According to the CEA (Consumer Electronics Association), the 2013 holiday shopping season will have the least number of shopping days possible. Here’s the breakdown:
2013
Average
Length of holiday shopping season (Thanksgiving to Christmas):
26
29.2
Number of weekend days:
6
7.1
2 Making a List…Teching it Twice
According to Nielson, gift cards and tech products will be the first and second most popular gifts this holiday season. Be sure to stock your cash wrap with gift certificates and accessories like cleaning cloths and other supplies that work double-duty on eyewear and digital devices. And, while spreading good cheer, don’t forget to educate your patients on the proper eyewear for their new digital devices. See p. 29 for information about a free infographic on digital eye strain.
3 Dollars and Cents
A recent poll by Gallup revealed that Americans estimated they would spend $704 on holiday gifts in November, which is down from $786 in October and $770 during last November.
4 Holiday Gains
The National Retail Federation (NRF) expects sales in the months of November and December to marginally increase 3.9 percent to $602.1 billion. During the same time frame, NRF’s shop.org is predicting online sales to grow between 13 and 15 percent over last holiday season to as much as $82 billion.
Essilor Acquires Costa Inc.
Essilor International has announced the acquisition of Costa Inc., a U.S. leader in high-performance sunglasses. Previously known as A.T. Cross, Lincoln, RI-based Costa Inc. owns and manages the Costa and Native brands. It is expected to report approximately $100 million in revenue in 2013. The transaction of approximately $270 million is expected to close in early 2014.
Introduced in 1983 and primarily marketed through eyecare professionals and sporting goods retailers, Costa is most known for its patented 580 lens technology, which offers color enhancement and increased visual acuity.
While Costa currently derives the majority of its revenue from the Southeastern U.S, under Essilor’s ownership it intends to accelerate its geographic expansion in other parts of the country and internationally. In addition, stronger sales of prescription sun lenses, which today account for just five percent of revenue, will offer another growth lever, according to the company.
PixelOptics Dissolves
PixelOptics, which had manufactured EmPower electronic variable focus eyewear, has closed its doors and filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy. Chapter 7 involves a liquidation and sale of all company assets, with proceeds distributed to creditors.
In a statement reported in the local press, the Roanoke County, VA-based company said it had amassed an intellectual property portfolio of more than 400 patents and patent application pending around the world, and anticipates interest in its assets following the filing.
Stat Box
HAPPY HOLIDAYS
In 2011, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) estimated that hospital emergency rooms across the country treated 262,300 toy-related injuries, and that 74 percent were to children under the age of 15.
Because the most commonly injured part of the body is the head and face area, Prevent Blindness America (PBA) has declared December as Safe Toys and Gifts Month and offers the following tips to gift-givers to make sure all gifts are safe, especially those intended for children. Consider sharing these helpful tips preholiday with your patients, in person or in an online or printed newsletter.
■ Read all warnings and instructions on the box.
■ Ask yourself or the parent if the toy is right for the child’s ability and age.
■ Avoid purchasing toys with sharp or rigid points, spikes, rods, or dangerous edges.
■ Check the lenses and frames of children’s sunglasses; many can break and cause injuries.
■ Buy toys that will withstand impact and not break into dangerous shards.
■ Look for the letters “ASTM.” This designation means the product meets the national safety standards set by the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM).
■ Avoid toys that shoot or include parts that fly off.
■ Gifts of sports equipment should always be accompanied by protective gear (such as a basketball along with eye goggles or a face guard with a new batting helmet for baseball or softball).
■ Don’t give toys with small parts to young children. Young kids tend to put things in their mouths, increasing the risk of choking. If the part of a toy can fit in a toilet paper roll, the toy is not appropriate for children younger than three years.
■ Do not purchase toys with long strings or cords, especially for infants and very young children, as this can become wrapped around a child’s neck.
■ Always dispose of uninflated or broken balloons immediately. According to the CPSC, more children have suffocated from them than any other type of toy.
For more information on safe toys and gifts for children, visit preventblindness.org/safe-toy-checklist.
Silmo Chic Success
There was style and substance to be found at the stands of the 2013 Mondial De L’Optique (World Optical Fair). With an emphasis on daring, it unveiled the season’s new products and collections from close to 1,000 exhibitors. Buyers and opticians alike experienced an array of brands showcasing a revamped and diverse offering.
The exhibition was staged in a dynamic setting with two new forums, Fashion Style and La Manufacture. The Fashion Style area highlighted why Silmo is an ideal medium of expression for all fashion brands and, together with La Manufacture, illustrated why the craftsmanship and industrial know-how of eyewear manufacturers should be promoted, championed, and affirmed in its diversity of brands.
Creativity and innovation were also prominent themes at the 20th Silmo d’Or awards ceremony, presided over this year by designer Mathieu Lehanneur, who accompanied a panel of experts in rewarding the top companies in eight categories, plus the winner of the Jury’s Special Award.
In a presentation by Silmo organizers featuring data from research firm GfK, the state of European Optics was discussed. Some concerns that may affect optical wholesale and retail include the following:
■ “Poor economic data and high unemployment continue to keep Europe on tenterhooks. The financial and economic crisis has not yet been overcome.”
■ “In most countries, it drives the consumers’ income expectations and willingness to buy low, though those indicators are stabilizing.”
■ “France is an exception, with pessimism gaining ground, and some of the worst indicators of all Europe.”
Silmo 2014 is set for Sept. 26-29, 2014.
INFO: en.silmoparis.com
1. The winners of this year’s Silmo d’Or awards show off their new hardware at the awards ceremony; 2. Silmo Exhibit president Philippe Lafont gets the d’Or awards event started; 3.-4. On the Silmo show floor, the countdown runs for the showing of a video presenting the latest trends in fashion and eyewear. While waiting, visitors to the Fashion Style area tour an exhibit area with the latest in sun and ophthalmic eyewear offerings; 5. Opening day of the show; 6. A graffiti wall at the Modo booth; 7. Entertainment at the d’Or awards; 8. Monocle from La LOOP; 9. Squared-off sunnies by Claire Goldsmith; 10. Round metals in a creamy tone from Lindberg; 11. Artistically structured metals in an acetate crystal frame by Sama
Silmo d’Or winners
CATEGORY
COMPANY
PRODUCT NAME
Optical frames
Dita Eyewear
Thom Browne TB-011
Sunglasses
Factory900-Aoyama
Fa-1111
Sport
Julbo
Tensing Flight
Children
Seaport
KILT 03 de Façonnable
Frame Innovation
Cidi
3MOMI Tech
Vision - Lenses
Bbgr
Intuitiv
Vision - Contact lenses
Coopervision
MyDay
Low vision
Essilor
Prodigi Duo
Equipment
Nidek
ARK-1s
Jury’s Special Award
Masunaga
Masunaga GMS Limited 2013
Transitions Awards Program Finalists Announced
Transitions Optical, Inc., has named the finalists for its annual Transitions Awards program, which recognizes optical labs, retailers, and independent ECPs for their year-long commitment to promoting eye health and photochromic lenses. The following finalists will be honored during Transitions Academy, which is set for Jan. 26-29, 2014 at the Disney Contemporary Resort in Orlando.
2013 Lab of the Year: Diversified Ophthalmics, Cincinnati; Optical Prescription Lab, Pelham, AL; and Three Rivers Optical, Pittsburgh.
2013 National Retailer of the Year: Costco Optical, LensCrafters, and Visionworks.
2013 Regional Retailer of the Year: Barnet Dulaney Perkins Eye Center, headquartered in Phoenix; Henry Ford OptimEyes, Detroit; and Northeastern Eye Institute, northeastern Pennsylvania.
2013 Eyecare Practice of the Year: Arizona Family Vision Center, Phoenix; Buena Vista Optical, Chicago; and Clarus Optical, Lacey, WA.
Safilo’s Vedovotto Resigns
Robert Vedovotto, former chief executive officer of Safilo Group and Safilo S.p.A., has resigned from his position as nonexecutive member of the board of directors, effective Nov. 8, to pursue new professional opportunities. At press time, Vedovotto did not own any shares in Safilo Group S.p.A.
On The TOWN
Safilo celebrated the Carrera by Jimmy Choo capsule collection with a party at Solstice Sunglasses in New York. The event also saw the unveiling of the one of six of the limited-edition styles featuring 24-carat gold lenses.
Walman Optical partnered with the Upper Midwest Optical Golf Day (UMOGD) to host the UMOGD Preservation Foundation Golf event at the Southview Country Club in West St. Paul, MN. In addition to being a fun golf outing, the event was a great success, raising $48,000 for the School for the Blind in Faribault, MN.
In October, Gogosha Optique’s Los Angeles shop on West 3rd Street became a near replica of the Oliver Goldsmith Sunglasses shop in Notting Hill, London. Claire Goldsmith made an appearance at the October 8 launch party to mingle with attendees of the shop-in-shop event.
(Clockwise from top): (l to r) Gogosha Optique owner Julia Gogosha hosts designer Claire Goldsmith at the Oliver Goldsmith shop-in-shop event; Model Fatima Siad samples the latest frames at the Carrera by Jimmy Choo capsule collection launch party; UMOGD golf event attendees (l to r) Jim Menard, Nick Turner, Scott Betcher, and Craig Giles; Jean Sabre, Sue Ebner, Chris Ossmo, and Kay Jensen
License Lineup
Marchon Eyewear and Liu Jo have signed an exclusive global license agreement giving Marchon the rights to manufacture and distribute sun and ophthalmic collections under the Liu Jo brand name. The collections will be available starting January 2014.
Cool Clicks
Altair Eyewear has launched a new Anne Klein Eyewear social media campaign on the Altair Facebook page. From now until Jan. 3, 2014, consumers can take a quick style quiz to enter for a chance to win a pair of Anne Klein sunglasses. Winners will be announced weekly on Fridays and a total of eight winners will be announced throughout the campaign.
INFO: facebook.com/AltairEyewear
Launched last month, Los Angeles-based Ivory+Mason has expanded its online retail website (ivorymason. com) to include a customization component for its selection of wood temple frames, allowing customers to personalize their frames for $30/pair.
REM, Mondottica Joint Venture
REM Eyewear and Mondottica have expanded their joint venture, Remdottica, which launched in September 2011 to distribute Converse Eyewear to areas of Europe. The expanded partnership will allow for Remdottica to share experience and expertise while keeping a close eye on regional trends and facilitating superior logistics. It also brings REM’s entire collection to Europe for the first time, as well as to the Middle East and Africa.
Vision-Ease Lens (VEL) was honored by the Web Marketing Association with a 2013 Best of Industry WebAward for its specialty website, VELVenue.com. The website, which VEL launched in October, was the overall winner in the portal category for its benefits-driven content, ease of ordering, and attractive, modern design.
Register Now for Vision Expo East
Registration for the 2014 International Vision Expo East is now available online. The show, which will once again be held at the Javits Center in New York, is set for Friday, March 28 to 30, with continuing education beginning on Wednesday, March 26.
Attendees of the show can look forward to the latest news and innovations in frames, lenses, equipment, and accessories, as well as a full catalog of continuing education opportunities.
To learn more, or to register, visit visionexpoeast.com.
New Global Contact Lens Forum
International Vision Expo & Conference and the British Contact Lens Association (BCLA) have entered into a multi-year content exchange agreement to create a two-day Global Contact Lens Forum. The first program will be available at next year’s Vision Expo East in New York. The program will provide a platform for delivering the latest scientific content and business strategies related to contact lenses. The second Global Contact Lens Forum will be hosted by BCLA in Birmingham, England in June 2014.
Word Search
By Jenean Carlton, BA, ABOC, NCLC
The final word search of 2013 includes terms related to characteristics of lens materials. For answers, go to FYI.
Abbe value
Polymer
Chromatic
Properties
aberration
Reflectance
CR39
Refraction
Crown glass
Safety
Density
Scratch resistant
Dispersion
Specific gravity
Durable
Stable
Glass
Tensile strength
High index
Thermoplastic
Impact resistant
Transmission
Lens materials
Transparent
Lightweight
Trivex
Monomers
Urethane
Performance
UV protection
Polycarbonate
Vistakon Names New President
Laura Angelini has been appointed president, North America, Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc. In her new role, she will be responsible for the Vistakon U.S. and Canadian businesses.
Angelini has more than 20 years of experience at Johnson & Johnson, serving in various sales and marketing leadership roles across the company’s Medical Device and Diagnostics segment. Most recently, Angelini was challenged with the task of creating a global enterprise strategy for three previously separate businesses that came together to form Ethicon Surgical Care.
New Optical Show to Debut in London
Media 10’s inaugural 100% Optical show is set to debut Feb. 16 to 18,2014, in London.The event, which will be held at ExCel London, is expected to host approximately 8,000 international visitors, with more than 5,000 already registered to attend.
Exhibitors from around the world will be on hand showcasing the latest in four key areas of interest: equipment and machinery, lenses, eyewear, and business services.
For more information, or to register for the show, visit 100percentoptical.com.
Star Gazers
Actress Dakota Fanning in Prada sun style PR 12P by Luxottica. The 19-year-old rising star was recently spotted wearing a prosthetic baby bump on set in Philadelphia for the upcoming film “Franny.”
Ex-NFL wide receiver and reality star Terrell Owens, affectionately known as “T.O.,” dons Altair Eyewear optical style A4027 at the Eyefinity booth at Vision Expo West. Owens was named the honorary game captain for his old team, the San Francisco 49ers, at a game last month.
Actor Henry Cavill looking dapper in Salvatore Ferragamo sun style SF118SL by Marchon. The “Man of Steel” star is hard at work on his next film, “The Man from U.N.C.L.E.”
“True Blood” star Kristin Bauer van Straten is all smiles in Marc Jacobs style 463S sunglasses by Safilo. She and the rest of her cast mates are busy filming the final season of the hit HBO show.
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