News
A New Vision for Community
Visionaries social hub welcomes ECPs to share ideas
Recognizing the power of social media to bring together members of our vast industry, the organizers of International Vision Expo have created VisionariesCommunity.com, a new social sharing, networking, and information hub exclusively for ECPs, industry leaders, and other “visionaries.”
“The site is a forum for anyone in the eyecare industry to engage in 365 days a year, an exclusive community to share content, ask questions, and post videos, white papers, and podcasts,” says Thomas Loughran, industry vice president, Reed Exhibitions. “Sharing valuable, relevant content enhances professional development and growth through learning.”
Membership is free. Members can create, share, and comment on content that addresses top-of-mind subject matters and supports professional and business development.
Among the ways members can use the portal:
“Trending” tags on the site include business solutions, eyewear trends, practice management, brands and designs, optometry, and eye health.
According to Loughran, the initial feedback from the industry has been very positive. “We are also pleased that we have key opinion leaders and members from our advisory boards commenting and posting content,” he says.
Traffic within the site is expected to ramp up as Vision Expo East, in April, nears.
“We envisioned this community as a place for everyone in the industry to connect and share content that they feel will resonate with other eyecare professionals,” he says. “We hope it will become a part of everyone’s daily social channels.”
INFO: VisionariesCommunity.com
—Susan Tarrant
On the Town
Optical gets out and about
ART + EYEWEAR IN NYC
Artist Maya Hayuk’s “Optiprism” diptych was inspired by the colors and shapes of Max Mara’s Fall/Winter eyewear collection by Safilo. The eyewear company celebrated the work with a party at the Max Mara Madison Avenue boutique in New York City on Nov. 4. A 200-piece, limited-edition sunglass collection signed by the artist was on hand at the launch for guests to enjoy.
“Optiprism” by Maya Hayuk
Artist Maya Hayuk, left, and Max Mara’s Maria Giulia Prezioso Maramotti wear the limited-edition sunglasses from Safilo’s Max Mara eyewear
FILMS OF CITY FRAMES
The second edition of Giorgio Armani’s Films of City Frames initiative premiered in London as part of the 59th BFI London Film Festival, and was hosted by Dame Helen Mirren and Roberta Armani, the designer’s niece and ambassador for the Armani brand.
The four short student films were built around Armani’s Frames of Life collection from Luxottica. The films can be seen online at framesoflife.com.
Fashion journalist Tim Blanks, Dame Helen Mirren, and Roberta Armani attend the screening
TWO RUDYS
Rudy Project partnered with actor Sean Astin (star of the acclaimed 1993 film “Rudy”) as ambassador of this year’s IRONMAN World Championships. Rudy Project is helping Astin raise awareness and funds for his #Run3rd initiative. For information, visit e-rudy.com.
Actor Sean Astin with a Rudy Project helmet at the IRONMAN World Championships
EYETIQUE CONTINUES TO GROWS
Eyetique has grown from one store in 1979 to more than 20 stores in Pennsylvania and Ohio and almost 100 employee, and just opened a corporate headquarters, employees training center, lab, and distribution center in Pittsburgh.
Eyetique founder and president Norman Childs, center, is joined by staff and local officials at the opening of Eyetique’s new facility
LOVE RIDE
The Love Ride, a motorcycle rally that has raised more than $25 million for various charities since 1984, took its final curtain call this fall with its last ride and celebration concert. Liberty Sport provided riders and celebs with prescription and non-prescription motorcycle eyewear solutions from its Rider and Switch collections.
Actress Kristy Swanson sports Liberty Sport sunwear in the Love Ride’s “Snap Yourself” VIP photo booth
Spex in the City
Star-Studded ACE Awards Honors Marchon CEO Claudio Gottardi
New York’s Cipriani 42nd Street laid out the red carpet Nov. 3, welcoming celebs and other attendees to the 19th annual Accessories Council Excellence (ACE) Awards gala.
1. Left to right: CEO of Lacoste North America Joelle Grunberg, VSP board member Rob Lynch, real estate developer and entrepreneur Ivanka Trump, president and CEO of Marchon Eyewear Claudio Gottardi, and creative director for Calvin Klein Ulrich Grimm; 2. Designer John Varvatos (who has an eyewear line with REM Eyewear) received the Designer of the Year award; 3. The sophisticated setting at the ACE Awards
EB was in attendance to help celebrate the Leadership Award presented to Claudio Gottardi, president and CEO of Marchon Eyewear. Gottardi’s award was introduced by Diane von Furstenberg and presented by his son, Matteo Gottardi, founder and creative director of W.R.K Clothing and Design Studio.
The ACE Awards were created in 1997 to pay tribute to individuals and groups that have made great strides in raising awareness of the $50-billion-a-year accessories industry. Honorees are selected for making significant contributions to furthering the awareness and use of accessories and were nominated and voted on by their peers in the accessory industry, retailers, the Accessories Council Board of Directors, and the fashion press.
Additional honorees included John Varvatos with the Designer of the Year Award, Ivanka Trump with the Breakthrough Award, and Taraji P. Henson with the Influencer Award for the hit TV show “Empire.”
—Erinn Morgan
OPTICAL WOMEN ELECT NEW BOARD
The Optical Women’s Association (OWA) has announced the election of six new board members: Katherine Allen; Maureen Cavanagh; Jennifer Jackson; Janet Johnson; Valerie Manso; ABOC, FNAO; and Tammy Reaves.
Having fulfilled their terms, the following OWA board members are stepping down: Ann Englert, Debra Forstenzer, Liz Segre, and Barbara Wagner.
The new executive committee consists of: Heather Smith, president; Tiara Claxton, vice president; Jean Sabre, secretary/treasurer; and Christie Walker, immediate past president.
The 2016 OWA board, from left: Christie Walker (Jobson), Jennifer Jackson (Marcolin), Maureen Cavanagh (Vision Impact Institute), Tammy Reaves (Target Optical), Lorie Lippiatt, O.D. (The Salem Eyecare Center, Inc.), Debbie Myers (Pacific Northern, Inc.), Heather Smith (VisionWeb), Tiara Claxton (Safilo USA), Janet L. Jackson (Ocuco, Inc.), Jean Sabre (Uptown Vision), Katherine Allen (Luneau Technology), Valerie Manso (BluTech Lenses). Not pictured: Kate Renwick-Espinosa (VSP Vision Care)
Hong Kong Show Breaks Records
The 23rd Hong Kong Optical Fair welcomed a record number of buyers—14,700 in all—to its annual trade show in November. Highlights included eyewear parades, design competitions, education in conjunction with the Hong Kong Optometric Conference, and in-hall presentations on business and economic trends.
Among the well-attended events was a session on future technologies, organized and moderated by EB’s Steph De Long.
Throughout the three-day fair, attendees flocked to the Brand Name Gallery, which featured 220 brands and designer collections from around the world. High-tech was also in demand, with crowds gathering around stands that displayed 3D-printed eyewear and smart glasses.
The fair is organized by The Hong Kong Trade Development Council. Next year’s show will be held Nov. 2-4.
Greeters welcome attendees to the Hong Kong Optical Fair
GfK’s Soh Guan Kai and Dario Lorizzo discuss the 4% rise in optical sales in Europe for the first half of 2015
(l-r) EB’s Steph De Long, Rochester Optical’s Patrick Ho, and ClearVision’s David Friedfeld discuss “How Technologies Drive Business”
BIG HORN brand’s creative director, Kevin Ching
Fashion parades are a highlight of the show for attendees
—Stephanie De Long
EYECARE SYMPOSIUM HEATS UP
Last month, more than 400 ECPs traveled to Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa in Orlando, FL, for three days of practice management seminars and clinical CE at the Optometric Management Symposium on Contemporary Eye Care.
Sponsored by EB sister publication Optometric Management, the event offered a balance of timely disease-management courses and practice-building seminars. In addition, time was also made available to enjoy the Disney theme parks and resorts.
The education program offered three tracks: clinical, practice management, and staff training. Networking opportunities were plentiful, and an exhibit hall of 18 major industry leaders presented attendees with the latest technology and products for their practices.
Next year’s show will take place Dec. 2-4, 2016 at the same resort. Eyecare Business will be participating as well, and will be adding a dispensing track. —S.T.
A total of 18 companies presented business and clinical solutions
More than 400 attendees enjoyed the networking opportunities
PentaVision’s Scott Schmidt mans the booth in the exhibit hall
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