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Hot List: February 2010

1 Peeper Protection

Statistics culled from the United States Eye Industry Registry summary report, 1998 to 2002, offer plenty of impetus to sport protective eyewear:

2.5 million

Number of eye injuries that occur each year in the United States

14.7

Percent of those injuries that occur during sports

5 to 14

Most common age group to sustain sports-related eye injuries

2 EYE Hazards

According to Healthy Vision 2010, an initiative sponsored by the United States Department of Health and Human Services, the top eye hazards include the following:

■ Fingers and elbows
■ Fireworks operated by non-professionals
■ Unsecured cans, boxes, or tools
■ Sports equipment
■ Automobile accidents
■ Unshielded eyeglasses or contacts

3 Sporting Safefty

Among the safety precautions Prevent Blindness America advises athletes to take are:

WEAR

Proper safety goggles (lensed polycarbonate protectors) for racquet sports or basketball

USE

Batting helmets with polycarbonate face shields for youth baseball

SHIELD

The face and head with U.S. Amateur Hockey Association-approved gear when chasing the puck

KNOW

Regular eyewear doesn't provide enough protection during sports

VEE 2010 Focuses on Economic Rebound

Expanded educational offerings, an upgraded website, and new technology are a few of the highlights of International Vision Expo East 2010 (VEE), set for Thursday, March 18, through Sunday, March 21, at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City.

Attendees can choose from approximately 275 CE courses at the conference portion of the event, which begins March 18. The exhibition is expected to feature more than 400 vendors and begins March 19.

■ New conference offerings this year a include set of e-technology classes, diabetes education, and courses by Optometric Retina Society (ORS) and Ocular Surface Society of Optometry (OSSO), among others. Additionally, there will be two free keynote addresses: Neil Gailmard, OD, will present the Visionomics address, “Become the CEO of Your Practice: Manage People, Process, and Expenses,” scheduled for 5 to 6 p.m. on March 19, and Bill Applegate, a senior policy advisor with Bryan Cave Strategies, LLP, will present course #30MS, “Obama's Health Care Plan: Making Sense of New Reforms,” from 1 to 2 p.m. on March 20.

■ Eyecare Business is co-sponsoring, along with The Vision Council's Eyewear and Accessories Division, a set of Frame Buyer Certificate Program classes. Stephanie K. De Long, editor-in-chief, will teach “Why Do They Buy?” from 5 to 6 p.m. on March 20.

In other categories, senior editor Karlen McLean, ABOC, NCLC, will teach “I Just Did Something Stupid…Now How Do I Fix It?” from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. on March 18. Alex Yoho, ABOM, a contributing writer for Eyecare Business, will teach three Boot Camp Workshop courses: “Frame Adjusting and Repair” on March 20 from 9:45 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. and March 21 from 10:45 a.m. to 11:45 a.m.; “Basic Lensometry” on March 20 from 4 to 6 p.m. and March 21 from 1:45 p.m. to 3:45 p.m.; and “How to Take Accurate Spectacle Measurements” on March 20 from 1:45 p.m. to 3:45 p.m. and March 21 from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.

■ Technology has advanced the expo element of VEE, which this year can be followed on online social networking communities such as Facebook and Twitter, and navigated via a “Map Your Show” application for smartphones.

The upgraded show website includes an entertainment link to city attractions. One highlight will be EyeRock, a concert featuring more than 20 of the optical industry's musicians and singers. The concert takes place at the B.B. King Blues Club on March 20 and will benefit OneSight, a Luxottica Group Foundation that delivers free vision care and eyewear to underprivileged individuals around the world. Tickets are $50 each; visit www.onesight.org.

Co-owned by Reed Exhibitions and The Vision Council, VEE draws more than 30,000 eyecare professionals. For information, including a complete VEE schedule and registration instructions, visit www.visionexpoeast.com.

A Taste of the Big Apple With the hippest parts of town just a stone's throw away —think Hell's Kitchen, the Meatpacking District, and Chelsea, to name a few—the Javits Center is perfectly positioned for good times. DINING Options range from tourist-friendly at Artepasta, Tir Na Nog, Lucy's Mexican Cantina, and Xie Xie, to trendy spots like Buddakan, Abe & Arthur's, Pastis, and Del Posto. CLUBS Brush elbows with the beautiful people at Country Club, Element, Ultra, Pacha, and Tenjune. THEATER Vision Expo East attendees can get 10 percent to 35 percent discounts on tickets for “The Lion King,” “Phantom of the Opera,” “Mamma Mia,” “Jersey Boys,” “Chicago,” “Cirque du Soleil: Banana Shpeel, a New Twist on Vaudeville,” and more. TOURS Discounts for VEE attendees are available for tours of SoHo, NoLita, and Garment Center. VEE organizers also suggest “Spex and the City,” a do-it-yourself tour of the hottest optical shops in the Big Apple. INFO: visionexpoeast.com

6 Calls Launches

6 Calls, a virtual telesales and marketing firm that's owned, operated, and staffed by optical industry veterans, has launched. The company offers a professional, affordable sales and marketing solution that is 100 percent scalable to client's needs. This includes total sales organization or individual campaigns, prospecting, customer qualifying, database verification, product marketing and launches, surveys, sales calls, and more. Information on services is available at www.6Calls.biz.

“Our goal is to become the sales and marketing presence for small to mid-size clients, and an extension of the sales and marketing teams in larger organizations,” says Mike Karlsrud, 6 Calls' CEO. “6 Calls was born out of the need for companies to have an affordable option to deliver personalized sales and marketing messages directly to the decision maker.”

The service is available to all optical industry companies, including manufacturers, distributors, wholesale labs, and ECP practices.

Kaenon partners with with Rodenstock

Kaenon Polarized, the Southern California-based maker of lifestyle and performance sunglasses, has entered into a distribution partnership with Munich-based Rodenstock. Effective immediately, Rodenstock will be the distribution partner of Kaenon Polarized products in the European Union with an initial focus on Germany and Italy in 2010. Knitoptic Sarl will continue to operate as Kaenon's exclusive distribution partner in Switzerland.

“After eight years of focused domestic distribution, this new distribution partnership between Kaenon Polarized and Rodenstock will allow both companies to leverage each other's success and strengths for the greater benefit of both,” says Kaenon Polarized COO and co-founder, Darren Rosenberg. “Rodenstock has the heritage, strong management, and retail points of sale across Europe to immediately impact and develop the Kaenon Polarized brand, which enjoys a position at the cutting-edge of lens technology with our proprietary SR-91 lenses presented within our performance-driven and authentic California-based brand.”

Mido Celebrates 40th Exhibition

Mido's 40th edition of the International Optics, Optometry, and Ophthalmology Exhibition takes place Friday, March 5, to Sunday, March 7, in Milan's Fiera Milano Complex.

Visitors and exhibitors can still expect the usual expansive overview on eyewear as well as a few additional highlights, starting with the new “compact” version of the event. This year's edition takes place in three days versus the traditional four. Hours are 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on March 5 and 6, and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on March 7.

Mido 2010 will donate Euro 1 per visitor in favor of an initiative promoted by the non-profit organization CBM Italia Onlus. This fundraising project will help CBM in its fight for the prevention of Xerophthalmia, abnormal eye dryness and thickening of the conjunctiva, often from vitamin A deficiency. INFO: www.mido.it

Safilo Finalizes Deal with HAL

Safilo Group sold to HAL its non-core retail enterprises— including the chains Loop Vision in Spain, Just Spectacles in Australia, and all of the retail stores in the People's Republic of China—for Euro 13.7 million, company officials announced late in 2009.

Total 2009 estimated sales attributable to these assets are approximately Euro 36 million, with a 2009 estimated negative EBITDA of Euro 7 million.

Safilo retains its United States-based sunglass chain Solstice, which includes 156 stores, and, for now, 59 Sunglass Island and Island Optical Shop chains in Mexico.

The lending banks have agreed to postpone to June 30 the repayment of the loan principal amounts that had been due on Dec. 31, 2009, and to waive the relevant financial covenants.

All the lending banks have also approved the amendment provisions of the existing senior credit agreement, already finalized by Safilo, Intesa Sanpaolo, and Unicredit Corporate Banking, which will become effective subject to completion of the capital increases and the partial repayment of the current senior facilities.

Chain Link

Sunglass Hut Opens in 430 Macy's

Macy's has partnered with Luxottica Group, S.p.A., purveyor of premium, luxury, and sports eyewear, to open additional Sunglass Hut points of sale in 430 of the department store's locations. Under the agreement, Sunglass Hut will be the exclusive operator of Macy's in-store sunglass departments and Macy's will be the exclusive U.S. department store with Sunglass Hut locations.

SPRING ROLL OUT

New locations, which will operate as leased departments, will open beginning Spring 2010, with completion scheduled for Spring 2011. Upon completion, the rollout will bring the total number of in-store Sunglass Hut locations in Macy's to about 670.

“Our decision was (based) on the strength of our experiences with Macy's,” Luca Biondolillo, Luxottica's senior vice president of international corporate communications, told Eyecare Business, adding that they've had a longstanding relationship with the retailer.

DEPARTMENT STORE EXPOSURE

In a joint press release, Fabio d'Angelantonio, Luxottica Group's executive vice president, called the agreement with Macy's “strategically important” to the eyewear giant, reinforcing its “commitment as a group to the department store segment in the U.S. and to growing the overall exposure of consumers in this market to the quality sunwear category.”

The agreement enables the department store to offer a wider choice of styles, supported by the high level of service associated with Macy's, Ron Klein, chief stores officer of Macy's, stated in the release.

The pricepoints at the Macy's locations are the same as in freestanding Sunglass Hut locations, said Biondolillo.

SECO 2010

Optometry Giving Sight Working to
HELP HAITI

In response to the earthquakes that struck Haiti, Optometry Giving Sight has launched an appeal to help those victims who are without eyeglasses.

Optometry Giving Sight is working with partner organizations including Volunteer Optometric Services to Humanity (VOSH), the International Centre for Eyecare Education (ICEE), and the Caribbean Optometrists Association (CARIOA) to identify and fund projects that will provide emergency relief and assist in the reconstruction process through the establishment of sustainable, quality vision care services including the training of local eyecare professionals and the establishment of vision centers. Visit givingsight.org.

On the Town

Clear Vision Optical welcomed Congressman Steve Israel to its headquarters last December. Rep. Israel met and spent time with ClearVision employees in every department. “ClearVision Optical is a shining example of entrepreneurship and talent here on Long Island” says Rep. Israel. “This small business is advancing amid turbulent times. I enjoyed the opportunity to spend time with them in Hauppauge and see firsthand the values of an employee-centered company.”

The retail sales team of Santinelli International, the exclusive NIDEK lens edger distributor in the United States convened for its annual national sales meeting in Florida in early January. The meeting focused on new product reviews, advanced product training, and the development of strategies to increase clients' profitability and satisfaction with regard to In-Office Finishing (IOF). Additionally, top territory sales managers received recognition for outstanding performances in 2009.

ILORI Luxury Sunglass Boutique celebrated the grand opening of its new stores in the Las Vegas and Dallas. Fashion stylist and ILORI 2009 stylist ambassador Jennifer Rade, whose clientele includes Angelina Jolie, hosted the events. Rade met with many of the guests and provided personal fittings for sunglass enthusiasts. Guests in attendance included Steve Wynn, Kim Wagner, Larry and Camille Ruvo, Megan Landis, and many more.

During its 2009 national sales meeting, the Morris Plains, N.J.-based Charmant Group introduced two new collections, recognized employee milestones, and discussed past and future business strategies. The three-day event took place at The Dreams Palm Beach Resort in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic.

Senior vision care students conducted vision screenings for tenth graders at George Westinghouse High School in Brooklyn, N.Y., last fall.

1. Seniors from George Westinghouse High School in Brooklyn conduct vision screenings; 2. Congressman Steve Israel visits the ClearVision Optical headquarters; 3. Steve Wynn and Andrea Hissom attend the ILORI Luxury Sunglass Boutique in Las Vegas; 4. Santinelli International convenes for its national sales meeting in Florida; 5. Mark Barrett, Victoria Luna, Jennifer Rade, Pamela Luke, and Danielle Martinetti attend ILORI's Dallas opening; 6. Charmant Group holds its national sales meeting in the Dominican Republic

Web Watch

Known for staying on the cutting edge, Danish eyewear designer ProDesign does so in store and online. The company's new upgraded website, www.prodesigndenmark.com, now allows users to search current back orders, track and trace shipments, search previous orders, obtain an overview of orders, reprint invoices, and change passwords. ■ The Italian eyewear company Allison has embraced social media. On YouTube, visitors can view the TRY product line at www.youtube.com/TryEyewear. Also, company information, photos, and news can be found on Allison's Facebook. ■ CooperVision has launched www.LensLocator.com, a tool to help ECPs easily search CooperVision's contact lens portfolio to identify the most appropriate contact lens choice in seconds. ECPs enter any Rx component, into the LensLocator fields, and then click “search.” The site provides a direct link to MyCooperVision, the e-commerce site, so orders can be placed immediately. LensLocator works on web-capable smartphones and devices and is also available through www.coopervision.com. To help kick off the new site, CooperVision is donating a dollar to New Eyes for the Needy for each unique visitor to LensLocator, up to $5,000.

STAR Gazers

Debra Messingis truly graceful in Sigrid Olsen shades by Altair. The “Will & Grace” and “The Starter Wife” actress is wearing the designer's SO103 model in Café Mint. “Heroes” star Hayden Panettiereis a true cheerleader for Luxottica. The small and big screen actress, who also starred in “I Love You, Beth Cooper,” wore Vogue's 2605S style on a recent coffee run. She may play cold-as-ice Bree Hodge on ABC's “Desperate Housewives,” but Marcia Cross warms up in real life. The actress has been spotted wearing Jee Vice's Heated model shades in various colors around Los Angeles. Is that Sigourney Weaver…or her “Avatar?” Whoever it is has on Jil Sander's JS625S shades by Marchon. The storied actress stars in James Cameron's 3D science fiction epic. If Julianne Mooreis any indication, it might just be redheads who have the most fun. The “Hannibal” and “Magnolia” actress's fiery mane pops next to Robert Marc's style 623 in Plum layered with Orchid. Moore is starring in this year's indie comedy “The Kids Are All Right” and a western, “Boone's Lick.”