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Hot List: June 2010

1 All Grown Up

When gearing marketing efforts toward the younger set, dispensers might want to consider this insight from the Media Awareness Network:

"Industry research reveals that children 11 and older don't consider themselves children anymore. The Toy Manufacturers of America have changed their target market from birth to 14 to birth to 10 years of age."

2 Youth Gone Wired

Now is the time to amp up your online marketing efforts if you're hoping to capture the teen market.

In its study, "The Net-Powered Generation," Forrester Research found that young Internet users:

• Are more likely to access the Internet from different locations, e.g., phones
• Participate in a wider range of online activities
• Are more likely to adapt quickly to new technology, and embrace its changes

3 Kid Power

According to the Packaged Facts report, "The Kids and Tweens Market, U.S., 9th Edition," this consumer segment has both a hefty spending power and presence:

$19 billion
Annual income of kids

36 million
Kids/tweens population

4 percent
Amount this population is expected to grow by 2012

4 KNOW Y

Christine Carter of the retail marketing firm Epps Consulting says that generation Y (those born between 1979 and the mid-90s) seek products that reflect their character traits of:

RECESSIONISTAS (strive for fashion cheaply)
PASSIONATE
MULTI-TALENTED
FIERCELY INDIVIDUAL

TRANSITIONS President Resigns

Brett Craig, president of Transitions Optical, has resigned.

Transitions Optical CEO Richard "Rick" C. Elias will serve as the company's president.

Commenting on Craig's tenure, Elias said: "Brett contributed substantially toward accelerating our growth, enhancing our strategy, and building our brand and global businesses to better serve the needs of our customers. We thank Brett for his many contributions to Transitions Optical and wish him every success in his future endeavors."

Essilor Makes Acquisitions

Essilor has announced several recent acquisitions.

The company has acquired Hawkins, a Kansas-based prescription laboratory with $4.5 million in revenue and a majority stake in SMJ, a prescription laboratory and distributor with Euro 1.6 million in revenue.

Essilor also announced the completion of its acquisition of Signet Armorlite, Inc., a California-based ophthalmic lens manufacturer with global revenue of approximately $115 million.

Earlier this year, Essilor acquired FGX International, along with majority interests in ILT Danyang, Ghanada Opticals, Eyebiz, and Frames For America, which operates FramesDirect.com.

N.H. Opticians Lose Licensure Bid
Bill Killed in Committee

After a 16-month bid to achieve opticianry licensure in New Hampshire and a 15 to eight in-favor Senate vote for the bill to move to a study committee, the state House of Representatives has killed the bill in committee, stating that more evidence of potential harm done to consumers due to improperly fitted eyewear was needed. The bill would have established a governing board to oversee educational and licensure requirements.

Despite the bill's defeat, several supporters report that reinstituting a community college opticianry program and ophthalmic tech program continues to make headway in the state.

GOOD IDEA
Optical Shop Takes Center Stage

Sometimes drama isn't a bad thing for business, as Classic Eyes has discovered. This Ocala, Fla.-based dispensary has heightened its presence in the community by producing eyewear and contact lens effects for performers in the town's theater group.

"It's very fun to do and great exposure for our practice, since we're always featured in the playbills," says Sandi Shannon, who owns the practice with her husband, Dale.

Their involvement with the theater community has also put pizzazz into the shop's window displays. Shannon says, "I also would borrow props from them to do window displays of eyewear. I did the top hat and tails thing for ‘Puttin’ on the Ritz' with my high-end stuff."

Manners are also a good thing for businesses to mind. Shannon says she always remembers to put a sign in the window thanking the theater.

EYE ON
Diabetes Program Launches in U.S.

VSP Vision Care has launched the Eye on Diabetes, a campaign in five states focusing on increasing awareness and understanding of the connection between eyecare and a person's general health.

The campaign launched in May in Little Rock, Ark., and will continue on in Topeka, Kan.; Austin, Texas; Denver, Colo.; and Indianapolis, Ind.

The campaign includes an online video with Emmy Award-winner Bill Nye the Science Guy and certified diabetes educator Roger Phelps, OD. The video explores the link between comprehensive eye exams and serious diseases, including diabetes, and will be released over the summer at www.facebook.com/VSPVisionCare. Additionally, a free COPE-approved CE course will be offered.

American Industries Buys DAC Int'l

DAC International, a California-based manufacturer of lens production equipment and software for the contact and intraocular lens industries, has been acquired by American Industries, an Oregon-based investment company.

The acquisition follows nine months of working with DAC to expand product lines, including a spectacle lens surfacing system and specialty lens software.

The existing management team remains in place, led by president Jim Drain.

First Kids Fest Opens Eyes

In an effort to eliminate poor vision and its lifelong consequences, the Essilor Vision Foundation and the Kids Vision for Life Coalition hosted the first Kids Vision Fest earlier this year at the J. Erik Jonsson Central Library in Dallas.

Free and open to the general public, the event featured an array of activities, including games, arts and crafts and entertainment. One of the festival highlights was an appearance by former first lady Laura Bush, who read "Read All About It!," a book that she co-authored with her daughter, Jenna Bush Hager. Bush also spoke to the media about the need to identify and correct children's vision problems.

Other speakers at the event included Dallas mayor Tom Leppert, judge Cheryl Lee Shannon, Dallas Independent School District superintendent Michael Hinojosa, and Essilor Vision Foundation president and CEO Ed Fjordbak.

Pro Fit Optix Names Suter As New CEO

Rudolf Suter, veteran optical entrepreneur and executive, has been named chairman of the board and CEO of Pro Fit Optix International.

His goals will be to manage growth, focus on distribution segments, guide the company's strategic alliance development, and form Pro Fit into a leading distributor of optical products in the U.S.

Suter served as general manager of Loh Switzerland from 1986 to 1990, followed by positions as principle and president of Satis Vacuum. After the company sold and became Satisloh in 1998, he focused on several start-up companies in the optical industry, including Optixx AG of Switzerland.

C220 Founder Marc Rothstein Dies

Optical industry veteran designer Marc Rothstein, 44, died April 30. Rothstein was the chief executive officer of C220, which this year launched his collection O Dark Thirty.

Rothstein's 20-year optical industry career included positions with Kenmark and Foster Grant, and also consultations for many optical companies on product development and manufacturing levels. Rothstein's sister, Martine Rothstein, will assume the CEO role for C220, with the consultation of her father, optical industry veteran Nate Rothstein.

A native of Cleveland, Ohio, Rothstein is survived by his wife, Juli; his two sons, Caleb, 8, and Aden, 5; his mother, Sarah Heller; his father and stepmother, Nathan and Paula Rothstein; his sister, Beatrice Rothstein; his sister and brother- in-law, Martine Rothstein and Brian Marcus; and his two nieces, Rachel and Zoe Marcus.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Marc Maurice Rothstein Memorial Fund. Contact Martine Rothstein at martiner@c220llc.com or 973-886-6755.

Luxottica Launches Working Together Series

Luxottica has announced the launch of the 2010 Working Together Series: Learn, Grow, Connect, an event program in which Luxottica customers earn CE credits, connect with industry professionals, and find growth opportunities. The series launched in May in Washington, D.C.

Throughout the year, events will take place in Portland, Ore.; Sacramento, Milpitas, Anaheim, and San Diego, Calif.; Houston; Atlanta; Atlantic City; Boston; Washington, D.C.; and Chicago.

CHAIN LINK
Sunglass Hut Opens Flagships

With the goal of heightening its presence in gateway cities, Sunglass Hut has opened its first flagship stores in New York and London.

Rachel Bilson (center) with (l to r) Fabio d'Angelantonio, Marcello Favagrossa, Kristen McCabe, and Mark Weikel from Sunglass Hut

Both stores feature more than 30 brands, VIP areas, and SocialSun, an interactive computer retail concept.

The stores are the first of 10 Sunglass Hut flagship openings Luxottica has planned for the next three years, along with the renovation of 2,000 smaller stores and the more frequent addition of new merchandise, according to Sunglass Hut CEO Fabio d'Angelantonio.

FASHION-FORWARD FEEL

The Fifth Avenue store is 6,000 square feet and spans two floors. The Oxford Street store is 1,906 square feet.

"When customers visit the flagship, they can see right away that Sunglass Hut has been taken to the next level. The entire shopping experience is more fun, there are more brands to choose from, more opportunity to play with the product," says Carol Reyes, manager of the New York flagship.

Customers are embracing SocialSun, a computerized station that allows consumers to try on sunglasses, take pictures, and share the images online, says Reyes.

CELEBRITY AMBASSADOR

In attendance at the Manhattan grand opening was Rachel Bilson, the store's newly appointed style director. "When we envisioned the style director position, and looked at Rachel's personal style and, of course, her love of sunglasses, it was an obvious, gut feeling that she was the perfect person," says d'Angelantonio. He adds that Bilson will be selecting the newest trends, sharing information online and directly with consumers, and showing how sunglasses are a key accessory throughout the year.

Museum Promotes Optical Heritage

The Optical Heritage Museum, based in Southbridge, Mass., and originally opened in 1983 as part of the AO Museum, has had recent additions to its staff, collections, and event agenda. Numerous documents, slides, and museum items are now being restored, preserved, and itemized by curator Dick Whitney; assistant curator Donna Silverberg; Diane Matuck, Opticians Association of Massachusetts; Charlton, Mass., resident Dick Baker; and antique eyewear authority David Fleishman, MD.

New downtown Southbridge window displays and the groundbreaking of the Swiacki AO Optical Sculpture, a 20-foot high eyeglass frame constructed on Southbridge's town common, will be unveiled this year. Boston and Southbridge are planning to host a tour and optical group meeting in April 2011.

INFO: dickwhitney.net, opticalheritagemuseum.org, antiquespectacles.com

CZV PARTNERS WITH EYEMAGINATIONS

Carl Zeiss Vision, Inc. has partnered with Eyemaginations, Inc., to offer Eyemaginations LUMA software for CZV practices across the United States.

Zeiss-specific lens products will be incorporated into software from Eyemaginations to allow ECPs to communicate with patients utilizing Eyemaginations narratives.

Dave Delle Donne, CZV's vice president, professional sales, says, "We have to help practices communicate the benefits of these advanced products to the patient."

Added Jeffrey Peres, president and CEO of Eyemaginations, "With this program, practices that market Zeiss lenses and add-ons will provide a better patient experience and grow their business at the same time."

STARGazers

1. "Nurse Jackie" star Eve Best dons Gucci style GG30175 by Safilo in a recent episode. 2. Hollywood hipster Kristen Stewart, who stars as rocker Joan Jett in the movie "The Runaways," is wearing a limited edition of Lacoste's aviator style 101. 3. Kurt Russell, star of cult classics like "The Thing" and "Big Trouble in Little China," is wearing Karavan style 5357/5424 from Europtik. 4. Jeopardy host Alex Trebek knows the answer to eyewear style questions: Altair. Trebek is wearing Genesis style 2039 in black tie.

VIRTUAL Vision Expo to Launch

The Vision Council and Reed Exhibitions have announced the November 2010 launch of Virtual Vision Expo, an online venue which will include an auditorium for continuing education and training sessions; a networking lounge for one-to-one chats and peer-to-peer networking; and an exhibit hall to visit booths, view product presentations and demonstrations, ask questions, and place orders.

Attendees will also have access to a resource center where they will be able to save presentations, white papers, and e-brochures to a virtual briefcase.

"We're seeing an emerging trend in the trade show industry of virtual trade shows," said Tom Loughran, vice president for Reed Exhibitions. "Advances in technology have greatly changed the way we do business."

Details regarding Virtual Vision Expo will be available in the coming months and registration is set to open shortly after International Vision Expo West.