Phyllis Rein from FSNYE: business is built on relationships

Phyllis Rein, the President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Footwear Show New York Expo (FSNYE), describes the event as “a woman-owned business-to-business trade show organisation” focused on connecting footwear and handbag brands with retailers and buyers during FFANY Market Weeks in New York City. Today, FSNYE is a leading platform for discovery, partnerships and business opportunities.

Her journey into the sector began in luxury retail, where she worked as Sales Manager at CIGNAL, a fashion boutique in Great Neck, New York. Rein recalls that her interest in buying led to an opportunity at Bloomingdale’s Fur Vault, where she gained experience “from the buying perspective” and deepened her understanding of merchandising, product selection and consumer preferences.

She later moved into luxury sales and industry networking. During her time at the Fur Vault, Rein said she was selected to serve on a merchandising council. This experience helped her build relationships with fashion leaders, ultimately leading to an introduction to Dick Jacobson, the founding President and CEO of the Fashion Footwear Association of New York.

Rein joined FFANY in 1989 as an Account Executive, beginning what became a 30-year career with the organisation. She says that the role allowed her to combine “fashion with business development, relationship building and industry leadership” before she was promoted to First Vice President and then Executive Vice President.

While at FFANY, Rein produced the trade events, managed relationships with exhibitors and negotiated key contracts. She had the privilege of supporting FFANY Shoes on Sale from its inception in 1994, when it began as a shoe sale in a tent in Central Park, a philanthropic initiative that has raised more than 50 million US dollars for breast cancer research and education. These responsibilities, she says, helped her develop “enduring relationships across the footwear community”.

When FFANY changed its business model in 2019 and stopped producing its hotel-based fairs, Rein founded FSNYE to carry on that trade tradition. Drawing on “more than three decades of industry experience”, she says the show was created to preserve an accessible, efficient and relationship-driven marketplace for the footwear community in New York.

Reflecting on the latest edition, Rein said that the June 2026 FSNYE, held from the 2^nd to the 4^th of June during FFANY Market Week, was “highly successful” and showed the “continued strength and resilience of the footwear industry”. The event brought together around 100 brands, including both established names and emerging companies.

The show presented footwear and handbag collections to buyers from across the United States and selected international markets. Rein emphasises the quality of the business conducted at the event. She highlights that exhibitors reported “strong buyer engagement, productive meetings and meaningful order-writing activity”.

Buyers, in turn, valued the ability to review collections in what Rein calls a “focused and intimate showroom environment”. According to the CEO of FSNYE, the setting allowed them to move efficiently through the market while comparing a broad range of products in a relatively compact format.

A recurring positive point of feedback was the value of FSNYE’s boutique-style presentation at the Park Lane New York Hotel. The “hotel-suite setting”, Rein explains, creates a more personalised business experience, giving buyers direct access to executives, designers and sales representatives.

Overall, Rein describes the atmosphere as “energetic, optimistic and highly productive”. In her view, the response from both exhibitors and buyers confirmed FSNYE’s role as a marketplace where brands can grow, retailers can find new opportunities and valuable relationships can be forged, all of which continue to drive the sector.

From the collections and conversations with buyers, Rein says one message was clear: “fashion remains important, but retailers are increasingly looking for “the right balance of style, comfort, versatility and value”.

Comfort-driven footwear remained a major priority across categories. She notes that consumers are seeking styles that can be worn for “work, travel and everyday activities”, creating demand for cushioned constructions, lightweight materials, flexible soles and all-day wearability.

At the same time, buyers responded to designs that felt current without losing commercial relevance. Rein points to “modern interpretations of classic silhouettes”, elevated casual styles and refined sport-inspired footwear as areas that attracted significant attention.

Sustainability also continued to influence buyer decisions, albeit not in isolation. According to Rein, retailers are increasingly viewing “responsible materials, thoughtful manufacturing practices and transparent sourcing” as part of a wider brand value proposition.

Pricing remained a practical consideration. Rein says that buyers took “a thoughtful approach”, looking for products that delivered value and matched changing consumer spending habits. The brands that combined design, comfort, quality and a clear point of difference saw the strongest momentum.

When asked about the format of FSNYE, she said that although the trade show landscape has changed considerably over the past decade, one principle has remained constant: “business is built on relationships”. For her, the show’s value lies in creating space for conversations, personal connections and face-to-face collaboration.

The hotel-suite model is central to this. Rein argues that it offers “a level of accessibility and efficiency” that is more difficult to achieve in larger convention-centre settings, where buyers and exhibitors may have less focused time together.

For buyers, the format allows them to review collections in a more concentrated environment. For exhibitors, instead, the CEO says it creates an opportunity to present brand stories, receive direct feedback and connect with “qualified retail partners”.

She also highlights the sense of community built around FSNYE. As the event is “intentionally curated and relationship-driven”, attendees can network, exchange ideas and keep up to date with the changing needs of the market.

In an increasingly digital business environment, Rein still believes that physical meetings are essential. Buyers, she says, want to “experience products firsthand”, understand the vision behind a collection and speak directly with the people behind the brands.

Looking ahead, Rein says that the FSNYE is building on the momentum of the previous edition and is set to return from the 1^st to the 3^rd of December 2026, at the Park Lane New York Hotel during FFANY Market Week. The event will maintain its core business-focused format.

The next edition is expected to bring together returning exhibitors and new brands. Rein anticipates “a strong mix” of companies, which will give buyers a broader selection of footwear and handbag collections for the upcoming selling seasons.

In response to shifting consumer preferences, Rein expects exhibitors to present “innovative product introductions, fresh design concepts and emerging trends” across multiple categories. Product discovery will remain a central part of the market’s function.

A key priority will be to enhance the attendee experience without changing the intimate format that exhibitors and buyers value. She says that the FSNYE remains committed to listening closely to feedback and identifying ways to improve “networking, accessibility and the overall efficiency of the marketplace”.

The December edition will also serve as a forum for strategic planning and business development. As brands introduce new collections and retailers prepare for future seasons, Rein views FSNYE as “an ideal setting” for commercial conversations and collaboration.

Above all, the CEO of the event says that attendees can expect the same “personalised service, high-quality business opportunities and collaborative atmosphere” that have shaped FSNYE since its inception.