It was announced recently that ENK International's Sole Commerce  will now be overseen and managed by the team responsible for The Collections at WSA. Sole Commerce, the footwear component of Coterie, will be enhanced by the addition of this new team beginning with this upcoming show, to be held in New York City, Sept. 16-18.  Leveraging the strength of The Collections at  WSA, the footwear Industry will experience a much-needed solution for both retailers and exhibitors nationwide and internationally.  ENK International, LLC acquired WSA in December, 2007.

The Las Vegas-based The Collections at WSA, which houses high-end footwear, handbags and accessories as an extension of The WSA Show, has quickly evolved into one of the industry's premier marketplaces.  Sole Commerce has long maintained a solid reputation for exhibiting upscale footwear and handbags since its inception seven years ago.  Sole Commerce runs concurrently with Coterie, ENK's premier women's ready-to-wear exhibition, and takes place bi-annually in New York City in February and September.

Leslie Gallin, director of The Collections at WSA, has been appointed director of Sole Commerce, and will oversee the show.  Our entire industry truly benefits from us coming together, said Gallin. Exhibitors can now showcase in both New York and Las Vegas, and will have a one-of-a-kind forum that captures a truly worldwide audience of retailers.

We are proud to bring the high-end footwear expertise of The Collections at WSA team to Sole Commerce, says Elyse Kroll, founder and chairman of ENK International. Their wealth of industry knowledge and resources brings a great deal to the table, and this synergy makes sense for the footwear industry now and for the future.  This new alliance will allow us the opportunity to offer our customers, retail and wholesale alike, the most comprehensive platforms to grow their business, Kroll continues.

Sole Commerce is scheduled for September 16-18, 2008 at the Jacob Javits Center in New York City.  The Collections at WSA will continue its successful reign biannually in Las Vegas, and will begin its next marketplace from February 12 14, 2009 at the Venetian Hotel suites. For more information on The Collections at WSA, visit www.collectionsatwsa.com and for more information on Sole Commerce and Coterie, visit www.enkshows.com.