Oakley recently
released Rx-able sunwear styles specifically
designed for women with feminine frame geometry. The styles,
Grapevine and Script, are made with High Definition Optics
for optimal clarity and Plutonite for 100 percent blockage
of UVA, UVB and UVC ultraviolet light. The use of XYZ optics
allows for clear vision from any angle. Lenses are also impact
resistant according to ANSI standards…
Columbia offers
over a dozen different high-tech sunglass
styles that are Rx-able. Sporting enthusiasts can find styles
made with Columbia’s Diagonal
Secure Fit System, a technology that keeps frames on the face during
extreme sporting. Many styles are also made with Columbia Carbonium
high impact resistant lenses. To prevent lens fogging, some styles
have Columbia’s Dual Lens Technology. Polarized lenses are
also an option.
Cleaning Sprays
and Cloths
Cloth UnderCover
Quality Accessories offers a new lens care product package called
Cloth UnderCover, which consists of a frosted bottle of Natural Eyes
eyeglass cleaner and a Crystal Eyes cloth. The micro fiber cleaning
cloth is available in various colors. Both the cloth and lens cleaner
are sold together in a European-type packaging.
Finish Line
Hilco helps dispensers stay organized with Finish Line lens care dispensing
centers. The kit contains one dispensing center, one 8 oz. lens cleaner
bottle, one jumbo micro-fiber cloth (for the dispenser), and 12 bottles
of lens cleaner (2.5 oz.) and 12 micro-fiber cloths (for patients).
Textile-Inspired
Patterns and Textures
Plaid
About You
Taking inspiration
from the textile market, designers are developing
sunglass and ophthalmic frames with fabric-like
patterns from glen plaid and herringbone
to houndstooth patterns. This season’s
frames also have textile-like textures. For
example, quilt-like textures appear on the
temples and laser-engraved, weave-like textures
can be found on the temples and frame fronts
in various sunwear and eyewear collections
this season.
Sama’s
5th Avenue with a textile-inspired
hounds tooth pattern
McGee
Group’s Vera Bradley style VB 3502S
with a textile-like quilt texture
REM’s
Jones New York styles with textile-inspired
patterns
Rudy
Project Promotes Cool Stuff
Rudy
Project is holding a special promotion
for customers who purchase their products
from authorized dealers. Here’s
how it works: After customers buy Rudy
Project products such as sunglasses,
goggles or helmets, they go
here for
an opportunity to purchase special promotional
items such Team RP goggles ($7.05), duffle
bags ($16), Rudy Project T-shirts or hats
($4) and long sleeve fleece shirts ($14).
Customers can choose one promotional item
for each item purchased. For example, if
a customer buys two pairs of sunglasses from
an authorized Rudy Project dealer, the customer
can choose two promotional items on the Web
site.
What profitable retailers do to succeed with sun
Escape to the Tropics
Step into a Doctors
Vision Center for a tropical experience. Most of the 65 Doctors
Vision Center stores feature new Tiki hut sunglass displays in their
North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia stores. The program,
which is sponsored by Safilo, revolves around Safilo sunglass products. “Safilo has been very helpful in designing
a program that meets our needs,” said Sandy Clingan Smith, vice
president of marketing at Doctors Vision Center/EyeAmerica.
“Last year, with Safilo’s support, we tested this sunglass
program in two of our offices. The test was extremely successful.
We found one key to success was an attractive sunglass display, located
in a prominent place so our patients would ‘almost trip over
it.’ That built awareness of the program,” said Smith.
She added, “To
expand that to more offices, we looked for attention-getting displays
and the Tiki hut was perfect. That tropical feel fits perfectly
with the sunglasses. Each office also received a custom and very
contemporary merchandising package to complement the display.”
The displays have
four shelves and each shelf focuses on one sunwear brand. Most shelves
can fit up to 12 to 16 frames using tiered stands and Indonesian
lacquer trays with shell balls, logo plaques and framed images to
add visual interest, says Suzanne Berardi, director of advertising.
The display pictured
here is from the Asheville, North Carolina store where doctors Rebecca
Wartman and Jeff Schulz are located. “Our office staff and doctors are
very enthusiastic about the program, which usually
translates into wonderful results!” exclaimed
Smith.
Money-making tips for merchandising, POP and display
Promoting
Sunwear with Style
Marchon
offers new SunCenter point-of-purchase materials to complement
the company’s
SunCenter training program—a program designed
to help optical retailers build their sunwear business.
POP includes tiny frame-holding fold-up chairs,
SunCenter signs and SunCenter custom gift boxes
that hold a case, sunglasses and a small gift,
which is held in place by an elastic band. The
glass palm tree shown here is sold separately.
Retailers can also insert other summery gifts such
as a bottle of sunscreen.
On the Big Screen
Jamie Foxx
sports Robert Marc sun style 710 in the soon-to-premiere movie “Miami Vice.” In
the flick, which hits theaters
in July, Foxx plays the suave Miami detective, Ricardo Tubbs.
Surf’s
Up
Surf champion Kauli Seadi was spotted here wearing Mormaii
style Gamboa Air.
Absolutely Thrilling
Lucy Liu
appears in Jessica McClintock JMC 530 sunglasses in the supernatural
horror/thriller “Rise,” which
will hit theaters later this year.
Honey in Escada
Actress/producer Honey Labrador was snapped at the Sundance
Film Festival wearing Escada.
Pitt Stop
Brad Pitt
stops to speak with “Extra” wearing
Luxottica’s Persol style 54FS.
All Wrapped Up
The “All My Children” soap star and “Charmed” actress
Finola Hughes wears Dior Extralight wrap.
The Perfect Pair
Debra Messing,
known for her role as Grace on the sitcom “Will & Grace,” was
spotted in Giorgio Armani 338S sunglasses.
Looking
Hip in “Heist”
Billy Gardell
wears BCBG Max Azria style Rassiter while playing detective
Billy O’Brien on the NBC hit show “Heist.”
Alain
Mikli recently released Voyage
frames as part of his latest sunglass
collection, Seduction. The frames
provide optimal protection with Zeiss
polarized, mineral crystal lenses,
which also protect against fog, glare
and smudging. Other special features
include amflex hinges and counter
balance temple tips. True to Alain
Mikli’s style, these frames
provide more than function; they
are fashionable as well, with round,
thick, mod and square shapes and
drop temples. There are also smaller
models with beveled edges and vents.
Brooks
Brothers
Luxottica
Group’s new Brooks
Brothers collection includes plastic
and metal classic and contemporary
styles for both men and women. “What
really sets the new Brooks Brothers
sunwear designs apart is that every
model can be Rx’d, making it
an ideal choice for eyecare professionals
seeking a brand name collection that
fulfills the need of their fashion-conscious
prescription patients,” said
Vittorio Verdun, VP of Marketing,
Luxottica Group. All sunwear styles
provide 100 percent UV protection.
Calvin
Klein
Marchon’s spring collection
from Calvin Klein features styles
for both men and women. Men’s
styles include zyl-acetate models
with metal trims. Shapes include
sporty six-base Rx-able styles and
8-base wraps. Women’s styles
step up the glam with elegant details
such as rhinestone accents, logo
plaques, translucent duel colorations
and gradient lenses. There are also
oversized shields with engraved logos.
Daniel
Swarovski
Daniel
Swarovski launched the Côte
d’Azur sun collection with
four women’s and two men’s
sunglass styles in three colors.
The line targets women between the
ages of 40 to 59 and men between
the ages of 50 to 59 who are looking
for distinct luxury eyewear. Styles
have a geometric-modern design and
are adorned with crystals that have
an octagonal emerald cut. Sunglasses
are made with CR-39 sun lenses and
have anti-reflective and scratch
resistant coatings.
Kawai
B.
Robinson has launched Kawai’s
spring collection with two new styles
for a total of six optical styles
and four sun styles for men and women.
The collection infuses wood and acetate
in surprising design patterns which
are inspired by Scandinavian wood
furniture designs and bold textile
patterns. The collection blends these
natural and synthetic materials for
a “classic and modern” look.
The target customer is 18 and over
and is thought to appreciate innovative
details and cutting-edge material
combinations.
Starck
Eyes, Alux
The
new Starck Eyes Alux line by Philippe
Starck is an upscale collection
that includes two polarized sunglass
styles made with aluminum. Frames,
while light weight, are built to
last; all frames are corrosion-resistant
and feature a bio-hinge instead
of screws for durability and comfort.
Special coatings can prevent glare,
dirt, fog and lens scratching.
Temples are rubber-lined for thermal
isolation. All are available in
shiny and matte metallic hues.
Thierry
Mugler
Eastern
States Eyewear has introduced a
new high-end collection from designer
Thierry Mugler, which includes
11 sun styles. The collection features
cutting-edge details such as lattice
temples. Most of the styles are
made with monel and acetate. Laser
detailing and Swarovski crystals
add to the elegance and intrigue
of the collection. In addition,
some sunglass styles are also Rx-able.
Visionaries
by Shade Control
OpSales
offers Visionaries by Shade Control,
a line of sun clips with Polaroid
polarized lenses. The stainless
steel sun clips come in a variety
of shapes including various rectangles,
ovals, squares as well as cat-eye,
almond and round shapes. Shapes
are constantly evolving to fit
the latest frames on the market.
These sun clips also have covered
hooks to protect the prescription
lenses and the frame eyewire. In
addition, Visionaries have functional
rimlocks and a patented spring
loaded mechanism for an easy on
and off.
The
sun style is aimed at customers
who value quality and exclusivity.
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