Blog

February 20, 2019May 20, 2026

Etnia Barcelona Launches Titanium Collection

Detail-oriented, minimalist, lightweight and inspired by Japanese craftsmanship is how we would describe the first Etnia Barcelona collection to be made from titanium. This collection is a journey through Japanese tradition, culture and craftsmanship using pure titanium, 100% made in Japan. Not only is titanium one of the most resistant and lightweight materials in the eyewear industry, but it is also hypoallergenic.

Etnia Barcelona’s titanium collection is available in 10 models: 6 optical glasses and 4 sunglasses. Featured model: RIVERDALE col. HVRD.

www.etniabarcelona.com

February 20, 2019February 19, 2019

Luxexcel Advances 3D Printing Technology for Ophthalmic Lenses

Luxexcel, the pioneer in 3D printed ophthalmic lenses, announces that its proprietary 3D printing technology has advanced from the pilot phase to printing commercial lenses.

Over the past 12 months, 5,000 lenses have been printed on several VisionPlatforms™ installed in USA and Europe, enabling the company to bring the technology to a level where commercial lenses are being shipped to customers every day.

Fabio Esposito, CEO of Luxexcel: “By achieving this level of maturity we are ready to further grow the incredible potential of this technology and develop unique lenses both in ophthalmic and in smart eyewear. 3D printing is uniquely positioned to bridge the gap between traditional lenses and the future of eyewear which resides in smart functionalities.”

Luxexcel VisionPlatform™: Commercial Lens Printing
The Luxexcel VisionPlatform™ consists of industrial grade 3D printers, lens-design software and workflow integration tools which enable customers to manufacture 3D printed ophthalmic quality lenses which meet industry standards including all ANSI, ISO & FDA requirements.

Guido Groet, Chief Commercial Officer of Luxexcel: “We have developed this solution to bring to the eyewear market an amazing capability: 3D printed lenses. In the past 12 months, Luxexcel focused on the industrialization of the VisionPlatform™ in collaboration with key manufacturers in the ophthalmic field. The Luxexcel VisionPlatform™ brings a unique solution to the world of eyewear and enables the addition of prescription to smart eyewear.”

Follow this link to see the technology at work and hear IFB Solution’s Twenty/200 optical lab, the first wholesale optical lab utilizing Luxexcel 3D print technology to deliver commercial lenses.

Luxexcel lens timelapse

February 19, 2019February 18, 2019

Transitions Names Sheena Taff as the Winner of the 2018 Best in Marketing Award

Transitions Optical honored Sheena Taff, optician at Roberts & Brown Opticians, with the 2018 Best in Marketing title, a category of the Transitions Innovation Awards program, during a recognition ceremony on Tuesday, Feb. 5 at Transitions Academy 2019 in Orlando, Fla.

“Sheena has taken the marketing of Transitions lenses at her practice to new levels with her creative social media campaigns. She has excelled at encouraging her staff to broaden their horizons to include all the new Transitions Signature lenses style colors when recommending,” said Drew Smith, director, North America Channels, Transitions Optical. “As a Transitions Change Agent and leader with her digital marketing strategies, we congratulate Sheena on her well-earned achievements.”

“I can see my enthusiasm for Transitions lenses both in the practice and in my personal life catching on with staff and peers, so I am incredibly excited to accept this award,” said Taff. “Both my team and I have taken the time to educate patients on the style and health benefits of Transitions lenses, and we are proud to receive this honour.”

Photo: Sheena Taff was awarded the 2018 Best in Marketing title.

Click HERE for the full press release.

February 19, 2019February 18, 2019

Transitions Names Costco Optical Winner of the 2018 Canadian Retailer of the Year Award

Transitions Optical honored Costco Optical with the 2018 Canadian Retailer of the Year title, a category of the Transitions Innovation Awards program, during a recognition ceremony on Tuesday, Feb. 5 at Transitions Academy 2019 in Orlando, Fla.

“Not only did Costco Optical create numerous unique training materials in order to educate their staff on the benefits of Transitions^®lenses, but they also set a new benchmark in their stores that exceeded the Canadian national average for the sale of Transitions lenses,” said Drew Smith, director, North America Channels, Transitions Optical. “We congratulate Costco Optical for their continuous efforts to advocate for the Transitions^® brand, and proudly honor them as Canadian Retailer of the Year.”

Eugénie Robinson, optical assistant general merchandise manager at Costco Canada, accepted the award on behalf of the retailer at Transitions Academy.

“This past year, we really targeted our messaging to patients by providing the information in an easy-to-digest way, which I think truly propelled us to the top,” said Robinson. “We are very excited to be accepting the award for Canadian Retailer of the Year and partnering with Transitions Optical in the future.”

During Transitions Academy, Canadian Retailer of the Year finalist Iris was also recognized for their commitment to Transitions brand and improving customers’ vision.

Photo: Costco Optical was awarded the 2018 Canadian Retailer of the Year title.

Click HERE for the full press release.

February 15, 2019February 12, 2019

Experience Trendsetting Eyewear Retail Locations with Vision Expo’s New Guided Store Tours

Vision Expo East and Retail Store Tours™ are proud to introduce exclusively curated guided retail store tours available to attendees from March 20–24. These tours will offer attendees an inside look at how eyewear retailers drive traffic to their stores, leverage the latest technology, maximize their store experience and set themselves apart in several of New York City’s world-renowned neighborhoods.

With access to three custom-made tours, attendees can choose the tour that’s most relevant to their optical business:

Madison Avenue: Bespoke Luxury + Customization
SoHo: Innovation + Personalization
Oculus: A New Lens on Retail

As the epicenter of luxury, Madison Avenue tours provide the ideal location for timeless and trendy concepts that push boundaries of taste across product categories. Discover design and retail modernizations that are intended to stand out from highly visible international and niche brands in the high touch experience Madison Avenue stores offer their discerning clientele.

SoHo tours will explore visionary business innovators and savvy re-inventors as they redefine themselves and launch new brands along the iconic cobblestone streets. Experience revolutionary eyewear retailers and hidden treasures as well as the best practices for designing product displays, services, technologies and crafting the right atmosphere for your brand.

Inside the Oculus, witness how this destination is transforming downtown shopping with cutting-edge design, sales associate training and innovative experiences. With pop-ups, flagship stores, iconic retailers and online brands, the Oculus offers attendees a diverse array of retail modernization and optical innovators to explore.

The retail store tours can be added to attendee’s Vision Expo experience during the registration process for a separate fee of $160, each. Attendees that have already registered for Vision Expo can add the tours to their existing registration by visiting VisionExpoNY.com.

For tour times, dates and registration information, click here.

To register for Vision Expo East 2019, visit VisionExpoNY.com and be sure to follow along on all of Vision Expo’s social media channels, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.