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Hot List: November 2010

1 GREEN AT WORK

What's your business's "green attitude?"

According to RDR Research's 2010 sustainability study:

50%
One half of respondents report green initiatives have reached the point of being "strategic initiatives for the entire enterprise."

30%
Thirty percent report it as a tactical initiative for specific departments.

66%
While more than two thirds still report cost reduction as their primary motivator for green initiatives, 51 percent believe it's the ethical thing to do.

2 Safety in Numbers

Need some stats to make sports protective eyewear more appealing to patients and their children? According the the U.S.

Department of Health and Human Services:

• Nearly 2.5 million eye injuries occur each year.
• More than one-fourth occur during sporting and recreational activities.
• Children under 15 years of age account for nearly one-third of all eye trauma hospital admissions and 43 percent of sports and recreational eye injuries overall.

3 Copy Chat

RetailWire.com reports that opinions are divided about bipartisan legislation U.S.lawmakers are considering to protect fashion brands from knockoffs for three years.

FOR: Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.), the bill's sponsor, says the U.S. fashion industry is being hurt by knockoffs and is at a disadvantage compared with Europe, where laws protect registered designs for up to 25 years.

AGAINST: "Copying helps set trends (you can't know it's a trend until it's been copied) and then helps destroy them—once a design has been widely copied, the fashion-forward hop on to the next new thing," writes Kal Raustiala and Chris Sprigman at the Freakonomics blog in "The New York Times." "This is the familiar fashion cycle. What's less obvious is that the absence of copyright makes the process possible. The fashion cycle turns faster, and the industry gets richer—and creates new designs more frequently."

Shamir, Essilor Ink Partnership Agreement

Shamir Optical Industry, Ltd., Kibbutz Shamir and Essilor International have signed an agreement whereby Essilor will acquire 50 percent of Shamir Optical. As a result of these transactions, Kibbutz Shamir and Essilor will each own 50 percent of Shamir Optical.

"This venture places Shamir Optical in a position to accelerate the development of new products and to strengthen its presence in the marketplace by using Essilor's R&D capabilities, notably in coatings, and its worldwide distribution network," comments Amos Netzer, CEO of Shamir Optical. "The transaction will create synergies and provide Shamir Optical with additional resources to invest in its development."

Shamir Optical's board of directors and its audit committee have unanimously approved the terms of the proposed transaction and Shamir Optical's board of directors has recommended it to Shamir Optical shareholders. Certain shareholders representing approximately 69.3 percent of Shamir Optical's outstanding capital, including Kibbutz Shamir, have signed support agreements committing to vote in favor of the transaction at the special meeting of shareholders that will be called to approve the transaction.

"This joint venture represents a strategic addition to Essilor's business and will strengthen our offer to the mid-tier segment with additional high-quality products," notes Hubert Sagnieres, Essilor's CEO. "Shamir Optical's range of products fits closely with Essilor's. Thanks to our existing network, respective expertise, and the potential or vertical cost synergies, our partnership will allow us to grow the worldwide optical business with innovative new value-added products and services and to expand our offer to eyecare professionals. Shamir Optical will continue to produce and promote its brands, products, and services as a separate business entity."

Shamir Optical has approximately 1,400 full-time employees. Shamir's management team is expected to remain in place. The transaction is expected to close in mid-2011, and Essilor will fully consolidate Shamir Optical upon closing.

LICENSE LINEUP

Coach, Inc., and Luxottica Group S.p.A. have signed a license agreement for the design, manufacture, and global distribution of sunwear and prescription eyewear under the Coach, Coach Poppy, and Reed Krakoff brands.

The agreement will begin on Jan. 1, 2012, and include renewal options; the first collection will be presented during 2012. Coach eyewear is expected to generate annual sales, outside of Coach stores, targeted at approximately $100 million, after the initial launch period and once the distribution has been fully rolled out across key geographies and channels

HMX Group and Signature Eyewear announce a licensing agreement that will enable Signature to continue with the Hart Schaffner Marx brand while adding American brands Hickey Freeman, Bobby Jones, and Monarchy to its portfolio.

The agreement gives Signature exclusive rights to distribute the brands' optical and sunwear collections worldwide.

Sutro Eyewear has entered into a five-year agreement to license its 3-Click Hinge technology to the DeRigo Group.

Christian Dior Couture and Safilo Group have renewed their eyewear license agreement for the design, production, and worldwide distribution of Dior's prescription frames and sunglass collections until Dec. 31, 2017.

The Marcolin Group has announced the renewal of the licensing agreement for design, production, and worldwide distribution of Timberland prescription frames and sunglasses. The agreement extends the relationship through Dec. 31, 2013—renewable for another two years—and contains terms and conditions which are in line with those included in the current agreement.

Successful First OLA Show at Vision Expo West

The Optical Laboratory Association and The Vision Council co-located meeting, held during Vision Expo West from Oct. 7 to 9 in Las Vegas, offered exclusive OLA attendee exhibit hall hours along with a full slate of education targeted to labs and two general sessions: health care reform and corporate responsibility.

The organization also held its annual business meeting along with traditional networking, social, and award events.

The new slate of OLA officers and directors for 2010-2011, elected during the annual business meeting, include officers Jonathan Jacobs, president; Mike Francesconi, president-elect; Virginia Lesher, vice president; John Haigh, treasurer; and Kevin Bargman, immediate past president.

Directors are: Swen Carlson, Ron Cooke, Jr., Keith Pulling.

Directors with terms continuing during 2011 are: Jason Blue, Bill Harding, Drake McLean, Steve Swalgen, and Richard Tinson.

At the Director's Choice and Eleventh Annual Hall of Fame Awards Dinner, L. Peter Frieder, Jr., president, was the recipient of the OLA Directors' Choice award for "outstanding contributions to the optical industry," primarily focused on the development of polycarbonate as a viable lens material.

Hall of Fame inductees are: David Cuffe, Paul (Barney) Dougher, Rick Elias, Ed Greene, J. Davis Lea, Tom Mitchoff, Jacques Stoerr, and Rolf Sulzberger.

Tom Brown, Michael DiSanto, Robert Graham, and James Hull were named to the Hall of Fame posthumously.

Vision Expo West Partnership, Programs, and Attendance Win Big in Vegas

Thanks to a recovering economy, new offerings, and co-location of the show with the OLA event, International Vision Expo West, held at the Sands Expo and Convention Center in Las Vegas, saw a nine percent increase in attendance from 2009.

"We had more of just about everything at this year's show," said Tom Loughran, vice president for Reed Exhibitions. "Not only was our attendance up, but we had 70 new exhibitors and 10,000 more net square feet of booth space on the show floor."

The next International Vision Expo West will be held Sept. 21 to 24, 2011, at the Sands Expo; and show dates are confirmed with the Sands Convention Center through 2015.

INFO: www.visionexpowest.com.

1. A trio of attendees soak up information at a continuing education course 2 Ryan Parker, OD, offers insight on Essilor of America's digital surfacing platform 3. A&A Optical 42-inch HDTV winner Steve Ott of Bluff Vision in Scottsbluff, Neb., with (l) Robert Liener, A&A Optical, and (r) Roxy model, Colleen Brewster 4. Show guests gather around the Shamir booth for a prize drawing 5. The second A&A Optical HDTV winner, Dr. Chris Stanwick with coworkers from Eyecare Associates of Belpre and A&A Optical's Robert Leiner (l) and (r) Roxy model, Colleen Brewster 6. Doctoberfest hit the showfloor with a performance by a traditional German band 7. The Vision Choice Award was presented to Tom Kramer, founder/designer, Teka Eyewear 8. Think About Your Eyes representatives stroll the Vision Expo scene 9. Mike Daley from Think About Your Eyes discusses the vision community 10. Marchon's John Mazziotti demonstrates and details the company's new 3D eyewear 11. Arman Bernardi, PhD, of iCoat Company, explains iCoat's new Sfirex 3D technology during a press conference 12. Executives from ProFit Optix gather to announce new company developments during a press conference 13. Transitions Optical's freshly promoted CEO Dave Cole with Jose Alves at the OLA 14. Inductees into the Optical Laboratories Hall of Fame celebrate 15. Craig Giles, Soderberg Optical, discusses new initiatives with Shamir Insight's Lance Bergeron (r). 16. (From l): Ed Dietz, III and Sandie Connor from Dietz Optical Laboratory and Robert Lee from Younger Optics enjoy the OLA Hall of Fame reception 17. OLA Directors' Choice honoree L. Peter Frieder, of Gentex Corporation, accepted his Directors' Choice award 18. At the Optical Laboratories Association Hall of Fame reception, new OLA president Jonathan Jacobs (l) catches up with The Vision Council's CEO, Ed Greene 19. Donald Goodfriend, Kyle Lepack, Ross Brownlee, Kim Chaveco welcome guests to Safilo's event at the Giorgio Armani store in Las Vegas' Bellagio 20. Safilo's Dick Russo with Doctors Vision Center's Sherrie Rogerson at Armani 21-23. Celebrity visitors to Revolution's booth included: "The Situation" Mike Sorentino from "Jersey Shore;" mixed martial artist Randy Couture; and Emmy Award Winner, Jeremy Piven 24. Marchon's party at the Flamingo drew a happy crowd of revelers 25. Shamir's Andy Boyle and Lance Bergeron at Shamir's press conference 26. Live Eyewear's team with OWA board members Karen Zappia and Amy Spiezio (from center right) at the Optical Women's Association's networking event 27. Steven M. Glassberg, OD from Optical Outlets in Tampa, Fla. (l) is presented an iPad by Bruce Mossman, North Eastern regional manager, during a Shamir Insight booth drawing

ABO-NCLE Wrap Up

The American Board of Opticianry-National Contact Lens Examiners 2010 National Education Conference, held at the Duke Energy Center in Cincinnati from September 16 to 19, received rave reviews from 600-plus attendees and 40 exhibitors.

The event featured over 100 hours of continuing education, on-site ABO and NCLE basic or advanced exams, an optical showcase and exhibit hall, and special events. Additionally, as the combined venue for the Contact Lens Society of America, National Academy of Opticianry, National Federation of Opticianry Schools, and Opticians Association of America, and Opticians Association of Ohio events, the event brought together key opticianry meetings including awards and new boards.

The Transitions 10 Minute Stills Challenge winner was Frank Gimbel of West Norton, Pa., last year's defending champion, and the Transitions Student of Vision recipient was Yasmeen Beverly of Cuyahoga Community College.

The next ABO-NCLE National Education Conference is slated for Sept. 8 to 11, 2011 at the same venue.

INFO: abo-ncle-conference.com

ABO-NLCE 2010: Awards and Boards

At the ABO-NCLE National Education Conference, the ABO and NAO elected new officers and bestowed awards. Ellen Stoner received an OAA Certificate of Appreciation and the NAO Appreciation award. Randall Smith received the Joseph Bruneni Memorial Education Achievement Award and Vivian Wnuczek received the NAO Ambassador award.

OAA officers: President: Diane Charles; Shirley Earley, first vice president; Mike Szczerbiak, second vice president; Russell Fritz, treasurer; Tom Hicks, immediate past president; and Jeannie Solomon, director. NAO officers: Danne Ventura, president; Gaye Wilson, first vice president; and Tom Zizka, treasurer. Randall Smith is new to the board.

1. (l to r): John Godert, recipient of the NFOS Educator of the Year award joins College Bowl winner Ramona Richardson of Erie Community College, NFOS president Kristi Green, and Essilor of America's Danne Ventura post-event; 2. The Optician's Association of Ohio's (l to r): Pat Kuhl, LDO; Mark Bennett, CAE; and Becky Ferguson, LDO; 3. National Academy of Opticianry board directors gather for a photo op; 4. The Essilor of America sponsored 2010 College Bowl got the audience cheering; 5. The Optical Women's Association sponsored keynote "Living Life at Performance Level." (l to r): Grady Culbreth, OWA, speaker Curtis Zimmerman, Marabelle Zimmerman, and Gale Meyer, OWA; 6. The Transitions Student of Vision Scholarship recipient, Yasmeen Beverly of Cuyahoga Community College; 7. Tom Zizka (r) presents the Beverly Myers Achievement Award to Michael A. Ward, FCLSA; 8. Spearheading the Hoya Vision Care Grant and Scholarship Program for opticianry students (l to r): Mike Elton, HOYA Vision Care; Heidi and Mike Della Pesca, ABOM, of Quantum Optical

David Cole Named Transitions COO

Transitions Optical, Inc., veteran Dave Cole is now the company's COO. In this role, he will provide regional and global leadership and business strategy development and execution, and will report to CEO and president Rick Elias.

"Dave is exceptionally well-suited for this leadership position," Elias says. "His in-depth knowledge of the optical industry and our business, vision for long-term success and industry growth, and passion for building strong partnerships across all levels are just a few of the reasons he inspires such trust and respect from colleagues and the industry alike."

Starting his career with Transitions when the company launched in 1990, Cole has held many roles, beginning with PPG Industries, Inc., in sales and marketing, followed by executivelevel work with Transitions, most recently as Transitions general manager for the North American and Australia and New Zealand markets. He will continue to fulfill these responsibilities in an interim role. He holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Notre Dame.

1. Halle Berry wears Carrera by Safilo. Berry, a Cleveland, Ohio, native, was crowned Miss Teen America in 1985 and was the first African American woman to win an Oscar. 2. New Zealand native Anna Paquin dons Chloe style Belladone by L'Amy. Paquin recently tied the knot with her "True Blood" co-star Stephen Moyer. 3. Kate Hudson, with son Ryder in tow, is wearing Orgreen's Bianca style shades. Hudson is co-starring in the film "A Little Bit of Heaven" with Whoopi Goldberg and Kathy Bates, due out in 2011. 4. NBC's "Today" anchor and "Dateline NBC" host Ann Curry wore Michael Kors style Greenwich by Marchon at the 2010 Emmy Awards show. Curry, an Emmy winner herself, once bungee jumped from a London bridge for charity.