, she built a structure that includes both an advisory board and an executive board so the mission can grow with clarity and accountability.
What the Creative Reuse Store Will Bring to Asheville
Amanda’s vision is simple and practical. The store will accept clean, ready-to-use art and craft materials and offer them at accessible prices for teachers, artists, parents, students, and hobbyists. Workshops and community events will follow, with a children’s maker space on the long-term list.
Her connection to the Southeast Creative Reuse Coalition gives ReMix It strong guidance and best practices as it prepares to open.
A Project Built With Purpose
ReMix It is more than a nonprofit. It reflects Asheville’s values by encouraging sustainability, reducing waste, expanding access to creativity, and bringing people together.
Her journey shows what happens when someone recognizes a real community pain point and steps forward with a thoughtful, mission-driven solution. The momentum is already there, and the community interest continues to grow. This project fills a real need in Asheville, and Amanda is ready to bring it forward.
Ways You Can Get Involved
Beginning early next year, the nonprofit will begin accepting one bag of clean, usable materials per person each week. This keeps the process manageable and helps build a curated, high-quality inventory for opening day.
Amanda is also working toward a fifty-thousand-dollar fundraising goal. Thirty donors contributing one thousand dollars each will join the Founder’s Circle and be honored on a mural inside the space, as well as in future newsletters and social posts.
A fundraising event is planned for January 24th at The RAD Brewing Company, complete with Asheville’s largest fabric snake and plenty of creative energy. More details will be shared once the event page is live.
If you’d like to support the launch, donate materials, or get involved, ReMix It will be sharing more ways to help early next year. Stay up to date by subscribing to their newsletter at remixitavl.org, or follow them on Facebook or Instagram to be part of bringing this resource to life.
The Power of Hatch Innovation Hub Programs in WNC
Amanda’s experience reflects the impact of Hatch Innovation Hub programs throughout Western North Carolina. Our Pitch Parties give founders a place to share their ideas, build confidence, and connect with people who want to see new ventures grow. PitchGiving brings a seasonal twist to that same purpose, helping founders get in front of supportive community members who care about local impact.
These events work alongside other outreach efforts, including the Entrepreneur-in-Residence (EIR) program happening across the region and the upcoming HatchThis event in March. Together, these programs help founders strengthen their network, gather insight, and find the support they need at the right time.
For Amanda, stepping into PitchGiving helped her make valuable connections that added to her momentum as she moves toward launching Remix It. Her pitch also earned her Best Presenter and Most Potential for Growth and Impact, a recognition that reflects both her passion and the community’s excitement for this new resource. Across WNC, programs like these continue to spark collaboration, inspire new ideas, and strengthen the creative and entrepreneurial spirit that defines our community.
