Our July issue offers a peak into the future, as we asked several thought leaders from the optical industry where they predict eyewear and technology will bring us in the coming years. To offer a different view of what’s ahead, we asked a few outside retail consultants and executives to share their visions for tomorrow. Read on for some interesting insights….
  Matthew Shay, CEO, National Retail Federation
“We already have a sneak peak at the store of the future. Retailers are breaking down the boundaries between bricks-and-mortar, online, mobile, and social media to the point where consumers can have a seamless experience across all channels.
The future is going to build on that idea of a ‘store’ being an entire integrated retail experience. New technology like virtual reality will make today’s fanciest websites look like printed catalogs, and that’s just the beginning. Much of the technology retailers will be using in a decade isn’t yet invented."
  Sara Evans, Blogger + Millennial Expert
“How will ECPs determine the best social media mix as we move forward? This becomes the million-dollar question. The answer will be a combination of "real life" and social media interactions. Conduct roundtables and then crowdsource via social media. Create a local millennial roundtable, for example, and a corresponding Facebook group.”
  Paco Underhill, Author + Retail Anthropologist
“It’s going to be about creativity over cost—using the Internet as a tool to connect to customers and encourage interaction. That will be an inexpensive way to compete on equal footing with large merchants.”
  Jim Carroll, Futurist + Innovation Expert
“By 2025, most people in the developed world will have three to four bio-connectivity medical devices linked to them. Small chips under the skin will constantly monitor vital signs. Data will be sent to the patient’s personal health coach or concierge, who will be located in one of the new Asian/African mega-cities. They’ll work with the patient’s doctor(s) to guide the patient through both routine and complex care.”