Blog

December 2, 2021December 2, 2021

MIDO to be Held February 12 – 14, 2022 in Milan

MIDO 2022 is set to open its doors February 12 to 14 at Fiera Milano Rho, as scheduled. At the moment, there are no barriers to international travel, no measures prohibiting access to Italy by European citizens or those from other key market nations, like the USA.

Currently, about 600 exhibitors have confirmed their participation in the show, of these 350 are international, primarily European, specifically, from France, Germany, Spain, the UK and the United States.

“Although uncertainty is a constant these days, we feel it is our responsibility to support the needs of industry businesses that, over the last two years, have suffered the consequences of the global crisis,” remarked MIDO President Giovanni Vitaloni. “Promoting a product like eyewear, whether optical or sunglasses, requires interaction and MIDO aims to re-establish interpersonal communication. The first Digital Edition, rolled out in 2021, is back again this year. Although a brilliant aid in managing contacts, it lacked the human touch in conducting business. At any rate, we believe we have amply demonstrated in the recent past that MIDO has made responsible choices with regard to exhibitors and visitors, with whom we are constantly in contact to assess and ensure a high-quality event. We are all CRAVING MIDO!”

“The eyewear we will find at MIDO are the result of two years in which companies have followed pathways that led to increasingly customized products, where what matters is their quality, durability and content, understood as the story behind the spectacles,” continued Vitaloni. In addition, there is a greater focus on sustainability, with research into recyclable raw materials and production processes with low environmental impact.”

Speaking of sustainability, the 1st edition of the Stand Up For Green award will take place at MIDO 2022 ‒ in recognition of the stands where outstanding environmental sensitivity was exercised, for example, by employing reusable modules, recycled materials or raw materials with low environmental impact. Award winners will be announced on Saturday, February 12. Another award returning this year is the BeStore Award, acknowledging the world’s optical centers that offer an outstanding shopping experience and customer service.

Entries for both awards can be submitted until January 12 on the MIDO website www.mido.com, under the “participate” heading. Also back after a successful first edition is the Your BeStore digital competition award that goes to the optical shop deemed the best by users of the MIDO 2022 | DIGITAL EDITION platform.

Click HERE for the full press release.

December 1, 2021December 1, 2021

New Look Vision Group Announces Acquisition of Luxury Optical Holdings

New Look Vision Group announces today that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire New York-based Luxury Optical Holdings (LOH). With its existing luxury optical presence in Canada, acquisition of Edward Beiner in 2020 and previously announced partnership with Black Optical earlier this year, New Look Vision Group is now one of the leading luxury optical groups worldwide.

LOH is the largest luxury optical retailer in the United States, carrying on business primarily under the Morgenthal Frederics, Robert Marc, Salle Opticians, Georgetown Optician and Leonard Opticians retail banners. LOH has a network of 34 locations and a long-established presence in premium markets such as Manhattan, Los Angeles, Miami, Washington D.C., Atlanta, Chicago and Aspen.

In addition, the Company continues to expand its atelier that designs and manufactures small production batches of the highest quality buffalo horn, titanium, acetate and slate eyewear in the finest factories in Germany, Japan and France. LOH exclusively distributes Robert Marc, Lunor and Morgenthal Frederics brands to hundreds of high-end independent eye care professionals across North America.

New Look Vision Group plans to continue LOH, and its brands underneath, as a separate stand-alone business unit under the leadership of Tim Mayhew and plans to retain head office and senior management personnel in current roles. New Look Vision Group is acquiring LOH from Chicago-based Monroe Capital, an $11.2 billion asset manager focused on middle market businesses.

Antoine Amiel, President and CEO of New Look Vision Group, stated that: “I feel privileged to welcome the LOH team into our organization. I am in awe of LOH’s achievements of the past years, under Tim Mayhew’s corporate leadership. The transaction will be a major step forward for both organizations, with particular focus on expansion – both retail and wholesale – and product development.”

Tim Mayhew, CEO of LOH, stated that: “I am proud to be joining forces with New Look Vision Group and creating the largest collection of luxury optical stores. Antoine Amiel and I share a belief that eyewear is the most important luxury accessory and I look forward to working with him to build a premium global optical company.”

The terms of the transaction have not been disclosed and closing is subject to customary conditions.

Click HERE for the full press release.

November 29, 2021November 29, 2021

CooperCompanies Announces Executive Management Changes

CooperCompanies announced two senior leadership changes that will enable the company to maximize current and future opportunities. Effective February 1, 2022, Dan McBride, Executive Vice President (EVP), Chief Operating Officer of CooperCompanies, will take on additional responsibilities that span the organization. In conjunction with this move, Jerry Warner EVP, Americas and Global Commercial Functions of CooperVision, will be promoted to President of CooperVision, effective February 1, 2022.

“We have a multifaceted, global organization that’s only getting bigger and stronger,” said Al White, CooperCompanies President and CEO. “Both our businesses – vision and women’s health – are actively creating new categories and expanding around the world. Dan has the experience and vision to help guide our dynamic growth, and Jerry has the leadership strengths and industry relationships that are critical to CooperVision’s continued success.”

In his expanded role, Mr. McBride will continue to be responsible for CooperVision while also assuming global leadership for human resources and legal, in addition to assuming a more active role in corporate strategy.

In his new role as President of CooperVision, Mr. Warner will oversee all worldwide functions within the CooperVision business unit and continue to report to Mr. McBride.

Click HERE for the full press release.

November 25, 2021November 19, 2021

More Puppy Raisers Needed as Future CNIB Guide Dogs Arrive in Halifax

Five future CNIB Guide Dog puppies recently arrived in Halifax, where they’ll spend the next 12 to15 months in the care of volunteer puppy raisers, getting prepared for their future careers as CNIB Guide Dogs. The pups can be seen training around the Halifax area, wearing their bright yellow Future CNIB Guide Dog vests.

Casey, Dorrie, Jet, Jorge [pronounced HOR-hey] and Trapper – all yellow Labrador retrievers – are CNIB’s first puppies to arrive in Halifax since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Since the first future CNIB Guide Dog puppies arrived in Halifax in January 2018, we’ve typically received our puppies from a top-of-the-line breeder in Australia, but due to ongoing border closures and travel restrictions, we’ve not been able to transport them safely and comfortably to Canada,” says Laura Kennedy, CNIB Guide Dogs’ Apprentice Puppy Raising Supervisor. “Given the shortage of guide dog puppies and the more than 300% increase in demand for CNIB Guide Dog applications, we were thrilled when these five puppies came to us from a breeder in Ontario.”

Each puppy will spend their first year with a volunteer puppy raiser, who’s responsibility is to not only provide them a safe and loving home, but also help prepare them through a supervised obedience and socialization skills program.

More puppies are arriving in the coming months, and CNIB Guide Dogs is looking for additional volunteer puppy raisers in the Halifax area.

“Raising a puppy to become a guide dog for a person who is blind or partially sighted is one of the most impactful volunteer experiences, but it’s also a serious and time-intensive commitment,” says Laura.

By the time the puppies begin formal guide dog training at about 15 months of age, they should be well-behaved in social situations and the home. They should know several basic obedience routines, be comfortable on public transportation and be confident, relaxed and ready for the next stage of their training.

Click HERE for the full press release.

November 25, 2021November 25, 2021

opti 2022: New Time Slot in May

The international trade show for optics & design, which was planned for January 14 to 16, 2022 at the Fairground Munich, will not take place at the beginning of the year. Uncontrolled rapidly increasing infection rates in the coronavirus pandemic, and changes to government requirements at short notice, also regarding 2G-plus regulations along with visitor restrictions, make reliable planning impossible. The organiser has therefore decided to postpone opti until May 13 to 15, 2022 (Friday to Sunday) in Munich.

“It is currently impossible to predict whether the situation will ease again by January. Our primary goal was and remains to organise an opti 2022, which promises success for all participants. In this increasingly acute situation, we can no longer guarantee this for the planned time slot of the event,” explained Klaus Plaschka, Managing Director of GHM Gesellschaft für Handwerksmessen mbH.

In addition to the uncontrolled rapidly increasing infection rates, the urgent wishes of the exhibitors have played an equal role in this decision. From the current perspective, it is hardly possible for service providers and employees of opti exhibitors – and also for opti visitors – to plan their participation for January, despite the comprehensive hygiene concept.

Safety concept adapted until the last moment
Up to the very last moment, GHM and the opti team had continuously adapted the safety concept for opti 2022, to create the best possible conditions for a successful industry meeting. The unpredictability has reached its peak, not least with the latest federal and state regulations, and the resulting U-turn regarding the previously applicable government guidelines.

“Just like we were, the exhibitors and opticians alike were looking forward to seeing each other again! Especially in these difficult times, opti remains an efficient marketing platform. Our aim is to reliably enable the exhibiting companies and opticians to achieve economic success – we want to offer the trade show public a great product experience. Until recently, this was possible under the previously applicable conditions. However, all the underlying new facts and developments, taken together, make postponing opti the only sensible course of action,” said Bettina Reiter, director of opti.

Click HERE for the full press release.