Blog - Page 427 of 909

May 8, 2020May 7, 2020

How will COVID-19 Impact Us?

By Cortney Murchie

For all eye care professionals, 2020 was meant to be our year. Now, just 4 months in, we are all too well aware that COVID-19, has halted life as we know it and left us all in limbo.

Given the uncertainty of this time, we have had to adapt and change the way we practice. All of us charting unknown territories that has forced some offices to close their storefront and operate completely online, while some remain open taking emergencies only.

I personally did not anticipate the magnitude to which this would affect us and our industry. I still held hope that this would be under control as rapidly as it appeared even when the optical events we were all looking forward to were held in question by the threat of COVID-19. MIDO, held in Milan, Italy, and arguably the most prestigious international eyewear show, was the first to officially be rescheduled, initially to July 2020 and then to February 2021. Still, I did not fathom the impact it would have on the entire world.

Then, Vision Expo East, held at the Javits Center in New York City, where ECPs congregate for a four-day divertissement that includes one of the most dynamic showings of optical collections in North America officially announced March 3 that it would be cancelled and consolidated with Vision Expo West in Las Vegas this September. This announcement was when it finally started to hit me. This wasn’t going away anytime soon, and the way in which we operated was going to change.

The Javits Center in New York City has since been converted into a field hospital for COVID-19 patients as NYC has become a hot zone for the coronavirus, further putting into perspective, the degree that this is not only affecting our industry but the entire world.

On March 11, the World Health Organization announced that COVID-19 was officially being declared as a global pandemic.

Here in Alberta a state of public health emergency was declared on March 17, 2020 and shortly thereafter Optometry offices were open for emergencies only. I had watched fellow Opticians from around North America deal with this earlier, yet nothing prepared me for how this would make me feel. I went from seeing patients daily for adjustments, repairs and frame selection to spending just over a month watching webinars and doing continuing education at home. I’ve been left missing the comradeship and communication with my co-workers and patients.

The impact COVID-19 has had on my life both professionally and personally has been profound – as it has been for most people – and I find comfort in talking to friends and other ECPs about what this means to them and what it means to you.

Over the next few weeks, I will be talking to fellow ECPs around North America regarding COVID-19 and how it is affecting them and how they feel this could impact our industry as a whole.

Together we are stronger, and we can help each other navigate through this pandemic and shift our focus to ways in which this will change our daily operations.

May 6, 2020May 6, 2020

Essilor Canada Launches Protect & Enhance Rebate + Family Offer

As the country progressively reopens and economic activity slowly returns following COVID-19, Essilor Canada supports independent eye care professionals (ECPs) as a partner in the recovery. By offering rebates, patients will not have to compromise on how they protect and enhance their vision with a focus on potential harmful blue light protection, UV protection and anti-fog products.

As a new normal begins, Essilor Canada is there to provide the solutions patients will need most. Increased screen time during isolation means possible eye fatigue and an opportunity to discuss the impact of potential harmful blue light and the need for blue light protection. Upcoming brighter days will require UV protection so Xperio® or Transitions® lenses for style and protection. Also, with new recommendations to wear masks for safety reasons, there is OptiFog® which prevents lenses from fogging up.

The Essilor Canada Protect & Enhance rebate offers a no hassle 20% rebate on all Crizal®, Transitions® and Xperio® brands between May 11^th and July 10^th. The rebate is also valid on Crizal® OptiFog® long-lasting fog-free vision treatment.

In addition to the Protect & Enhance rebate, Essilor Canada is broadening its Multi-Pair Offer so a patient can extend it to any of their immediate family members and benefit from a 2^nd, 3^rd or even 4^th pair all at 50% off. Now not only can a patient be properly equipped with the lens solution needed for their lifestyle, the offer extension provides the flexibility for all family members to receive the quality lenses they deserve to see more and do more. This family offer is also valid until July 10^th.

“We know ECPs seek offers that can easily translate to benefits for both themselves and their patients,” says Christophe Perreault, Essilor Canada President. “Our offers respond to the habit and lifestyle changes currently happening to better serve patient needs. And while the economy slowly returns, we understand that there will be various challenges and hurdles our customers will face in this new reality. These offers are one way in which we’re partnering with ECPs to stimulate business recovery. ”

Click HERE for the full press release.

May 6, 2020May 6, 2020

EssilorLuxottica Reports Revenue Down 10% for First Quarter

EssilorLuxottica today announced that consolidated revenue for the first quarter of 2020 totalled Euro 3,784 million, representing a year-on-year decline of 10.1% compared to Q1 2019 revenue, revealing good resistance in the current unprecedented global crisis.

“The market is going through an unprecedented crisis and we have answered the call as a leader with a responsibility to everyone whose lives we touch. Leading by example during the COVID-19 pandemic, we are working hard to keep our employees and their families safe, provide essential vision care for emergency workers on the front lines and do our part to support the customers and partners who make up the lifeblood of our business.

While we are adapting the organization for the few months ahead, early experience from the first countries to open is encouraging. When the crisis fades, the resilient demand for better vision will be visible again and we will be ready to serve it.

The digitally powered network that we have worked hard to build, connecting more than 400,000 optical stores and labs, can now guarantee the best support to our customers and an open door for all consumers even in the most difficult times.

This combination of social and business leadership will strongly help EssilorLuxottica and the entire industry when a wider recovery materializes. Until then, we continue to sharpen our digital assets, feed our consumers’ love for brands and build on our talents”, commented Francesco Milleri, CEO and Deputy Chairman of Luxottica, and Paul du Saillant, CEO of Essilor.

Click HERE for the full press release.

May 6, 2020April 21, 2020

Claudia Alan’s Brackendale Exudes Strength

Men, AYA has you covered! The Brackendale is an oversized rimless metal frame
with acetate temples and tips. This stylish frame features a stunning Triple Eagle
design by Corrine Hunt – a renown First Nations artist from BC – and an elegant
silver detail on temple. It also has a spring hinge and rocking nose pads for
added comfort.

Distributed by: www.claudiaalan.com

May 5, 2020May 5, 2020

Etnia Barcelona Offers Financing Plans for Customers During COVID-19 Crisis

David Pellicer, founder of Etnia Barcelona, the Spanish eyewear brand, is tackling the global crisis head-on with a protective attitude towards his team, customers and the Etnia Barcelona Fundación.

Etnia Barcelona’s priorities are to unconditionally defend human capital and to support their customers by continuing to provide all their services. As a primary measure, Etnia Barcelona has expanded their financing plans to allow more flexibility for missing, delayed and early payments.

Etnia Barcelona Foundation is working on a post-COVID-19 project to distribute 150,000 pairs of glasses to optical stores so that they can help struggling families in their area.

As for health-related measures, Etnia is doing everything necessary, ensuring that their facilities and collections are constantly disinfected. Hygiene, protection and disinfection of materials is key.

Digital tools have been maximized. Since day zero, 90% of the Etnia Barcelona team was able to work remotely thanks to Teams software. Advanced digital tools give shoppers a quality customer experience. Etnia has implemented the virtual fitting room in the Extranet to optimize the experience and have activated chat to provide real-time service.

The company has created Drive to Store, which diverts sales from Etnia’s websites to the optical store point-of-sale, thereby encouraging traffic and sales at their trade customers’ outlets. Starting in September, Etnia Barcelona eyewear will contain a unique code that increases the traceability of the glasses and allows for a greater control of distribution to authorized points. This will also allow for the warranty to be activated at the optical store at the time of sale.

The second initiative is the Responsibility project. Etnia Barcelona frames are made of natural acetate and the lenses are made of mineral glass. The company is removing all plastic from their packaging and replacing it with sustainable materials.

The third project is to co-locate the Barcelona Production plant within their Headquarters, over 6 floors and covering over 6,000 sq. meters. Manufacturing will be co-located with the entire design and industrialization team, along with the other company departments. This move will enable faster innovation and streamline the customized capsules and collections for optical store customers.

Click HERE for the full press release.