Smoky Mountain Gift Show draws great energy to Tennessee

By Edited by Christine Schaffran

As a show known for its friendly, hospitality-focused atmosphere, the 2023 edition did not disappoint.

There was great energy at this year’s Smoky Mountain Gift Show, which took place Nov. 8-11 in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, according to show organizer, Clarion Events.

With more than 350 exhibiting companies on the show floor, buyers said they were pleased to see a wide variety of options and that companies were showcasing more diverse product lines than they have seen in the past.

Meanwhile, exhibitors commented on the quality of buyers that were walking the show floor representing a variety of business types, including general gift and souvenir shops, aquariums, zoos, campgrounds, resorts, museums, specialty stores, national/state parks and more. Show organizers reported that attendance increased compared to the previous year.

Christina Bell, director of the Smoky Mountain Gift Show, added, “We were so excited to be back in the mountains for the 2023 Smoky Mountain Gift Show and thank all of the buyers, exhibiting companies and partners that were able to join us and contribute to the success of this year’s event. Our goal is to create the best buying experience, and we were so pleased to hear both buyers and exhibitors comment about the amount of order writing that happened over the four days of the event. We look forward to continuing to evolve the show to meet the needs of our customers as well as providing first-class hospitality and customer service.”

A look at the favorites

Clarion said it was happy to bring back its MATCH! meeting program which was created to help exhibitors and attendees connect and develop new business relationships. The program creates matchmaking connections based on exhibitor product availability and buyer sourcing needs. This year’s program generated 250 meetings, with many buyers sharing that they placed orders with vendors they had never worked with before.

In addition, Clarion noted more companies showcased products Made in America than ever before in response to buyer demand. During the show, Clarion hosted 2 Made in America Buying Tours showcasing exhibitors in this category to aid buyers in shopping for these products.

The Smoky Mountain Gift Show again partnered closely with the Zoo, Aquarium & Garden (ZAG) Buyers Group, providing opportunities for members to attend the show as well as connect on and off the show floor in the association hospitality lounge, a new education session focused on diversity and inclusion and the member’s luncheon, which was held in the newly expanded area of the convention center. A Zootique tour was also hosted and led by Tommy Brown of Saint Louis Zoo and ZAG board member, where zoos had the opportunity to tour the show floor and discover zoo-, animal- and conservation-focused products.

Overall, one of the most appreciated features of the show, according to Clarion, were the hospitality features and amenities. This year’s show featured an all-day coffee bar, daily happy hours, including one sponsored by The Petting Zoo and a moonshine tasting hosted by Charles Products Inc. and Ole Smoky Distillery. There were also ongoing product and gift card giveaways to add to the excitement.

The next Smoky Mountain Gift Show takes place Nov. 6-9, 2024 at the Gatlinburg Convention Center.