Emma Rose: Emma’s Earth Shop
“I was born and raised right here in Beaufort. Funny enough, I didn’t always love it. Like a lot of people, I went through that “I can’t wait to leave” phase. But the older I got, the more I realized just how beautiful this place really is. It’s got this homely feeling—something you just don’t find anywhere else. I’ve traveled to places like Las Vegas, New York, Florida… and yeah, they’re fun for a couple of days, but nothing compares to coming home. Beaufort’s got charm, history, and the kind of community where people wave at you from their cars. That matters more than people think.
Growing up, my mom and I shared a deep love for gemstones. Any time we were out of town, we’d search for rock shops. We’d find a stone we liked and say, “We’ll just get this one now, and maybe another next time.” That turned into a real passion—learning about them, collecting them, and eventually building something around that love.
In 2019, right before the world flipped upside down with COVID, I opened Emma’s Earth Shop. College didn’t feel like the right path for me. I’ve never liked school much, but I’ve always loved this—gemstones, crystals, nature, and the joy of sharing them with other people. So I took a leap. Now, I get to do what I love every single day, and it still feels kind of like a dream.
Walking into my shop is like stepping into my brain. There are massive amethyst wings that greet you at the door, handmade blown glass art, bookends made from agate, chess boards carved from onyx, and quirky sea-life souvenirs like wine holders shaped like crabs. There’s jewelry, pop culture finds, shiny things everywhere—I mean, if I was a rat in a past life, this is the shiny palace I’d build. Everything in here, I picked out with love. It’s fun, a little kitschy, a little magical—and all very me.
But Emma’s Earth Shop isn’t just retail. We also offer golf cart tours. The tours are an hour long, and we cover everything: the historic homes, churches, cemeteries, the movies filmed here, and the stories of this beautiful town. Growing up, I never realized how much history Beaufort holds. It’s wild—how much you can learn just walking around. The tours are eco-friendly and a great alternative to the horse carriages or buses, and people love that. Locals take pride, and tourists get a unique experience.
What makes this all worth it? It’s the people. My friends, my family, my coworkers—who feel like family too. This community is full of kind, caring souls. There’s a comfort in knowing you can walk down the street and always bump into someone who knows your name. It’s safe, it’s secure, and it’s home. Every time I travel, I miss it. That says something.”
-Emma Rose, Emma’s Earth Shop
