Exhibit at the Nail Tech Event of the Smokies, a nails-only trade show in Gatlinburg, TN

Nail Tech Event of the Smokies

Cities within driving distance of Gatlinburg, TN! click to enlarge

FOR COMPANIES CONSIDERING JOINING US:

Connect with licensed nail technicians, salon owners & beauty students by exhibiting at the Nail Tech Event of the Smokies, a nails-only professional trade show in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, held annually at the non-union Gatlinburg Convention Center. This event provides nail companies with direct access to qualified buyers seeking professional nail products, education & brand partnerships within a focused, pro-only environment.

Companies exhibiting at the Smokies Nail Show must meet the following professional nail product & wholesale criteria:

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1) have a working website selling hand, foot or boutique salon products.

2) sell products at wholesale or a discounted price to licensed beauty pros.

3) no MLM's or similar tiered structure where the recruitment of others is a factor (Avon, Mary Kay, Scentsy, etc).

4) no 2 participating companies can sell the same products unless both agree.

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Send the link to your pro website along with your inquiry to info@NailTechEvent.com

The Smokies Nail Show is exclusively dedicated to licensed beauty professionals, salon/spa owners & current beauty school students specializing in nails. This event is not open to the general public, nail enthusiasts nor social media influencers, ensuring a focused audience of industry professionals ready to purchase in bulk.

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By exhibiting at our show, your company connects directly with qualified buyers actively seeking professional nail products & education. With almost 2 decades of proven success, we’ve built a strong reputation through year-round marketing & advertising, plus exceptional word-of-mouth referrals from nail technicians, educators & industry leaders. Join us to experience a nails-only trade show designed with nail companies in mind.

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Benefits of Exhibiting at a Nails-Only Professional Trade Show:

The Smokies Nail Show is designed to provide a professional, stress-free environment for both exhibitors and attendees. Our venue & policies ensure a seamless experience, allowing you to focus on sales & networking without unnecessary loud music distractions or added union costs.

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✅ Industry-Focused Event – No loud music, no hair products & no non-nail-related merchandise.
✅ Prime Location – Hosted in a non-union convention center for affordable participation & hassle-free setup.
✅ Comfortable Setup – Carpeted show floor for added comfort at no extra charge.

✅ Boost Your Business – Generate leads & sales in just one day by connecting directly with 500-700+ nail techs.

✅ Social media exposure – Reach more consumers throughout the year.
✅ Cost-Saving Perks such as –

~ Complimentary WiFi all weekend

~ Complimentary drayage

~ Complimentary four-wheel dolly usage for move-in/move-out

~ Hand-carry supplies to your booth at no extra charge

~ Complimentary 2-day storage for inbound & outbound shipments

Nail techs holding their big purchases at the Smokies Nail Show.

Regional Reach & Buyer Advantage

The majority of our attendees drive to Gatlinburg, TN. from 27 surrounding states, often bringing their families along for a business-related vacation that qualifies as a tax write-off. States techs drive from include:

 

📍 Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia & Wisconsin.

 

Driving instead of flying allows attendees to maximize their purchasing power, investing more in bulk orders while having the trunk space to easily transport products home. This creates a high-value buying audience ready to stock up on essential nail supplies.

Booth Electricity - LINK COMING SOON
Extra Tables & A/V - CLICK HERE

MATERIAL HANDLING & OUTBOUND SHIPMENTS

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The GCC will only accept shipments arriving on: Thursday OR Friday before the show date:

  • NO Saturday deliveries
  • NO deliveries after 5:00pm (EST)
  • The GCC will store these packages in a secure room FREE OF CHARGE.
  • Shipments arriving outside of the allotted time frame may be refused & returned to your company at YOUR expense due to lack of available storage space.
  • On Exhibitor move-in day the GCC will have your company's boxes/pallets sitting inside your booth at no extra cost to you.

 

Please mark your shipments as such:

Gatlinburg Convention Center Loading Dock
c/o Nail Tech Event of the Smokies

Vendor Company Name
Vendor Booth #
234 Airport Rd.

Gatlinburg, TN 37738

 

OUTBOUND SHIPMENTS:

 

  • MUST BE PICKED UP NO LATER THAN TUESDAY AFTER THE SHOW.
  • make prior arrangements with your carrier to pick up shipments on Monday or Tuesday at the latest.
  • Boxes NOT picked up by Tuesday at close of business will be considered abandoned & may be donated to charity.

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CATERING & CONCESSIONS:

 

  • NEW for 2026: The only concessions with hot & cold food items, plus assorted beverages will be in the lower level of the GCC where the Craftsmen's Fair is held. The GCC has a dedicated concessions area with tables & chairs for you to relax while eating lunch & listen to live music.

 

  • Admittance to the lower level is $10 for the general public & children under 12 are free with paid adult, but techs can show their pro beauty license & mention they're with the Smokies Nail Show to get Craftsmen's Fair admission for only $5.  Before leaving, visit their registration window on this lower level so they can issue you a FREE return pass to can come & go without paying admittance again for the duration of the 2 week long CF!

 

  • To order prepaid box lunches to be delivered to your Classroom or to your Booth during the show, please contact Jenn Carson in charge of the GCC catering firm at least 1 month before the show: jenncarson.gcc@gmail.com (419) 932-1272‬. You are responsible for paying for your food/beverages order.

 

  • The closest food options are Slice Pizza under the Space Needle (1/2 block downhill) & inside the Courtyard Marriott (1/2 block uphill) is a small cafe with a Starbuck's, but it may take longer than 1 hour to be served/eat/walk back to the GCC.
Smiling nail techs sitting at tables in their classroom.

WORKSHOPS UNLOADING:  

 

  • Use the DESIGNATED TURNING LANE (photos below) in front of the Mills Center for short term parking to load/unload only. Look for the white stripe painted on the road with right turning lane arrow (DO NOT TURN DOWN TO THE LOADING DOCKS).

 

  • NEW for 2026: The GCC is allowing us to unload/load along the curb inside the semi-circle Trolley turnaround as they will have the Trolley pick up at the street. Do not park in the designated, lined parking spaces inside the Trolley turnaround since these are reserved for show personnel with parking tags, including the Craftsmen’s Fair staff who will report you to security to be towed.

 

  • If the unloading/loading zone is full, just drive up the street & cruise by again to check for openings. There is nowhere else to park except the paid parking lots nearby unless you’re staying at the Gillette Motel across the street.

 

  • Inside the Mills Center are 10 four-wheel dollies to take turns using. Quickly unload, then return the dollies to the lobby where you found it & move your vehicle to paid parking lots across the street so the next company can do the same. Please save the pleasantries of visiting with friends/associates until your vehicle is out of the unloading/loading area so everyone can move-in quickly. 

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EDUCATORS with WORKSHOPS (Fri/Sat/Mon):

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Classrooms #3, 4, 7, 8 & 11:

  • These will no longer have the complimentary pull down screens after the flat screen tv’s are installed for paid usage (fee TBD by the GCC). Please bring your own screen or rent one in advance on our Square store.

 

Classrooms #1, 2 & 10:

  • These DO NOT have pull down screens. You are welcome to bring your own A/V & screen at no extra charge or order them from my secure Square store.

 

  • All classrooms are set up max classroom style & fit 24 students (3 per table max for hands-on class; 4 per table for seminars only where no table top nail nail products setup is required).

 

  • You must provide your own extension cords & plastic table covers.

 

  • We will be on site at 8:00am (EST) for you to set up your classrooms. See "Nail Classes/Workshops" page to know your assigned classroom number.

 

  • ALL lunch breaks are from Noon - 1:00pm to prevent Workshops from overlapping. The only hot & cold concessions will be downstairs in the Craftsmen's Fair (see above "Catering & Concessions" for entrance fee & details). The GCC does not allow food delivery nor any outside food to be brought in.

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FRIDAY WORKSHOPS: 

 

  • Booth setup is only allowed on SATURDAY since we DO NOT have the Mills Center show floors reserved on Fri. & Mon. Those exterior GCC doors will be locked until we arrive on-site at 8:00am. Please follow the unloading instructions below.

 

  • The Mills Center doors will be locked again after all Educators holding Friday Workshops are on site to prevent random people from wandering around inside the GCC.

 

  • Let your students know to enter the GCC no earlier than 8:45am via the locked doors into the Craftsmen's Fair entrance at the Airport Rd doors located to the right of the Mills Center (look for our big Workshop banner hanging on the railing with an arrow pointing up the ramp; see photo below) otherwise those Airport Rd doors will remain locked until the Craftsmen's Fair opens at 10:00am. 

 

  • If you're also holding a Saturday Workshop in your same classroom, please let us know when you're finished on Friday so we can lock your classroom door to securely store your supplies overnight.

 

  • We must all be walking out of the GCC by 5:00pm per our contract, so pack away items as you're finished using them in order to meet this firm end time. Abuse of this end time WILL result in a $250 advance deposit for any future classroom reservations. This deposit will only be refunded if the Educator vacates the classroom before 5:00pm, otherwise it is forfeited without recourse.

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SATURDAY WORKSHOPS:

  • We've made arrangements with the Craftsmen's Fair security guards & the GCC to let Educators enter at 8:00am via the locked doors into the Craftsmen's Fair entrance at the Airport Rd doors located to the right of the Mills Center (look for our big Workshop banner hanging on the railing with an arrow pointing up the ramp next to the concrete steps; see photo below).

 

  • Let your students know to enter the GCC no earlier than 8:45am at that same entrance, otherwise those doors will remain locked until the Craftsmen's Fair opens at 10:00am. 

 

  • We must all be walking out of the GCC by 5:00pm per our contract, so pack away items as you're finished using them in order to meet this firm end time. Abuse of this end time WILL result in a $250 advance deposit for any future classroom reservations. This deposit will only be refunded if the Educator vacates the classroom before 5:00pm, otherwise it is forfeited without recourse.

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MONDAY WORKSHOPS ONLY:

 

  • You may set up your classroom during the Exhibitor move-out process from 5:00-7:00pm on Sunday (or at 8:00am Monday). Use a 4 wheel dolly to transport your supplies from the show floor to your classroom & then return it to the Mills lobby for others to use BEFORE for you begin setting up your Classroom. Please let us know when you've finished so we can lock your classroom door to securely store your supplies overnight.

 

  • Event Team members will be taking shifts to be on site in the classrooms hallway from 8:00am till closing at 5:00pm in case you need something. If your classroom is too hot or too cold, prop open your classroom doors & find one of our Team members to tell them about it so they can notify the GCC staff.

 

  • DO NOT CALL ME EARLY IN THE MORNING. A Team Member on the morning shift can help you, so look for them in the hallway. I work the afternoon shift from 2:00pm - 5:00pm & I'd love to speak with you then, so find me in the hallway.

 

  • We must all be walking out of the GCC by 5:00pm per our contract, so pack away items as you're finished using them in order to meet this firm end time. Abuse of this end time WILL result in a $250 advance deposit for any future classroom reservations. This deposit will only be refunded if the Educator vacates the classroom before 5:00pm, otherwise it is forfeited without recourse.
A sign that says nail workshops and directions.

SATURDAY EXHIBITOR MOVE-IN:

We will be onsite at 8:00am per our contract, so please arrive no earlier. If your booth is simple to set up, please arrive in the afternoon hours when more unloading spaces will be open, plus more 4-wheel dollies will be available.

 

  • Move-in begins after 8:00am & ends promptly at 5:00pm (EST).

 

  • At 4:05pm any booth not in progress of being set up will be considered abandoned & be dismantled unless you speak with me in advance.

 

  • Enter the GCC via the concrete ramp by the Mills Center on Airport Rd. across from the Gillette Motel. The exterior GCC doors will be locked until we arrive at 8:00am (rain or shine, so plan accordingly).

 

  • If you have a single booth that's not complicated to set up, please arrive after 11:00am to avoid parking congestion for unloading, but time your set up to be finished by 5:00pm.

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  • USE the DESIGNATED TURNING LANE (photo below) in front of the Mills Center for unloading/loading. Look for the white stripe painted on the road with turning lane arrow pointing right towards the lower loading docks (DO NOT GO DOWN TO THE LOADING DOCKS).

 

  • NEW for 2026: the GCC is allowing us to use the semi-circle Trolley turnaround for move-in/move-out. Parallel park alongside the curb. DO NOT park in the designated, lined spaces which are reserved for Craftsmen's Show personnel with parking tags. Vehicles without parking tags will be towed.

 

  • If the unloading/loading zone is full, please drive up the street & cruise by again to check for openings. There is nowhere else to park except the paid parking lots across from the GCC unless you’re staying at the Gillette Motel.

 

  • Quickly unload up the concrete ramp, then immediately move your vehicle to paid parking lots across the street. Vehicles left unattended for an extended period of time may be towed.

 

  • Inside the Mills Center will be 10 complimentary four wheel dollies for you to share to transport your supplies to your booth, but you are welcome to bring your own so you won't have to wait. When finished return them immediately to the lobby for others to share. You are responsible for not injuring yourself or others with the dollies.

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EDUCATOR WRISTBANDS (no lanyards):

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  • See our Event Team at the Registration window to receive your EDUCATOR WRISTBANDS for the exact number of Educators working your booth (4 per each for a single booth; x 2 for a double booth, etc). There is a $75 charge via our secure Square store for any extra Educators & you assume all tripping liabilities for having too many people in your booth.

 

  • It will cost you $75 CASH ONLY to replace any lost or misplaced Educator wristbands (thanks for understanding how this eliminates "lost" wristbands from ending up on the wrists of Educators nail tech friends who have not paid for a ticket which negatively impacts the show financially).

 

  • Wear your Educator wristband to the show on Sunday to get into the GCC. The outer doors will be locked, so show your wristband to our Event Helper or the security guard to gain entrance. Anyone working or volunteering inside a booth is not eligible for swag bags nor prizes & should not buy an attendees ticket. Contact me before June 30th if a ticket has already been purchased so that I can void it.

 

  • Enlarged show floor plans to find your booth locations will be on the easels just before entering the interior Mills Auditorium doors. Take a photo for reference since we save trees by not printing brochures that just get thrown into the trash.

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NEW for 2026: City of Gatlinburg Taxes 

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  • The Gross Receipts Tax form is due to be remitted to the city of Gatlinburg's Finance Department before August 20th to avoid additional penalties. The current Gross Receipts Tax form will be emailed from the Event Coordinator to each exhibitor in June & you can also download it - CLICK HERE

 

  • You must collect a 7% TN State sales tax, 2.75% Sevier County Tax, plus a 1.25% Gatlinburg City Tax.

 

  • EXAMPLE: The Gross receipts tax is only 1.25% of sales. If you make $5000 at the show, you will pay $62.50. You will still need to file “zero” as your Gross Receipts Tax Form return if you do not to make any sales or if you take orders at the show for future delivery. The tax form is still required to be filed for the show.

 

  • The City of Gatlinburg has a list of all exhibiting companies along with their personal names & contact info to follow up with each should they not receive your Gross Receipts Tax form in due time.

 

  • Merchants are responsible for collecting the sales tax from customers & remitting it to the Tennessee Department of Revenue (TDR) through the Tennessee Taxpayer Access Point (TNTAP) system. Businesses must register for a Tennessee seller’s permit via TNTAP to legally collect & remit sales tax. CLICK HERE

 

A street with a sidewalk and a parking lot.

SUNDAY SHOW DAY:

Arrive between 8:00am - 8:30am to make sure your sales device is connected to the Wifi & working properly, plus put final touches on your booth. There will be a crowd of techs gathering & the exterior doors will be locked. Show your Educator wristband to our Event helper or security guard stationed at the doors to be let into the GCC.

 

  • At 8:30am the 200 VIP techs will enter the GCC lobby followed by 9:00am entrance to the show floor for TWO hours of shopping time. All other ticket types enter the GCC lobby at 10:30am & the show floor opens at 11:00am.

 

  • Keep in mind with every demo: your company has products to solve their nail problems & the goal is to sell a lot of those products so you don't have to ship them back. IDEA: When techs sit down for a demo, find out what their nail problems are & teach the product that will fix it which will result in higher sales.

 

  • Use this opportunity to create video content & LIVE streams on TikTok, Instagram, Facebook & YouTube from your booth. Long videos can be chopped up into enough shorter reels for content lasting all year (don't forget to create video content while you're out enjoying Gatlinburg, too).

SUNDAY EXHIBITOR MOVE-OUT:

  • Start winding down demo's at 4:30pm while we begin the Grand Prize drawing on the main show floor. You may do some light packing inside your booth to get a head start if you aren't busy.

 

  • At 4:30pm please concentrate on making FINAL SALES which is your company's main goal (less stuff to pack up/ship back). NO dollies allowed on the show floor until it ends at 5:00pm to avoid tripping liabilities.

 

  • The move-out process begins at 5:00pm when attendees are off the show floor & ends at 7:00pm (EST). 

 

  • Thru the 2 side emergency exits in the Mills Auditorium is the access corridor where the 10 four-wheel dollies will be waiting. Take turns & once finished immediately return them to the lobby for others to use.

 

  • If you wish to move-out faster without any waiting, please bring your own dolly.

 

  • For safety & liability reasons, keep all boxes/pallets inside YOUR booths until the last attendee exits the show floor.

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AT END OF SHOW ALL EDUCATORS MUST HAVE:

 

  • All boxes taped shut & pallets shrink wrapped (bring your own tape & shrink wrap). Leave these inside your booth for the GCC maintenance team to transport down to the loading docks for your pre-scheduled pickup.

 

  • Have the pre-printed return shipping labels & bill of lading applied to all boxes or pallet. “Bill of Lading” form MUST be on the outside of the package for your carrier to pick it up. It cannot be a hand written label; it must be the pre-printed actual form.

 

  • Have prior arrangements made with your carrier to pick up shipments on Monday or Tuesday at the latest.  Boxes NOT picked up by due date will be considered abandoned & may be donated to charity.

 

  • Sorry, but we CANNOT print labels, supply shrink wrap or tape, nor make shipping arrangements for you. Please do this in advance & arrive prepared.

 

GENERAL OPERATING PROCEDURES TO FOLLOW:

 

  • Unload/load quickly in the designated zones & then move your vehicle. Paid parking lots are across the street & beside the GCC ($20 per day average).

 

  • Absolutely NO children are allowed on the show floors nor in classrooms due to liability issues (this includes babies being carried or in a stroller; please make other childcare arrangements just like the attendees do).

 

  • Heat tape & double face tape may not be used on the carpet.
  • Do not staple, nail, tape, spray, hang or attach anything to walls, ceilings, fixtures or floors.

 

  • Signs may be hung on the back drape using fishing string, 'S' hooks, or other non-damaging materials which you will need to bring with you.
  • No helium tanks or gallons are permitted.

 

  • No balloons, candles nor open flames of any sort.
  • No glitter or confetti is permitted to be scattered about. *The GCC is permitting us to cautiously use nail glitter. Carpet tape in booths CANNOT be removed nor rearranged IF it's been applied.

 

  • Banners, overhead signs, & special decorations may NOT be hung except in booths. Everything must stay within the footprint of your booth.
  • You may bring your own tables/shelving as long as it fits inside the footprint of your booth space.

 

  • Planters & furniture in public areas may not be removed or repositioned.
  • No smoking nor vaping inside. Smoking areas are designated outside usually near the entrances.

 

  • Absolutely NO changes can be made to the final Fire Marshall approved floor plan within 10 days prior to move-in. 
  • No aisles may be blocked for any reason.

 

  • The GCC does not permit any outside food to be brought into the facility. 
  • NO MUSIC during the show (during move-in please keep any music quiet to be respectful of everyone else's differing musical tastes; avoid music with foul language).

 

  • NO TWO VENDORS MAY SELL THE SAME BRAND WITHOUT EACH CONSENTING IN ADVANCE. If a brand you carry reserves a booth, then the parent company who owns that brand will take precedence & they may or may not grant you continued rights to keep selling their brand in your booth. Thank you for understanding that if multiple booths sell the same brand it decreases the amount of sales each will make.

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TO REACH ME IN A HURRY ON SHOW WEEKEND:

 

  • There are a lot of behind-the-scenes moving pieces to make this show run smoothly for everyone, so please only contact me if there's a true emergency, otherwise I may not respond. PLEASE consult the FAQ's on our home page & read this Exhibitor info first to see if your question has already been answered.

 

True emergencies are:

  1. you died, are in the hospital or are otherwise deathly ill.
  2. you can't make it because a close family member died, is in the hospital or is deathly ill.
  3. you can't make it due to flight delays.
  4. you can't make it due to vehicle problems or you had a wreck.
  5. you can't make it because you are in jail or being held hostage.
  6. you can't make it because your home was destroyed.
  7. the Gatlinburg Convention Center is on fire.

 

  • Texting is the fastest way followed by calling. If you do not have my personal PRIVATE cell number, that means I probably don't have yours either. I do not answer any unknown phone calls & those will roll to voicemail. 

 

3 women standing in front of a huge banner

This exhibitor opportunity connects nail companies directly with licensed nail technicians who are actively seeking professional nail products, continuing education & new brand partnerships at the Nail Tech Event of the Smokies. Exhibiting allows companies to build brand recognition, generate wholesale orders & establish long-term relationships within a highly targeted nails-only marketplace.