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Dear Exhibitor, We’ve raised the bar! We are striving to take The Norton Shows to new heights. One can never stop improving one’s product. One can never stop innovating. This we believe. We constantly strive to improve The Norton Shows. We tirelessly effort to give you, our exhibitors, the best package from which to wholesale your goods. Likewise, we work to deliver to our buyers the best wholesale market and group of exhibitors with whom they may partner to best conduct their business. Accordingly, all Norton Shows have been moved from the Gatlinburg Convention Center to the Sevierville Events Center, Sevierville, Tennessee, same county, just 13 miles distant, immediately off Interstate 40, eliminating traffic as one negotiates throughout the three sister cities. (Now we can attend Pigeon Forge’s fabulous car shows at our leisure. We just don’t have to sit in traffic for hours.) The Norton Shows is also thirty (30) minutes closer to the Knoxville Airport. (Nevertheless, please allow extra time when making flight reservations.) November 2007 marked our first show in Sevierville with spectacular results. Easy, stress free move-in and move-out. All exhibitors all one floor, one building, approximately 25,000 buyers, Saturday, Sunday and Monday show days, all positive feedback. March 2008, 12,000 buyers, was great and ran smoothly. The Sevierville Police Department was on site and monitored traffic flow, resulting in a steady, headache free, stream of buyers. The Norton Shows purchased parking garage and all parking spaces for March 2008 and have for June 2008 also, allowing buyers to enter area with ease and to park free, first-come-first-serve. Parking lots will also be open for early birds. Maryville, Alcoa, Knoxville, Chattanooga and surrounding buyers may access the Sevierville Events Center from Highway 441, Chapman Highway, turning left on Old Knoxville Highway and directly entering parking facilities without using Highway 66. We’re happy with our new location and The Norton Shows, thankfully, continues to be a resounding success! God is indeed gracious. AND, we are working diligently to smooth rough edges. PLEASE BE PATIENT WITH US. WE’RE WORKING TO CORRECT ANY AND ALL INCONVENIENCES TO YOU, OUR VIP BUYERS.
Let’s state the obvious as to why we moved The Norton Shows to Sevierville! We outgrew the Gatlinburg Convention Center a long time ago. We need all our booths under one roof in order to have a good, fair mix of apparel, fashion jewelry/accessories, fine jewelry, gifts and gourmet food. And we desperately needed a two day move-in and additional truck bays for our shows, especially for November. Further, we prefer all our shows be on Saturday, Sunday and Monday. Our move to Sevierville Events Center affords all the above, plus many, many more amenities, such as free parking for exhibitors. Exhibitors may park their vans, trailers, 18-wheelers, box trucks and cars behind the center throughout market. Plus, a very large PLUS, Wilderness Resorts (Bass Pro), our anchor hotel with wonderful facilities featuring a lazy river, will open July 1 and will be ready for September and November exhibitors and buyers. Large condos, luxury cabins, shopping centers, movie theaters and restaurants, such as the Blues Brothers, Jimmy Buffet’s Margaritaville, Ruth’s Chris, etc. are planned for the near future.
Sevierville Events Center is located thirty (30) minutes from Gatlinburg and thirty (30) minutes from Knoxville. This will allow you and all our buyers an easy, convenient drive from points north, south, east and west. We love the intimacy of Gatlinburg, the shops, restaurants and entertainment. Sevierville and Pigeon Forge have many wonderful attributes also plus many new attractions for you and our buyers to explore. Trolleys will be available to take you to historic downtown Sevierville, shopping and dining, as well as to Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg. So, after market hours, you may choose to drive to Gatlinburg and visit your favorites. Or drive to Pigeon Forge. Or, very conveniently, stay in Sevierville and get acquainted with her many many charms. Or head to Knoxville’s Old City. The Norton Shows. You are number one. You are the boss. You are our guests. Do as you please. We thank you.
Tom, Linda and Nikke
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