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Hot List: March 2013

Alicia Hoglund

1 Top Spring Trends

Style.com predicted the hottest accessory trends in its recent Spring 2013 Accessory Trends preview, “Extraordinary Measures”:

Opposites Attract…	A classic mix of black and white
The New Normal…	Over-the-top accessories are now the norm
Linked In…	The more chain detailing, the better
Bullion Market…	The popularity of gold keeps rising

2 RETAIL THERAPY

A recent reader poll by Ladies’Home Journal revealed women’s attitudes toward shopping.

“How Does Shopping Make You Feel?”

Happy	82%
Exhilarated	7%
Dreadful	6%
Overwhelmed	5%

3 SPRING CLEANING
According to the Shop.org/Forrester Research Inc.’s State Of Retailing Online report, the majority (51 percent) of retailers surveyed say their top priority for 2013 is site optimization, including checkout optimization, alternative payments, user experience, testing, and product detail page enhancements.

4 HOP TO IT!

According to the National Retail Federation’s Easter Spending Survey, consumers won’t be skimping on holiday-related candy and spring apparel. Nearly half (48.5 percent) will take advantage of retailers’ spring sales on colorful fashions and accessories, with total spending on those items expected to reach $3 billion.

Essilor Travels West

More than 750 attendees participated in the 2013 Essilor National Sales meeting, which rang in the new year at the Broadmoor Resort in Colorado Springs, CO, from January 7 to 9. Day One included a Western dress requirement with attendees role playing as buyers and sellers of everything from cattle to corn in the early West. The point? To focus on throughput, not price.

In addition to general sessions, Product University breakouts covered Xperio UV, Crizal, and the Varilux S Series. Evenings celebrated the success of leaders in a variety of categories.

In opening remarks, Howard Purcell, OD, shared insights into the aging population. “Someone turns 50 every six seconds,” he said. “And the number of people age 55+ will double in the next 15 years.”

Several speakers talked about new consumer campaigns launching in early 2013, including ads for Essilor’s Crizal, Varilux, and Xperio brands.

1. Bob Colucci, president of ELOA, addresses his group; 2. Rattlesnake Canyon competition winners; 3. A night of awards at the EOA dinner; 4. Vision Excellence grand prize winners share the stage

Transitions Academy Ignites Passion

1. Celebrating the opening of Academy are (l to r) Dave Cole, president, Brian Hauser, general manager, North America, and Jose Alves, general manager, Latin America; 2. Darius Rucker rocks the crowd with a surprise concert; 3. Complete Family Vision Care accepts the Eyecare Practice of the Year award; 4. Fun team activities have attendees creating Transitions superhero characters; 5. David Ray of Seiko Optical Products takes part in an activity demonstrating Transitions lenses’ performance in various light conditions; 6. SVS Vision Optical accepts the Regional Retailer of the Year award

The 17th annual Transitions Academy attracted more than 1,100 industry professionals to the Rosen Shingle Creek in Orlando in January. The three-day event boasted strategic workshops and education on the latest products and programs from Transitions Optical, Inc.

The theme of the conference was igniting belief, passion, and action at work and among the Transitions partners. Keynote speaker Drew Dudley, founder of Nuance Leadership Development Services, spoke to attendees about discovering leadership within themselves. And a series of FranklinCovey workshops helped attendees identify and ignite productivity, effectiveness, and positive work environments.

Sherianne James, director, North America marketing, announced the launch of Transitions’ largest consumer media campaign to date, focusing on consumers’ choice of Transitions lens products to benefit their individual needs and lifestyles. The company will again be the Official Sponsor of Sightseeing and announced several celebrity ambassadors that will be joining the educational program (see related article, page on 37). To celebrate the announcement, celebrity chef Robert Irvine addressed the Academy attendees, and country music artist Darius Rucker performed a surprise concert.

The event concluded with the 2012 Academy Awards, honoring commitment to Transitions products and to promoting healthy sight:

Eyecare Practice of the Year—Complete Family Vision Center, San Diego; Regional Retailer of the Year—the Midwest’s SVS Vision Optical Centers; National Retailer of the Year—National Vision, Inc.; Lab of the Year—Diversified Ophthalmics, Cincinnati, OH; Vision Benefits Broker of the Year—Anthony Glaub, Professional Insurance Enrollers, South Bend, IN; and Human Resources Visionary of the Year—Maurice Evans, Jr. of Integrel Group, Atlanta.

AMBASSADORS ANNOUNCED

Transitions Optical, Inc., has announced that, for the second consecutive year, it will be the Official Sponsor of Sightseeing through a program focused on educating consumers about how they can enhance their visual experience.

The program features celebrity ambassadors from top consumer-identified passions: sports, food, music, and travel. Baseball legend Cal Ripken, Jr., country music artist Darius Rucker, celebrity chef Robert Irvine, and National Geographic reporters Annie Griffiths and Andrew Evans will appear at events and use social media to educate fans about the importance of eye exams, eye health, and Transitions lenses.

Among the planned large-scale events are a Transitions Performance Park at the CMA Country Music Festival and a presence at the Food Network South Beach Wine and Food Festival in Miami. All of the ambassadors’ efforts will drive consumers to the program website for additional eye health information. ECPs can link to the site from their Facebook pages to get their patients involved.

INFO: SeeMoreSights.com

WEB EXCLUSIVE!
EB chats with Darius Rucker and Robert Irvine about their vision and their partnerships with Transitions. Visit EyecareBusiness.com for the full interview.

Cal Ripken, Jr., is one of many celebrity ambassadors for the Official Sponsor of Sightseeing program

Executive Summit Sets Records

Business and leadership strategies. Economic trends. Executive networking. Breakout and division meetings. And, oh yes, golf. All this against the backdrop of the beachfront Ritz Carlton in Key Biscayne, FL, and it’s little wonder that The Vision Council’s January Executive Summit saw a 15 percent rise in registration over last year.

Keynote speakers included, Method (soap) co-founder Eric Ryan on “How a Scrappy Start-up Turned an Industry Upside Down”; an Economic Trends Update by Andrew Duguay; a panel on the future of eyewear retail moderated by Essilor’s Howard Purcell, OD, and Marchon’s Al Berg and featuring SEE Stores’ Richard Golden, Luxottica Luxury Retail’s Rob McCoy, National Vision’s Bruce Steffey, and Gregg Ossip, OD; and an interview with Dean Butler, founder of LensCrafters.

For more on the Summit, and what speakers had to say, go to Editor’s Letter on page 32.

1. Method Product co-founder Eric Ryan talks corporate culture; 2 OfficeMate’s Ed Buffington chats with The Vision Council’s Ed Greene; 3. REM’s Mike Hundert interviews Dean Butler, founder of LensCrafters; 4. The Vision Council’s new chairman Raanan Naftalovich addresses attendees; 5. A panel of industry leaders discuss “The Future of Eyewear Retail”

License Lineup

Safilo Group has signed a worldwide licensing agreement with Estée Lauder for the design, manufacture, and distribution of Bobbi Brown optical frames and sunwear collections. The initial collection will launch in the spring 2014.

“I am excited to embark on this new journey with Safilo. I believe that makeup is a way for women to feel and look like themselves, only prettier and more confident,” says Bobbi Brown, founder and chief creative officer of Bobbi Brown Cosmetics. “As a makeup artist, I have looked at women’s faces for more than 20 years and believe that my beauty expertise will translate naturally into eyewear.”

In related news, Safilo and Banana Republic have renewed their license agreement for the design, manufacture, and distribution of Banana Republic optical and sunglass collections through Jan. 31, 2019.

New York Eye has signed a five-year license renewal agreement for the continued design and production of Joan Collins Eyewear collection. The extended agreement runs through September 2017.

Mondottica International Ltd. has signed an eyewear license agreement with Yohji Yamamoto for both the Yohji Yamamoto and Y’s brands. The first collections are expected to debut in 2014.

Marchon Launches New Sales Division

Marchon Eyewear has launched a new sales division, Marchon EMEA, that will focus on servicing the sporting good sector in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, including general and action sports as well as lifestyle retail. Marchon EMEA’s product portfolio will include performance and lifestyle sunglasses and snow goggles for Nike Vision and action sports sunwear, snow goggles, and MX goggles for Dragon Alliance. The new division has offices in Amsterdam, Munich, and London, and local customer and central distribution from Marchon’s European Distribution Centre in Amsterdam. Gunther Herrmann will head the new division. In addition, Craig Smith has been appointed the EMEA sales and marketing manager for Dragon, and Eric Brendel has been appointed to EMEA sales and marketing manager for Nike Vision in the sporting goods channel.

WORD SEARCH: Elements of Progressive Lenses

For the answers, go to FYI on page 152

Growing Show: Opti Munich

The optical community kicked off 2013 in Germany with Opti Munich, which drew more than 23,200 visitors from across the globe to the Bavarian capital city. Though the weather outside was snowy, the event continues to heat up, attracting a larger attendee pool than 2012.

“Opti is becoming more and more important at the international level,” says Dieter Dohr, CEO and president of GHM (Gesellschaft fur Handwerksmessen mbH). “More companies are seeing the Munich event as an opportunity to expand their international clientele base. Of course, opticians also benefit from this, because the bigger the selection of products on offer, the more choice they have for putting together their own range.”

Industry professionals from more than 70 countries were wowed by the extensive range of products offered by the 491 exhibitors in the four sold-out exhibit halls. Visitors awarded the trade show top marks, fair representatives note, citing that more than 90 percent of respondents rated Opti 2013 as “good to very good.”

According to the results of a survey of show attendees, a major selling point for the show is the broad range of products exhibited and the fact that there are so many new products on display.

“Opti has established itself as the platform for launching new products at the beginning of the year,” says Dohr. “The timing of Opti is perfect for this.”

Josef May, chairman of SPECTARIS German Association of Optical Industries, predicted a good year while at the show’s press conference: “Instead of a downturn, the optics industry looks set to enjoy fresh impetus again this year. This year looks set to be the year of contact lenses and multiple frame purchases.”

In addition to the tradeshow booths, the show floor was home to an educational track hosting panels on subjects ranging from ocular health to the American optical scene. The next Opti will be held Jan. 10 to 12, 2014.

INFO: opti-munich.com

1. Models at Opti Munich’s official press conference show off some of the new developments launched at the event; 2. Show organizers and German optical leaders discuss the fair and the state of the industry; 3. The show floor is hopping with local and international ECPs filling the halls; 4. The Opti Forum hosts three days of educational talks and presentations; 5. Bevel Eyewear’s latest blues on display; 6. Face a Face’s new Bocca shows off a leggy look

On the Town

Essilor of America gifted luxury eyewear with Crizal UV lenses to top celebrities, VIPs, and entertainment media through its participation in GBK Production’s Luxury Gift Lounge at the L’Hermitage Hotel in Beverly Hills, CA, that was held in honor of the 70th Annual Golden Globes nominees and presenters.

Maui Jim team members were on hand at the 2013 PGA Merchandise Show to showcase the company’s latest offerings to attendees, including the new MauiGradient prescription lenses.

Clockwise from top left: “House of Lies” co-stars Ben Schwartz and Josh Lawson and “Franklin and Bash” actress Garcelle Beauvais sample eyewear filled with Essilor of America’s Crizal UV lenses; dancers perform at the Maui Jim booth; Maui Jim shows off its latest collections at the PGA Merchandise Show

Cool Clicks

Reykjavik Eyes has launched a new website, reykjavikeyes.com. ECPs can learn about the latest frame collections and the concepts behind the frames, as well as browse through the frame gallery, which now includes images from 2013 campaign photos.

Altair Eyewear has updated its website with a fresh, modern, and easy-to-navigate design. Visitors can explore Altair’s portfolio of brands with individual “brand centers” and browse a complete catalog with intuitive menu design that allows for refined searches based on material, inspiration, and more. ECPs can keep track of their favorites by creating a Virtual Frame Tray that can be emailed to their account executive. Through the new suite of account management tools, accounts can now view their no-cost frame inventory, make payments online, request documents, download price lists, and get up-to-date product availability 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Transitions Optical, Inc., has re-launched transitions.com to provide an enhanced user experience and more in-depth education on the company’s family of products. The site features a detailed breakdown of each Transitions lens product, fresh imagery, and greater usability, including improved search functionality.

Keeping in line with its plans for expansion, AdLens recently debuted a new website featuring an inspirational, modern, practical, and easy-to-use design and improved accessibility to the company’s latest news through Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn. In addition, the company is releasing more content on its YouTube channel (youtube.com/user/AdlensLtd), including a newly released demonstration and training video.

Check it Out!

The Vision Council recently debuted a new standalone website, whatislowvision.org, dedicated to low vision education for those with vision impairment, their loved ones and caregivers, as well as consumers. The site provides information on low vision, including its causes and warning signs, as well as vision-enhancing devices and medical solutions. The site is fully functional for low-vision users. Its features include a simple navigation layout and several specialty functions, including font size and contrast buttons, a doctor locator, and a blog feed. Vision Source founder Glenn Ellisor, OD, and vice president of practice development Walt West, OD, were guests on the free weekly online radio talk show “The Power Hour.” Archives of the show, which is sponsored by Essilor of America, can be found on The Power Practice website (powerpractice.com).

Allison Appoints New CEO

Allison S.p.A. announced that it will appoint Jacopo Romano as its chief executive officer in the next board of directors meeting. Romano, who has been a member of Allison’s board of directors since 2009, has previous experience with Paladin Capital Partners.

The nomination of Romano comes about during a phase of strategic improvement, development, and relaunch of the company, representatives note.

In addition to the appointment, Allison is strengthening its sales network through the partnership with new direct agents in North America, the signing of production and distribution agreements in Brazil, and the expansion of the sales forces in Italy and Europe.

Sunshine Act Final Ruling

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Service (CMS) recently announced its final ruling on the Sunshine Act. According to the rule, contact lens manufacturers will now be required to document and report all payments they make to physicians. Manufacturers of eyeglasses, sunglasses, and over-the-counter readers, which are designated as Class I medical devices, are exempt under the ruling. The final rule also requires manufacturers and group purchasing organizations (GPOs) to disclose to CMS physician ownership or investment interests. Data collection is set to begin Aug. 1, 2013, and applicable manufacturers and GPOs will report data through December 2013 by March 31, 2014. An electronic system to facilitate the report process is currently in development. INFO: cms.gov

STAR Gazers

1. Colin Kaepernick, quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers, accessorizes with JOE Joseph Abboud style JOE4021 by Altair Eyewear. Kaepernick and his team competed in the NFL Super Bowl XLVII against the Baltimore Ravens.

2. Coy Bowles of the Zac Brown Band samples Maui Jim’s Pilot shades. Bowles and his bandmates recently picked up their third Grammy award, taking home the award for Best Country Album.

3. Rihanna stuns in Miu Miu style Culte sunglasses by Luxottica. The songstress, who turned 25 last month, recently inked a deal to create multiple color collections with MAC Cosmetics.