Winter 2021 - 61

G
reat Smoky Mountains National Park is known for its
diversity - in plants and wildlife. The mountains call
to many visitors, it is one of the most visited national
parks in the nation. Nestled along the border of North Carolina
and Tennessee, the park holds significant interest for visitors
who enjoy all things outdoor related. The diversity also
extends into the retail experiences within and
near the park.
Multiple Gift Stores
Dawn Roark, retail director for
Great Smoky Mountains Association
(GSMA) gift shops, said there are
three year-round stores and one
seasonal store within the park. " We
also have three stores outside the
park boundary in the local gateway
communities, " she shared.
The Sugarlands Visitor Center, located near
Gatlinburg and the park's headquarters, is the busiest
shop. " This space is around 1,500 square feet and complements
an adjacent park natural history museum, pollinator garden and
small trail system leading to a nearby waterfall, " Roark said.
The second busiest store is at the Cades Cove Visitor Center, which
offers 800 square feet and is located along a popular scenic loop route.
The third busiest store, at Oconaluftee Visitor Center, is the newest
location and consists of 900 square feet. " The Oconaluftee space
lies in another beautiful valley on the North Carolina side of the park
known for its resident population of elk, " Roark shared.
Clingmans Dome offers yet another retail space within the park and
it features approximately 500 square feet and is ideally situated near
the highest mountain peak in the Smokies. " Here you can shop with
a view and climb to the nearby observation tower, " Roark explained.
Visitors
In 2019, GSMA gift stores welcomed 2.4 million shoppers in
all its stores - this includes those within the park and in the
surrounding localities. " Broken into our separate retail locations,
Sugarlands had 849,000, Cades Cove had 462,000, Oconaluftee
had 398,000 and Clingmans Dome had 333,000 visitors, " she said.
Most of the park shops are open year round. There is one exception
- the Clingmans Dome shop - as its location often experiences
inclement winter weather that closes the roads.
GSMA gift shops, like other retail environments, do experience
a busy season, which runs from mid-May through mid-November.
Roark noted that this busy season is due to the visitors that journey
to the mountains in the milder weather of summer and in the fall.
" We do hire additional seasonal staff to meet demand during those
peak times, " said Roark. " Our employee count varies depending
on the time of year, but at the height of the season we usually have
around 120 employees. "
GIFTSHOPMAG.COM 61
GSMA offers customized products and unique items, such as its
popular pottery mugs made by Deneen Pottery.
Photos by Julie McCallum.

http://www.GIFTSHOPMAG.COM

Winter 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Winter 2021

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https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GiftShop-Plus/winter-2025
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GiftShop-Plus/celebrations-occasions-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GiftShop-Plus/fall-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GiftShop-Plus/waterfront-living-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GiftShop-Plus/summer-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GiftShop-Plus/holiday-shop-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GiftShop-Plus/spring-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GiftShop-Plus/the-guide-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GiftShop-Plus/winter-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GiftShop-Plus/celebrations-occasions-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GiftShop-Plus/fall-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GiftShop-Plus/waterfront-living-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GiftShop-Plus/summer-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GiftShop-Plus/holiday-shop-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GiftShop-Plus/spring-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GiftShop-Plus/the-guide-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GiftShop-Plus/winter-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GiftShop-Plus/celebrations-occasions-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GiftShop-Plus/fall-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GiftShop-Plus/waterfront-living-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GiftShop-Plus/summer-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GiftShop-Plus/holiday-shop-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GiftShop-Plus/spring-2022
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https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GiftShop-Plus/fall-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GiftShop-Plus/summer-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GiftShop-Plus/spring-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GiftShop-Plus/theguide-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GiftShop-Plus/holidayshop-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GiftShop-Plus/celebrationsoccasions-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GiftShop-Plus/winter-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GiftShop-Plus/fall-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GiftShop-Plus/pets-fall-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GiftShop-Plus/summer-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GiftShop-Plus/pets-summer-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GiftShop-Plus/survivethriveguide-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GiftShop-Plus/spring-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GiftShop-Plus/pets-spring-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GiftShop-Plus/theguide-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GiftShop-Plus/winter-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GiftShop-Plus/pets-winter-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GiftShop-Plus/fall-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GiftShop-Plus/pets-fall-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GiftShop-Plus/demdaco-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GiftShop-Plus/summer-2019
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https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GiftShop-Plus/holidaygiftguide-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GiftShop-Plus/spring-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GiftShop-Plus/pets-spring-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GiftShop-Plus/winter-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GiftShop-Plus/pets-winter-2019
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