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.

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.

"On-site attendance figures continue to be strong. As of Friday afternoon we've verified that attendance is 14 percent higher than 2009," said Tom Loughran, vice president of Reed Exhibitions. "Exhibitors are reporting increased sales over past shows and quality leads, a good sign for a healthy show."
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.”



(L to R) Luxottica’s Vittorio Verdun, Victor Melendez, and Andrea Dorigo, at their booth.

Jean Marc Leroy of Essilor of America answers a question about the company’s new Dual Optix technology at their press conference.

Jeremy Goldstein of Pro Design Eyewear in San Francisco, Calif., was also enthusiastic. “So far, I think it’s been really great. We’ve seen a lot of new faces and had a chance to connect with people that we’ve known. It’s a really good time—pleasure and business. I do think it’s a little slower. Yesterday was a little slower, today it’s been pretty busy. So we’re looking for it to stay busy all day and into tomorrow morning. Then everybody goes and plays.”

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.



ProFit Optix’s management team (l to r) Hoa Nguyen, Jonathan Schwartz, Steve Brewer, Kristina Roberts, Ruedi Suter and Alan Yuster.


Scott Cheek (c) of Accutome, Inc. in Malvern, Penn. poses with models in traditional German dress at Doctoberfest.

Retailers agreed that business is bouncing back. “Our business overall has been good—we were above last year through August, though September was a little soft. But all in all, I can’t complain; it’s been a good year,” said Diana Hall, president, Bard Optical, Peoria, Ill.

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.”



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.

Betty Green of Dr. Grant OD in Henderson, Nev., a first-time Vision Expo West attendee, said she was excited by the array of frames she saw. “I’m shocked by how many products there are and how their guarantees and warranties are standard,” said Green. “The standard frames are just amazing. I’m pretty much blown away. I just came to get an overview and I’m really impressed.”

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.