EXHIBIT WITH US
Cities within driving distance of Gatlinburg, TN! click to enlarge
MATERIAL HANDLING & OUTBOUND SHIPMENTS
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:
- A concessions stand with hot & cold food items, plus beverages will be set up in the Mills Center foyer on Saturday & Sunday ONLY for your convenience. The GCC does not allow any outside food brought in. See the "Friday & Monday Workshops" (below) for possible lunch options.
- 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.
- Educators during the show are welcome to enjoy lunch inside the Swag Swap Center (photo below) where they can network with nail techs instead of eating in their booth.
EDUCATORS with FRIDAY/SATURDAY/MONDAY WORKSHOPS:
CLASSROOMS #1, #2 & #10:
- These 3 Classrooms DO NOT have complimentary 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 (link at top of this page highlighted in yellow). All classrooms will be set up max classroom style & fit at least 24 students. You will need to 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.
- Lunch break for Workshops is Noon - 1:00pm. The hot & cold concessions will only be set up on Saturday & Sunday in the Mills Center foyer. The GCC does not allow food delivery nor any outside food to be brought in.
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NEW for 2025:
- The GCC will NOT be setting up a concessions stand on FRIDAY & MONDAY when too few people are onsite for Workshops. If you would like to order PREPAID box lunches to be delivered to your classrooms, please contact Jenn Carson in advance at jenncarson.gcc@gmail.com (include your Workshop date, company name & classroom number when ordering).
- 2025 will be the final year for any concessions offered inside our show. That’s because the GCC has a large, permanent food court with plenty of seating available downstairs on the lower level. All licensed beauty pros, students & guests are welcome to head down there for lunch with a paid ticket to the Craftsmen’s Fair—it’s only $5 with your beauty license shown at the door or $10 without. Just stop by their Registration window on the lower level before leaving & ask for a free re-entry pass that’s good for the duration of the Craftsmen’s Fair!
- The closest other food sources with faster in/out service are down the block under the Space Needle (Slice Pizza) or up the block at the Bearland Grill (market store for chips & such). Another possible option is a 5 minute walk up to the Courtyard Marriott where there's a Starbucks inside the lobby, plus eat at the bar or sit down food service options (you may be late getting back if it takes longer than 50 minutes, tho).
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FRIDAY WORKSHOPS ONLY:
- Please note that we do NOT have the Mills Center reserved on Fri. & Mon. so those exterior GCC doors will be locked until we arrive on-site at 8:00am. Follow the unloading instructions below; booth setup is only allowed on Saturday.
- 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.
- 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.
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ALL UNLOADING/LOADING:
- 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).
- 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.
DO NOT PARK IN THE SEMI-CIRCLE TROLLEY TURNAROUND:
- Absolutely NO parking along the Trolley curb nor in any of it's accompanying reserved parking spaces.
- The GCC security guards will make you move or be ticketed & possibly 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.
- Let your Fri/Sat/Mon Workshop students know to enter the GCC no earlier than 8:45am via the concrete ramp 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 with arrow pointing the way up the ramp next to the steps; see photo below). Otherwise, these 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 up 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 for 1 of us to be on site in the classrooms hallway or sitting in the lobby of the Craftsmen's Fair entrance on Airport Rd from 8:00am till closing at 5:00pm in case you need something.
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 after Noon when parking is less congested & more unloading spaces will be open, plus more 4-wheel dollies will be available.
- Move-in begins at 8:00am & ends promptly at 5:00pm (EST). NO EXCEPTIONS.
- At 4:05pm any booth not in progress of being set up will be considered abandoned & be dismantled unless I speak with you 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).
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NEW FOR 2025:
To prevent the congested traffic & parking issues we've had in the past, the GCC is positioning 2 security guards outside on the sidewalk for Saturday move-in & Sunday move-out to make sure all exhibitors comply with the GCC's move-in/move-out procedures as outlined here. No other move-in/out times/days can be accommodated per our GCC contract.
- 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).
- Quickly unload up the concrete ramp, then immediately move your vehicle to paid parking lots across the street. The GCC security guards will speak to you directly if you linger too long & vehicles left unattended for an extended period of time risk being towed.
- DO NOT PARK IN THE SEMI-CIRCLE TROLLEY TURNAROUND DRIVE UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES EVEN IF YOU SEE OTHERS DOING SO. The security guards will immediately make you move or be ticketed/towed by the Gatlinburg City police.
- 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.
- 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 unloading the dollies at your booth, 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):
- See our Event Team at the Registration window to receive your EDUCATOR WRISTBANDS for the exact number of Educators actually working inside your booth (4 per each booth; there's a $75 charge via our secure Square store for any extra educators).
- 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 shows finances).
- 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 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 2 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.
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 our Event helper or security guard stationed at the doors to be let into the GCC.
- At 8:30am the VIP techs will enter the GCC lobby followed by 9:00am entrance to the show floor. All other ticket types enter the GCC lobby at 9:30am & the show floor opens at 10:00am.
- Keep in mind with every demo: your company has products to solve their nail problems & their goal is to sell a lot of those products so they don't have to ship so much 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 onto 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 (main show floor) 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:
- Do not park to unload/load in the semi-circle trolley drive for any reason. 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 at any time 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 carpet protectant tape around the demo area with approval to cautiously use nail glitter. Carpet tape 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 courteous & respectful of everyone else's differing musical tastes).
- 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 that owns that brand will take precedence where they may or may not grant you continued rights to keep selling their brand in your booth.
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TO REACH ME IN A HURRY ON SHOW WEEKEND:
- Consult the FAQ's on our home page & read all this Exhibitor info first before asking me questions. I'm juggling 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.
Emergencies are:
- you died or are in the hospital or are otherwise deathly ill.
- you can't make it because a close family member died or is in the hospital.
- you can't make it due to flight delays.
- you can't make it due to your vehicle broke down or you had a wreck.
- you can't make it because your child is sick or injured.
- you can't make it because your home was destroyed.
- anything else is not an emergency.
- 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, so it will roll to voicemail. 🔥
FOR COMPANIES CONSIDERING JOINING US:
The Smokies Nail Show is the only professional nail trade show in the U.S. exclusively dedicated to licensed beauty professionals, salon/spa owners & beauty school students specializing in nails. This event is not open to the general public, nail enthusiasts or social media influencers, ensuring a focused audience of industry professionals.
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By exhibiting at our show, your company connects directly with qualified buyers who are actively seeking professional nail products & education. With 18 years of proven success, we’ve built a strong reputation through year-round marketing efforts & exceptional word-of-mouth referrals from nail technicians, educators & industry leaders. Join us to experience a nails-only trade show designed with exhibitors in mind.
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Exhibitor Benefits
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 distractions or added costs.
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Booth Eligibility Requirements
To maintain the integrity of our event, all exhibitors must meet the following criteria:
1️⃣ Operate a functional e-commerce website selling hand, foot or boutique salon products.
2️⃣ Offer wholesale pricing or professional discounts to licensed beauty pros.
3️⃣ MLM or tiered-recruitment businesses (e.g., Avon, Mary Kay, Scentsy) are not permitted.
4️⃣ No two exhibitors may sell the same products unless both parties agree.
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If your company meets these qualifications, please email your website address to info@NailTechEvent.com to possibly join us.
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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.
✅ Cost-Saving Perks – Complimentary WiFi all show weekend, free drayage, hand-carry supplies to your booth at no extra charge utilizing a complimentary four-wheel dolly for move-in/move-out, free storage for inbound & outbound shipments (2 days each).
✅ Boost Your Business – Generate leads & sales in just one day by connecting directly with 700+ working nail techs.
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Regional Reach & Buyer Advantage
The majority of our attendees drive to Gatlinburg, TN, from a wide range of surrounding states, often bringing their families along to turn the trip into a business-related vacation that qualifies as a tax write-off. States they 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.
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Driving instead of flying allows beauty pros to maximize their purchasing power, investing more in bulk orders while having the trunk space to transport their products home with ease. This creates a high-value buying audience ready to stock up on essential supplies.