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Hot List: August 2010

1 Scholarly Shopping

The Back to School Shopping Forecast, a survey of 1,718 online shoppers conducted by PriceGrabber.com in June 2010, indicates that most consumers surveyed say they plan to spend the same amount or less as last year on back-to-school items.
45%
of shoppers plan to spend just as much in 2010.
41%
say that they will actually spend less this year.
14%
plan to spend more this year because of the anticipated economic recovery.
49%
of back-to-school shoppers are planning to spread out their purchases in order to distribute the cost over a longer period of time.

2 Dollar Drivers

What makes customers spend? According to highlights from Trendwatching.com's “10 Crucial Consumer Trends for 2010”:

Urbany: Apparel and accessories influenced by city style.

Real Time Reviews: Product blogs and online networks.

Tracking and Alerting: Email updates on product offers and deals.

Embedded Generosity: Money donated through purchases.

4 Consumer Centric

One of Retailwire.com's “Business Tips” names three trends in developing a consumer-centric focus on assortment management to meet customers' needs, wants, and convenience:

Solution Centers
More Product Categories
Macro Space Management

Marchon
Launches 3D Division

Marchon Eyewear is moving into the future with the establishment of a new business division, Marchon3D.

David Johnson, most recently president of MicroVision, will serve as president of Marchon3D. In addition, Marchon Eyewear and RealD Inc., have signed a global licensing agreement to use the RealD brand for Marchon3D eyewear and to market a prescription 3D lens directly to ECPs.

“Marchon3D will focus on specific market segments while Marchon Eyewear will directly market the 3D technology to eyecare professionals around the world,” notes Claudio Gottardi, president of Marchon Eyewear.

OWA Event
Features Career Coach

Author and speaker Curtis Zimmerman will present “Living Life at Performance Level,” a free CE credit course, at the Optical Women's Association POWW event during the ABO/NCLE National Education Conference, at 11 a.m. on Sept. 18, at the Duke Energy Center in Cincinnati.

Presentation topics include leadership skills, success strategies, and teamwork. Zimmerman is the author of “I Believe…What Do You Believe?” and “Keys to Success in College and Life,” and is a contributing author to “Pillars of Success” and “Lessons from the Road.”

INFO: abo-ncle-conference.com, www.opticalwomen.com

Optometry's Meeting Explores Opportunities in Orlando

Approximately 5,100 optical professionals gathered at the Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center in Orlando, Fla., from June 16 to 20, to “Discover the Possibilities,” offered by the 113th Annual American Optometric Association Congress and 40th American Optometric Student Association Conference: Optometry's Meeting.

Special events included a welcome reception, a wine tasting reception, and the Presidential Celebration. The House of Delegates met to discuss American Optometric Association news and policies. Education focused on career advancement. Student programs and education, grants and scholarship programs, and student-focused events kept students and new graduates busy. Seven joint optometric and paraoptometric courses addressed dispensary and primary eyecare concerns.

The next Optometry's Meeting is scheduled for June 15 to 19, 2011, in Salt Lake City.

Activities, festivities, and education were are on tap for this year's AOA Optometry's Meeting in Orlando, Florida. The show kicked off with a Welcome Reception sponsored by Bausch + Lomb. On June 17, the opening general session and keynote speaker Frank W. Abagnale—an expert on forgery, embezzlement, and secure documents—was sponsored by Essilor. To lighten things up on and end the show on a high note, Hoya sponsored the Presidents Celebration on June 19. The 2010-2011 Board of Trustees was introduced and the festivities featured entertainment by comedians Frank Caliendo and John Pinette, followed by a dessert reception and private laser show. Events were highlighted throughout the gathering, including the following: 1. At the American Optometric Association (AOA) press conference (l to r) were AOA outgoing president Randolph E. Brooks, OD; Optometry Cares—The AOA Foundation's Martha Greenberg, OD; and incoming AOA president Joe E. Ellis, OD 2. The AOA poster sessions were a key point of interest for attendees 3. American Optometric Association and Vistakon representatives prepare for the ribbon cutting to officially open the exhibit hall 4. Joining together to unveil the Pediatric Cataract Initiative are (l to r) are Dennis D. Cobbler, OD, Lions Club International; Michael McDougall, corporate communications and public affairs, B+L; and Curt Weeden, Business & Nonprofit Strategies, Inc. 5. Detailing Bausch+Lomb's Biotrue lens care product are (l to r) Mohinder Merchea, OD, PhD, director of medical affairs, vision care; Steve Robbins, North America vision care; and Srini Venkatesh, PhD, MBA, global lens care solutions 6. University of Houston College of Optometry students make noise at the Varilux Optometry Student Bowl. This year's winner was the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Optometry

Chain Link
ILORI Enters Rx Arena

ILORI eyewear boutiques have added prescription products and services to its selection. The chain now carries ophthalmic styles from more than 10 designer brands and is filling prescriptions for both ophthalmic glasses and sunwear.

The new offerings debuted with a soft launch earlier this year and a full roll-out is anticipated for fall.

DESIGNER STYLE

The boutiques will dispense ophthalmic styles from Luxottica and other high-end designer brand manufacturers. Michael Hansen, vice president and general manager of Luxottica's luxury retail group, notes that feedback has been positive. “One year ago, we stared to include optical frames in the ILORI product assortment. Consumers started to respond very well, and were able to buy unique designers' optical frames. At that point, we knew we had an opportunity to expand our services,” Hansen says.

PRESCRIPTION LENSES

Prescriptions can be filled by the on-site optician at each of the boutique's 24 locations. Single vision and progressive sun and ophthalmic lenses featuring premium AR coating and anti-scratch coating will be sold at the ILORI locations. The lenses will be produced by Luxottica at its production center in Ohio.

ANSI Makes Changes to Z80.1 Standards

American National Standards Institute (ANSI) updated the following Z80.1 standards for prescription spectacle lenses:

1. Compensated power in the as-worn position expands to include distance and add power. Power tolerances are applied to compensated values and not the prescribed Rx.

2. Measurement of transmission power reverts to the sphere cylinder method without a change in tolerances.

3. Lens durability requirements added from International Organization for Standardization (ISO) standards—specifications and test methods for AR from ISO 8980-4 and minimum requirements for lens surfaces claiming to be abrasion resistant from ISO 8989-5.

4. New lens abrasion resistance requirements apply only if the lens supplier claims abrasion resistance; the lens must resist abrasion at least as well as uncoated hard plastic (CR39) as determined by a rubbing test;

5. New AR requirements assess durability by subjecting the lens to mechanical rubbing, high humidity, and UV radiation. Post-sequence, lenses are inspected for delamination. Maximum reflectance of an AR-coated surface was changed to 2.5 percent.

The new standard can be purchased at webstore.ansi.org

Essilor Honors Paul Berman, OD

Paul Berman, OD, was honored at the annual Essilor Vision Foundation Golf Classic and charity event at Nassau Country Club in Glen Cove, N.Y. Dinner, a raffle, and a silent auction followed a day of golf.

Underwritten by Essilor and Transitions, as well as a number of other corporate and tournament sponsors, the event benefits the Essilor Vision Foundation. The event's goal is: “Helping the kids of New York see the world better.”

Surrounded by family and associates from his practice, Focus Eye Health and Vision Care in Hackensack, N.J., Berman was honored for his work with children. He is founder of the Special Olympics Lions Club's International Opening Eyes program and co-founder of Healthy Athletes, a program dedicated to improving health care for the intellectually disabled.

Paul Berman, OD, accepts his award from Audrey Reed, Essilor Vision Foundation's executive director

CZV Now ODX Exclusive Vendor

PBA Opens Children's Center

Prevent Blindness America has established the National Center for Children's Vision and Eye Health, made possible through an agreement with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. It will promote children's vision and eyecare, education, and training to public and private entities in the U.S.

INFO: preventblindness.org

Web Watch

Luxottica has announced improvements to Persol eyewear's website, persol.com. The changes include a dedicated section with new artists' profiles and works.

Wiley X, Inc., has launched an online sales training program offered through the website 3Point5.com. To register, sales associates can visit 3point5.com.

Optometry Giving Sight has launched a new website at the same address, www.givingsight.org. The site contains more stories and photos donation recipients and more information on how to donate.

The American Board of Optometry (ABO) has launched its secure website, americanboardofoptometry.org. The site includes an application for candidates to begin the process of becoming an active candidate for board certification.

Villa Inks Deal with John Richmond Eyewear Villa Eyewear has signed a long-term contract with Allison for the exclusive distribution of the John Richmond 2010 Eyewear collection, company officials announced. The collection—styled by the English designer, known for dressing rock icons such as Madonna, Mick Jagger, George Michael, David Bowie, and Annie Lennox—includes 12 eyewear and 10 sunglass models.

Designers' Licensing Agreements End

Christian Roth and Charmant, Inc., will terminate their licensing agreement at the end of 2010. The decision to sever the relationship, which began in 1998, was mutually agreed upon by both parties.

Safilo and Diesel announced in a joint statement that they will terminate their license agreement for the production and distribution of Diesel sunglasses and prescription eyewear collections.

The change is effective Dec. 31, the date the agreement expires. The 16-year partnership began in 1994.

SPORTY SIGHTS 1 Patrick Flanigan, a world-record-breaking Xtreme Shooting legend, has just joined the Wiley X, Inc., roster of athletes. Flanigan, who has broken six Xtreme Shooting world records, including shooting 12 shotgun rounds in 1.42 seconds, is also a black belt in karate and is in the Guinness Book of World Records for drumming achievements. Flanigan dons Wiley X's XL-1 Advanced style eyeglass. 2 Tyreke Evans has entered into an exclusive two-year global sponsorship agreement with VSP Global. The company will be the exclusive eyecare and eyewear provider for the professional basketball player, who will help VSP raise awareness about eye health and other eye-related issues. Evans, who is a starting point for the Sacramento Kings and was named Rookie of the Year, is the fourth rookie ever to average 20 points, five assists, and five rebounds per game; the only others to accomplish this are Oscar Robertson, Michael Jordan, and Lebron James. Evans is wearing Tommy Bahama TB536S. 3 Pat Duffy, a veteran skateboarder, is now Arnette's newest skate team member. Duffy, who will serve double-duty as both pro rider and skate team captain, also rides for Plan B, LOST Clothing, Venture Trucks, SPoT Party Team, and Paradox Griptape. He's wearing One Time, style AN3061.