"Virginia State Parks has been visiting the IGES gift show for about 10 years, starting back when the vendors fit in the Ramada and a tent.  The growth in the show has been phenomenal and the quality of the products and vendors continues to improve each year.  

Due to budget cuts we have had to make drastic changes in where and how we shop for new products and vendors for our state park gift shops.  IGES has become our one stop shop.  While there are a few regional shows we visit during the year, they usually have only a handful of vendors and visiting them is more about maintaining already developed relationships with our vendors.  The annual IGES show in Sevierville has become the only major show we attend.  Each year we have found new products and vendors that are the perfect fit for our park gift shops.  

Being a state park system is a unique niche to begin with, but our mission to only providing items that incorporate the flora and fauna of Virginia or are specific to the park or local culture adds to the difficulty we have in finding merchandise and vendors.  However, each year we have found several new vendors as well as numerous new products that we can bring to our visitors.  In June 2011 we will be celebrating our 75th anniversary, and at the show we found several unique items that will be our collector pieces for the anniversary.  

Working with the staff at M&M and IGES is always a pleasure and we appreciate all you and your staff have done to help us in finding product and making the most of our visit to the show.  We look forward to many more years of working with IGES and attending your shows."

                                                                                         --Ann Henderson, Buyer, Virginia State Parks, Richmond, VA