My grandmother, who would have been 96 this year, always had sage advice…usually served with a side of irreverent humor.

“Expect the unexpected,” she used to tell me—urging both preparedness and a sense of flexibility to approach life. Having lived through the Great Depression, World War II, and so much more, she spoke from pure experience.

Certainly, the last 18 months have made each and every one of us realize that the unexpected can—and will—be just around the corner.

The post-pandemic destination? Flexibility.

In work. In life. In the everyday. In business.

Experts agree that adaptability is the most important skill to have in the Covid-19 era—a crucial tool for businesses like optical shops and independent optometric practices.

As we all continue to slog through this mid-pandemic time together, we here at EB knew it was high time for something unexpected on a lighter front—Fall 2021 fashion. In this issue, we deliver a curated lineup of highly unanticipated specs styles, from surreal silhouettes to surprisingly unique hues and wild prints. To get an eyeful, turn to page 49 for our annual fall fashion FrameBuyer section and our Expect the Unexpected nine-page fashion feature.

And, of course, there is so much more content in this essential issue of EB to help your business thrive in this unexpected time:

➤ Turn to page 64 for our 7 Big Retail Strategies feature for some critical ideas to help engage a greatly changed consumer and power up the retail prowess in your optical.

➤ Dial in your product assortment for the season with EB’s Style Staples runway trend report featuring the top 10 hues of the season on page 60.

➤ And, herald a return to Las Vegas with our Big Vision Expo West Guide starting on page 71—jam-packed with key events and education plus an apres-show guide to Vegas itself at your own pace.

We hope you enjoy the issue!

TRENDING VIDEO ➤ TOUR THE ISSUE WITH EB’S EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Curious what’s in store in this issue of EB? Join editor Erinn Morgan by clicking play in EB’s digital edition for quick highlights + insider info.

Erinn Morgan,
Editor-in-Chief + Editorial Director
Director of Social Media, PentaVision