Nov 17, 2016
Attendance increase, quality buyers, new resources headline Smoky Mountain Gift Show

Tracking ahead of the 2015 edition, the November 2-5, 2016 Smoky Mountain Gift Show generated reports of quality buyer traffic, a record number of first time exhibitors along with fun networking events for show attendees and exhibitors. Featuring more than 800 booths at the Gatlinburg Convention Center, the show once again attracted the attendance of top eastern region and national retail buyers from theme parks, museums, zoos, aquariums, premier tourist destinations, and national, state and local parks.

“Our strength continues to be the show’s well-defined selection of quality products and new resources on the floor,” said Christina Bell Davis, vice president of Gift & Souvenir, Urban Expositions. “We secured the best names in the gift and souvenir industry and welcomed 76 new vendors for the 2016 edition, strengthening Gatlinburg’s position as the premier product and service destination in the Smokies. Having these resources all under one roof is a tremendous benefit for our attendees as it gives them an opportunity to spend time building relationships with vendors, scouting new products and completing their buying needs.”

New was the name of the game at the November 2016 edition with 76 new companies joining the show roster. The show floor featured introductions from top-name brands and innovative newcomers in destination, resort and tourist merchandise, souvenirs, t-shirts, beach merchandise, coastal and nautical, lake, mountain and lodge, Made in the USA products, logo products, nature and wildlife products, giftware, jewelry and fashion accessories, home décor items, toys/games and more.

Among the many show highlights were a series of competitions and awards.

Attending retailers voted on the “Best New Product” award during the show, and Simpli Nature’s hand-poured, all natural soy candles, hand butter and wax melts from the Adirondack Mountains in Old Forge, NY was selected as the winner.

“This was our first time here and winning the Best New Product Award makes us feel so good,” said Andrea Hollister, Simpli Nature™. “We had a great show and there was a good presence of buyers from all over the nation. We wrote with companies all the way from Wyoming, Tennessee, New York, Ohio and Maine.”

Denver-based Dust City Designs Wood Stickers, another new exhibitor received the Best Made in America product award voted on by Smoky Mountain Gift Show retailers. Their custom, laser-etched wood stickers retail for $6 each are sustainably sourced and certified by the Forest Stewardship Council.

“The orders we’ve written at this show have been insane,” adds Josh Glisan, founder/ owner, Dust City Designs. “Being part of the Smoky Mountain Gift Show was a remarkable experience and it was great validation for the time and energy we put into producing a clean laser-etched wood sticker design at a quality price point to receive the Best Made In America award from attending retailers here at the show. It was a blast and we’ll be back next year.”

To foster the spirit of fun and hospitality that the Smoky Mountain Gift Show is known for, Urban Expositions hosted an official show party at Blaine’s on Wednesday, November 2 and also continued many of its buyer friendly services, including daily $100 cash prize giveaways, gift basket giveaways, goody bag giveaways, and complimentary refreshments for buyers each morning and afternoon.

The show also introduced the Made in America Buying Tour (pictured left) presented by Tammy McIntyre, National Director of Retail Operations, Aramark for participating retailers on how to select the right made in America products for their store. Following the short presentation retailers went on a buying tour on the show floor visiting exhibitors displaying Made in America products. On Friday, November 4, Tommy Brown, retail manager and buyer of conservation goods for the St. Louis Zoo, led zoo and aquarium retail gift shop buyers on a separate buying tour centered on Conservation Commerce. The focus of the tour was teaching responsible consuming, where the money spent on an item will provide incremental benefits to one or more conservation efforts-be they social, ecological or direct animal conservation efforts. In addition, Urban Expositions also worked with leading associations, including the Zoo & Aquarium Buyers Group (ZAG), and the Living Legends Association to host hospitality and networking events for their members and associates during the show. The Living Legends Association hosted a reception on Wednesday, November 2 and presented their Golden Lilly Award to Larry White, associate publisher of Souvenirs, Gifts & Novelties, in recognition of his commitment and contributions to the souvenir industry.

Tags: Smoky Mountain Gift Show

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