NEW YORK--In a major move to make the industry's leading consumer research data more broadly available to its dues-paying members, the Vision Council of America (VCA) has entered into a joint venture with Jobson, LLC to produce and distribute Jobson's VisionWatch Consumer research reports for the North American marketplace.

By purchasing the interest of Jobson's current partner, FSA Ltd., a British research concern, VCA has joined with Jobson to create a single, central information source for consumer data to inform the optical market and its analysts about consumer eyecare and eyewear trends. FSA, providing analytic and product support, will remain a vendor to the joint venture.

In addition, all three parties have established an international joint venture to expand the VisionWatch service globally in the near future.

"Jobson is extremely pleased to partner with VCA in this venture," said Marc Ferrara, Jobson's executive vice president and director of its Optical Group. "Over the past five years, VisionWatch has established its value as the industry's best source of consumer data, and now with the VCA as our partner, this data will reach a much broader audience, providing many more companies with its strategic and tactical planning advantages."

For its part, the VCA has added a valuable member benefit, creating even more reasons for industry players to join the market's leading supplier association. "Consumers ultimately drive our members businesses," said Bill Thomas, CEO and executive vice president of VCA, "By providing applicable consumer buying information, VCA can help its members direct their sales and marketing teams.  VisionWatch will complement VCA's existing statistics programs and will add to the value of VCA membership." 

VCA members will receive top-line reports on the frames, lens, sunglass and vision correction markets at no charge as a VCA member benefit. Detailed reports, which include data on market share at the product category, supplier and retail level, will be available at a discounted fee to VCA members. Non-VCA members will continue to pay regular VisionWatch fees for this service.

VisionWatch is a continuous consumer study which interviews more than 100,000 consumers on an annual basis. Conducted over the internet using the state-of-the-art research technologies, VisionWatch reports are delivered quarterly, and provide data that is representative of the US population 18 years of age and older. In addition to the areas noted above, VisionWatch also produces reports on contact lenses, refractive surgery, over-the-counter readers, as well as custom special reports.

For additional information about the VisionWatch study, contact Gerry Fultz Jobson's managing director of research at (212) 274-7191 or gfultz@ jobson.