Hot List: March 2007
For the Kids
The AOA has launched the Keeping Injuries Down in Sports (K.I.D.S.) State Association Grant program, sponsored by Liberty Sport. The grants provide funding assistance for projects that support public education and awareness of the prevention of sports-related eye injuries through the use of appropriate personal protective eyewear. A total of $100,000 is available for the state association grants. Each grant is worth up to a
maximum of $10,000. Individuals may apply through their state
association. Grant applications must be postmarked by April 16.
The official application form and instructions are available at www.aoa.org/kids-grant.xml.
Word of the Month
Transumers: Consumers driven by experiences instead of possessions. According to Springwise, an entrepreneurial ideas website, www.springwise.com, the term was coined by global design and business consultancy Fitch to apply to the fast-moving attention spans of today�s consumers. These shoppers want to be entertained, now.
Team Pride
SCORE, the small business counseling organization, recommends the
following steps to help employees take pride in their work:
Hire the best, provide training and growth opportunities, and recognize good performance.
Have a meaningful, concise, and realistic job description for each employee. Make sure you review it with the employee and that it is understood.
Be sure employees know what is expected of them. Establish high standards of performance ethics.
Offer specialized training or skills enhancement to your current employees. Promoting from within motivates your greatest assets�your current workforce.
Create a new employee referral bonus program. Describe your needs in title and duties and offer a reward for your �most wanted.�
WiseWords
�Give the public everything you can give them, keep the place as clean as you can keep it, keep it friendly.� Walt Disney
Vision Expo Set
Vision Expo East is set to hit the Big Apple March 22 to 25. Held at the Jacob Javits center, the event will keep optical professionals busy with a variety of education programs.
The new framebuyer certification program includes programs such as editor-in-chief Stephanie De Long�s panel: Low Cost, High Impact Merchandising on March 24, 9:45 to 11:45 a.m. Another program course, The Fashion Panel: Where Fashion Meets Vision, runs March 23, 8 to 10 a.m.
As part of the Business Institute program, senior editor Karlen Mclean will moderate the panel: Maximizing Your Dispensary�s Potential March 25, 2007 from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m.
Essilor of America is hosting the Boot Camp 1 and Top Gun seminars, and holding Correcting High Order Aberrations Through Progressives. Varilux will also host a power lunch on March 23, with Dr. Marguerite McDonald.
Santinelli is offering EZ Rimless Assembly Workshops at booth LP3222. The sessions instruct attendees on rimless techniques. E-mail rimless@santinelli.com.
Transitions Optical is sponsoring Photochromics: A History of the Technology and the Market featuring Mike DiSanto, March 24 at 9:45 a.m.
At Press time: Show Events
Following is a sample of the show events.
Visitors to AIT Industries (booth 2500) can take a shot to win �pop a shot� raffle prizes.
Visit Carl Zeiss Vision (booth LP2520) to discover Compact Ultra progressive lens from SOLA and enter a drawing for a iPod Nano.
Visit ClearVision (booths 2352 and 2452) for free brand-name frame products or gifts with purchase. Call 800-645-3733 for appointments.
Daily drawings for copies of the movie �My Big Fat Greek Wedding� and 42" plasma TV at booth LP2816 for �My Big Fat Greek HOYA Getaway.� Grand prize drawing is a nine-day trip for two to Greece.
Purchase 25+ pairs of finished polarized plano lenses from KBco The Polarized Lens Company (booth 2480) and get a Color Matters Swatch book.
Thalia stops at Kenmark booth 3732 from 1 to 3 p.m. on March 23 to show her frames and sign autographs.
Make an appointment to view L�Amy Group�s new Columbia sun and ophthalmic collections and receive a free Columbia T-shirt.
At the Marchon booth, Nike will raffle off four sets of tickets to Mets and Yankees Major League Baseball season opening games.
Nanofilm launches Clarity Defog. Visit booth 2048 for a demo/sample.
Participate in a software tour of OPTIFACTS O2 to enter a daily drawing for a $100 gift card.
Optima (booth LP3206) will give away 100 pairs of Resolution Response PAL featuring Vue Point technology daily.
S�filo�s Spring/Summer designer fashion shows will run daily: 11 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 2:30 p.m., and 4 p.m. at booth 3332.
Shamir (booth LP2800) is launching an initiative on second-pair sales, promoting Shamir Office and Shamir Attitude. Stop by for information.
Visit the Smooth Jazz Caf�, booth 3360, for info on Signet Armorlite�s new KODAK Unique Progressive. Ask about a free jazz CD and the PracticePlus Sweepstakes II.
Visit Tura booth 2332 for gifts with purchases and a raffle opportunity for a grand prize.
Bring the completed Vision-Ease Lens mailer to the Vision-Ease Lens booth. Prizes include a digital camera.
Younger Optics booth 2813 will celebrate the launch of DriveWear in IMAGE progressive and present visitors with free DriveWear gifts.
Bright Idea
Having trouble keeping track of all of your planning details? Let the Vision Expo website do the work. Visit www.visionexpoeast.com to register for the show. Then, set up your game plan with the assistance of My Vision Expo, the personal assistant that mines through the International Vision Expo East 2007 community for what matches your objectives. And, it's free!
Essilor Leadership Shifts
Essilor of America, Inc. (EOA) announced that John Carrier, president of Essilor Laboratories of America, Inc. (ELOA), has been appointed the new president of EOA, effective immediately. John will replace current EOA president, Laurent Vacherot, who will become Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of Essilor International, S.A., by the middle of this year. Laurent will replace Fabienne Lecorvaisier, who is interim CFO of Essilor International, S.A.
Said Hubert Sagni�res, chief executive officer of Essilor North America: �We are very fortunate to have John in this role given his background and long history with Essilor.�
Carrier joined EOA over 17 years ago and has continued to assume roles of greater responsibility, including vice president of marketing for EOA and, most recently, president of ELOA.
Test Your Mettle!
Whether you�re new to your profession or have been in practice for 20 years, remembering everything you�ve learned is one tough assignment. To help you clear any cobwebs, Test Your Mettle will feature one question each month for ODs from a previous Varilux Optometry Super Bowl and one for opticians from a National Federation of Opticianry Schools College Bowl.
OPTOMETRY
Q. What type of refractive error is found in almost 80 percent of patients with ROP (Retinopathy of Prematurity)?
OPTICIANRY
Q. In what direction is an object displaced when viewed through a prism?
For the answers, go to FYI on page 164.
Transitions Academy: Enlightened Leadership
The 11th annual Transitions Academy drew more than 1,000 optical industry professionals to Disney�s Yacht & Beach Club Resort in Orlando, Fla., Jan. 25 through 27.
The theme of the meeting, �Enlightened Leadership,� was borne out in sessions on strengths-based customer engagement, accelerating growth, and business finance and strategy. Attendees also learned about Transitions� latest programs and tools.
Award-winning keynote speaker Willie Jolley, a best-selling author, speaker, singer, and radio host detailed �Five Steps to Create Five Star Success.� In addition, the Drum Caf� engaged attendees in �moving to the same beat.�
Transitions Lab of the Year winners were Rigor Laboratorio Otico, Brazil; Berdico Mexico, Latin America; Riverside Opticalab, Canada; and Toledo Optical, U.S. Toledo was the first lab to win the award twice. The Lab of Year has been awarded annually since 1991 and is presented to a Transitions Optical STAR Lab that has made significant commitment to growing business with Transitions in the last year.
1. Lab of the year winner Toledo Optical U.S. accepted the award for the second time; 2. Dave Cole and Jose Alves with funny ladies Iris and Retina open up the event with a skit; 3. Transitions executives bask in the glow from the show (l to r): Brett Craig, Jose Alves, Vanessa Johns, and Dave Cole; 4. Acrobats balance each other at the party held at the event; 5. Closing speaker Willie Jolley wraps things up at the academy with some inspirational advice; 6. Guests at the Academy went back to school with a series of educational seminars
Star Gazers
1. Mary J. Blige belted out a tune wearing style 14264 PU, also known as the Status Shades, by Christian Roth for Charmant during her performance at the Billboard Music Awards show.
2. It may be strange to be known by a laugh, but when most people think of Fran Drescher, they think of her distinctive cackle. Since her Nanny days have ended, Drescher keeps busy with various TV and film parts. She recently stepped out wearing Ted Baker style B410-Sonny from Tura.
3. Jeremy Piven has been acting since the �80s, but it�s been his role as Ari Gold on the mega hit �Entourage� that has been his biggest breakthrough. Piven sports John Varvatos style V706SG from Base Curve.
4. William Petersen, who plays Gil Grissom on the hit show �CSI,� wore Rembrand style Vincent from REM Eyewear during the fall season of the series.
5. At 29 years old, Adrien Brody replaced Richard Dreyfuss as the youngest actor ever to win the Best Actor Academy Award for his role in �The Pianist.� Brody wears Persol style 649 from Luxottica.
6. Jessica Alba made her feature film debut by chance. She was only scheduled for a small part when one of the key stars suddenly dropped out. Today, Alba has so many offers for films that she has to turn many of them down. This hot young starlet wears Michael Kors style MKS526 from Marchon.
7. Krista Allen, Bridget on the ABC series �What About Brian?� accessorized with a pair of Marc Jacobs style 043S sunglasses from S�filo Group on a recent episode of the show.
8. A new baby in tow hasn�t kept Gwen Stefani from working�she�s already gearing up for her next tour. For her latest release, she rocked Cazal style 905 for Eastern States Eyewear.
Kids Win in Congress
Adream team of optical organizations held a joint congressional briefing and press conference on Capitol Hill to raise awareness for H.R. 507, the �Vision Care for Kids Act of 2007.�
With more than 60 participants, the briefing and press conference educated attendees about the need to improve vision care for children and encouraged their support for the bill.
Speakers at the briefing included pediatric ophthalmologist Jean Ramsey, MD, and pediatric optometrist Andrea Thau, OD. With strong visuals and statistics, the doctors addressed the need for the legislation and shared real-life examples of children who could have benefited from preventive vision care.
�I regularly see children whose sight could have been saved with early detection, good follow-up, and treatment,� noted Ramsey.
As a united front, the bill�s sponsors expressed their dedication to advance the �Vision Care for Kids Act of 2007,� at the press conference, citing the need to provide proper follow-up treatment to a population greatly in need of vision care.
�There is no question that too many of America�s children are going without much-needed vision care,� stated Rep. Gene Green (D-TX), one of the bill�s sponsors. �This legislation represents a big step for advocates within the vision community, as well as vision care advocates within Congress.�
With bipartisan support in the House of Representatives, the �Vision Care for Kids Act of 2007� was introduced in January to treat vision problems in children, as well as to educate Americans about healthy vision. Bill sponsors include U.S. Reps. Green, Eliot Engel (D-NY), Vito Fossella (R-NY), Bill Pascrell (D-NJ), Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), and John Sullivan (R-OK).
Top: Rep. Eliot Engel; Andrea Thau, OD; Rep. Bill Pascrell; Jean Ramsey, MD; Rep. Gene Green; and Rep. John Sullivan discuss legislation. Above: Representatives from the VCA, American Academy of Ophthalmology, the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus, the American Optometric Association, and Prevent Blindness America pooled ideas and resources to support the new legislation
On The Town
Adding to the glam quotient of the Sundance Film Festival, Ray-Ban presented the 2007 Ray-Ban Visionary Award to actor Aaron Eckhart in association with The Creative Coalition in Park City, Utah. Actor Josh Hartnett presented the award and the event concluded with an All-American Rejects concert.
AIT Industries recently held its annual sales conference at the Pheasant Run Resort in St. Charles, Ill. This year�s conference theme, The Keys to Our Success, �was chosen to bring together the entire organization,� says Matt Vulich, vice president of marketing.
Briot USA held its 2007 national sales meeting on Coronado Island, Calif. Briot�s external staff along with several internal staff members were in attendance. An awards dinner recognized top employees and southeastern sales manager Carl Gorham received the top sales award.
More than 225 ECPs were awarded trips for two to Las Vegas in Essilor�s Imagine Italy promotion, which recognized ECPs based on their success with Crizal and Varilux lenses. Winners received an all-inclusive two-night stay at Caesar�s Palace and a �Rat Pack� themed party.
Corning Incorporated has named Bill Heffner, owner of FEA Industries in Morton, Pa., the first winner in its SunSensors�SA Lab Partner contest. The award celebrates Signet Armorlite�s lab partners� strong support of the SunSensors brand since inception in 1999.
1. The All-American Rejects rock at Ray-Ban�s Visionary Awards party in Park City, Utah. 2. Luxottica�s Vittorio Verdun and Pierre Fay with Visionary Award winner Aaron Eckhart, and Kim Bronk of The Creative Coalition; 3. Actor Josh Hartnett presented the Visionary Award to Eckhart; 4. Luxottica�s Verdun gets the awards party started; 5 and 6. The George Westinghouse High School Optical Advisory Council honored Pasquale Lentini of Zyloware Corporation on his retirement. Shown (l to r): Jamie Shyer and Lentini, both of Zyloware, and Guillermo Hernandez of Westinghouse High School; 7. Some of the 225 ECPs who were winners of Essilor�s Imagine Italy promotion; 8. AIT Industries� �Keys to Our Success� meeting; 9. Briot USA�s 2007 national sales meeting; 10. Ray-Ban promotion award winners Ron and Conchena Matlin of KMA Sunglasses in Bakersfield, Calif., kick back at Sundance
License Lineup
Eastern States Eyewear is expanding Thierry Mugler Eyewear from regional to national distribution. The collection has eight sun and 14 ophthalmic styles.
Proenza Schouler and L�Amy America have signed a worldwide license agreement for the creation, production, and distribution of Proenza Schouler brand ophthalmic glasses and sunglasses. The sunglass collection will roll out at September�s New York fashion week. Initial
distribution will be to key department, optical, and specialty stores.
Zyloware Corporation has signed a license agreement to manufacture, market, and distribute Randy Jackson Eyewear. The product is at the beginning stages of development and is scheduled to hit the market by January.
Aoyama Optical has joined forces with TIGI Bead Head brand to manufacture and distribute a new line in the U.S., launching at Vision Expo East.
The Marcolin Group and Procter&Gamble Company renewed its U.S. design, production and distribution contract of Cover Girl Eyewear through Dec. 31, 2008.
Modo has signed an agreement to create a line of Tretorn sun/eyewear, available in Fall 2007. This is Tretorn�s first major accessory license.
The Shyer family with new licensing partner, Randy Jackson.
Essilor Celebrates
The Canadian Rockies were the snowy backdrop to Essilor�s National Sales Meeting, held in January in Banff, Canada.
Nearly 700 attendees, including representatives of Essilor partner labs, independent authorized Varilux labs, and Essilor of America employees, participated in three days of meetings and celebrations surrounding this year�s theme, �Vision Extreme: No Boundaries, No Limits, Endless Possibilities.�
Sessions reviewed last year�s successes with launches that included Varilux Physio 360� and Varilux Physio�, and looked ahead to this year�s introductions that include Crizal Sun�, Accolade�, and Accolade Freedom� lenses.
A number of awards were presented to labs�Legends Optical 4.0 was named Independent Varilux Lab of the Year, and Luzerne Optical won Independent Crizal Lab of the Year honors.
In addition, a number of President�s Club Awards were also presented to top employee sales performers.
1. Ice pool�s the game, and Essilor�s the name at the outdoor �pool parlor�; 2. Overlooking the snow-covered Canadian Rockies, Essilor�s Mike Daley and Carl Bracy answer questions at a press luncheon; 3. John Carrier, named Essilor of America president shortly after the sales meeting, presents a President�s Club Award to Larry Doxtater; 4. Mike Daley and Bob Colucci (r) celebrate medieval style with attendees; 5. Transitions� Dave Cole (l) and Daley hold up a contribution from Transitions Healthy Sight for Life to Prevent Blindness for $10,000 on behalf of Essilor of America
Stat Box: Eyes on Optical
$575 million
Prevent Blindness America estimates that this figure is the fiscal impact of age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
15.5 million
The Vision Council of America (VCA) and AARP�s partnership to promote the importance of vision care for Baby Boomers has had a very successful first month. The highlight of this partnership was a public service advertisement (PSA) campaign that, since its launch, has generated more than 13,000 media placements, reaching more than 15.5 million Americans.
$2 billion
Poor vision is costing Medicare more than $2 billion per year
in non-eye related maladies and healthcare needs, according to a recently released report.
New VCA Board Named
The Vision Council of America (VCA) officially inducted its 2007 officers and board of directors at the VCA Executive Summit held at the Arizona Biltmore Resort and Spa in Phoenix, Ariz.
Newly elected chairman, Larry Clarke of Satisloh North America, Inc., will serve with Mike Daley of Essilor Lenses as vice-chair; Raanan Naftalovich of Shamir Insight, Inc., as secretary/treasurer; and Andrea Gluck of Eyewear Designs Ltd. as immediate past chairman. Currently serving on VCA�s board of directors are:
James Anderson, VCA legal counsel; Martin Bassett, Walman Optical; Al Berg, Marchon Eyewear, Inc.; Richard Bullwinkle, DAC Vision; Pierre Fay, Luxottica Group; Ed Greene, VCA; Donald Howard, Kenmark Group; Richard Russo, S�filo USA; Gerard Santinelli, Santinelli International.
VCA division chairs also serve on the board and include:
Eyewear and Accessories Division: James Shyer, Zyloware Corporation; Lens Division: Douglas Hepper, Vision-Ease Lens; Lens Processing Technology Division: David Beach, National Optronics, Inc.; Low Vision Division: Richard Feinbloom, Designs for Vision, Inc.; Better Vision Institute: Elaine Hathaway, MD, New Brunswick Eye Associates.
5 Questions For...
Optical equipment and machinery seem to get more functional with age. But what�s it like within the gears and wheels of the optical grind? Briot USA�s president Bret Davis talks about nuts and bolts with EB.
EB: What is Briot�s philosophy on how to best serve the marketplace?
BD: To educate each potential customer on how to increase patient service and retention by edging in-house. After their purchase, our focus shifts to serving their needs by ensuring the staff is well trained to run our equipment and is prepared to maximize profits and patient satisfaction. Over the past two years, we certainly have made a point to focus on it and ensure that it�s our core philosophy.
EB: How is Briot gearing up for the future of lens processing technology?
BD: We recently launched the Briot Alta, which allows the operator to customize the user interface and each job to meet the desires of the patient.
EB: What should ECPs know now about lens processing technology?
BD: I think you�ll see the percentages of independent ECPs who have in-house edgers continue to rise. The patient�s demand for convenience will continue to drive the market. ECPs should pay attention to any advancement in equipment that can directly affect their level of patient care and service.
EB: What�s changing about equipment operation?
BD: Today�s equipment is user-friendly, fast, and more automated. It has become easy to operate and is quiet and clean. Edgers now have the capabilities to do everything except insert the lens into the frame.
EB: Will free-form/digital surfacing really be the only lens option in five years?
BD: Free-form technology is great for visual acuity. However, like everything, I think there will continue to be a mix of options available to patients.
The Personal Touch�
What do you do to unwind?
Spend time with my wife Kelly and two sons, Blake and Connor.
What�s one good book you�ve read lately?
Moneyball by Michael Lewis.
What�s the techno product you can�t live without?
My Blackberry.
What�s your favorite thing to eat?
Sushi.
Do you collect anything?
Yes, autographed NFL football helmets.
WebWorld
David Eden Eyewear has introduced a new website, www.DavidEdenEyewear.com, which includes detailed information on its products along with photos and contact information. Visitors have the opportunity to register for access to information and orders can also be placed through the site.
Ophthalmic industry veteran Pat Dundas has launched a website for his business development and consulting firm, Teamwork Marketing. The firm provides research, strategic planning, tactical marketing plans, and business development projects. Visit www.teamworkmarketing.com.
AIT Industries, a member of the INDO group, headquartered in Bensenville, Ill., recently launched a new online commerce store. The new store provides access 24 hours a day, seven days a week. With the launching of the store, AIT and INDO Lens USA have started a new marketing and sales program. The primary goals of the program are to introduce the AIT customer base to the Superfin material, provide an online reward program for AIT customers that allows the redemption of points for the purchase of any products or services. The secondary goals of the program are to expand AIT�s product offerings and market INDO Progressive Designs to AIT equipment customers. The complete line of stock lenses includes Superfin 1.523 Mid Index, Ultrafin 1.60 High Index, Indocromic photochromic lenses, and Indosol tinted lenses.
Eyewear company Urband�s website, www.urband.com is now up and featuring the complete collection 2006-07 styles. The site also includes images from international publications, a store locator, a news section, bios of founders Frederick Ferrant and Cyril Vigier, as well as images that have inspired the various designs within the the collection of eyewear, sunwear, and multifunction cases.
![]({"src":"/media/2lhdbbzc/32007.jpg","focalPoint":null,"crops":[{"alias":"thumbnail","width":1110,"height":700,"coordinates":null}]})