Blog - Page 579 of 887

February 4, 2019May 19, 2026

Safilo Expects 2018 Sales Declines in North America Wholesale Business

Safilo Group released their preliminary full year annual sales results, indicating performance is “substantially in line with expectations”. Global new sales were down 7.0% to EURO 963 Million. The North American wholesale business, which accounts for one-third of total group net sales, will report a sales decline of 6.6%.

On a positive note, the 4^th quarter net sales showed a modest gain of 1.3%.

The prior year 2017 was labelled a “complex year” as the company faced the challenge of loosing the GUCCI license at the end of 2016.

Safilo Shows Modest Growth Without Gucci

Safilo Rebounds in First Quarter 2018

Click HERE for the full press release.

January 31, 2019January 30, 2019

Marcolin and Barton Perreira Sign Exclusive Multi-Year Global Distribution Agreement

Marcolin Group and Barton Perreira, the Los Angeles-based independent eyewear brand, announced they have entered into an exclusive agreement for the broad-based international distribution of Barton Perreira sun and optical eyewear. The distribution agreement will commence February 1, 2019.

Under the new agreement, Marcolin Group will begin to bring Barton Perreira’s men’s and women’s eyewear collection to select retailers and optical shops in Southern Europe (including Spain, Portugal, Greece, and Italy), the Middle East, Eastern Europe (including Russia), Pacific Asia Countries (except Japan), Southeast Asia, South America and Mexico.

Barton Perreira will continue to handle design and manufacturing as well as manage sales to accounts in the rest of Europe, the United States, Canada and Japan.

Click HERE for the full press release.

January 30, 2019January 30, 2019

Great Outlooks for opti

The premier was a major success. opti took place over six halls of the Fairground Munich for the first time – and the faces and survey responses of the around 28,000 visitors and 631 exhibitors painted a clear picture: this was a crucial step forward into the future of opti. Among those surveyed, 94% of the trade show visitors and 91% of the exhibiting companies awarded the “new” opti with the highest grades.

Virtually all visitors started with a short inspection of the hall layouts. With opti now growing to six halls, opti fans first had to grow accustomed to the changes to the familiar layout and look of opti before setting off to their favourite parts of the exhibition.

In addition to the classic “search for innovation”, visitors’ interest increasingly focused on the desire to “initiate new business relationships” and on “continued training and education”. opti managed to even better meet these demands by compactly bundling all “knowledge islands” with diverse offers in Hall C4, instead of spreading these out over the individual halls as before. Directly adjacent, visitors could explore the opti areas Job Market and Campus, the Forum, and the SHOWCASE revolving around the key topic of the “Customer Journey.

The four stations “Strategy”, “Need”, “Buy”, and “Use” clearly illustrated the diverse elements opticians need to consider when designing their customer approaches. Guided tours offered visitors concrete tips which they can quickly implement for their own business using best-practice examples.

Directly besides the SHOWCASE, curious visitors could quench their thirst for knowledge with exciting lectures and panel discussion at the opti FORUM. Nine out of ten visitors visited at least one of the 34 lectures.

The next opti takes place from 10 to 12 January 2020 in Munich.

Click HERE for the full press release.

January 30, 2019January 30, 2019

Optometry Giving Sight World Sight Day Challenge 2018 Results

Supporters of Optometry Giving Sight got their creative juices flowing for the 2018 World Sight Day Challenge to raise enough funds to deliver eye exams and glasses to over 190,000 people in need of eye care.

Over 160 companies and over 360 optometry practices around the world took part in the challenge raising over US$970,000!

“Every World Sight Day Challenge, we’re blown away by the generosity and loyalty of our supporters. We’re thankful for each one: from the large companies generously donating to the small practices passionately fundraising,” said Optometry Giving Sight’s Global Director of Development, Leigh Cleave.

“It only takes $5 to provide an eye exam and a pair of glasses to a child or adult in need, so we meant it when we say ‘every little bit counts’.”

The World Sight Day Challenge encourages the optometric community to donate and fundraise towards much-needed sustainable eye care projects overseas.

Companies, practices, optometry doctors and students joined together to hold bake sales, auctions, guessing competitions, talent shows, running events and walkathons, getting patients, employees and customers involved.

Longstanding Optometry Giving Sight supporter and Global Gold Sponsor CooperVision, had a record-breaking year raising over $260,000 through their remarkable employee fundraising campaign.

Over 40 global CooperVision sites and teams participated with employee contributions up by more than 35% year-over-year, supported by a matching commitment from the company. 2018 took CooperVision’s cumulative World Sight Day Challenge donations over the $1 million mark.

“Our record-breaking 2018 World Sight Day Challenge donation represents approximately 52,000 eye exams for people around the world who could otherwise be at risk of a range of vision challenges,” said CooperVision President, Dan McBride.

Vision Source®, another generous and long-standing partner, celebrated their 12^thyear participating in the World Sight Day Challenge. Over $220,000 was donated by Vision Source members and doctors, vendors, staff, family members and friends as part of their annual commitment to Optometry Giving Sight.

“I never cease to be amazed by the selfless generosity of the Vision Source family; we are proud to partner with Optometry Giving Sight as Vision Source’s international charity of choice,” said Vision Source President and Chief Executive Officer, Jim Greenwood.

In Canada, Westgroupe launched social media campaign #WithoutMySight, inspired by their Challenge Champion Hani a former Syrian refugee who is legally blind. The challenging initiative encouraged participants to complete an everyday task blindfolded.

The University of Montreal was the highest fundraising optometry school raising over $7,000 through several events including a silent auction and a 5@10 social night.

Click HERE for the full press release.

January 30, 2019January 30, 2019

New Student Competition Comes to OptiCon @ Vision Expo East 2019

OptiCon @ Vision Expo and The National Federation of Opticianry Schools (NFOS) will debut the NFOS College Bowl at this year’s Vision Expo East. This fast-paced quiz competition will test 12 students from NFOS-member opticianry schools on their optical knowledge.

The NFOS College Bowl will challenge each competitor with optical-focused questions to determine the final champion. The winning student will receive a monetary prize, bragging rights and the NFOS College Bowl trophy for their college.

Attendees are encouraged to root on their favorite opticianry school and network with the next generation of opticians, contact lens technicians and ophthalmic allied professionals.

The NFOS College Bowl, sponsored by Hoya Vision Care, will take place in the Javits Center on Saturday, March 23 with the cocktail reception from 5:30 p.m.–6 p.m. followed by the competition from 6 p.m.–7 p.m.

OptiCon @ Vision Expo offers attendees a comprehensive package that includes up to 15 hours of ABO & NCLE approved continuing education, Exhibit Hall access, two lunch vouchers, tailored special events and discounted hotel rates. In addition to more than 75 hours of educational content developed by the OptiCon Advisory Board, OptiCon attendees can now take ABO & NCLE review courses and exams at OptiCon @ Vision Expo East.

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