Page 17 - Envision - May June 2020

Special Report

Vuksic goes for a long walk every day The Shamir Canada lab in London, allows us to finish what we weren’t able
to manage stress. She is encouraged by ON, has been operating with minimal to complete at MIDO. None of that
huge support from colleagues, her local staff doing emergency-only production happened this year.”
business association and her extensive for the past several weeks. They are also
client base. “I am finding hidden busy in other ways. As for silver linings: “Our team is going
reserves of strength. I am thankful to battle for one another every day. Their
for my family, partner and incredible In order to help opticians like himself support is my silver lining.”
community of friends, and for their good make good use of pandemic-related
health. Still, it would be naïve not to downtime, Martin Bell, director of Michael Jardine is a Canadian optical
realize that all small businesses are education and quality assurance, industry veteran living in Hong Kong.
facing great risks right now and that arranged for no-charge, non-branded He has been grounded for weeks and
many of us will not make it.” continuing education, courtesy of Shamir, finds it hard not to be able to visit with
for registered opticians in Alberta, B.C. his children who live in other countries.
MANUFACTURERS AND DISTRIBUTORS and Ontario. On the somber side, Jardine notes, “Very
few companies on the planet are sitting
Michael Suliteanu, president of WestGroupe, Shamir is also about to launch the on so much cash that they don’t feel
observes that Canadians sometimes feel Glacier Anti-fog™ (AF) lens to the they’re staring into the abyss right now.
insulated from disastrous world events. medical sector. “This, the only such No one knows.”
But watching the health crisis unfold product to meet EU safety standards,
in Asia and then spread into Italy, it has proven successful in industrial Jardine sees the decline in travel
became clear to him that North America settings. We tested it in April with continuing as people become
would not be spared. “Once outbreaks Canadian medical professionals who are accustomed to working from home
started in Canada, the swift action of the required to use facemasks as they treat and having online meetings. He adds:
Quebec government changed the way we COVID-19 patients,” explains Bell. “Online business is growing substantially,
conduct our business.” which will put more pressure on
In order to further assist healthcare bricks-and-mortar retailers, although
workers, Shamir is offering no-charge optical retailers might feel this less than
safety frames when progressive AF lenses some others.” As a silver lining, Jardine
are ordered. They are also donating to a points out that the planet is, “having a
charity supporting frontline healthcare much-needed rest.”
workers with each order.
Faniel Eyewear, located in Val-Morin,
Allen Nightingale, president of Centennial QC, is likely one of the most hands-on
Optical, calls the pandemic, “the scariest frame manufacturers in the country right
experience I have ever been through.” now. Founded by Anne-Marie Faniel
and Patrick Bolduc in 2019, they have
At the time of writing, Centennial had laid off 50 employees from the plant and
/ WestGroupe President, Michael Suliteanu / not laid off any of its 175 employees. “We their optical stores and are working the
still have not laid anyone off, and we are production lines with their daughter,
WestGroupe was granted an essen- not requiring them to all come to work Clara Faniel. Says Bolduc, “We have
tial business waiver by the provincial ful-time,” says Nightingale. enough supplies to last a few months.
government and is open with a skeleton Yes, the crisis has badly hurt the
staff to process orders received during business, but we are confident we can
the COVID-19 shutdown. Nevertheless, obtain some government help to keep
they were forced to downsize. “It was a going.”
gut-wrenching decision,” says Suliteanu,
“But the supportive phone calls and
emails we received from our employees
helped reinforce that these decisions
were best for our long-term viability
and that our employees understood this. / Centennial President, Allen Nightingale /
Fortunately, assistance measures from
the federal government have been The cancellation of trade shows hit
helpful to our furloughed employees, Centennial hard. “We weren’t able to
and we have applied to federal programs meet with our frame factories to finalize
to help ease some of the pressures we are our developing products. Typically, / Clara Faniel, Patrick Bolduc, and Anne-Marie Faniel at their factory /
facing. at MIDO we look at approximately

“We are focused on helping our customers 10,000 prototype frames to see trends, Ever-optimistic, Bolduc adds: “Turbulent
colours, textures, materials and design
and employees navigate this difficult inspiration. We then apply all of that to times are perfect for coming back to
time, while ensuring that we will be the design drawings we bring with us. ourselves. We encourage everyone to go
ready to resume our business when we After MIDO, Vision Expo East usually within and connect with the true source
E
reopen.” of power, joy and love.” n

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