“We believe that the Series represents a milestone in Luxottica’s redefined business approach to engage our partners, provide valuable information and insight, and create professional communities in their own backyards. This Series also sets the tone for a new business model that offers superior servicing to our customers,” said Pierre Fay, executive vice president, Luxottica Wholesale.
As a result, Luxottica will not exhibit at International Vision Expo West this year, Fay told Vision Monday. “As we will be meeting with many of our customers in person at these sessions, which will launch in September in San Diego and continue into October, with many on the West Coast, we will not be at the West show.”
“Based on feedback we received in our “Listen and Learn” discussions meeting personally with independent vision care providers across the country this spring,” Fay added, “the new Series provides the kind of information practitioners say they need and want right now, in this economic climate. Those meetings urged open dialog and an exchange of ideas about growth opportunities. We need to reach out in a new way to the private practitioner.”
Fay added that Luxottica will continue the series into the first part of 2010 and that the company “definitely” plans to remain an exhibitor at International Vision Expo East in New York in March 2010.
The Working Together Series will be held in San Diego, Orange County, Los Angeles, the Bay Area, Seattle and Portland, moving to Houston and Chicago among other cities around the country.
In sessions of about 100 practitioners in each city, approximately 1,000 ECPs, together with their staffs, are expected to attend over the course of the Series and share their opinions and participate in seminars and panel discussions with top Luxottica executives including Fay, Liz DiGiandomenico, president of EyeMed and Kerry Bradley, president of Luxottica Retail. Topics will include increasing profits in a medically based practice, sun protection, and optimizing patient visits.
At the events’ evening reception, attendees will have the opportunity to exclusively preview the new Spring/Summer 2010 collection. “The areas of emphasis are managed care and the total patient
experience,” Fay added. “The Series reinforces Luxottica’s commitment to supporting independent practitioners and investing in the growth of quality eye care and eyewear for everyone.” ■
