NEW YORK—As we head into the New Year and the recession worsens, optical retailers and eyecare practitioners report they are cautiously optimistic about their business prospects for the first half of 2009, according to a Vision Monday survey conducted by Jobson Optical Research via the Internet.

In Vision Monday’s December survey, nearly a third of respondents (29 percent) predicted that their sales figures for the first half of 2009 will be even with the first half of 2008 while 38.1 percent were projecting sales for ‘09’s first half would be 5 percent even with the first half of 2008. On the down side, some 32.3 percent of survey respondents were expecting business for the first six months of 2009 to be 5 percent worse than the first half of 2008.

As the credit crisis changes on a daily basis with interest rates showing dramatic fluctuations, eyecare practitioners ended the year on an up note with only 20 percent of respondents to the December survey reporting it was more difficult to get credit or financing for their business in December ’08 versus the first half of 2008. This represented an increase of 7.2 percent as some 12.8 respondents to the October survey reported difficulty getting credit or financing for their business ventures in October versus the first half of 2008.

For an in-depth analysis of how these retailers and ECPs view their businesses’ current performance go to Navigating the New Economy: Plotting a Course Through Tough Times on VisionMonday.com.

Make it your business to learn more about how the economy is affecting business practices for ECPs and optical retailers in Money Matters, VM’s special themed issue of Business Essentials’ now available exclusively on VisionMonday.com.

In the Managing Your Assets section, BE’s Editor Hedley Lawson takes a detailed look at out how to survive and thrive in the downturn with practical tips on developing contingency plans, recognizing the importance of employee engagement, and learning how to communicate during difficult times. On the Dollars & Sense side, read about the pros and cons of reducing or eliminating 401(k) plans as well as an update on the ’09 dollar limits for retirement plans. Money Matters gives you the tools to creatively manage your business and hold on to your most valuable assets—your customers as well as your employees.

Also on VisionMonday.com, check out the latest edition of High Visibility: Arabian Nights to see how VM is channeling Scheherazade with tales from Marchon, PeakVision and Oakley.