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Hot List: October 2011

Alicia Isenberg Hoglund

1 Longing for LUXE

American Express Business Insights' “Q2 2011 Spend Sights Report—Luxury Retail” revealed luxury spending habits have risen (as compared with the same time period in 2010).

2 ON THE RISE

The SpendingPulse Luxury Index, which measures luxury sales at high-end restaurants, food stores, department stores, and general apparel categories, was up 4.7 percent (excluding jewelry), posting its eighth consecutive month of year-over-year gains.

3 MOBILE MOVES

In it's Wealth and Luxury Trends 2011 and Beyond white paper, the Luxury Institute revealed the following about wealthy consumers' mobile shopping.

76% compare prices via mobile devices

27% have made purchases using a mobile device

21% use mobile devices to look up respective product information while shopping in stores

4 Attracting Attention

In its “2011 Ipsos Mendelsohn Affluent Survey,” market-research firm Ipsos Mendelsohn revealed that affluent consumers—consumers with annual household incomes of $100,000 or more—are more receptive to TV and magazine advertising than any other media.

Transitions, CLMA Support World Sight Day Challenge

Transitions Optical, Inc., recently donated $25,000 in support of the World Sight Day “Company” Challenge, an event that was coordinated by Optometry Giving Sight and held as an opportunity for all members of the optical industry to help raise funds for sustainable vision care projects that will provide affordable and accessible eyecare services to people in under-served communities.

To participate in the challenge, companies are invited to make a tax-deductible donation on or before World Sight Day, which is October 13. Company staff members are also invited to help raise funds.

Transitions is just one of several high-profile companies supporting the Challenge. Other organizations include Contact Lens Manufacturers Association (CLMA), which has endorsed Optometry Giving Sight as its preferred charity.

For more information about the World Sight Day “Company” Challenge, call 888-OGS-GIVE or visit givingsite.org.

Lens Dynamics' Al Vaske, OGS National committee chair Mary Anne Murphy, and Keith Parker of CLMA show their support for the World Sight Day Challenge

Eye Care Centers of America To Become Visionworks

Eye Care Centers of America (ECCA), Davis Vision, and their holding company, HVHC Inc., recently announced the move of their national headquarters to downtown San Antonio. The companies will set up shop in a facility boasting more than 100,000 square feet of space. Davis Vision will relocate its corporate team and keep its administrative staff in Long Island, N.Y. Davis Vision also plans to consolidate its 15 national retail brands under one name, Visionworks, and start work on a new flagship state-of-the-art retail location on the ground floor of the building. In addition, the new location will also offer an on-site conference and training center to serve associates of this vertically integrated family of vision companies, which includes Davis Vision and ECCA, among others. The relocation will be the first corporate location in San Antonio to occupy more than 40,000 square feet in the last 15 years. The move will create more than 350 jobs in the downtown San Antonio area, including 100 new positions.

Adlens Names New Executive Chairman

Adlens, the Oxford, England-based optical manufacturer and developer of self-adjustable eyeglasses, has appointed Michael Ferrara to the newly created executive chairman position. In his new role, Ferrara will lead the Adlens group of companies into a new phase of growth coinciding with the first commercial market launch of Adlens' products in Japan earlier this year.

Before joining Adlens, Ferrara was president and CEO of Microfuidics International Corporation. Ferrara has held other notable posts throughout his career, including chairman of VICA (now The Vision Council) as well as CEO of Marine Optical Ltd., a CitiCorp Venture Capital equity company, and X-Rite, Inc.

Michael Ferrara, the newly appointed executive chairman of Adlens

Pro Fit Optix Exits Chapter 11

Pro Fit Optix, the eyewear and technology supplier based in Grapevine, Texas, has exited voluntary Chapter 11 bankruptcy, which it originally filed on Feb. 9, 2011.

On Aug. 22, 2011, the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Florida entered an order confirming and approving Pro Fit Optix's plan of reorganization.

The company exits with a new majority owner—HCA Capital of Florida—a revamped board, and a new product strategy to poise the company as a major player in the optical industry, company representatives note.

As of July 31, Pro Fit Optix has increased sales by 84 percent since the time it announced its reorganization, company representatives say. The reorganization plan's commitment includes major recapitalization of the company by its new majority private equity shareholder.

OLA ANNOUNCES DIRECTOR'S CHOICE AWARD WINNER

The Optical Laboratories Association (OLA) recently named the Essilor IDD Technical Support Team the recipient of the 2011 OLA Directors' Choice Award for its outstanding contributions to the ophthalmic industry. The Essilor IDD Technical Support Team's activities include lab re-engineering, troubleshooting, training, and technology transfer.

The Essilor IDD Technical Support Team (l to r): David Rick, KC Haffey, Dave Cuffe, Randy McFadden, John Leasure, and Joe Vitale

STAT BOX
ONLINE STATS SEARCH The word “eyewear” is searched online more than once every 20 seconds. Source: Google ACCOUNTS There are more social media accounts than there are people in the world. Source: InStat MOBILE APPS As of June 2011, more time is spent on mobile apps than web browsing. Source: Adobe

Web Watch

Super Vision has entered the social arena, debuting its new Facebook page and Twitter profile, as well as expanding its LinkedIn page. The company also revamped the Vision Care Learning Center section of its website, supervision.com, which provides eye and vision health and overall wellness information.

ClearVision Optical recently debuted documentary-style videos to accompany the launch of its Marc Ecko Cut & Sew Collection at cvoptical.com/marcecko. The site also boasts a virtual try-on feature, allowing customers to view and try on the collection's styles and share the results on Facebook.

The Primary Eyecare Network (PEN) 2011 Gas Permeable webinar series has received COPE accreditation for the last seven of 12 webinars. The webinars, which focus on topics that support successful treatment options and outcomes with gas permeable lens fitting, are scheduled monthly on Wednesdays at 6 p.m. PST throughout 2011. The webinars are free to attend; however, to receive CE credit, attendees must pay a $35 fee and pass an online exam.

INFO: primaryeye.net/education

Okia, a Hong Kong-based eyewear company, has launched its new website devoted to the patented HDA technology. The new site, hdacetate.com, features original graphics, bright colors, and the latest HDA frame images. Okia plans to implement a “Design Your Own” feature that will allow visitors to create their own HDA frame.

Transitions Optical, Inc., has added a new and interactive Facebook tab and promotion on the Transitions Lenses: Healthy Sights Professionals Facebook page (facebook.com/transitionsoptical) to encourage ECPs to contemplate the future of lens technology. The Transitions Light Years Ahead tab allows visitors to build their “Lenses of the Future” by making lens selections in three categories—frames, lens material, and lens technology. Visitors can also enter for a chance to win an iPad 2.

Above: Experience HDA technology at Okia's hdacetate.com; left: The new and improved Super Vision website; below: Design future lenses and enter to win an iPad 2 at Transitions Optical's Facebook page

MontBlanc Crowns its Facebook Face Winner

MontBlanc has named Susan Uiterwijk the first place winner of the MontBlanc Summer Contest. In addition to a winning a professional photo session and a behind-the-scenes look at a MontBlanc campaign shoot, Uiterwijk also became the official MontBlanc Facebook Face.

Winner Susan Uiterwijk is prepped and styled for her photo shoot

Hong Kong Optical Fair Sneak Peak

After last year's recording-breaking attendance—580 exhibitors and more than 12,000 attendees—the optical industry sets its sights on the 2011 HKTDC Hong Kong Optical Fair, to be held Nov. 3 to 5, 2011, at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. Jointly organized by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council and the Hong Kong Optical Manufacturers Association, the 19th Hong Kong Optical Fair promises to showcase the latest global trends in fashionable eyewear from exhibitors around the world.

New this year, the Fair will feature an expanded Brand Name Gallery, a section solely dedicated to branded eyewear products. The Fair will also introduce a new zone specifically for contact lens manufacturers: Contact Lens & Accessories.

Numerous seminars will be held during the fair to brief attendees on the latest market trends and industry knowledge, including the 9th Hong Kong Optometric Conference and “Vision for the Next Generation.”

The Fair will also play host to the 13th Hong Kong Eyewear Design Competition. The winning entries of the design competition, which garnered more than 240 entries from local firms as well as professional and student designers, will be on display at the fairground. INFO: hktdc.com/hkopticalfair

1. Models showcase the latest eyewear trends;
2. Attendees make their way through the 2010 Hong Kong Optical Fair tradeshow floor;
3. Guests gather around the Optikhan Artisan & Co. booth

Cleveland To Host 2011 EastWest Eye Conference

The 15th annual EastWest Eye Conference is set for Oct. 20 to 23, 2011, at the Cleveland Convention Center. EastWest offers more than 175 hours of continuing education for optometrists, opticians, and allied eye professionals on a variety of topics including contact lenses, low vision, practice management, and more.

Conference registration includes admittance to the exclusive Friday Night Party at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. For more information, or to register for EastWest, visit eastwesteye.org.

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 features one question each month for optometrists from a previous Varilux Optometry Super Bowl and one for opticians from a National Federation of Opticianry Schools College Bowl. Thanks to Essilor and NFOS for providing this month's questions and answers. OPTOMETRY Q. A +3.00 diopter lens has a +0.75 diopter base curve. How many diopters is the back curve? OPTICIANRY Q. Where is the near optical center of a flat-top segment located? For the answers, go to end

GOOD IDEA

Tapping into the student scene for window design made for summer design fun in New York. LIM College in New York City, the nation's only college focused exclusively on business and fashion, partnered with Solstice Sunglass Boutique for the first Summer Visual Merchandising Competition. LIM students were asked to create a compelling retail window display with a seasonal promotional concept for its annual “Summer Solstice” sales promotion. The winning design needed to support Solstice's positioning and also blend with the retail chain's visual aesthetic.

A total of 15 students from Marjorie Lee Woo's Visual Presentation class participated in the contest. The winning concept, designed by recent graduate of LIM College's Visual Merchandising Certificate Program, Kristina Viscelgia, was displayed in 160 Solstice Sunglass Outlet store windows and used for marketing initiatives.

The design competition not only provided Solstice with a creative marketing campaign, it provided the students of LIM College with real-life, practical learning experience to prepare them for their future careers in visual merchandising.

From l to r: LIM's Marjorie Lee Woo, runner-up Tara Mangiero, LIM president Elizabeth Marcuse, runners-up Jordan McGovern and Connor de Guehery, contest winner Kristina Viscelgia, and Eric Feigenbaum, LIM Visual Merchandising department chair

License LINEUP

The Jones Group has entered into an exclusive, worldwide license agreement with Marchon Eyewear, Inc., for the creation, production, marketing, and global distribution of ophthalmic eyewear frames and prescription-ready sunglasses under the Nine West brand beginning in January 2012.

On The Town

Solstice Sunglass Boutique hosted Safilo's Giorgio Armani “Frames of Your Life” campaign event and photo exhibit at two of its locations in the Meatpacking District during Fashion's Night Out in New York City. Guests wandered through the Frames of Your Life photo exhibit and posed in the collection's eyewear for instant keepsake snapshots. In addition, Yvan Rodic, one of the photographers of the campaign, took photos of attendees in oversized replicas of Giorgio Armani Eyewear.

1. Photographer Yvan Rodic and Valentina Zago, director of licensing, Giorgio Armani; 2. Event guests were photographed in oversized Giorgio Armani frames; 3. Attendees in Giorgio Armani eyewear pose in front of the Frames of Your Life exhibit outside of the Solstice Sunglass Boutique during the Fashion's Night Out event

Lighthouse Releases Updated Low-Vision Guide

Lighthouse International's “The Lighthouse Clinician's Guide to Low Vision Practice,” is now available. The 200-page, comprehensive book outlines the principles of low vision, enhancing ECPs' knowledge of disease consequences, providing insight for addressing patient complaints, and helping to increase the effectiveness of treatment through low-vision rehabilitation.

The low vision guide is endorsed by Mary Lou Jackson, MD, chair of the Vision Rehabilitation Committee of the American Academy of Ophthalmology as well as John Musick, OD, chair of the Low Vision Section of the American Academy of Optometry.

To order, email education@ lighthouse.org or call 212-821-9470.

OPTOMETRY

Giving Sight Funds VOSH Project Optometry Giving Sight provided funding for two recent VOSH International vision care projects in Central and South America. Funding for the first project is going toward the purchase of equipment for an optical laboratory at the newly established School of Optometry at UNAN (National Autonomous University of Nicaragua) in Managua. The school, which VOSH played a key role in establishing, was created to educate, train, and graduate local optometrists to provide affordable and accessible vision care services for the people of Nicaragua. Optometry also helped fund the VOSH International Technology Transfer Program, which supports clinical instruction by providing new and used optometric equipment to optometry schools in Central and South America. OGS's donation will likely benefit optometry schools in Chile and Argentina.

STARGazers

1. Actress Shenae Grimes was snapped wearing Baby Phat style 2062 by Modo Eyewear. Catch Grimes in the hit TV show “90210” this fall on the CW.
2. Actor Ryan Reynolds recently donned John Varvatos V749 shades by REM Eyewear. Reynolds is hard at work filming “R.I.P.D.” with costar Jeff Bridges.
3. Vonnegutt's Kyle Lucas wearing the new Mark Ecko Disruptor sunglasses by ClearVision Optical during the 2011 Lallopalooza weekend festivities.
4. Actress Katie Holmes in Giorgio Armani sunglass model GA 852/S by Safilo. Holmes starred in the summer thriller, “Don't Be Afraid of the Dark.”

Test Your Mettle ANSWERS

Thanks to Essilor and the NFOS for providing this month's questions and answers. Optometry Answer: −4.25 Opticianry Answer: 5mm below the segment top/half-way across the segment In the August edition of Test Your Mettle, the optometry question given was incorrect. Following is the correct question as well as the answer. Question: If a refractive correction is OS −1.25 −1.25 x 180, the refractive diagnosis is _____? Correct Answer: Compound myopic astigmatism