HANDS ON - EDITOR'S LETTER
Not just the boss...

Are you the boss? If so, and you attend regional, professional or national trade shows (like this month's International Vision Expo West), then this column is written for you.

As an editor, I attend several shows each year. In doing so, I'm lucky enough to get to talk to a lot of you—but I also see who's there and who isn't. There are lots of reasons some shows seem more successful than others, but one is whom you, the boss, choose to send. I've noticed two things. One, owners and store managers attend, but several I know stopped sending staff to some of the shows. Two, some of the "bosses" spend time in meetings, not at the exhibits and in classrooms.

Networking with peers and meeting with suppliers are good reasons to travel to a show. But if you don't also spend time at the exhibits and classes to see and learn what's new—and if you don't invite staff along to do the same—you're missing a great opportunity.

So, next time you plan a trip to a professional or trade event, consider bringing a key employee. They'll benefit professionally, which means your business—and its bottom line—will, too.

P.S. Don't miss this issue's special sections. Framebuyer looks at the coming trends; Product Beat gives a glimpse into some of what you'll see in Las Vegas; continuing education for opticians, sponsored by Polaroid, addresses advances in polarized lenses; and our annual Focus on Low Vision supplement features the latest in low vision products and resources.