*Breakdown is at 4:00 pm, Monday, August 17, 2026
Exhibitor Responsibilities:
Exhibitor is responsible for timely return of market contracts, all appropriate fees including payment of any past indebtedness. All fees must accompany contract or it will be returned. Signature on contract signifies understanding and agreement with The Atlanta Shoe Market (TASM) contract terms. Failure to comply with provisions as set forth will subject exhibitor to penalties, expulsion, suspension and /or denial of the privilege to be an exhibitor. This or any other disciplinary action will be at the discretion of the Directors of SEST. Please note that there will be no refunds after May 31, 2026. No exceptions.
Liability:
Each exhibitor agrees to hold harmless SEST/Cobb Convention Center/Renaissance Waverly Hotel from any and all liability that might ensure from any cause whatsoever, including accidents or injuries to exhibitors, their agents or employees. Exhibitors assume all responsibility for accident, injury or property damage to any person viewing his/her exhibit where such accident, injury or property damage is caused by negligence of EXHIBITOR, his/her agent or employee.
Destruction of Property:
In the event that, because of war, fire, government regulation, public catastrophe, act of God, pandemic or the public enemy or any other cause beyond the control of the association, the market or any part thereof is prevented from being held, is cancelled by the Association, in its sole discretion shall determine and refund to the Exhibitor the proportionate share of the balance of aggregate exhibit fees received which remains after deducting expenses incurred by SEST and reasonable compensation to the Association, but in no case shall the amount of refund to the Exhibitor exceed the amount of the exhibit paid.
Insurance:
Exhibitor shall maintain such insurance as will fully protect Show management and the Cobb Convention Center/Renaissance Waverly Hotel from any and all claims of any nature, including claims under Workman’s Compensation Act, and claims for property damage and personal injury including death which may arise from the operations of exhibit in connection with his/her rental.
Booth Assignments:
Assignments of space will be made according to CATEGORY and by (POINTS) seniority of membership until the registration deadline of APRIL 17, 2026. The SEST Rooming Committee has the right to pre room ten (10) booths or more. Contracts received after the deadline date will then have space assigned on a first-come, first-served basis. The Rooming Committee has the right to limit the amount of booths allocated to each exhibitor.
Booth Assignment Regulation Effective September 2025:
To ensure fair booth assignments, any member utilizing their points to secure a booth placement must carry all brands that are leveraging these points. This means that the primary member who is using their points for the booth space must be a current representative of all brands being placed adjacent to them. Only brands that the member represents can be included under their booth assignment. Failure to comply with this requirement will result in the loss of points for future shows.
Cancellation:
IN THE EVENT OF CANCELLATION, VERBAL NOTICE MUST BE RECEIVED IN THE ASSOCIATION OFFICE FOLLOWED BY WRITTEN CONFIRMATION OF THE SAME. THERE WILL BE ABSOLUTELY NO REFUNDS AFTER MAY 31, 2026.
Cancellation policy: There are no refunds or credits for the August 15-17, 2026 Atlanta Shoe Market after May 31, 2026. The annual dues, market fees and credit card surcharges cannot be transferred nor refunded.
Rules & Regulations:
The following rules & regulations shall be observed by all Exhibitors at all times:
• Buttonholing of customers is prohibited.
• Cash & Carry is prohibited.
• If a salesperson comes in from any territory to work, even one customer, in your exhibit area, they must pay a) Market fee b) SEST dues. That member is responsible for any unregistered sales reps in said space. Should we find someone who has not registered, the member who applied for the exhibit space must appear at the next scheduled SEST Board Meeting and be subject to a fine up to $1,000 or any part thereof and loss of all points or a part thereof. This does not apply to company executives. Additionally the member applying for exhibit space must be present at the show during all published hours or the individual will be fined $1,000 and loss of points for the next show. The individual member, whose points are used when applying for exhibit space, is the person that owns that space for that particular show. If the member joins another company, the booth space stays with the member, not with the previous company, unless that member releases the said space back to The Atlanta Shoe Market.
• Directors of SEST reserve the right at all times to clear the Market of persons acting in an objectionable manner.
• No exhibitor is allowed to assign, sublet or apportion the whole or any part of space allotted him/her nor exhibits therein any other goods than those manufactured and sold in the regular course of business by the exhibitor unless permission is granted in writing by the Rooming Committee.
• A Standard Booth must be confined to a maximum height of 8′ and all display fixtures over 4′ in height and placed within 10 lineal feet of any adjoining exhibits, must be confined to that area of the exhibitor’s space which is within 5′ of the back line to avoid blocking the sightline from the adjoining booth. The Fashion Collection booths are 8′ back and 5′ on the sides.
• The Rooming Committee has the right to assign booth locations. In addition, the Rooming Committee has the right to pre room ten (10) booths or more.
• Noise level from any demonstration or sound system is to be kept to a minimum. SEST reserves the right to determine at which point sound constitutes interference with others and must be discontinued.
• Cobb Convention Center has been appointed the Official Electrical Contractor. Electrical service forms will be included in the Exhibitor’s Service Kits that will be e-mailed to participating exhibitors. All exhibitors are responsible for their own lighting.
Booth / Room Assignments
- Assignment of Space: Booth assignments will be determined based on category and membership seniority (points) until the registration deadline of APRIL 17, 2026.
- Eligibility: To secure a booth under your name, you must be a full-time W-2 employee or full-time 1099 independent contractor of the company you are registering with. Southeastern Shoe Travelers, Inc. (SEST) reserves the right to request employment verification, including a W-2 or 1099 form, from the registered company. For purposes of booth eligibility, a full-time individual is defined as someone who works for the company a minimum of 32 hours per week on an ongoing basis. Eligibility for company-provided health insurance or retirement benefits may apply to W-2 employees but is not required for 1099 independent contractors. Nothing herein shall be deemed to eliminate or diminish the rights of a self-employed individual from using his/her own points on behalf of only himself/herself. In the event of a dispute, SEST may request a written statement from the company’s CEO or CFO, under penalty of perjury, confirming the individual’s full-time working relationship with the company. If a company is found to have violated these rules by submitting false or misleading documentation, it will be banned from participating in three shows. The company can apply for reinstatement after the second show.
- Membership Requirements: Members must have an assigned territory and actively travel with their company to be eligible to purchase a booth under their name. Consultants are not considered full-time employees and are not eligible to obtain a booth. Members using their points to secure booth space must be in attendance from 9:00 AM opening day to 4:00 PM closing day.
- Point Repurchase Policy: Effective October 1, 2025, SEST will no longer allow former members to repurchase points from the association.
- Rooming Committee Authority: The SEST Rooming Committee reserves the right to pre-assign ten (10) or more booths at their discretion.
Late Registrations:
Contracts received after the registration deadline will be assigned space on a first-come, first- served basis.
Cancellation Policy:
- Cancellation Notice: If you need to cancel, you must provide verbal notice to the association office, followed by a written confirmation.
- No Refunds After May 31, 2026 : There will be absolutely no refunds or credits for the August 15-17, 2026, Atlanta Shoe Market after May 31, 2026.
- Non-Refundable Fees: Annual dues, market fees, and credit card surcharges cannot be transferred or refunded under any circumstances.
Show Hours:
Exhibitor Move in: Set up day is Friday, August 14, 2026 from 8:00 am – 6:00 pm
Saturday, August 15, 2026 – 9:00 am – 6:00 pm – Doors will open at 8 am for appointments only
Sunday, August 16, 2026 – 9:00 am –6:00 pm – Doors will open at 8 am for appointments only
Monday, August 17, 2026 – 9:00 am – 4:00 pm – Doors will open at 8 am for appointments only
Move out: 4:00 pm, August 18, 2026
All areas must be vacated with Exhibitor’s material packed, labeled, sealed, and arrangements made with Exhibitor’s truckman for pick-up no later than 12 midnight Monday, August 17, 2026 at which time said room must be physically vacated.
Indemnification:
The Exhibitor will indemnify, defend (with legal counsel satisfactory to Show Management), and hold harmless SEST, its sponsors, the Facilities and their respective owners, directors, officers, employees, members, agents and representatives, against all claims, actions, demands or liability of whatsoever kind and nature, including but not limited to judgments, interest, reasonable attorneys’ fees, expert witness fees, and all other costs and charges related to or arising out of the Exhibitor’s non-compliance with or breach of the Contract, the Rules and Regulations or the terms and conditions set forth in the Exhibitor Service Manual, claims of property or personal injury caused by or attributed in part or in whole to any action or failure to act whether by negligence or otherwise, on the part of the exhibitor or any of its officers, employees, agents, or representatives, excluding liability caused by the sole negligence or willful misconduct of SEST, its sponsors and their respective owners, directors, officers, employees, representatives and agents. The Exhibitor agrees to pay any collection costs, including but not limited to court costs, collection fees, and reasonable attorney’s fees incurred by SEST in enforcing the Contract or the Rules & Regulations.
Early Checkout / Breakdown Policy:
Official tear down will begin at 4:00 PM on Monday, August 17, 2026.
Any exhibitor who checks out of their booth space or meeting room prior to the official posted closing time, without prior written approval from the Ethics Chairman, will be subject to the following penalties:
Penalties:
1. Fine: A $500.00 fine, which must be paid in full before the member is eligible to register
for the next Market.
2. Loss of Member Points: The member who secured the space will not be permitted to
use their member points for booth or meeting room placement at the next Market.
Breakdown Procedure
The following requirements must be strictly observed until the official closing time:
1. A full set of samples must remain displayed in each 10×10 booth or meeting room.
2. A knowledgeable sales representative must remain present in the space.
3. The space must remain fully intact, operational, shoppable, and accessible.
4. Sample cases, luggage, packing materials, or visible breakdown activity are strictly
prohibited prior to the official close of the show
All early checkout requests must receive prior written approval from the Ethics Chairman.