The 2019 International Gift Exposition in the Smokies (IGES) show will take place on Nov. 5-9, 2019, celebrating its 20th anniversary, at the Sevierville Convention Center in Sevierville, TN, and the LeConte Center in Pigeon Forge, TN. IGES will host vendors and buyers of resortwear, souvenirs, name drop apparel, customized gifts, Made in America, and more.
IGES, originally the Pigeon Forge Resort Merchandise and Gift Show, was started in 2000 at the Grand Hotel in Pigeon Forge to serve the wholesale resort merchandise industry. The show quickly-expanded, first to four additional locations, then to the Sevierville Convention Center – the closest convention center to the McGee Tyson Airport. In 2013, IGES expanded yet again to include Smoky Mountain’s newest convention center, Pigeon Forge’s LeConte Center. IGES joined Emerald Expositions in 2016, and is now one of the largest gatherings of souvenir and resort merchandise with a unique specialty in custom and name drop products.
IGES 2018 reported an increase in vendors and buyer orders, due in large part to its newly-introduced Buyer Bucks program in Sevierville. Buyer Bucks participating vendors, including Boulder Cannon Apparel, Stetson Hats, The Petting Zoo, and Smith Southwestern, provided show-special coupons to registered buyers, and IGES rewarded buyers with money back following cumulative purchases of $400 or more made from these participating vendors.
“Every year, IGES brings something new and exciting, and as a result, exhibitor participation for 2019 is currently pacing well ahead of last year’s previously-increased numbers,” said David Bertelsen, show director, IGES. “We expect IGES 2019 to be bigger and better than ever before.”
IGES 2019 will see the return of the Cash and Carry Pavilion, offering gifts-to-go and wholesale merchandise, and the new Gourmet Section within the Made in America Pavilion, highlighting brands like Moonpie Direct, Tennessee Spice Company, Nectar of the Vine, Smokehouse Jerky Co, Hillside Orchard, Rag Muffins, North Woods Animal Treats, D’Vine Foods and Tennessee’s Best.The Made in America Pavilion continues to grow in 2019 with more than 100 brands featured.
“In addition to top quality vendors, decision-making buyers and unforgettable networking events, participants for IGES 2019 can be sure we have something big planned with both cities to celebrate 20 years of amazing experiences connecting the souvenir and resort industry in Tennessee,” said Karalynn Sprouse, executive vice president, Emerald Expositions.
For more information on IGES, visit www.iges.us.
International Gift Expo of the Smokies
Sevierville: Nov 5th – 8th, 2019
Pigeon Forge: Nov 6th – 9th, 2019
www.iges.us