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Hot List: July 2012

Alicia Hoglund

1 Working Women

The Second Annual State of Women-Owned Business Report, commissioned by American Express OPEN, reveals that in the U.S., there are an estimated 8.3 million women-owned businesses generating nearly $1.3 trillion in revenue and employing nearly 7.7 million people. Over the last 15 years, the states with the fastest growth in the number of women-owned businesses include the following.

1. Georgia (95%)
2. Nevada (92%)
3. North Carolina (83%)
4. Mississippi (75%)
5. Texas (75%)

2 Best of the Best

According to The Business Journals' “On Numbers” report, the best markets for small businesses to grow and prosper in the U.S. include the following.

East: Pittsburgh
South: Austin, Texas
Midwest: Minneapolis
West: Salt Lake City

3 Payroll Percentage

Feefighters.com reports that on average, small business represents 30 percent of payroll for most states, with Montana, Wyoming, and Vermont having the highest small business payroll.

4 Feelin' Good

Sixty-nine percent of respondents of the 2012 U.S. Bank Small Business Annual Survey report the financial health of their business as being “good,” “very good,” or “excellent.”

Vision Expo West Returns to Sin City

Registration is now open for the 2012 International Vision Expo West. The show, which will be held September 5 to 8 at the Sands Expo & Convention Center in Las Vegas, promises to deliver the latest news, trends, and information in frames, lenses, equipment, and technology with the help of more than 400 exhibitors from around the globe, as well as top-notch education, parties, giveaways, and other show specials.

• EDUCATION. This year's show boasts more than 350 hours of continuing education. The courses have been divided into six areas of interest—Allied Health, Business Solutions, Clinical/Medical, Optical Technology, Contact Lenses, and Staff Training and Cross Training—making it easy for attendees to plan their show schedules.

The Conference Advisory Board will introduce a few new tracks to this year's program. The New Government Regulations track will provide up-to-the-minute requirements for several new “mandatory” programs that involve incentives and penalties, Electronic Health Records, PQRS, e-prescribing, and coding compliance. The UV Symposium is a two-hour three O's panel exploring the effects of UV damage, product solutions to guard against exposure, and ways to educate patients and your community. Sales U is a three-hour practical session on selling, including boosting your confidence, patient satisfaction, and profits.

Co-sponsored by EB, The Frame Buyer Certificate Program returns with a 14-hour track dedicated to streamlining the process of managing, monitoring, positioning, and promoting your frame inventory. The Visionomics program, with EB as trade media partner, features COPE- and ABO-approved business-building courses on strategies for assessing and maximizing practice profitability.

• TECHNOLOGY. My Show Planner helps attendees quickly and easily plan their show by creating a personal agenda that can be accessed online or via any smartphone using the Vision Mobile app.

• BEST NEW PRODUCT. Attendees can view entries and vote for the best new product featured in the New Product Gallery as part of the Vision Choice Awards. Votes can be cast by ballot throughout the show, and all those who vote will be automatically entered to win a $500 exhibit hall shopping spree. The Vision Choice Award and the shopping spree winner will be announced on Friday, September 8.

• PARTIES AND EVENTS. VEW 2012 has no shortage of networking opportunities, including the opening-night party at TAO Nightclub on Thursday, September 6.

More show specials and events are being added daily. To stay on top of the latest show news, as well as access to the Vision Mobile app, social media channels, hundreds of show specials, and after-hours entertainment, visit the Highlights section under the For Attendees tab on the online or via any smartphone using VEW website, visionexpowest.com.

EB on TV!

Eyecare Business has teamed up with OMG National to launch Eyecare Business TV, an online video series providing ECPs with weekly business tips, strategies, and financial features, as well as the latest trends in frames, lenses, equipment, accessories, and related products and services.

EB subscribers will receive weekly email broadcasts, delivering the latest optical business updates and exclusive content directly to their inbox. In addition, ECPs can access video content at their convenience on EBTV's website.

EB plans to roll out a consumer edition to be developed in partnership with local ECPs. For more information, or to watch the latest releases of EBTV, visit eyecarebusiness.tv.

VSP, AOA Hold Forum

On May 23, VSP Global and the American Optometric Association participated in an open forum on healthcare reform in St. Louis, with a live audience of more than 100 ODs from 32 states and another 500 online participants.

The subject: whether stand-alone vision plans should be part of insurance exchanges as established by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

Each group was represented by three panelists. At the podium for VSP were CEO Rob Lynch; Tim Jankowski, OD, FAAO, immediate past chair; and Dan Mannen, OD, FAAO, current chair, VSP Global Board of Directors. Attending on behalf of the AOA were Stephen Montaquila, OD, chair of the AOA Third Party Center Executive Committee; Robert L. Jarrell, OD, chair of the AOA State Government Relations Center Executive Committee; and Roger Jordan, OD, chair of the AOA Federal Relations Committee.

After the forum, Stuart Thomas, OD, chairman of VSP Global's Board, stated, “It is critical for stand-alone vision plans to be able to participate directly in the insurance exchanges to ensure that Americans have access to quality eyecare and that doctors have access to patients.”

Discussing the AOA's position, Joe Ellis, OD, past AOA president, said, “Right now, when it's more important than ever that elected officials hear from us, lobbyists for vision plans are urging…to turn back the clock on four decades of optometry's progress [and] to separate us from the mainstream of health care.”

Optometry is clearly divided on this subject. And, at press time, five state associations had passed resolutions to support stand-alone vision plan inclusion.

Essilor Unveils ‘Limitless Vision’ PAL

This month, Essilor launches a new Varilux PAL design that, according to the company, defies the limits of existing progressive lenses by providing an unlimited field of vision and eliminating swim effect. The company's Varilux S Series comprises three new lens designs—Varilux S Design, Varilux S Fit, and Varilux S 4D.

All Varilux S Series lenses are backed by the revolutionary Nanoptix Technology and SychronEyes Technology. With four new pending patents, Nanoptix Technology reengineers the fundamental structure during lens calculation to virtually eliminate swim effect and offer never before achieved stability in motion.

SynchronEyes Technology, with two pending patents, uses the Rx from the left eye and the right eye to simultaneously calculate the lenses as a pair, ensuring both eyes work together as one visual system for extra-large fields of vision. The result, according to Essilor, is better retinal image matching, improved spatial perception, and edge-to-edge clarity in every gaze direction.

According to wearer test results, patients reported immediate adaptation and noticed a large improvement in the intermediate zone over other PAL designs.

Available exclusively through the Visioffice System, 4D technology factors in the patient's leading, dominant eye measurement in the lens design. The Visioffice calculates this unique measurement in addition to 15 other personalized measurements to deliver faster visual reaction time for the patient.

Varilux S Series lenses are processed using the S Digital Surfacing process—the next generation of DualOptix Digital surfacing.

For more information about Essilor's line of Variluz lenses, visit variluxusa.com.

STAR Gazers
	1. Actor Alex Skarsgard accessorized his slim suit with a pair of Persol Capri Edition style PO3024 shades by Luxottica. Catch Skarsgard on the HBO hit TV show “True Blood,” now in its fifth season.
	2. Actor Mark Ruffalo was snapped in LACOSTE sunglass style L103S by Marchon. Ruffalo's latest film, “The Avengers,” recently broke box office records, raking in an estimated $200 million opening weekend.
	3. “Hunger Games” star Josh Hutchinson was all smiles in Guess GU6661 style sunwear by Viva International. Hutchinson is hard at work on the animated film “Epic,” which will hit theaters next year.
	4. Bush frontman Gavin Rossdale was spotted in John Varvatos style V779 sunglasses by REM eyewear. The 46-year-old rocker recently celebrated Father's Day with his two kids, Kingston and Zuma, and his wife, Gwen Stefani.

OPTICIANRY SUMMIT OFF TO STRONG START

After more than a year of planning and organizing, the Opticianry Summit held in May drew more than 50 stakeholders and interested parties within the opticianry community together. They started the task of creating a shared vision of and strategic plan for the role of opticians in the evolving optical industry.

Responsibility of moving the process forward now falls to the Steward Team consisting of Tom Barracato of the OAA, Ed DeGennaro, Dianna Finisecy, Robert Flippin, John Girdler, Tom Hicks, Sam Morgenstern, Doug Pelkey, and Wesley Scott.

In June, the committee met to plan the following:

■ How best to define an educational minimum for certification and licensure nationwide,
■ A universal definition (new or existing) for opticianry,
■ A purpose statement for the Healthcare initiative so it's more reflective of general healthcare and managed care,
■ A forum in which the leadership of the various state and national opticianry organizations can collaborate on the goals of the summit, share information about its initiatives and programs, and decrease duplication in efforts among organizations.

The committees of the Team are working throughout the summer, representatives note. The Stewardship Team will meet again August 27 to discuss its progress.

Updates on the initiatives, as well as agendas for upcoming meetings, will be posted on the Summit's website, opticianrysummit.com.

NEW FUNDING FOR QSPEX

QSpex Technologies has received $20.5 million in Series D equity funding from Spindletop Healthcare Capital and venture capital firm Essex Woodlands. Evan Melrose, MD, managing director of Spindletop, will also join the QSpex board of directors.

According to QSpex executives, the funds will enable the company to expand production to support the newest product launch and to triple its existing field sales and technical support staff. The QSpex Premium Lens System is an in-house premium lens fabrication system that allows ECPs to create their own lenses ready for finishing in about 35 minutes. The company has just launched a short corridor progressive lens design and is about to introduce photochromic treatment for its lenses.

Spindletop Healthcare Capital of Austin, Texas, is a late-stage venture capital firm specializing in commercial stage healthcare investments. Essex Woodlands is one of the world's largest healthcare growth equity and venture capital firms.

PBA Holds National Summit

Last month, Prevent Blindness America (PBA) held “Focus on Eye Health: A National Summit” in Washington, D.C., to serve as a launching pad for newly revised public health data on vision and eye health. Attendees, including patient advocates, community-based and national vision and eye health organizations, government agencies, as well as policy makers, were updated on the latest findings on the impact on the U.S. economy of adult eye disorders, visual impairment, and blindness.

The Summit also provided updates of two very significant public health reports— “Vision Problems in the U.S.: Prevalence of Adult Vision Impairment and Age-Related Eye Disease in America,” in partnerships with the National Eye Institute and Johns Hopkins University, and the “Economic Impact of Vision Problems.” Key findings from these reports can be found at preventblindness.org/visionproblems.

Gold-level sponsors included The Allergan Foundation, American Academy of Ophthalmology, American Optometric Association, Genentech, Transitions Optical, Inc., The Vision Council, VSP Vision Care, and Vision Vitals Foundation. Silver-level sponsors included the Alliance for Eye and Vision Research, AMD Alliance International, American Foundation for the Blind, American Health Assistance Foundation, Foundation for Eye Health Awareness, Helen Keller International, Jewish Guild Healthcare, Lighthouse International, American Public Health Association, Lions Club International, Regeneron, Research to Prevent Blindness, School Health, ThromboGenics, Vision 2020 USA, Vistakon, and VisionServe Alliance.

For those who were unable to attend the event, PBA announced its plan to release audio recordings from the event on the Summit's website, preventblindnessamerica.us/eyesummit.

Good Idea

Customer Complaints

“Sears takes recovery from a customer service complaint seriously. The company now has a ‘blue ribbon team’ of specially educated and empowered staff to handle recoveries. Once an issue goes to them, anything they recommend is what gets done. They have full support from the top down. Sears does this because the company understands that a successfully recovered customer can become your most loyal advocate and ally.”

— Ron Kaufman, author “Uplifting Service: The Proven Path to Delighting Your Customers, Colleagues, and Everyone Else You Meet”

Transitions on Tour

Transitions Optical finishes up its educational tour next month, bringing ABO-certified seminars about the new Transitions Vantage adaptive lenses to ECPs across the country. When completed, the tour will have included 10 major and 38 regional events and reached more than 5,000 ECPs. Each tour stop will have included a presentation on the new photochromic lenses featuring variable polarization and a chance for ECPs to register to win a free demonstration kit. For information, see transitions.com/vantageevents.

(l-r) Transitions' Sarah Barrows, Brian Hauser, Mary O'Hara, and Liz Quinn at a Transitions Vantage educational event on a cruise around the tip of Manhattan

License Lineup

The Marcolin Group and the Diesel Group have signed an addendum to their current license contract for the world exclusive rights for the production and distribution of brand 55DSL eyewear and sunwear. The line is forecasted to launch in early 2013.

Allison S.p.A. and Missoni have renewed their license agreement for the production and worldwide distribution of Missoni brand optical frames and sunglasses. Allison has also announced the renewal of its licensing agreement with design house Moschino for another five years, thus extending the partnership that began in 2006.

Aspex Eyewear has inked a deal with BMW Group for the exclusive rights to manufacture and distribute sun and ophthalmic eyewear collections under the BMW brand in the Americas. The first collection is slated for early 2013.

Tura, Inc., and Geoffrey Beene, LLC have signed a multi-year license agreement for men's and women's ophthalmic eyewear under the Geoffrey Beene label. The initial launch is slated for spring 2013.

Armani Group and Luxottica Group S.p.A. have signed a 10-year exclusive license agreement for the design, manufacturing, and worldwide distribution of sun and prescription eyewear under the Giorgio Armani, Emporio Armani, as well as the A|X Armani Exchange brands.

On the TOWN

Marchon's Valentino “Rockstud” wayfarer sunglass style V606S was featured at the 2012 MTV Movie Awards. Stars like Kristen Stewart and Jennifer Lawrence were gifted a pair of the popular Valentino shades.

Celebrities and designers alike flocked to the Council of Fashion Designers of America's 2012 CFDA Fashion Awards, held in June at Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center in New York. Selima Optique's Selima Salaun and Baumvision's Shane Baum both attended the event, which honored the year's best fashion designs as well as celebrated the organization's 50th anniversary.

1. Marchon's Valentino Eyewear was selected to be featured at the 20th annual MTV Movie Awards; 2. Baumvision's Shane Baum arrives at the 2012 CFDA Awards with stylist Keylee Sanders; 3. Selima Salaun with June Ambrose and Christian Roth at the 2012 CFDA Awards