News

Happy Holidays Await Retailers

Retail group predicts strong sales in November and December

Retailers of all sorts have reason to put on a happy face this holiday season, as all indicators are pointing to a busy—and profitable—two months. The National Retail Federation (NRF) is predicting sales in November and December (excluding autos, gas, and restaurant sales) to increase a solid 3.7% to $630.5 billion over last year—significantly higher than the 10-year average of 2.5%.

Additionally, NRF is forecasting online sales to increase between 6% and 8% during that period.

“With several months of solid retail sales behind us, we’re heading into the all-important holiday season fully expecting to see healthy growth,” says NRF president and CEO Matthew Shay.

High-End Remains Strong

In a teleconference with the media, Shay said consumers are still cognizant of the strength of the broader economy, and that 75% say concern about the economy is a factor when they make purchasing decisions. “That creates a premium on retailers who execute on a really high level and deliver those real experiential kind of opportunities to connect with consumers,” he says.

Be Smart, Be Competitive

With gas prices going down, this year has already seen increases in discretionary spending on such things as dining out, travel, and entertainment, says NRF chief economist Jack Kleinhenz.

“The recognition is that consumers are spending, and that they will spend when presented with the right product at the right price and delivered with the right kind of experience,” notes Kleinhenz. “You can still win in this market, but you’ve got to do things right. And I think that requires retailers to be very competitive.”

—Susan Tarrant

CVS Opens Optical Centers

CVS Health will begin providing optical services at CVS/pharmacy stores—starting with a pilot program in five Baltimore/Washington, D.C. market locations. The chain will also open hearing centers in seven stores in the Dallas and Cleveland markets.

“Hearing and optical services are a great fit with the existing health offerings in our stores, including industry-leading pharmacy products and services, our MinuteClinic walk-in medical clinics and a comprehensive smoking cessation program,” says Andrew Sussman, M.D., president of CVS/MinuteClinic and executive vice president & associate chief medical officer of CVS Health. “By expanding our retail health offerings into vision and hearing services, we are providing customers a convenient, single destination on their path to better health.”

According to CVS Health, optical services will be available seven days a week at the chosen locations. An opening date was unavailable at press time. Services (available via both walk-in and appointment) will include comprehensive eye exams by an optometrist three days a week, and prescriptions for glasses and contact lenses. Opticians will be available seven days a week for style consultations, fittings, adjustments, and cleanings. More than 600 styles of frames and sunglasses will be offered on a rotating basis.

Many insurance plans will be accepted, the company states.

CVS has reportedly partnered with VSP to provide products and services in the optical centers. CVS is expected to use VSP-branded lenses, offer Marchon and Altair eyewear among its selection, and fill the Rx’s at VSPOne labs. —S.T.

OAA ELECTS NEW PRESIDENT

Sandy Brown

Sandy Brown of Kentucky has been elected president of the Opticians Association of America (OAA). She was elected at the recent OptiCon Conference held in Nashville. Brown is the fifth woman to be elected president in the organization’s 90-year history.

Brown is a licensed optician and is the former president of the Opticians Association of Kentucky and the SouthEastern Opticians Conference. She has served as a director for the OAA for many years, and most recently served as chair of OAA’s Annual State Leadership Conference. She has also taken leadership of the Opticianry Collaboration Forum’s communication efforts “in order to keep the entire profession of opticianry moving in the same positive direction,” according to the OAA.

FYI...

News bits from the industry

{PEOPLE}

Richard Weiss has been appointed vice president of technologies for Shamir Insight’s North American InoTime Laboratories. He joined InoTime in 2013, and was significantly involved in the early stages of the lab’s process design and implementation.

CooperVision has named Michele Andrews, O.D., as director of professional affairs for North America. She most recently served as executive vice president of professional services at For Eyes Optical Company.

Warren Laird has been named vice president of Accountable Care Organizations (ACO) Business Development for VSP Vision Care. He most recently was managed care director for health plans and state health insurance exchanges.

Maria L. Parisi, O.D., FAAO, has been named associate dean for the Practice of Optometric Medicine at Salus University Pennsylvania College of Optometry (PCO). Dr. Parisi brings more than 25 years of experience at Salus/PCO to her new position.

{BUSINESS UPDATES}

Independent optometric alliance IDOC recently moved into larger (6,000 square feet) office space and added more staff. Its new address is 383 Main Ave., Suite 602, Norwalk, CT 06851.

VSP Optics Group has opened a new VSPOne Optical Technology Center in Los Angeles. The new laboratory was established to help meet growing demand for UNITY lenses and coatings in Southern California. This marks the 15th lab in the company’s network.

Safilo Group opened its wholly owned subsidiary in Turkey, making it the hub of its Central Eastern European division.

HOYA Vision Care announces the creation of HOYA Turkey Optik Lens San. Tic. AS as an affiliate of HOYA Vision Care Europe.

Coburn Technologies and Kowa American Corporation announce their new partnership in which Coburn Technologies will distribute Kowa’s diagnostic product line to the U.S. ophthalmic market.

As part of its North American expansion, Jacques Durand Occhiali has awarded distribution of its brands throughout Canada to gramercy eyewear. The portfolio consists of the Jacques Durand and Veronika Wildgruber collections.

1. Michele Andrews, O.D., CooperVision; 2. Warren Laird, VSP Vision Care; 3. Richard Weiss, InoTime Laboratories

{AWARDS}

For the fifth consecutive year, Costa sunglasses has been awarded Best Eyewear in the New Product Showcase at the International Convention of Allied Sportfishing Trades (ICAST). ICAST is the largest sportfishing trade show in the world.

{SOLUTIONS}

The following is the solution to the “Eyewear and Fashion” word search puzzle that ran in the September issue.

EB GETS BEHIND THE WHEEL WITH ZEISS

Last month, ZEISS hosted a large group of international guests—including optometrists, opticians, optical managers and buyers, and press—at a one-of-a-kind event held in Germany to mark the launch of ZEISS DriveSafe lenses. Before launching DriveSafe, which is positioned as an everyday lens solution with built-in performance and comfort for driving, ZEISS (in conjunction with the esteemed German automotive research institute FKFS) intensively studied the visual challenges drivers face.

The event kicked off with a tour of ZEISS’ global headquarters and its impressive vision museum in Oberkochen, Germany. It then shifted gears and transported attendees to Berlin for a day event where ZEISS transformed the historic Tempelhof Airport into a highly unique DriveSafe lens exhibition and road course.

Attendees were outfitted with DriveSafe lenses, which could be tested in a variety of scenarios, from GoKart racing and a Segway course set up inside an airport hangar to a road course designed outside on the runway. ZEISS partnered with Mercedes-Benz for the event, and guests were teamed up with race car drivers to navigate several different courses.

1. The ZEISS team shares the benefits of DriveSafe; 2. Guests from Houston Eye Associates, CEO Rick Canady and optical director Dave Brown, ABOC, NCLE, with Harlan Dee Hankins, president and chairman of the Board of Directors of All About Eyes; 3. The driving course at Tempelhof Airport; 4. EB executive VP and publisher Mark Durrick and EIC Erinn Morgan get ready for the test drive; 5. Attendees test DriveSafe lenses on the Segway course

—Erinn Morgan

Silmo 2015 in Pictures

Spanning four style-packed days in Paris, the Silmo 2015 show was a stunning success of style, vision, and business. With a more settled economic outlook in place, attendees exhibited a mood of optimism.

Eyecare Business was on hand to experience this show’s pure excitement—and tangible sophistication. Here, our curated view of the show in photos (provided by Silmo).

Visionaries in Vegas

Vision Expo West hosts an event full of innovation and contemporary connection

it’s a wrap! Over the course of four days in mid-September, Vision Expo West was home to more than 350 hours of education and 520 exhibiting companies showcasing the best in frame design, lens innovation, diagnostic solutions, and business management strategies.

The show was a very socially connected one. Much of the activity in the classroom and on the show floor was live-streamed via Periscope. Other classes embraced crowdsourced topics and questions. And everywhere, attendees were encouraged to get in on the social action and post, tweet, ’gram, and share their experiences with colleagues throughout the optical industry.

That connected experience continues online after the show, through video interviews with attendees and program speakers posted on YouTube as well as on VisionariesCommunity.com. The latter is Vision Expo’s new website associated with its 2016 campaign to spotlight familiar and rising industry visionaries and leverage digital platforms to share stories and create year-round engagement.

The website was launched during Vision Expo West as a social sharing, networking, and information hub developed exclusively for the growing Vision Expo community.

EB was in the middle of the action, of course. On the following pages, enjoy our recap of events and products that wowed us.

Vision Expo West will return to Vegas next year, Sept.14-17, 2016. Next up, however, is Vision Expo East, which will once again take place in New York City, April 14-17, 2016.

Marilyn Monroe makes an appearance at the A&A Optical booth happy hour, sparkling in Jimmy Crystal New York accessories and helping CEO/president Robert Liener draw the raffle winners

Costa’s Terri Ossi Hannah, left, and Renato Cappuccitti answer questions at a press conference about the company’s new Rx technology and rimless styles

From left, Essilor’s Jean-Marc Leroy and Jeffrey Harrell pose with Erik Qualman, author and renowned speaker on digital culture, at a party launching Eyezen glasses

From left, Marchon’s Heather McHale, Gabriele Bonapersona, Lauren Makofske, Jeanine Navarro, and Pierre Bessez celebrating the launch of Lacoste’s L12.12 Eyewear Collection at the Lacoste boutique at The Forum Shops

Posing after a successful Kids by Safilo presentation are (l to r) Safilo’s Eden Wexler, Ari Labell, Robert Eggett, Bruce Abramson, Glenn Rusk, and David Granet. M.D. FACS FAOO, FAAP

Marcolin USA CEO Fabrizio Gamberini, center, with Rachel Block Smith and Michael Block of Block Business Group enjoying Marcolin’s celebration at TAO

Tura CEO Scott Sennett celebrates the 30-year anniversary of Tura’s longest-selling frame, Model 311. The Tura 311 Cabana was a must-visit for attendees, with 311-colored tropical cocktails on the menu

Skateboard pro Tony Hawk talks to visitors at the Eyewear Designs booth about his new eyewear line

ClearVision Optical’s social media ninja, Nicole Wong (photobombed by CVO’s Lee Birnbaum), celebrates the company’s #CVOGetSocial party

Celebrating the launch of Made-in-America-focused State Optical are (l-r) State Optical’s Scott Shapiro, Amanda Shapiro, and their tot, Alan, along with Marc Franchi, Jason Stanley, Cynthia Shapiro, Blake Kuwahara, and Jerry Wolowicz

The honorees at the Optical Lab Divison Hall of Fame Banquet, l-r: Jim Ryan, Rick Tinson, Thomas Puckett (Director’s Choice Award), Jim Grotegood, and Gunter Schneider (Darryl Meister honored posthumously)

Safilo’s Eden Wexler is flanked by The Vision Council’s Rene Shepherd, left, and Deborah Castor at the OWA Networking & Raffle Reception

(l-r) Gary Gerber, O.D., Jill Saxon, O.D., of Bausch + Lomb, and ClearVision Optical’s Mimi Friedfeld at the OWA Connection Series panel, “Getting Four Generations to Work Together”

Soccer star Mia Hamm (center) poses with some of Vision Ease’s top customers and reps during a party launching the company’s new brand strategy

Digital Eye Lab and Silhouette/adidas celebrate their partnership in EZ Connect. From left: Silhouette’s Jan Cory, Scott Pearl (Digital Eye Lab), Heinz Pichler, and Barry Jones

The Think About Your Eyes team thanks supporters and welcomes prospective members

ZEISS is a main sponsor of the soon-to-be-released international documentary “SIGHT: The Story of Vision.” Zeiss hosted a reception during VEW that included a screening of a portion of the film and a Q&A with the directors. Shown here, from left: ZEISS’ Claude Lebeeuw, Jens Boy, Veneeta Eason, Steve Mitrakos, and Jon Goldberg

Alcon’s Carla Mack, O.D., at the Air Optix Colors Education Salon event at Mandalay Bay

1 ► ALCON

Clear Care Plus

CLEAR CARE PLUS Cleaning & Disinfecting Solution is the company’s next-generation hydrogen peroxide lens care (cleaning and disinfecting) solution. It provides sustained lens moisture by combining proprietary HydraGlyde Moisture Matrix technology with the CLEAR CARE hydrogen peroxide system.

INFO: alcon.com

2 ► BRIOT USA

Attitude Edger

The new Attitude edger offers features designed to broaden the scope of users’ capabilities, including optical and manual tracing and power mapping technology using an HD camera and touchscreen capabilities.

INFO: briot.com/usa

3 ► COBURN TECHNOLOGIES

Huvitz 9000 Series

This new line of diagnostic products includes a lensmeter with a Blue Light Hazard measurement function, a digital refractor that tilts for near chart tests, and an auto refractor/keratometer with many unique functions.

INFO: coburntechnologies.com

4 ► COSTA

Rx Advances

Costa has relaunched its Rx lab and now offers new Rx technologies to customers, including a rimless Rx program; a backside, round seg for those who prefer bifocals; a Varilux Stylistic design available in the C-SCAPE PAL portfolio; and the popular 580P lens available in polycarbonate.

INFO: b2b.costadelmar.com

5 ► ESSILOR

Eyezen

Eyezen eyeglasses are designed for non-presbyopes who spend a lot of time in front of digital screens. The glasses have a small amount of accommodative relief and a high-quality AR that filters blue light. Three designs are available for various age groups, though the product is being heavily promoted to millennials.

INFO: eyezenUSA.com, eyezenPRO.com

6 ► ESSILOR INSTRUMENTS

Mr. Blue 2.0

The perfect solution for a demanding workshop, the Mr. Blue 2.0 edging system features a range of new functions to meet customer demands. Included in the new functions is lens etching and engraving, allowing ECPs to easily provide custom work for their patients.

INFO: essilorinstrumentsusa.com

7 ► EYE DESIGNS

Angle Frame Tower

The tower features light aluminum supports in a stacked layout that elevates the frames for all-angle viewing and ease of trying on. Soft rubber pads keep frames in the proper position. The tower is available in a three- or five-piece display.

INFO: eyedesigns.com

8 ► GÖTTI

Tamal

The Tamal by Götti is a highly lightweight titanium frame with a round panto retro shape that has an urban edge. The frame’s integrated SPIN&STOW technology enables wearers to stow frames nearly flat with a simple twist.

INFO: gotti.ch

9 ► HILCO

Leader Collection

Hilco’s Leader collection offers eye protection through its industrial and sports sub-collections. The OG-240S Rx Workwear offers industrial safety with a sporty look, featuring Leader’s V-Port technology for better peripheral viewing and ventilation.

INFO: hilco.com

10 ► JOHNSON & JOHNSON

1-Day Acuvue Moist

Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc., has launched 1-DAY ACUVUE MOIST brand multifocal contact lenses, created with optimized optic designs to address the natural variations in pupil size, according to age and refractive power.

INFO: acuvueprofessional.com

11 ► L’AMY AMERICA

Nicole Miller

The Nicole Miller NM Berkeley is a stunning acetate frame that is available to the market this month. This style comes in translucent brown, translucent grape, and translucent cherry in size 54-15-135.

INFO: lamyamerica.com

12 ► LIBERTY SPORT

Neon Tag

The latest addition to Liberty Sport’s F8 Street Series is inspired by a fusion of sports performance and street art. The unisex shape meets or exceeds ASTM F803 impact standards for several sports.

INFO: libertysport.com

13 ► MARCHON

Nike Vision

Nike Vision and NBA pro Kevin Durant announce the Fall 2015 collection of their collaborative line, with an expanded offering of three adult and three children’s styles. The eyewear’s colorways will sync up with Durant’s KD8 sneaker, featuring Nike’s Flyweave technology.

INFO: marchon.com

14 ► MARCOLIN

GANT Eyewear

The new GA4041 optical frame seduces with vintage appeal, marked by the subtle rounded silhouette. Handmade in acetate, the front features tiny metal details, while the temples’ translucent design distinguishes this style, partially revealing the metal core structure and the subtle logo of the brand.

INFO: marcolin.com

15 ► OGI

Bon Vivant Style Felicite

Felicite enjoyed its debut at VEW. Crafted with German OBE screws and Italian acetate, the ornately detailed Felicite is inspired by the many architectural marvels and museums found throughout Paris.

INFO: ogieyewear.com

16 ► PRESENTA NOVA

Privacy Panel

This privacy panel, which can be changed from transparent to frosted via remote control, has been added to Presenta Nova’s diagnostic testing area offerings. The company previously introduced a testing table and large digital screen in combination with its partner Visionix.

INFO: presenta-nova.us

17 ► SAFILO

Dior Exquise O

The essence of Dior’s elegance and sophistication lives in this frame, expressed with an innovative ultra-flat and extra-light design. The frame is made in Japanese ateliers with special handmade craftsmanship, creating a slim metal structure combined with extremely thin acetate sheets.

INFO: safilo.com

18 ► SANTINELLI INTERNATIONAL

Lex-1200

Featuring new technology and functions, the new Lex-1200 edger and Ice-1200 blocker offer advanced high-curve tracing, fast processing, custom bevels, and smart blocking with spot-on accuracy. A Lex drill is optional.

INFO: santinelli.com

19 ► SCHNEIDER OPTICAL MACHINES

Nano Surfacing Line

This digital surfacing equipment is perfect for retailers and small labs. The HSC nano generator and CCP nano polisher come in two versions, one for retailers and a slightly larger one for small labs.

INFO: schneider-om.com

20 ► SERENGETI

Lerici

Crafted of Grilamid TR 90, this new women’s frame with a medium/universal fit is available in a range of colors—from shiny tortoise/satin soft gold and satin dark tortoise/satin dark gunmetal, to sanded dark grey/satin dark gunmetal and satin black/shiny dark gunmetal.

INFO: serengeti-eyewear.com

21 ► SHAMIR INSIGHT

Glacier Plus UV

Utilizing the most advanced technologies, Glacier PLUS UV ensures the most enhanced lens performance. Inspired by the unique and impressive qualities of a glacier, Shamir set out to develop a premium AR coating for lenses that helps patients look their best, see their best, and feel safe.

INFO: shamirlens.com

22 ► SIGNET ARMORLITE

KODAK DSII

The KODAK DSII lens is the latest, most innovative progressive to join the KODAK Lens Professional Series. This dual-side progressive lens incorporates proprietary technologies with the patient’s point-of-wear measurements for a highly customized viewing experience.

INFO: signetarmorlite.com

23 ► SPY OPTICS

Marina

The Marina sunglass is crafted from handmade acetate and monel alloy, an unusual take on metal. It features the Happy Lens, three-barrel hinges, 6-base nylon lenses, silicone nose pads, and a premium leather leash.

INFO: spyoptic.com

24 ► SUPER OPTICAL

Fast Coater

Super Optical provided a sneak peek at its Fast Coater, a new and improved in-office coating system and follow-up to the company’s Fast Coat. Super Optical also previewed a new lens design: ADDVantage HD progressive Plus.

INFO: superoptical.com

25 ► VSP OPTICS GROUP

otto Beam

Otto (One Touch to Optical), the iPad-based virtual optical assistant, now has “beam,” a new measurement technology that allows ECPs to take P-O-W measurements without having to attach pattern recognition tools to the patient’s frame. It calculates all measurements by emitting a small pulse of light.

INFO: vspopticsgroup.com

26 ► WESTGROUPE

KLiiK Eyewear

KLiiK has launched a series of round, stainless steel models in keeping with the fashion world’s on-point retro trend. K-545 is a modified P3 shape and is available in size 46/20-140, while K-546 has a James Dean-esque round shape and is available in size 47/19-135.

INFO: westgroupe.com

27 ► WILEY X

Sleek

Wiley X’s new Sleek is an addition to its Climate Control line, which utilizes a removable foam facial seal that blocks the elements. Sleek’s wearable violet color and small size make it a great fit for women.

INFO: wileyx.com

28 ► YOUNGER OPTICS

Flat-Top Transitions

Developed jointly by Transitions Optical and Younger Optics, Transitions Signature VII polycarbonate composite flat-top 28 lenses allow bifocal wearers to enjoy the photochromic performance of Transitions Signature VII lenses.

INFO: youngeroptics.com/transitions

29 ► ZEISS

DriveSafe Lenses

These SV lenses and PALs offer all-day performance while addressing the visual needs of drivers, including glare, poor light conditions, and our ever-shifting gaze.

INFO: zeiss.com/us/vision