How it all started...

Nader has always been into rocks and fossils.

He began collecting as a kid in Wisconsin and as he grew older, he developed a plan to turn his hobby into a career.

In 1998, Nader journeyed out to Tucson, AZ, the home of the world's largest gem and mineral show. While there, his buddy Dan introduced him to an interesting Frenchman by the name of Paul Obeniche. Paul lived in Madagascar and is the man known for the discovery of the one and only Ocean Jasper.

Every year Paul brought over a ton of material from Madagascar to the gem and mineral show.

Nader began working for him in Tucson, proving himself to be both loyal and committed, learning from Paul every chance he could.

Throughout the upcoming years, Nader began touring with the band Widespread Panic, selling rocks in the parking lot to get from show to show.

Soon he realized that this work on tour could actually be done on a much larger scale.

He visited Asheville, NC and decided that this was where he wanted to live and open Enter the Earth as a retail gallery. Asheville is full of so many interesting locations and there are many retail possibilities… he finally decided on the downtown Grove Arcade as the home of Enter the Earth.

The Gallery's door opened October 31, 2002.

Continuing to travel to Tucson every year for the gem and mineral show, Nader decided to make life a little more exciting by getting involved in the wholesale business, as well. With meager beginnings in 2000, ETE Wholesale took off in 2004.

Nader journeyed to Madagascar in 2005 for the first time. Little did he know, this was the first of what would become many trips to this beautiful land.

Enter the Earth has just purchased it's very own 20,000 square foot warehouse, complete with showroom.