National Training Conference
Spring 2023
March 6th - 8th • Knoxville, TN
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Every conference is unique because of the people who attend. We recognize the value of different viewpoints so come prepared to share your challenges as well as your successes. While no thrift store is exactly the same, we do believe that certain strategies can be deployed to encourage success. No matter the size of your thrift operation, we are certain that this conference can benefit you.
Expect to hear about, and then see, the interconnected elements within a thrift operation – such as receiving donations, sorting & pricing individual items to retail sales. Directors, managers and other leaders will walk away with practical steps to implement at existing thrift operations to grow your social enterprise.
Each day of the conference is filled with opportunities to learn new practices, see processes in action, and connect with others in the industry.
We will host a reception with heavy hors d’oeuvres inside our venue – Bridgewater Place.
We will host a reception with heavy hors d’oeuvres inside our venue – Bridgewater Place.
Snacks will be available throughout the day. Lunch is provided.
Interaction Session to Answer Any Thrift-Related Questions
Snacks will be available throughout the day. Lunch is provided.
Two store tours will be available starting at 8:30am, one featuring a small format store and the other featuring a large format store.
Small Format Store Tour – 7101 Kingston Pike Knoxville, TN 37919
Large Format Store Tour – 10612 Kingston Pike Knoxville, TN 37922
Following the store tours, sessions to help with software setup and to discuss best practices for PickUpMyDonation and ThriftTrac are available starting at 10:30am.
User Groups Location – 9329 Kingston Pike Knoxville, TN 37922
We are pleased to offer a hotel block at a great rate for the SMCo Thrift National Training Conference. Within a 5 minute drive from our venue, Drury Inn offers wonderful amenities, comfortable stays, and a convenient location. Your stay even includes a complimentary hot breakfast and complimentary drinks and snacks every evening.
In order to take advantage of this event rate, please use the group number 10044281 when you book online at druryhotels.com or via phone at 1-800-325-0720.
If you would prefer to stay at a different site, many other hotels are in the area of this year’s venue – Bridgewater Place – 205 Bridgewater Rd. Knoxville, TN 37923.
There are many wonderful restaurants near the venue so make plans to enjoy your own “taste of Knoxville” during your visit. Check out Visit Knoxville for recommendations or ask a SMCo Thrift team member while you are at the conference. The reception on the first day is a great time to meet other attendees and make dinner plans for the rest of the week!
Planning to stay an extra day? There are plenty of sights to see and activities to do. Gatlinburg and the Smoky Mountains are only a short drive from Knoxville, TN. Regardless of the activities you decide to do, we are sure that you will enjoy your time here in East Tennessee.
The goal of this conference is to help equip our attendees with the tools they need to succeed. Without the tools and services of many of our vendors, our lives would be much more difficult. Be sure to check out our Vendor page to register and learn more about the benefits of partnering with SMCo Thrift.