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Hot List: August 2008
1 Shades of Summer
According to fashion website www.stylenotes.com, the most popular sunglass styles for summer ’08 are:
■ The Aviator
■ The Wayfarer
■ Oversize frames
■ 80s Retro styles
■ White frames
In addition, top picks in the fashion magazine world include:
■ Mandesa by Fossil, an oversize style in white, is Glamour magazine's recommendation.
■ Reveille from Anthropologie, which Lucky magazine describes as "classic movie star frames, with hip, subtly purple lenses."
2 Staycation (noun):
A holiday that takes place either at or near home. In a www.msnbc.com poll, 76 percent of 415 respondents said they're planning to vacation closer to home this summer due to high gas prices.
3 DESTINATION: ORLANDO
Only about 1.3 percent fewer Americans plan to fly this summer than last summer, according to the Air Transport Association. According to the American Society of Travel Agents, these are the top 10 places Americans are heading for their summer vacations:
| 1 ORLANDO 17.5%
2 LAS VEGAS 15.4% 3 SAN FRANCISCO 4.5% 4 LOS ANGELES 4.3% 5 MIAMI 2.6% 6 SEATTLE 2.2% 7 NEW YORK CITY 2.1% 8 HONOLULU 1.9% 9 SAN DIEGO 1.7% 10 WASHINGTON, D.C. 1.7% |
| 4 Getaway Plans |
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| A survey of business owners and company managers by American Express OPEN Small Business Monitor found that: 59 percent are planning at least one week of vacation this summer. 20 percent said they're planning less-expensive vacations this summer 34 percent of survey respondents say they take a break when they're feeling stressed. Percentage who go on vacation to de-stress, by region: 30 percent in the South 43 percent in the Northeast 33 percent in the West 31 percent in North Central U.S. |
Essilor to Acquire Satisloh
Essilor and Swiss company Schweiter Technologies AG have signed a share purchase agreement, with Essilor offering to acquire the shares of Schweiter subsidiary Satisloh Holding AG. The agreement could be completed in the second half of the year and is subject to the approval of relevant competition authorities.
Company representatives note that Essilor will continue to operate Satisloh in its present form, as a Swiss company with headquarters, marketing, and finance units in Baar, production sites in Italy and Germany, and global sales operations. Satisloh will be led by the current management team, with the addition of a new COO, Andreas Kuzmann, this month.
Beat Siegrist, CEO of Satisloh, is expected to retain his office and be appointed to the Essilor Executive Committee. He will step down as CEO of Schweiter Technologies, but remain on the Schweiter Technologies board of directors.
The acquisition opens up a new area of business for Essilor, offering a strong fit with Essilor's strategy of innovation and the development of services for Rx labs, optical chains, and ECPs worldwide. "Essilor will act as a bridge for new technology," said Satisloh president Larry Clarke at the recent Satisloh Slugfest event.
At Slugfest, CEO Beat Siegrist told the audience that, "It will be arms length competition: everyone will be treated the same," when it comes to Essilor receiving favored treatment. "Satisloh will act like a bridge; our industry needs collaboration," he affirmed.
Siegrist also mentioned that integrating product lines—including coatings—will start in 2009.
| New Firm Forms | |
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| ProFit Optix, a new Florida-based company, is making free-form lenses more cost effective and easier to order for ECPs. In addition to delivering quality PALs in a timely manner, the company provides ECPs with significant cost savings, according to company representatives. ProFit Optix has combined proprietary software, international manufacturing partners, an online ordering system, and value pricing to bring "disruptive innovation" to the industry. Because of ProFit Optix's aggressive pricing, optical industry veteran Alan Yuster, ProFit's chief operating officer, predicts a paradigm shift away from standard PALs toward free-form. "Our mission statement, ‘Our vision is value,’ explains what ProFit Optix is all about," Yuster says. "We're delivering premium free-form PALs to the U.S. market at a reduced cost that is 30 to 40 percent lower than most currently available free-form designs." ProFit Optix's initial lens launch includes four ILT designed free-form lenses. |
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| TRANSITIONS Expands Global Group |
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| Transitions Optical has implemented several organizational changes within its global group as part of its worldwide growth objectives. Bette Zaret has been promoted to senior vice president, global marketing. Zaret's responsibilities include creating and leading all Transitions brand communications, public-service initiatives, and association/organization relations. In addition, she is leading the Transitions Partners in Education Program. Cliona Curran has been appointed director, global business insights. Previously global supply chain director, she will develop systems and processes to gather business and market insights on an international and regional basis, creating a global intelligence network. Denis Fisk, former director of global education and training, assumes the newly-created role of director, global brand marketing. He will be responsible for the Transitions brand and its associated brands, including the Activated by Transitions™ brand. Stephanie Carty has been hired as manager, global employee communications. She recently held the role of communications manager at GE Security, a wholly owned subsidiary of GE. The moves will help grow the brand, said Brett Craig, president, Transitions. "As we establish and strengthen the global brand identity of Transitions lenses, we will simultaneously strive to promote international awareness of the need for healthy sight," |
AOA, AOSA Meet in Seattle
The 111th Annual American Optometric Association and 38th Annual American Optometric Student Association Conference—Optometry's Meeting™—was held June 25 through 29 in Seattle. The program included receptions, networking events, awards, and education, as well as more than 200 exhibitors. Highlights included the opening session sponsored by Essilor with keynote speaker Christopher Gardner, the author of The Pursuit of Happyness, and Jay Leno and The Grooveline performed at the Presidential Celebration, sponsored by HOYA.
Award recipients included Arol R. Augsburger, OD, Distinguished Service Award; Linda D. Johnson, OD, Optometrist of the Year; Elizabeth Draper Muckley, OD, Young Optometrist of the Year; James Kesteloot, Apollo Award; and Beverly Roberts, CPOA, Paraoptometric of the Year.
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Photos: 1. Keynote speaker Christopher Gardner, author of The Pursuit of Happyness, at the opening general session. 2. AOA officers cut the ribbon to officially open the AOA exhibit hall. 3. Incoming AOA president Peter Kehoe, OD (l) and outgoing president Kevin Alexander, OD (r), give a press update. 4. VSP's mobile eyecare bus. 5. Essilor of America's John Carrier (l) and Mike Daley (r), at the Varilux Optometry Super Bowl. 6. Attendees outside the exhibit hall. |
| Test Your Mettle! |
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| OPTOMETRY Q. A 50-year-old male is wearing a -1.50 sphere OU and the ADD power is +1.75. What is the lensometer dial reading through his bifocal segment? OPTICIANRY Q. Which layer of the cornea is the thickest? |
| Test Your Mettle ANSWERS |
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| Thanks to Essilor and the NFOS for providing this month's questions and answers. Optometry Answer: +0.25 Opticianry Answer: Stroma |
VSP Acquires Ultra Lens
VSP has purchased Ultra Lens, a wholesale optical lab located in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
"Adding Ultra Lens to our VSP lab network continues our commitment to providing the highest quality products and best services to our clients, doctors, and members," commented Don Oakley, VSP's vice president of Ophthalmic Supply Chain and Services. "This acquisition provides VSP doctors with an even broader variety of advanced optical lab technologies and services from which to choose."
Ultra Lens is a local family business founded in the late 1970s by Bernard Singer and is currently operated by president Danny Singer. Current management will stay on to run the lab.
The lab offers its own in-house AR and is an authorized distributor of HOYA, Shamir, Varilux, and Zeiss products.
| Schneider Optical Names New President |
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| Kurt Atchison is the new president of Schneider Optical Machines LCC, located in Carrollton, Texas. In his new role, he is responsible for all business aspects in the North American market. Atchison served most recently as vice president of National Optronics. Prior to that assignment, he worked for Satisloh North America as vice president of sales and marketing. He brings many years of experience in the lens processing field to the company, which, as a subsidiary of Schneider OpticMachines based in Germany, focuses on surfacing equipment technology. "Schneider Optical Machinery is fortunate to have such a capable leader to serve its North American customers," said Gunter Schneider. "I want to show a new dedication to the needs of the North American market. That will require a strong, local organization with a strong and experienced leader. Kurt provides us that leadership and experience." |
| MIDO WRAP-UP |
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| From celebrities to new scenery, the Mido 2008 event offered a touch of optical glamour with a uniquely Italian twist. The Grand Gala Mido, held at the show grounds, adopted a Cinecitta style with decor and entertainment harkening to the 1950s Italian film heyday. After the event, it was straight to work as attendees tested their wits against a striking Milanese public transit system to arrive at the fairgrounds. Events held during the show included a press conference held by Transitions Optical announcing further Healthy Sight initiatives specifically relating to building awareness of connections between vision health and diabetes. Also on the lens front, PPG and Intercast toasted the successful growth of NXT and Trivex in Europe through such efforts as partnership with Rudy Project. On the frame side, Safilo hosted a 20th anniversary celebration for Giorgio Armani eyewear held at one of the designer's high-end city center shops. From a style perspective, darker, more subtle hues, shapes, and styles ruled the day. In lenses, reflection-free AR options echoed a low-key feeling that permeated the frame looks for the season. The color palettes contrasted somewhat with metallics, blacks, and grays in glossy and flat finishes in the spotlight. Retro still rules the roost, and despite predictions that the Wayfarer was on its way out, sun and ophthalmic interpretations of the classic style were plentiful from a number of designers. While flashy logos are still hanging on in some market segments, many high end designers looked for quiet elegance and unobtrusive styling. Mido shifts to March in 2009 and Mido will also launch a business-driven event in September 2009 based in Rome. For more information, visit www.mido.it. |
| On the Town | |
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CIBA Vision held a satellite broadcast at Morton's Steakhouse in Philadelphia on June 17 to introduce several new products to eyecare professionals. The broadcast included a question-and-answer session. Pictured top (L to R): Karen Wrigley, OD, Vision Source; Carlton Bottoms, an optician from Philadelphia Vision Center; Beth Brooks, OD, Pennsylvania Optometrics. iZon sponsored the Commerce Bank Triple Crown of Cycling on June 6 in Philadelphia. At the event, iZon featured 10 Benjamin Franklin look-alikes outfitted in iZon eyeglass lenses to promote its High Resolution Eyeglass Lenses. The Varilux Optometry Super Bowl XVII, sponsored by Essilor and held at the American Optometric Association meeting in Seattle was an excitement-packed event with the coveted crystal trophy going to the University of California-Berkeley School of Optometry. AOSafety, the occupational prescription eyewear division of Aearo Company, a business with global reach in the industrial and consumer safety market, held its second annual Opticians Advisory Board Meeting recently in San Antonio, Texas. The board met to review 2007 targets and plan 2008 initiatives. Optical manufacturers gave presentations to the group, and attendees enjoyed a little free exploring time on the Riverwalk and an after-hours tour of the Alamo. |
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