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Established and Emerging Panelists Announced for Independent Luxury Eyewear Panel

Vision Expo continues to deliver high value content and create unique networking opportunities for attendees in the Exhibit Hall. Building on its past success, the Boutique Buyer Panel at Vision Expo West 2018 (Education: September 26–29; Exhibit Hall; September 27–29) will feature panelists from Article One, Europa Eyewear and STATE Optical Co., Eye Q Stylist and Peoples From Barbados, Gogosha Optique, Lafont, and Selima Optique, who will each bring their unique perspectives to the topic of independent eyewear.

Titled “Celebrating Three Decades of Focused Independents,” panelists will have the opportunity to discuss the foundation of their past, the purpose of their presence and their hope for a powerful and independent future.

In celebration of Vision Expo West’s 30th anniversary, the panel includes a mixture of retail and vendor panelists. Two of the companies represented as vendors, Lafont and Europa Eyewear, have exhibited at Vision Expo since its inception and are proudly included on Vision Expo’s Founding Exhibitors list. The panel will also feature Article One, a new independent eyewear company based in Flint, Michigan and a 2017 winner of Vision Expo West’s Best Booth Award for Most Creative Booth Design.

Retail panelist, Selima Salaun of Selima Optique, will discuss her experience creating a successful retail and wholesale business. Selima Optique will showcase her eyewear line in a new Exhibit Hall neighborhood, the BLOCK, a curated environment within the Galleria. Retail panelist, Julia Gogosha, recently celebrated the 10th year of Gogosha Optique and has opened a new location in Echo Park, Los Angeles.

In addition, Alicia Hartman will bring her unique perspective of creating a luxury independent retail location and eyewear line in Barbados. She was recently a finalist in Vision Expo’s first OPTImum Retail Award.

The panel will be followed by a cocktail party deejayed by Coco and Breezy Dotson of Coco and Breezy Eyewear.

To register for Vision Expo West visit VisionExpoLV.com and join over 90,000 followers on Vision Expo’s social media channels on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

Simone Favero New Blackfin Marketing Manager

Pramaor, the company based in Agordo (Belluno) specialising in the production of eyewear brand Blackfin, announces that Simone Favero has taken on the role of Marketing Manager, reporting directly to CEO Nicola Del Din.

“We are living through Blackfin phase three” – comments Nicola Del Din – “We have the product, we’ve given it a soul by imbuing it with our history, now we are aiming even higher, adopting an all-round approach to the brand with ever more sophisticated design and a more coordinated image. I’m sure that Simone will be a fantastic new member of the Blackfin team capable of helping raise the bar even higher”.

“Blackfin is a dynamic young company and I share all its values so rooted in the local community” – adds Simone Favero – “and I feel completely on the same wavelength as Nicola, Giancarlo and the rest of this strong team. I’m delighted to bring all my experience to Blackfin phase III and I believe the time is right to raise the bar and, thanks to the hard work and dedication of the team, achieve one of the objectives we have set ourselves.”

35-year old Favero has had similar experience in marketing and communications for a number of different companies, including Standex International and Calzaturificio Scarpa Spa. It will be the job of this keen young executive to coordinate the work of the team in the fields of communications, visual and trade marketing with the aim of contributing to the growth and renewal of the brand on a global level.

Source: Blackfin

Opti Expands for 2019

Six halls, for a comprehensive overview right at the start of the year—that’s what the coming opti will have in store from January 25 – 27, 2019. For the first time, the trade show will be held in all six C halls (C1 – C6) at Fairground Munich. In January, opticians, optometrists, contact lens specialists, buyers, and other members of the optical industry will already be able to get everything they need for the coming business year. The additional space opens up new opportunities for exhibitors to present their products as well as for opti to expand its range.

The knowledge transfer area will be further expanded in 2019, in part by the opti forum in hall C4. On all three days, it will offer discussion panels and presentations from international optical experts. The majority of the speakers and presentations, which will all be presented with simultaneous translation into German or English, have already been decided. Visitors can expect to gain a host of useful knowledge, for example about the potential of digitalisation, additional opportunities with contact lenses, up-selling and cross-selling, as well as search engine optimization for opticians, optometrists, and ophthalmologists.

On Sunday, Andrea-Maria Schmied, graduate of the optometry and audiology training centre Optometrie & Hörakustik Initiative in Vienna, will be the first opti scholarship recipient to participate in the opti forum. She is presenting her master project thesis “Low Vision. Visual impairment and electronic and ergonomic aids”.

Similar to the FUTURE SHOP at opti 2018, which gave visitors an insight into the technical side of the optical specialty shops of the future, 2019 will also feature something special. “We are planning a showroom in hall C4 on the topic of the customer journey”, says opti Project Manager Bettina Reiter. Hall C4 will also be the centre for stationary optical businesses, including shop fittings and design; workshop outfitting and setup; care, cleaning, and merchandising products; as well as cabinets and displays. Distribution companies, industry suppliers, the international pavilions, and the international universities will also be found there.

Presale tickets for opti 2019 are now available. Vistors can purchase their online tickets at www.opti.de/en/tickets. This will allow them to avoid waiting at the entrance and save up to 8 Euro compared to tickets purchased at the door. Vouchers for one-day tickets can also be redeemed at this address.

Click Here for the full press release.

The Kirk Family Celebrate 100 Years in Optics

In 1919 Sidney and Percy Kirk converted a dilapidated sewing machine into a lens cutter. Thus, began a century of the Kirk family influencing optics around the globe and in 2019 Jason and Karen Kirk carry the mantle of one hundred years of Kirks in optics.

“This is an amazing moment, having seen everything that my Grandfather achieved and grown up in my parent’s practice, Karen and I are very proud to learn from the past to drive the future,” said Jason Kirk. “This is about looking forward as, like the previous generations, we try to contribute to the next century of optics.”

“It is easy to over-look how innovative Kirk Brothers were as a company,” said Karen Kirk. “Things that seem normal to us today were visionary in the 1920s. Kirk Brothers were the first to deliver glasses to opticians by motorbike courier to offer a better, faster service, for example.

“Some of the values that they held would be very welcome today,” Jason adds. “They helped other optical people set up what we would now consider to be competitive factories in London because they wanted the UK to be seen as a centre for optical excellence……and it was. They espoused a generosity that is sadly lacking in most businesses today. A good example was the illustrations and advertising material that they created for opticians to use to promote their goods. Percy Kirk led the dedicated marketing department, in itself another first in optics.”

Jason and Karen will be taking part in their 25th Silmo this year and continue to innovate through their exciting approach to materials, shape and colour.

Classic Vintage Design for Men

New from Fossil’s Spring/Summer 2018 collection, the FOS 2077/S has a classic-meets-mod rectangular shape in acetate with injected acetate temples. The front is made distinctive with diamond-shaped detailing on each side complimented by textured metal knurling pattern at the top of each temple inspired by details found on Fossil watches.  Available in brown crystal, matte Havana, black and crystal.

www.safilo.com

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