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September 2024 by Cally Frazier
Highland Craft Gallery is an absolute treasure of a shop. There is a diverse selection of crafts from local artists and Kathie was wonderful at providing their stories and processes for creating. As a long-standing member of the Arts and Crafts Community, she is passionate about the integrity of the goods being presented as local on the loop and provided a wealth of knowledge and guidance. This intensity is essential to the preservation of these art forms with a dwindling number of practitioners. We look forward to stopping in again on our next Gatlinburg adventure!
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August 2024 by Philip Roederer
You need to be friendly, smile and have a positive personality to be a sales person that works directly with the public.
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July 2024 by ANNETTE Z
After spending the bulk of our day in downtown Gatlinburg, HighLand Craft Gallery was a joy to find. Kathie is a treasure and is super knowledgeable about every artist featured in the shop. She is proud and protective of the Great Smoky Arts and Crafts Community and in turn, helps prevent tourists from being duped by mass produced products. She provided artist information for each item I purchased. I only wish I had stopped by earlier in the day! If I'm every in the area again, I will make a point to stop by.
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July 2024 by Anne
One of my favorite shops on the craft loop. Such a variety of artisans with so many beautiful works of art. Truly something for everyone! The owner was very kind and knowledgeable.
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June 2024 by Joaquim Remelgado
I’ve never met a more rude shop owner. She actually told my friends that local artisans were retiring because they didn’t want to deal with “people like you.” My friends are some of the kindest people I know and did nothing to deserve such a remark. The other shop owners are much nicer. I highly recommend visiting them and skipping over this business.
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May 2024 by A R
Agree with others. Rude shopkeeper. Quite shocking since very few people were out shopping and we were buying. Sad for artisans trying to sell their merchandise.
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May 2024 by David Gregory
The artist we talked to was extremely rude. Very proud of herself and not in a good way. Talked down to us the whole time we were in her shop. We couldn't get out of there fast enough. I would not purchase from her if she were the only artesian in Gatlinburg.
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March 2024 by Quinn Krantz
I had a delightful time in this shop. Not only was the woman at the shop incredibly informative and helpful, she knew when to give you a little space to make your purchasing decisions. I had a wonderful time hearing about her own experiences as an artist, her collaboration with other artists featured in the shop, and the history behind many of the pieces there. Additionally, I was there at a time when many other people were browsing, and I had a lovely time connecting with them over the pieces we had each selected to buy. If you are looking for somewhere to sneak in and browse in silence, this is not the place for you. If you’re looking for beautiful crafts sold by a spunky lady, you’ll feel right at home here.
P.S. To those saying it is rude to mention how other “artists” are conducting business - I had the pleasure of shopping at the original location of this gallery 7 years ago. I struggled to find some of my favorite craftspeople this year (many who are featured here), as I did not know many shops had to move/combine in response to changes in the local real estate/leasing market. I actually appreciated her forthcomingness about these issues affecting her community, as it provided some clarity on the changes I had noticed in Gatlinburg since my last visit. I felt she was trying to look out for me as a consumer by letting me know there could be some less than honest business owners in the area, as well as sharing her pride in being a part of a talented and well-vetted group of local artists.
I cannot speak to the experiences others had in this shop as I was not there, but I do believe some may have mistaken dry humor for an “attitude” problem.
Thanks for having us! Whenever I am in Gatlinburg, I will be stopping here!
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March 2024 by Evan Steinberg-Whitt
The shop has a ton of products that are very reasonably priced! My husband and I had a wonderful experience. The owner is very passionate about the area and the artists who supply the store. She has very strong connections to the Gatlinburg area! She reminded us to only at the stores with the yellow flag or Great Smokey Art & Craft Community plaque!
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December 2023 by Karen Mac
Save yourself from the rudeness that will be experienced if you open the door to this shop….
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December 2023 by Samuel Harrison
Worst day of my life coming here, you’re better off eating a McNugget off of a gas station floor
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November 2023 by Lynette Peete
The owner was extremely rude to me and to my friend. I have never left a store quicker. If you allow your art to be displayed there, she is running off potential customers. I would never recommend this store.
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November 2023 by F S
Shop owner is very rude. Seems to be a trend by the comments. If you're 65+ and white, she might like you. If not, you're out of luck. Rude to kids, rude to young folks, rude to everyone. Heard her mutter under her breath about people in the store not listening to her history lesson. Which, how did I hear her be so rude if I wasn't listening? Also complained about other shop owners in the artist community selling stuff from China. I appreciated the craftsmanship of the artisans in her shop, but if I was them, I would not want to be associated with her.
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October 2023 by Franc Sim
Shop owner is very rude. Seems to be a trend by the comments. If you're 65+ and white, she might like you. If not, you're out of luck. Rude to kids, rude to young folks, rude to everyone. Heard her mutter under her breath about people in the store not listening to her history lesson. Which, how did I hear her be so rude if I wasn't listening? Also complained about other shop owners in the artist community selling stuff from China. I appreciated the craftsmanship of the artisans in her shop, but if I was them, I would not want to be associated with her.
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August 2023 by Kelley R
I have honestly never left a bad review for any business in my life, because as a small business owner myself I know how damaging they can be and everyone has an off day. However, I have to wholeheartedly agree with all of the other reviewers that this store owner is extraordinarily rude. I was there just a few hours ago, and at first I was having a very pleasant conversation with her about being from PA (she said she is originally from there as well) when another elderly customer with a walker asked where the restroom was. The owner began to direct her to the public restrooms, which I learned on my way into the shopping village had been flooded and muddy from the severe storm that came through last night, to the point that someone had actually slipped and fell. We were told the pet store in the complex was graciously allowing people to use their restroom (all something this store owner obviously wasn’t aware of, as she was directing her to the flooded restrooms). I politely began to interject this very crucial information to save the poor woman a longer walk and possible slip when the owner angrily turned around right in my face and barked, “EXCUSE ME!” and glared at me in an alarming way. It was like a Jekyll and Hyde situation, and I was genuinely shocked that anyone would speak to another human that way let alone a store owner speaking to a customer, especially one she very easily could have made a sale to (and was trying to do just that a minute ago). My husband was on his way into the store and witnessed this interaction, and he was also stunned. We both immediately turned and left the store. We come here at least once a year, and I have never had an experience like this. I will definitely never step foot inside this shop again. Clearly she doesn’t appreciate her potential patrons, and in this economy it’s certainly not the time to be having those types of interactions with the people who make or break your business. Buyer beware!
