PLAINVILLE, Mass.--Since 1956, tens of thousands of eye care professionals have relied on Hilco for “smart solutions” to common dispensing problems.
Marking its 50th anniversary this year, the company’s extensive product range--more than 20,000 items strong--and its focus on innovation, service, and value are continuing to strengthen its market position.
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| Hilco’s topmanagement team, from left: Bob Rymeski, vice-president, sales;Bob Nahmias,president and CEO, and Paul Janell, CFO. |
Notes Bob Nahmias, president and CEO, “Today, Hilsinger, through its Hilco and Wilson businesses, is the leading supplier of eye wear and eye care accessories, supplies, and equipment in North America and the United Kingdom, and has established distribution networks in continental Europe, South America, and Australia.”
The company also has strong market positions in sports and safety eyewear and has recently re-entered the fashion eyewear business with the addition of its FrameWorks line.
“Hilsinger has demonstrated an uncommon ability,” according to Nahmias, “to innovate new products across many different, yet contiguous categories, to manage the supply of those products efficiently, and to deliver them with unparalleled speed and accuracy.”
Hilsinger was founded in Attleboro, MA by Arthur Hilsinger Sr., Arthur Hilsinger, Jr., and Herbert P. Nelson.
In its initial phase, the company’s business was the design and manufacture of decorative aluminum and plastic parts for eyewear frames. Soon after, the company began to manufacture molded plastic nose pads for metal frames and developed a series of optical accessories products, repair parts, and tools for eye care professionals.
In 1961 the company acquired the Evans Case Company, a manufacturer of gift products and accessories, and operations were relocated to the company’s current headquarters facility in Plainville MA. In 1975 it began manufacturing proprietary eyeglass frames under the Evans brand. During the 1980’s the company transitioned away from the decorative eyewear components, gift products, and frames product lines and became focused exclusively on consumer and professional optical accessories, categories that remain the foundations of the modern Hilco business.
In 1994 the company’s ownership changed and a transition to a new management team began.
Nahmias points out, “The business has tripled in size over the past decade through a combination of internal growth and several key business acquisitions.” These include: Intercompany Contacts (1994)--eye wear accessories; Wilson Ophthalmic (1998)--ophthalmic supplies and equipment; Shield Lens Care (1999) and MSI (2005)-- lens care products; Aden Ophthalmic (1999)--industrial safety frames; and Leader Sports (2004)--Rx and Plano sports eyewear and sunwear.
“With each acquisition,” Nahmias said, “Hilsinger has increased its value to existing customers, capitalizing on numerous product synergies and operating efficiencies.”
Hilsinger’s extensive product range is sold to a similarly large and diverse group of customers including: the 3-O’s, optical chains, mass merchants, hospitals and surgery centers, HMO’s, military installations, sporting goods chains and independent sporting goods outlets. The company trades under three primary brands: Hilco--professional and consumer eyewear accessories; Wilson Ophthalmic--eye care supplies/accessories; and Leader Sports--Rx and plano protective sports eyewear and swim products. Hilsinger customers are serviced through company-operated facilities in the US, Canada, the UK, and France.
The company has been granted a number of patents for various accessory and eyewear products and has won numerous industry awards for innovation. “Hilco has also earned an excellent reputation with our customers for systemization - bringing order to complex programs such as replacement eyewear parts and multiple consumer accessories lines.”
Nahmias points out that Hilsinger routinely designs comprehensive programs around specific customer needs utilizing a variety of skills. The new Rimless SunClips program is one such example, where a proprietary premium clip-on technology was organized around an innovative dispensing/merchandising system. A specially designed hand tool and parts kit were added to optimize in-office adjustments and ongoing maintenance.
