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Vision Council Lab Division Announces Director’s Choice Award Recipient

The Lab Division of The Vision Council announced on August 3rd the industry veterans who will be recognized during the Directors’ Choice Award and 19th Annual Lab Division Hall of Fame celebration on Wednesday, September 26, in conjunction with the Lab Division Meeting and International Vision Expo West.

The Division has named Dave Cole, former President of Transitions Optical, as the 2018 recipient of the Directors’ Choice Award honoring his 26+ years in the optical industry, as a champion for a game-changing technology, and as a partner to optical labs.

Dave Cole will be recognized alongside this year’s Lab Division Hall of Fame inductees at the Hall of Fame banquet, held during The Vision Council’s Lab Division meeting at International Vision Expo West.

The 2018 Lab Division Hall of Fame inductees were also announced:

  • Ronald F. Cooke, O.D., Diversified Ophthalmics, Inc
  • Ralph G. Kent Jr., Luzerne Optical Laboratories
  • Daniel C. Lundberg, Digital Vision, Inc
  • Mike Nathe, Essilor of America
  • Richard C. Palmer, Practical Engineering, Inc / Walman
  • Mike Sutherlin, Sutherlin Optical
  • Michael Walach, Quest Optical Specialty Lab
  • Dana Weeks, Optical Services International
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 Roger Eye Design Changes Canadian Distribution

Zowee Wow Distinctive Eyewear is now the new distributor for the boutique eyewear collection Roger Eye Design in Canada.

Zowee Wow’s passion is offering distinctive boutique eyewear that is both fun and wearable. They provide unique eyewear lines that differentiate their customers within the marketplace while supporting them with outstanding customer service and value.

“We’ve proudly featured Roger Eye Design, with vivid colours and European styling since 2011 in the United States along with our own collection Rain City Eyewear which is designed in Seattle, Washington. We are very excited to have the opportunity to work closely with our Canadian independents,” said Zowee Wow’s National Sales Manager Mark Anderson.

Roger Eye Designs was formerly distributed by Audace Lunettes in Canada.

Click HERE for the full press release.

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Safilo Group Board of Directors Approves 1st Half Financial Results

On August 2, the Board of Directors of Safilo Group reviewed and approved the results of the first half of 2018 and a five year Business Plan which includes an update of the previous 2020 Plan.

Net sales were 492.2 million Euros, down 4.3% in the first half of 2018 compared to 2017, and the Group posted a net loss of 10.7 million Euros. Sales were down approximately 7% in Europe and North America, while the Asia Pacific region and other emerging markets saw impressive growth.

Angelo Trocchia, Safilo Chief Executive Officer since April 2018, commented, “Our objective is to improve the performance of our Company, focusing on few, very clear, priorities. First and foremost, we need to return to grow our top line, exploiting more and better the core strengths of the Group: our product creation and development capabilities, our 140 years of eyewear manufacturing experience, and our deep worldwide distribution network.”

Trocchia emphasized that they were in the process of creating a leaner organization, more customer-centric culture, and they expect Free Cash Flow to return to positive in 2019.

Click HERE for the full press release.

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Vision Expo to Recognize Exhibitors through New Award Category

Vision Expo has announced a new category as part of its Best Booth Awards. Along with Most Creative Booth Design, the newly launched category will be Best In-Booth Brand Activation. Voting will take place at Vision Expo West 2018 in Las Vegas (Education: September 26 – 29; Exhibit Hall: September 27 – 29).

Vision Expo created the Best Booth Awards to recognize the considerable investments made by exhibitors to create a unique experience and memorable environment for attendees. The award first launched at Vision Expo West in 2017.

An in-booth activation is a way for an exhibitor to increase awareness of their brand and engage with attendees through activities like interactive games, technology, sampling, giveaways, in-booth demonstrations, contests and more.

Vision Expo exhibitors continue to deliver exciting experiences for attendees year after year, both through booth design and activations. At past Vision Expo shows, activations have included fishing for eyewear, playing Rock Band, live artists, racing video games and customizable vinyl records.

The winning exhibitor in each category will receive $1,000 in future sponsorship credits and media coverage. Past winners include Article One (Booth G21020) and De Rigo REM (Booth G23035) for Most Creative Booth Design and Canadian company Kuusoft Corp. (Booth MS13049) for previous category Best Use of Technology.

Attendees can vote for their favorite booths in the Vision Expo mobile app. One voter each day will be selected to win a $500 AmEx Gift Card.

Follow Vision Expo on Instagram Stories and IGTV to see live coverage of unique booths and activations throughout the show.

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Safilo and Fossil Renew Global Eyewear License Agreement

Safilo and Fossil Group Inc., the global lifestyle Company specializing in consumer fashion accessories, announced the renewal of their global FOSSIL eyewear license for the next five years, up to 31st December 2023.

The license was first signed in 1999 and was extended to global distribution in 2013.

“The renewal of the FOSSIL Eyewear agreement is the result of the success of our long standing partnership and gives us the opportunity to further build on an already strong business in the contemporary lifestyle segment,” says Angelo Trocchia, CEO of Safilo Group. “The extension of this license represents the evolution of a relationship and an important business that continues to grow, and will do the same in the future thanks to collections whose design and positioning are extremely well appreciated by our customers and consumers all over the world.”

Source: Safilo

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