LAS VEGAS—Although the optical industry is still recovering from the recession, a palpable sense of energy and excitement pervaded the Sands Convention Center here last week. Vision Expo West attendees filled classrooms and crowded the exhibit hall, drawn by Expo’s unique mix of fashion, technology and medical products. Those attendees VM Show Daily spoke to on the main show floor and at the Galleria conveyed that retailers were open to fresh style ideas and that their investments were loosening up compared to the earlier part of the year.
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The stars came out for Revolution with appearances by actor Jeremy Piven (l), and wrestler Randy Couture with Revolution’s Gary Martin (r) while out on the show floor exhibitors saw increased sales.
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Don Howard, president/CEO, Kenmark Group, commented, “Our booth has been consistently busy since the start of this show, and people are buying, not just looking, said. “Several retailers have told me September was a very refreshing month for them; our company also finished September ahead of last year. The retailers and ECPs I’ve talked to here all seem upbeat, although it’s possible that the ones who aren’t doing well just didn’t come to the show. Generally they’re saying what has become almost a cliché: the middle segment of the market has evaporated, with all eyewear sales moving to the low or high end. But even at the high end, these retailers are being a little thriftier in what they’re buying.”
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(L to R) Luxottica’s Vittorio Verdun, Victor Melendez, and Andrea Dorigo, at their booth.
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Jean Marc Leroy of Essilor of America answers a question about the company’s new Dual Optix technology at their press conference.
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Joe Tallier, vp of global sales for Ogi, characterized the mood of attendees as positive. “The folks who have come in are very happy and their increasing their inventory, which has been a bright spot compared to last year when people were more hunkered down and a little afraid to buy. We’ve found the people increasing their orders significantly. We’ve increased the size of the booth significantly and we took a larger booth over at Scojo.
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ProFit Optix’s management team (l to r) Hoa Nguyen, Jonathan Schwartz, Steve Brewer, Kristina Roberts, Ruedi Suter and Alan Yuster.
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Scott Cheek (c) of Accutome, Inc. in Malvern, Penn. poses with models in traditional German dress at Doctoberfest.
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Cleve Barham, owner of Fine Eyes, an optical boutique in Ridgeland, Miss., said he is expanding his product selection. “I came out here to buy in the current collections I already carry and I have, but I’m actually bringing in a new line, Seraphin. It’s a little edgy, but I think it is conservative enough to sell in my market. I told myself I wasn’t going to bring in anything new before I got here, but I’ve looked at it before and it is something I really wanted to have.”
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At the debut of the Mondottica USA stand are
(l to r) Harvey Ross, Gary Podhaizer, Mitch Barkley, Michael Jardine and Bernhard Nuesser. |
Co-Founders of Ooh la-la de Paris Eyewear Dr. Jeff Northcutt (l) and Dr. Raul Arencibia (r) flank Randy Kazandy author Rhonda Fischer.
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Ruth Wilson, Wilson & Wilson Optical, Jacksonville, Fla., likes the show because of its “intimate feel,” adding “Less people travel out to Vegas than to New York, which still feels very international, this feels a bit more regional and you can really take the time to see things. I actually wish there were more accessory brands here, so I could stock up going into the holidays. Had I known they were going to be such great sellers for us, I would have bought more at [Vision Expo] East.”
Kelly Carter, vice president of merchandising and sales development, Eye Care Centers of America, San Antonio, told VM Show Daily he and his staff came to the show in search of the right frames to support the lens initiatives in the company’s stores.
“Our biggest focus at Expo West this year is finding progressive-friendly frames that look great on men and women who are 45 or 50 years old, not just 25-year-olds,” said Carter.