Aug
2003

Upfront

THE 20/20 TAKE:
A fond welcome to our new neighbors (20/20 is located just four blocks north in Soho). With grand hopes for this location just blocks from consciousness of the Twin Towers, it’s reassuring that an optical player would have the vision to be part of New York’s determination w.
TriBeCa Beckons
A hip downtown Disrespectacles Eyewear has opened at 117 West Broadway in the TriBeCa section of New York. It joins the first location on Christopher Street in the West Village.

The 900-square-foot, bi-level loft space is the latest project for owner Tim Fabozzi (pictured), formerly of Myoptics. The shop features stainless-steel shelving, track lighting that flashes colorful washes along the walls, brightly-hued resin islands and a mini museum of antique frames captured in the resin cash/wrap countertop as well as rooms in the back for eye exams.

The shop carries styles from Phillipe Starck, Paul Frank, Oliver Peoples, Grotesque, Blinde, Cutler & Gross and Silhouette to suit what Fabozzi calls an upscale clientele. “I get a gut instinct [when selecting product],” he says of the trendy pieces in the store. “I see what the trends are before they happen. There are moments when there’s nothing new then something will jump out.” Fabozzi is also launching a Disrespectacles eyewear brand. Fabozzi selected TriBeCa because he felt it was an “untap-ped market with a local neighborhood feel.” 
—Caletha Crawford

 Steam
Powered
The eyewear lenses don’t seem compromised by moisture but the shots sure seem pretty steamy… in a good way. The new Calvin Klein Eyewear campaign, photographed by Mario Sorrenti, features intensely provocative shots of models Travis Fimmel and Natalia Vodianova in settings best described as dark yet inviting. The fall advertising will be tempting the readers of Elle, Vanity Fair, Esquire, Vogue, GQ, Interview, City, Out, Details, Town & Country, In Style, US Weekly and Forbes. Sorry if we missed any magazines. Calvin certainly didn’t.  —James J. Spina


Ray-Ban of Hope
Getting kids in sunglasses is a massive concern here at 20/20. There is no excuse for sacrificing the eyes of our future to the harmful rays of the sun. With that in mind we’re “wowed” by the new Ray-Ban Junior ads shot in Saint Tropez by Milanese photog-legend Lorenzo Scaccini. Best known for his work with Versace Young, Chicco, Sony PlayStation and Pampers, Scaccini’s brilliance is letting kids have their way. The resulting “freedom” delivers striking portraiture spontaneity.  —JJS

Go, Billy! Sunwear is quite precious for “Lord of the Rings” star 1. Billy Boyd. The actor is seen here wearing Boom By Atom Dr. Frank from Moja Design and (inset) Killer Loop sunglasses style KL 3127 102/71 from Luxottica at the MTV Movie Awards… Chart toppers. A trio of songbirds take center stage in shades from Marchon. Diva 2. Whitney Houston wears Fendi style FS259 in golden beauty. Elvis’ little girl 3. Lisa Marie Presley in DKNY style 7254S, color 714. And R&B singer 4. Ashanti sports Donna Karan style 9222S, color 717… In the loop. Killer Loop and Vogue by Luxottica were the official eyewear for the Sunset Marquis Suite at the MTV Movie Awards. Actor 5. Dean Cain looks super in Killer Loop style KL 4102 628 while 6. Elisa Donovan is clued in sporting Vogue style VO 2262-S1082/60… Recruitment. 7. Colin Farrell stays on the line in a small aviator from Serengeti… Peoples people. Sporting Oliver Peoples’ shades are 8. Minnie Driver in Neptune in bisque, 9. Brad Pitt in Nitro OPX in silver and R&B/soul singer 10. Musiq in Amp… Write on. “Sex & The City” writer/producer 11. Michael Patrick King stays focused in Serengeti sunglasses… Friend, indeed. Comedian/actress 12. Aisha Tyler wears Fendi Suns style 268 in golden sienna from Marchon. Tyler is the host of E! Entertainment’s “Talk Soup” and is Ross’ current love interest on the hit sitcom “Friends”… Demi-god. 13. Ashton Kutcher does the Flexon twist with style 1110 in gunmetal from Marchon. The “That ‘70s Show” star, who is Demi Moore’s main squeeze, can be seen this summer in the movie “My Boss’ Daughter”… Friendly face. 14. Courtney Cox Arquette in PS 254 from Oliver Peoples… Independent woman. 15. Drew Barrymore, one of the stars of the summer blockbuster “Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle,” wears Fendi Suns style 263 in bronze from Marchon… X marks the spot. 16. Kelly Hu from “X2: X-Men United” sports the Maurice Malone Unik from Moja Design and is also seen in (inset) Ray-Ban style RB 3182 003/7F from Luxottica…Here come the judge. Luxottica’s Ray-Ban was  a sponsor of “A Time For Heroes” in Los Angeles, which benefited the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation. Ray-Ban also outfitted more than 100 celebrity volunteers in sunglasses who donated their time to work carnival-style game booths. Among them: 17. Jennie Garth in RB 3179 003/61, Peter Facinelli in RB 3183 014/73 and 18. Scott Hamilton in RB 3174 004/82… Architectural digest. Polish architect 19. Daniel Libeskind, who was selected to design the new World Trade Center in New York, has the blueprints for style in Alain Mikli A101… Heroic effort. “American Idol” judge 20. Paula Abdul in Luxottica’s Ray-Ban style RB 3183 014/73 at the “A Time for Heroes” pediatric AIDS fund raiser in Los Angeles and in Ralph Lauren style 881S from Sàfilo at the Gillette Passion Legs of a Goddess Contest held in South Beach.  
—Jackie Micucci

Reason To Sell Sunglasses #12,456
The lust of celebrities (and therefore consumers) to own huge collections of sunglasses grows unabated. This pink ad is a series of verbal assaults hyping some intense celebrity dirt as part of the new radio brew of music, gossip and entertainment. The station is now called Blink 102.7FM (how’s that for yet another optical reference) and this particular ad seems to be taking aim at Jennifer Lopez and her sun(glass) worshipping. Celebs LOVE eyewear and consumers LOVE whatever celebs LOVE. Just ask any red carpet stalker or awards goodie-bag stuffer. Shades are a given in the optical Garden of Eden.              —JJS

In Review
We’d like to fill you in on some key changes happening within the Jobson family of optical magazines. Amy Black has been promoted to editor-in-chief of Review of Optometry magazine; the industry’s leading publication for optometrists and their staffs. She replaces Rich Kirkner, who has left the industry after serving Review well for a number of years. Amy worked as managing editor of Review of Optometry for several years with Rich before she was promoted to editor of Review of Contact Lenses while directing the editorial efforts of Review’s special projects team. Additionally, Gretchyn Bailey has joined Jobson’s Professional Publications Group as associate publisher and editor-in-chief of Review of Contact Lenses, as well as special projects director for the Review Group of magazines and services. Gretchyn has been in the ophthalmic industry for more than 14 years, and most recently served as executive editor of Contact Lens Spectrum. Prior to that, she served as Review of Optometry’s associate editor.  —JJS

S-Car-Go — There’s no getting around it. Someone at 20/20 is a nut for cool car giveaways. When Faye DeRose and her husband Joe of Graham’s Optique Boutique in Dearborn, Mich., (our kind of car town!) first started receiving certificates to participate in Younger Optics’ Clear Choices Awards Program, she thought perhaps she’d earn an alarm clock.


Imagine her surprise when she won a red Sebring convertible after their names were pulled by David Rips, president and CEO of Younger Optics, in a contest and drawing held for participants in the CLEAR CHOICES Awards Program.
“I had never won anything in my life,” Faye DeRose says. “I thought in the beginning, someone was tea sing me. I think I said, ‘No way!’ about 15 times when David Rips called to tell me I’d won.

“Our business is based on our reputation,” DeRose comments on Graham’s Optique Boutique, where her husband worked for 24 years before they became owners five years ago. “We’re very service oriented. We all wear the products we sell our customers. When we find a product we believe in, we stay with it.

“When the patient is experiencing a change— from no glasses to wearing glasses or from single vision to multiple vision, Younger Optics’ IMAGE progressive products help us come forward and give the patient an experience that is just like we told them it would be.” Sounds like Younger car-gifted a great new spokesperson now happily doing some top-down cruising.

How Suite It Is — This is not a promo but it’s certainly something worth getting primed for excitement. International Vision Expo has created a new concept called The Suites At Vision Expo West—showrooms for high-end eyewear designers and specialty lens producers to meet and conduct business with clients by appointment only. The Suites At Vision Expo will be located at The Venetian Hotel timed to concur with the action scheduled for Thursday, September 18 to Saturday, September 20 at the Sands Expo & Convention Center. The new Suites Concierge Center will welcome those clients who have previously scheduled appointments to view the collections with Suites exhibitors.

“We continue to explore ways in which we can create customized networking forums based on the way our customers and their clients choose to conduct business,” says Eileen Baird, International Vision Expo’s vice president and show manager. Over 25 of the visioncare industry’s most sophisticated eyewear designers and specialty lens manufacturers have already been enlisted as Suites participants, with every available showroom sold out. For more info visit www.visionexpowest.com or call (800) 811-7151.


Best Books — The Kenmark Group recently received several awards for its Lancer International and Couteur Designs catalogs. Kenmark received three Awards of Excellence at the 2003 Printing Industry Association of the South (PIAS) Graphic Awards held June 10, in Destin, Fla.. The awards were received for the Lancer I Wear Catalog, Vera Wang Luxe Catalog and the Vera Wang Winter 2002 Releases Brochure. PIAS a non-profit trade association, is dedicated to assisting the entire industry to continue to expand in the region and help the industry prosper.

Oops. — We forgot to mention three eyewear companies (besides special benefactor Sàfilo) that played an important role in this year’s “QVC’s Cure By The Shore” televised fundraiser, which raised money for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society (NMSS). The broadcast featured a wide array of sunglasses, accessories, jewelry and beauty items at half the retail value from a roster of leading international designers, brands and manufacturers. Marchon Eyewear was this year’s Platinum Donor, contributing a variety of styles from cK Calvin Klein Eyewear, DKNY Eyes, Fendi Occhiali and Nautica Eyewear. Moja Design offered a package of four sunglasses: Ocean Drive’s Pollux and Libra, and Boom By Atom’s What’s Your Story and 45 North. Allison Eyewear supplied sunwear from its Romeo Gigli and Exte brands.   

Sorta Self-Promo — Our siblings over at FRAMES Data, Inc. have added six new manufacturers to their summer edition of FRAMES Quarterly. This new roundup counts out to 17 new collections and over 170 frame styles from these new additions. These companies now join the growing list of nearly 200 eyewear vendors in FRAMES Data also featured on the FRAMES CD-ROM, UPC-CD, FRAMES Online and other affiliated web sites.

The new Data-Players are Hill International, Choice Optical, Fantom Optics, Mutual Optics, NS Eyewear and Panache Optique. For a complete list of collections associated with these companies check out the “What’s New” section on www.frames data.com.         —JJS


Dog Day Afternoon
How can anyone NOT want to be instantly transported to the scenario of this photo? Nationally famed photographer John Lair makes his home in Louisville, Ky. It’s turf he knows and loves. So does the Kenmark Group. And when their Lancer Division decided to further reinforce the legendary casual-family status of their Hush Puppy Eyewear all parties agreed that the bucolic setting of Fisherville was the perfect nesting grounds for the visual part of the message. Seeing THESE kids on THAT porch with THOSE background trees and THAT dog with THOSE eyes makes anyone fall into instant puppy love.  —JJS


Managing Managed Care
Want to know what’s happening on the ever-evolving landscape of managed vision care? Then check out Jobson Publishing’s new 2003 Managed Vision Care Report.
 
The report includes exclusive VisionTrends Online research on eyewear retailers’ perceptions of managed vision care programs. Retailers detail what motivates them to participate in managed vision care, what business benefits they receive from participation and what improvements they would like to make in vision coverage plan structures.

The report—on CD-ROM and retailing for $395—contains special data from Jobson’s Optical Research’s VisionWatch consumer research including what’s important to consumers in a vision coverage plan, customer satisfaction with their eyewear purchasing experiences and interest in having vision coverage among those currently uninsured. A comprehensive, practical reference Directory of Major Managed Vision Care Third-Party Plans, covering a wide spectrum of service and provider network characteristics for each plan, is also included.
For more information or to order a report contact Jobson Optical Research’s Rachel Mansfield at (212) 274-7157 or by email directly to rmansfield@jobson.com.  —JM

Well Integrated — The integration of VisionWeb into Compulink’s Advantage Practice Management Software for the eyecare industry has begun. Integration can be expected soon according to VisionWeb vp and CMO Jim Vitkus. “We would like all eyecare practices to be able to use VisionWeb and connect to the service in a way that makes the most sense to them. Since many eyecare providers already utilize Compulink’s Advantage practice management software in their day-to-day operations, this integration will enable them to access VisionWeb to facilitate the ordering process while continuing to conduct business as usual.” There are currently over 2,000 active users of Compulink’s Advantage software. Once the integration is complete, Compulink will provide access to VisionWeb through its Advantage software to all users with a support agreement.

Advantage customers will be able to place orders for spectacle lenses, frames and contact lenses over VisionWeb directly through the Advantage software. In addition, they will be able to take advantage of other VisionWeb features including order-tracking access to a comprehensive collection of industry and clinical news and information access to accredited online continuing education courses and other benefits. VisionWeb is already integrated with the OfficeMate practice management software and currently has customers successfully ordering through that combination. Interested users can contact VisionWeb customer service at customerservice@ visionweb.com or toll-free at (800) 874-6601 for more information.

Re: Rewards — Eyefinity has unveiled eRewards, an online rewards service offered to private eyecare practitioners via www. eyefinity.com. Through eRewards, Eyefinity’s alliance partners will offer rewards for select products ordered through Eyefinity. The new eRewards service will allow doctors and staff to track and redeem their practice-building rewards as well as keep informed about other promotions and products. To kick off the new service, SOLA will offer rewards on SOLAMAX progressive lenses and SOLAMAX with Teflon EasyCare Lens Coating.

“Both our customers and partners have been instrumental in designing this service,” says Dave Delle Donne, Eyefinity’s vice president of marketing and sales. “eRewards will benefit private eyecare practitioners through practice-building rewards on high-quality products and online coordination of their purchases and rewards while our industry partners will experience heightened awareness of their products and programs.”  —JJS


Loaded for eyewear
Customers were able to enter “The Matrix” at Shades Optical in Birmingham, Mich. To correspond with the summer blockbuster’s opening, owner William Koppin, OD, turned the outside of the shop into a car showroom of sorts. The actual Cadillac CTS luxury sedan and Escalade EXT luxury truck used in the action-packed freeway chase sequence in “The Matrix Reloaded” were parked in front of the dispensary all day.

Shades Optical—which has two other Michigan locations in Northville and Royal Oak—also had on display the Blinde Design Project sunglasses worn by the stars of the movie. The sunwear was created and exclusively designed by Richard Walker for “The Matrix Reloaded” and the upcoming third installment of the trilogy, “Matrix Revolu-tions.” —JM

And the Winners Are…
Jobson VisionTrends Online let’s eyecare professionals share their valuable opinions on the optical industry and gives them a chance to win prizes. The latest group of winners are Robert Currin, OD, of Oxford, N.C.; Scott Goldberg, OD, of Conshohocken, Pa.; Jeffrey Palmer, OD, of Middletown, Conn.; Jim Chidester of Hattiesburg, Miss.; Mai-Anh Nguyen of San Jose, Calif.; David Tabak of Barrington, Ill.; and Brian Woolf, OD, of Baltimore, Md.

Using a select group of participants, Jobson Optical Research conducts syndicated and custom market research studies providing important business-to-business insight. Studies are done on a variety of topics including managed vision care, new product development and channel, retailer and brand performance.

To qualify, you must be an eyecare professional and work at an optical retailer location. Be part of the team by logging on to www.jobsonresearch.com/vtrends/join.htm or call toll free (888) 768-0149.  —JM

Indi-street
Could the key to the mystery of Boom by Atom be in this picture? Is it the unidentifiable man walking under the scaffolding? Is it the Piccinini Brothers truck? Perhaps it has to do with the third floor windows being all boarded up. We certainly see the Boom poster. And everyone one knows that optical has never seen such a mysterious launch. Need more answers? May- be next month. Till then www.boombyatom.com or (888) 576-MOJA. Tell them agent Frames Bond sent you.  —JJS

Sign of The Times
The June 19, 2003 cover of The New York Times featured this Associated Press photo by Victor R. Caviano showing American soldiers in Bagdad being confronted by former Iraqi soldiers demanding back pay. The American troops are clearly wearing Oakley sunglasses. There is no way to tell what shades Saddam Hussein is hiding behind in the Reuters photo on the same page. —JJS

Outside Chance
Kaenon Polarized has been honored with the Outside Magazine’s Gear of the Year award. A panel of editors and adventure experts awarded the prize to the Kore model, Kaenon’s flagship sport style. “To be honored with such an award of excellence at such an early stage of our brand’s lifespan is a great accomplishment,” says Kaenon founder and president Steve Rosenberg.” But to be recognized as the superior product in our field—particularly for fresh and innovative design and technology—over the best-known brands is especially rewarding. This type of objective, third-party product evaluation cuts through the marketing clutter that permeates our society today.” Not wanting to clutter with comment 20/20’s Upfront congratulates Kaenon.  —JJS

Athletic Endeavor
It’s a worthy cause and a worthy event. Sàfilo Group recently signed a three-year agreement with the Special Olympics-Lions Clubs International Opening Eyes, the vision health program of Special Olympics, to be the official global eyeglass and sunglass frame supplier for all Special Olympics Opening Eyes events.

As part of the agreement, Sàfilo will provide adult and child athletes with free ophthalmic frames, sunglasses and sunglass clip-ons at vision screenings held at Special Olympics national, state and world games. The company will donate approximately 11,000 frames and 20,000 sunglasses per year for three years and has already provided eyewear for over 40 of the 2003 events.

The Special Olympics Opening Eyes initiative is staffed by volunteer Lions Clubs members, students and volunteer optometrists, ophthalmologists and opticians. Services provided include extensive vision and eye health tests, refraction for those requiring further screening, prescribing and dispensing of eyeglasses, sunglasses and protective sports eyewear, and referral advice for follow-up care.  —JM

Zeiss Launches Gradal Individual in North America — This month, Carl Zeiss Optical is kicking off the North American launch of Gradal Individual, its most sophisticated progressive lens. The lens, which will be surfaced
by free-form technology and coated at the Zeiss lab in Chester, Va., is the first “individual” PAL to be produced in the U.S. Gradal Individual features a design that allows ECPs to specify individual patient parameters to create a “custom-tailored progressive surface for each patient,” according to Zeiss. Based on the Zeiss Gradal Top design and tested in around 50 independent ECP offices along the East Coast, the Individual allows ECPs to specify parameters that have an influence on the final lens, including Rx, PD, fitting height, corneal vertex distance, pantoscopic angle, near distance and frame shape, the company says.

Signet Armorlite Partners With PaperlessPractice — Signet Armorlite has entered into a partnership with PaperlessPractice, a supplier of eyewear selection and patient education systems for ECPs. The partnership expands the reach of SA’s PracticePlus program. In addition to training, marketing expertise, product research and education, PracticePlus eyecare professional members receive funding of $10 for each pair of qualifying Kodak progressives dispensed. The funds can now also be used to help purchase or lease PaperlessPractice’s WinkPad and FrameCam products. FrameCam captures and simultaneously displays four close-up, photographic images of optical patients in the frames of their choice. Utilizing Wink, an animated optical assistant, patients are guided through the frame selection process, shown brief educational movies relating to lenses and eyewear and premium options, and given an opportunity to “try on” colored contact lenses.

Global to Distribute Indo Superfin Lenses — Global Optics has entered into an agreement with Indo Lens U.S. to distribute lenses made of Indo’s proprietary Superfin organic resin material. Global, which consists of more than 20 wholesale labs, will add Superfin lenses to its product portfolio and support sales through its warehouse and distribution system. The labs will have primary geographical representation in exchange for the agreement to warehouse the broad Superfin lens line. “The Superfin product line is already tested in other markets and offers a wide lens design selection, so the Global lab members will be providing a proven and reliable lens material,” says Dan Klamut, president of Indo Lens U.S.

AR Council Releases New Handbook — The AR Council has released its latest educational tool for ECPs, “Take the Lead in Patient Satisfaction and Practice Profitability with AR Lenses.” The four-page handbook identifies product features, candidates for AR, tips on how to present these lenses to patients and evidence about how AR lens technology can improve visual acuity.

Other AR materials available from the Council are: “See Better, Look Better” patient brochures in English or Spanish, “Something for Everyone” 60-minute
video loop, and “Eyecare Professional’s Guide to AR” educational handbook. For more information, contact the AR Council at (877) 254-4477 at www.arcouncil.org.

Signet Sweepstakes Sponsors AOA Gala — Signet Armorlite
and its Million Dollar Sweepstakes sponsored the Presidential Gala, which capped the 106th annual American Optometric Association Congress, held in San Diego in June. At this traditional event, newly elected officers and trustees of the AOA were inducted, including its 82nd president, Dr. Victor J. Connors. Independent ECPs who participate in the Million Dollar Sweepstakes and dispense Kodak progressives from Signet Armorlite will receive over $1,000,000 from July 2003 through June 2004. In order to qualify, dispensers must be members of PracticePlus, a product support program designed to enrich private practices.

Intercast Launches Club NXT — Intercast Europe is expanding its partnerships with major international sunwear companies with the launch of Club NXT, a program that builds on sunlens branding and showcases design innovations in Intercast’s new NXT sunlens material. The Club NXT concept is part of a worldwide branding effort for sunlenses made of the lightweight, highly durable lens material developed through Intercast’s alliance with Simula Technologies and Intercast’s exclusive worldwide rights to the material in sunglasses, sport glasses, ski masks and motorcycle helmet visors and shields.

Eschenbach Offers Low Vision Seminars — Eschenbach’s is offering an introductory, hands-on workshop on low vision for ECPs. The course, titled “Low Vision Care...What’s It All About?”, is approved for three continuing education credits by ABO, JCAHPO and ACVREP. The course covers topics such as the causes of low vision, the “Seven Steps to Dispensing Low Vision Aids,” the marketing of low vision services, and also includes a hands-on learning session in which attendees can try a variety of vision aids including some of the newest available on the market. A free, one-hour course (unaccredited) entitled “Making Money at Low Vision” follows immediately afterward. Seminars will be held in the following locations: Daytona Beach, Fla., August 13; Charleston, W.Va., August 20; Miami, Fla., August 27; Detroit, Mich., September 3; Dayton, Ohio, September 10; San Francisco, Calif., September 10; San Antonio, Texas, September 17; Pittsburgh, Pa., September 18; Little Rock, Ark., September 24; Providence, R.I., September 25; Jackson, Miss., October 1; New Orleans, La., October 8; Charlotte, N.C., October 15; Denver, Colo., October 15; Dallas, Texas, October 22; Nashville, Tenn., October 29; Anaheim, Calif., October 29. To register, call (800) 549-3656 or visit www.healthcareconferencegroup.com.

Rodenstock Launches Rodenstock Spectacle Product — Marrying its frame and lens expertise, Rodenstock North America is introducing the Rodenstock Spectacle product. The branded product comes complete with a high-index Rodenstock lens, fashionable Rodenstock frame, premium Duralux AR coating, scratch-resistant coating, UV protection and the option of adding ColorMatic Extra photochromic lenses for the same price as Rodenstock clear lenses. Also included are a hard case, cleaning cloth, owner’s card and product registration on the Rodenstock web site. This product is backed by a two-year manufacturer’s warranty.

Transitions Presses ‘Back to School’ Initiatives — Just in time for back-to-school, Transitions Optical, Inc. is introducing three new tools to support eyecare professionals in the process of educating parents about healthy vision for their children. The tools complement the look and messaging of Transitions Optical’s mom-focused print advertising, enabling ECPs to leverage the national advertising in their practices.

TOI’s new tools include a countercard and a mirror cling, both designed to educate parents on the need for UV and glare protection and the value of shatter-resistant lens materials for children, plus an overview sheet that arms ECPs with tips they can use to explain to parents the benefits of Transitions Lenses for children. For more information, contact your Transitions Solutions Team representative, Transitions Platinum Elite STAR lab rep or Transitions Optical customer service.

 

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