Author Archives: Envision Magazine

Match Canada and Optiq Launch New Products for Three Collections

Posted on by

mod. DG 17

Match Canada and Optiq are on trend for Spring 2013 with the introduction of new styles for the Adrienne Vittadini, Danny Gokey Eyewear and Helium Paris collections. 

New frames from the Adrienne Vittadini collection embody the hottest runway forecasts for eyewear, including richly textured and gracefully detailed coloured metallics in neutrals and pastels, and geometric plastics with vibrantly hued accents and exquisite embellishments. This refined and distinctive sophistication is in keeping with the Adrienne Vittadini brand identity of easy elegance and accessibly luxury.  Four ophthalmic frames and one sunglass model are included in the release.

Danny Gokey Eyewear is adding four new styles to this classic, contemporary collection from the Amercian Idol finalist. Square shapes, coloured metals, dynamically textured plastics in marble and tortoise, and cool, subtle accents are retro yet fashion forward, in full cohesion with the modern bohemian rock vibe of the Danny Gokey Eyewear brand. 

Spring 2013 eyewear trends are seamlessly incorporated into the chic and bold edge that defines the entire Helium Paris collection. Essential Spring trends, including refined geometric shaping, intricate metallic textures, preppy accents, and marble and tortoise patterns in warm neutrals and vivid pastels are all evident in the new Helium Paris looks. Included in the launch are one unisex, three women’s, and two men’s frames.   

Match Canada and Optiq will feature the recently released styles in 2013 marketing efforts, including the brand images utilized for integrated media campaigns and POP materials. 

With a wide portfolio of brands to appeal to virtually every demographic group, the Match Canada and Optiq mission is to deliver superior eyewear lines with style, diversity, and craftsmanship that surpass the highest industry standards.

Preparing for the New Year

Posted on by

By JoAnne Sommers


The New Year is traditionally a time for making resolutions about everything from weight loss to spending more time with family and friends. It can also be a time of financial reckoning as bills for the holiday season come due.

On a more positive note, the New Year offers us a chance to start fresh, getting our financial houses in order for the year ahead. With that in mind, here are some things to consider as you put together your financial plan for 2013.

RRSP Contributions
You can make both regular and spousal contributions to your RRSP for 2012 up to March 1, 2013 and are free to start making regular and spousal RRSP deposits for 2013 at any time.

Your 2011 income tax notice of assessment sets out your RRSP room for 2012. But be careful not to over-contribute by more than $2,000 or you will incur penalties.

The earlier you contribute to your RRSP, the more time your investments will have to compound, which can make a big difference to your savings when it’s time to retire.

Remember that if you don’t use all your contribution room in any one year, the unused room is carried forward indefinitely. The tax deduction for your RRSP contribution can also be carried forward indefinitely, so you can use it in a future year when it would be more beneficial, i.e. when your taxable income is greater.

Business Owners and the Self-Employed
In order to create maximum RRSP room of $24,270 for 2014, your income must be about $134,800 in 2013. This means that owners of companies and those who are self-employed should review their 2013 remuneration mix, revisiting their combination of salary, management fees, bonus and dividends as applicable.

Also, think about whether an Individual Pension Plan (IPP) would be more beneficial to you than an RRSP. An IPP is essentially a one-person defined-benefit (DB) plan that allows well-to-do business owners, incorporated professionals and senior executives to save more than they could in an RRSP.

TFSAs
The Tax Free Savings Account (TFSA) can be an excellent supplement to your RRSP. If you haven’t started one yet, don’t worry – you can catch up for the years you missed at any time.

You can put up to $5,000 in a TFSA for each of the years 2009 through 2012. The maximum contribution for 2013 is $5,500. Unused TFSA room can be carried forward to 2014 and beyond.

Unlike the RRSP, there is no tax deduction for a TFSA deposit. Investment income earned in a TFSA is not taxable and capital losses can’t be used as a deduction. You can make TFSA deposits for the rest of your life but don’t over-contribute as the penalties can be significant. You can withdraw the money whenever you wish but remember that cash withdrawals cannot be re-deposited until the following year.

Tax Returns for Children/Students
Start gathering the paperwork to file a tax return for each of your children who will have income in 2013. That includes those who are students. Most students don’t earn much so they won’t have to pay much tax in 2013. However, you’ll be creating RRSP room for them for future years when they have a larger salary.

Income Tax Installments
2013 quarterly income tax installments are due on the 15th of March, June, September and December. Installments apply to self-employed individuals and to those who may not remit sufficient tax amounts at source. If you are affected, the Canada Revenue Agency will send you installment reminders.

RESPs
You may want to set up or contribute to a Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP) for one of your children or grandchildren. A $2,500 annual contribution per child provides the maximum $500 government grant.

Family RESP plans are better than a series of individual ones if you have two or more children who will be related beneficiaries. That’s because you can have several beneficiaries with a family RESP and if one of them doesn’t go on to post-secondary school you can allocate all of the RESP proceeds among those who do. However, if you have separate RESPs for each child and one doesn’t go on to school, you will either have to transfer that child’s RESP money to your RRSP or pay tax on it as income.

The maximum lifetime RESP contribution is $50,000 per child. Beneficiaries must report the money in their RESPs as income when they receive it. The goal is for students to report the taxable RESP amounts while they still have a low tax rate.

Harvesting Gains and Losses
Don’t forget about 2013 gains and losses allocations from mutual funds that you hold in cash accounts. If you own a mutual fund outside your RRSP or TFSA and the fund sells a holding that generates a loss or gain, you will be allocated your share of that loss or gain after it’s sold.

You can apply your 2013 losses to any gains you realized in 2013; alternatively, you can apply those losses to gains from the past three years, or carry them forward. And don’t forget the 30-day rule before repurchasing the same security.

Thanks to Adrian Mastracci, portfolio manager with KCM Wealth Management in Vancouver for providing valuable information used in this article.

Tim Van Steenbergen: Old Values in a New World

Posted on by

By JoAnne Sommers

Tim Van Steenbergen was fated to become a designer.  Just ask the award-winning Belgian creator of the sunwear line, ‘theo by Tim Van Steenbergen’, himself.

“It was inevitable that I would do this,” Van Steenbergen says of his career. “I come from a family of architects who were always seeking harmony and beauty in their surroundings. My grandfather, René, taught me how to draw, and my mother is a painter, who encouraged me to draw and paint. When I was four, she took me to the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Antwerp, where we lived, and where I later spent five years studying fashion, textile creation and theatre costume.”

After graduation, Van Steenbergen, now 35, worked as the first assistant to Belgian fashion designer Olivier Theyskens, studied drapery and couture techniques, then worked in Paris and later,New York. 2001 was a year of milestones: he returned to Antwerp, establishing his company, Mitzlavv bvba, and his first collection of women’s clothing was launched in Paris.

But Van Steenbergen’s creative gifts are much too varied to be channelled into a single art form. Among other achievements, he has displayed haute couture dresses in the Groeningemuseum in Bruges, the Louvre in Paris and at the Cannes film festival. He created an installation, “Stills”, at the 2003 Venice Biennale. As well, Van Steenbergen has created costumes for Richard Wagner’s opera cycle, ‘Ring of the Nibelungen’, to be performed at La Scala in Milan and the Staatsoper Unter den Linden in Berlin.

So what led him into eyewear design?

“Several years ago, while flying to Moscow on business, I met some people from theo. As we talked, I realized that we shared a sense of curiosity and excitement about what was new and creative. I felt there was a match and thought it would be great to collaborate with them.”

The people at theo thought so too, and Van Steenbergen has since collaborated with the company’s designers to create seven sunwear collections. The most recent – Limited Edition René – honours the grandfather and mentor who showed Van Steenbergen how to look at and appreciate art.

Limited Edition René, which is available at select locations across Canada, reflects René Van Steenbergen’s application of modern architectural design and building materials to religious architecture. Another source of inspiration came from the sunglasses popular in the ‘50s and ‘60s: heavy, black acetate sunwear that lent ordinary people an instant diva-allure. With that look in mind, Van Steenbergen created four models – three distinctly feminine and one masculine – each available in a full black model and a black/transparent variation. Each model has geometric details in a primary colour. The metal temples are not solid but have a structure that refers to concrete stained-glass windows. Only 150 sets have been released worldwide.

Van Steenbergen says his sunwear creations attract an intellectual clientele, “people who are interested in art, rather than in consumption for its own sake. They know why they choose these glasses. It’s not only about glamour – it’s about the concept behind it.”

Tim’s approach to work has changed over the years. At first, he says, he tried to put all his ideas into a single collection but as he developed, he learned to make choices, becoming more selective and self-critical in the process. The result is that each collection is now “more pure.”

Today, Van Steenbergen’s atelier is located in an old sewing factory in the suburbs ofAntwerp. During the ‘60s the building was the workshop of a traditional couture label that designed and produced every garment in that factory. Today, it is maintained as it was years ago and it reflects the history and the philosophy Tim believes in when creating his designs.

“The challenge in my work is the search for authenticity and artisanship,” he explains. “My motivation is to transfer craftsmanship and the old values into different and modern designs. I’m in search of old values in a new world.”

That search recently led him to create ‘Metronome’, a first light design for Delta Light, and an interior collection in collaboration with Aristide. “I don’t want to focus only on glasses or fashion,” he says. “I’m most interested in how creative fields communicate with one another and how they come together. You can’t work in isolation, you must be part of the world.”

Other new fields beckon, including the world of film.

When he’s not working, Van Steenbergen enjoys running, doing yoga and reading, especially the novels of Dickens and Tolstoy. “I can reread them again and again, always discovering new things,” he says. Again, that happy marriage of the old and the new.

Keeping Track of Your Cash Flow

Posted on by

By JoAnne Sommers

It’s a truism that cash flow is the life-blood of business. Your company can usually survive for a time without sales or profits but if you don’t have enough cash to pay your suppliers, creditors or employees, you’ll soon be out of business.

Cash is king regardless of business size, says Nancy Harris,Richmond, B.C.-based vice-president and general manager of Sage Simply Accounting (becoming Sage 50 Accounting, Canadian Edition, in October 2012). However, she adds, “it’s sometimes more difficult for smaller businesses to develop good cash practices because they are often stretched very thin.”

Cash flow problems are the number one contributor to business failures, according to David Wilton, director of small business for Scotiabank inToronto. “Even a profitable business will fail if it doesn’t have the cash to pay for expenses when they fall due.”

That’s why it’s essential to ensure that your company’s cash flow is as predictable as possible, says Wilton, who adds that the first step is to create a cash flow plan. Scotiabank offers an interactive Cash Flow for Business™ tool on its Growing for Business website that allows you to analyze your cash flow situation and create sound projections. By documenting the anticipated receipt and expenditure dates of cash, you can determine whether you have a positive or negative account balance at any given time.

“Look ahead at least 12 months and try to anticipate the ebbs and flows of cash entering the business,” says Wilton. “Map that out against your anticipated expenditures for fixed items, including rent, wages and lease payments, plus variable expenses, such as inventory. That allows you to calculate your net cash position.”

Harris recommends that you engage a professional, such as an accountant, early in the process. “They can tell you how to put together a budget that will provide a lot of insight into your situation via cash flow projections, sales, and reports that show what’s overdue and could be collected. You can run inventory reports and see what you have on hand, what has been selling and what hasn’t. That way you’re not over-ordering things that don’t move quickly.”

Using the services of a professional frees you up to do what you’re good at, she explains. “Small business owners are usually passionate about their businesses but managing their finances may not be a strength. If you have an accountant to help keep your books straight, it frees you up to focus on what you enjoy – marketing, sales and finding new customers.”

Here are some tips that will help you to avoid cash flow crises:

• Budget Proactively
Proactive planning helps by creating a formula for knowing how much cash you should have on hand, based on the ebbs and flows of your business, says Harris.

“Determine your annual budget, then factor in seasonality,” she explains. “That allows you to forecast when times will be tight from an inflow perspective. Then you can manage your cash accordingly, stockpiling money when you’re busier to help when things are tight.”

• Invoice Promptly
Cash collection calls can be overlooked when you’re busy but you should avoid letting receivables get out of step with payables, says Harris.

Prepare invoices as soon as you deliver goods or services to the customer. If you wait to prepare your invoices at the end of the month, for example, you may be adding as many as 30 additional days to your cash flow conversion period.

• Accelerate the Rate at Which Cash Enters Your Business
One way to do this is to make sure you’re set up to accept both credit and debit cards. That provides immediate payment, minus the card issuers’ fees. By getting the cash right away, you don’t have to borrow while awaiting payment.

• Investigate Credit Worthiness
If you decide to set up accounts receivable, get a credit history for anyone who wants to charge purchases and decide whether you’re willing to risk not being paid.

• Pay on Time (But Not Too Soon)
The flip side of cash flow is expenditures, says Wilton. Check suppliers’ payment terms and determine when payment is due, then use an automated banking process to pay on the due date so you’re not subject to late penalties. Waiting to pay until the due date helps keep your cash flowing.

• Have a Backup Plan
Prearrange credit in the form of an operating line of credit and/or credit cards before you need it. Many business people enhance their likelihood of success by making available personal resources in the form of cash contributions and loans.

“You are best equipped to handle cash flow challenges when you make arrangements in advance,” Wilton says.

Luxury Tells a Tale: The Best of the Best Stories in Luxury Frames

Posted on by

By Paddy Kamen

Caviar Collection mod. 5570

Luxury frames tell a story. There’s a narrative attached to prestigious eyewear collections that confirms the wearer’s sense of identity, and that story is just as important as the frame material, the hinges, the adornment, design or lenses. In fact, the story may be the only thing that really matters to the consumer!

Eyecare professionals (ECPs) must, of course, understand these stories, for consumers who know what they want will make sure they find it – somewhere, anywhere. It is also true that the ECP, by virtue of professionalism, values the more tangible aspects of luxury: the fit, the craftsmanship, the subtle or not-so-subtle aspects of superior design, the artistry and fine materials that make a luxury frame so much more that the sum of its parts. This is where taste triumphs over spin – not that marketing isn’t still a necessity in this day and age.

In this feature, we present an array of luxury collections that will turn the heads of consumers with the refinement and means to choose from among the finest eyewear offerings in the world. We’ve paired down those offerings to a select group.  Many of them are handcrafted, all are created with great artistic integrity and fine workmanship. We have included frames made from precious metals,  buffalo horn, fine woods and the highest-quality custom acetates, along with adornments that include gems and crystals. We hope you enjoy this look at the best of the best.

Everyone has a different idea of what constitutes luxury in this diverse world of ours, and eyewear is no exception.

Richard Stortini, president of Prisme Optical Group, notes, “A lot of people associate luxury with precious metals or refined materials but it is also defined by craftsmanship. Some will also associate luxury with brand names but the quality that may be conveyed by those names in apparel, for example, does not necessarily translate into eyewear.”

Bob Karir, president of Karir Fashion Eyewear, with three stores in Toronto, agrees. “I find that some of the big brand names have exclusivity in their apparel but not in their eyewear. They usually have only one store per major city for apparel and accessories, yet they place their eyewear in many locations. If a frame is mass-produced and doesn’t have an aspect of exclusivity, then for me it does not represent the highest luxury.”

Karir carries frames made of precious metals but doesn’t see a huge market for them in this country. “It’s different in emerging economies where they sell very well, indeed. Here, if people have thousands of dollars to spend on eyewear they typically prefer to spread it out and buy several different pairs for different uses and occasions.”

Young people are ‘brainwashed about labels’, according to Karir. “It is important to them that their peers see them wearing an expensive label. We carry the big name brands in our Yorkdale Mall store because our clients are younger adults in their early 30s and they most definitely want to show off labels. In our downtown and Yorkville locations, however, shoppers are older and more sophisticated and they will reject a frame that has a logo. These are very different markets with totally different thinking.”

Karir’s personal taste and sense of luxury leans toward…“funky and different luxury frames. For me, luxury is about exclusivity rather than mass-produced product, and innovative design rather than precious metals and diamonds. We have some custom collections from small suppliers that are very exclusive. Nice, elegant, well-made and exclusive: to me, that is luxury.”

Mylene Laoun is merchandise consultant at Georges et Phina, a family-run eyewear distribution business and the buyer for two stores in Montreal under the name Georges Laoun Opticien.

For Laoun, luxury is often about design and innovation. “Luxury can be understated: if I’m wearing a funky dress, I could choose to wear a more subdued frame with shape and movement, but if I’m wearing a simple dress, I could enjoy some artistry on my face. Of course, there are no rules – for my next outing, I could choose to do the complete opposite!

“Those who come to our stores are generally not looking for conservative luxury frames but rather for something more edgy. We don’t define luxury by the conventional measures or brand names, but rather by materials and workmanship. As important as it is for me to sell outstanding frames, the eyewear should not lead the face but arrive with it.”

Amin Mamdani, director of operations with Toronto-based Josephson Opticians, articulates a useful distinction between luxury and premium frames. “For me, a frame can be very high-end in terms of best materials, quality and brand presence; but luxury goes beyond that and adds elements of detailed work with 18-karat gold, sterling silver, solid wood, stones and embellishments. Premium frames are priced from $300 to around $700, while luxury frames start at $600 and go up to $3,000 or more.”

Mamdani explains how customers might weigh their options when it comes to making a high-end purchase: “Fashion is more about replacement than longevity. Do I want a $1,000 frame with a classic look, made from silver, or do I want to spend $500 apiece for two premium frames so I can have two looks or replace them within a year? It depends on where your store is located and your demographics. Some Josephson stores focus on luxury and premium frames and others sell frames based on elements of creative design and fun.”

What’s on Offer?

One undisputed leader in luxury frames is Chopard. This fabulous collection is built on a solid history of creativity and craftsmanship, which began in 1860 when watchmaker Louis Ulysse Chopard established his watchmaking business in Paris. The company has been in the hands of the Scheufele family since 1963. These descendants of a dynasty of watchmakers and jewelers from Germany have made Chopard a global name in fine watch and jewelry-making.

Each Chopard frame is handmade in Italy and takes 200 hours to create. The range and quality of the materials and finishes is simply stunning and includes the finest Wenge, Bubinga and Padauk woods from Africa, 23-karat gold, palladium, rose gold, Swarovski crystals, genuine gemstones, Mazzucchelli acetates and river diamonds. These are jeweler-quality luxury frames.

Chopard is distributed in Canada by Ronor International. Popular models made with 18-karat gold and adorned with diamonds include Time, Tulip and Star Dust.

The Marciano collection from Viva International is a sophisticated and subtle take on luxury with the modern, international woman in mind. These glamorous frames have a feminine retro feel to them, in refreshingly classic shapes with a unique and polished touch. Italian handmade acetate frames are accentuated with faceted Swarovski crystal stones and Mother of Pearl details. GM 168 and GM 185 are particularly outstanding examples of this classy collection.

The Charmant Group is decidedly focused on premium frame materials. “We are a frame manufacturer, not a licenser,” explains Adrian Maas, president of Perfect Optical, distributors of Charmant in Canada. “For us, the expression of luxury is found in two collections: Charmant Z for men and Line Art, for women.

Both collections are made with Charmant’s proprietary titanium alloy, Excellence Titan. “This is a complete memory metal that is revolutionizing the industry,” saysMaas. “After eight years of research, Charmant has created a completely nickel-free alloy which is hypoallergenic, and yet also allows the designer complete liberty.”

New manufacturing processes were also developed in the creation of Line Art. “It’s an entirely new welding process that was developed by laser specialists in Japan. No one else in the world can do this,” states Maas.

Charmant’s heavy investment is paying off handsomely. The company won the Eyewear of the Year 2013 Award for one of the optical frames in its top-of-the-range brand CHARMANT-Z at the IOFT 2012 trade show inTokyo. The judges honour distinguished new products that excel in design and/or function, and are scheduled to be marketed in the upcoming season. The Grand Prize Award was presented for the high quality of the innovative LINKS function, a patented flex mechanism that provides quality, smoothness and flexibility. “One can feel the extremely comfortable grip, which is surprising considering the light weight of the frame. In spite of the lightness, the temples have a very unique and voluminous design,” the jury commented.

Line Art, made from Excellence Titan, was launched at Silmo 2012 to wide acclaim and is enjoying stupendous market success inJapan, with a population that is very technology-driven.Maassays that in the over-$500 retail product category for frames, Line Art has captured 26 per cent market share. “The product clearly resonates with Japanese consumers. This is utter market dominance.”

Canadian designer Mehran Baghaieof Spectacle Eyeworks has accomplished something wonderful by laminating fine wood onto buffalo horn frames. “The material and fine workmanship of these frames is of the highest quality. We started with two models, Skaay and Gwaii, and will introduce the Persa-Loen and Homa very soon,” he notes. 

Who but Henrik Ørgreen would think to add minute diamonds to the top of a frame eyewire, where they will seldom be seen? This Danish designer is recognized worldwide for his design aesthetic. Here we have two special edition frames, one for men and one for women. The women’s frame is made of a combination of 100 per cent pure titanium and beta-titanium and is precision-plated in precious metal: gold and palladium. The men’s model is composed of a combination of 100 per cent pure titanium and beta-titanium and is precision-plated in precious metal: gold, palladium and ruthenium. Subtle and distinctive.

Ørgreen is represented in Canada by Prisme Optical Group, headed by Richard Stortini, who also brings an impeccable and more conventional luxury brand forward with the made-in-France Cogan collection. These 22-karat gold frames, embellished with diamonds, are unique works of art, says Stortini. “They are based on key values of precision, distinction and pleasure,” he adds. “True luxury.”

Minimalist elegance comes to us from FRED, an historic and prestigious house of fine jewelry based in Paris. All the craftsmanship, artistry and perfectionism that has distinguished the FRED brand since its inception over 60 years ago is applied to the eyewear. From the choice of materials, to the faultless design and skillful application of precious metals – 18-karat gold, platinum, ruthenium, palladium – FRED are the only frames with 5-micron-plated metal on each eyewear component (including temples and endpieces), confering on them the jeweller’s hallmark.

Precious woods are also an intrinsic part of the FRED collection. Very fine-grained mahogany and ebony are high-density woods and therefore resistant to deformation over time. They also allow for perfect polishing, bringing the wood to its ideal luster.

Leather (supplied by a factory that specializes in leatherwork for the finest watch brands) and Mazzucchelli acetates fromItalyare also used in FRED eyewear frames, which are distributed inCanadaby Importlux. This is a strong line for men, which also features exquisite frames for women.

Tura Elegance is created by a Venetian designer for the woman who is looking for something special. These frames are 100 per cent handcrafted inItalyand submitted to extreme quality control. Swarovski crystals are handset into the five models in the collection, with one piece holding 144 crystals. A special treatment is applied on the surface of the crystals to ensure quality and most frames have a flex hinge. The result is a collection that is strikingly beautiful, fashionable and easy to wear.

Sylvain Carne is the agent inCanadafor renowned luxury brand Gold & Wood, as well as the luxury company, Leisure Society. Carne picked up the Leisure Society collections last year at Vision Expo East inNew York, after following their work for a couple of years. “What most impressed me was the technology behind this brand. They make incredibly complex frames of acetate and titanium that are then engraved and gold-plated. Only one factory in the world can produce frames to this standard. They end up with a product that is unique. You just have to hold them to know that it took a lot of work and ingenuity to create these frames,” says Carne.

Leisure Society frames are available for both men and women, with the best sellers being theOxfordand Vanderbilt models. The whole collection has a retro, 1950’s look. All titanium used in Leisure Society frames is 100 per cent pure, with gold plating in 12-, 18- and 24-karats. Accent materials include etched buffalo horn insets, diamonds and precious metals.

Gold & Wood, Carne’s other luxury brand, is well-established globally as the maker of handmade frames as unique as they are luxurious. “Even the same model and colour choice will portray subtle differences as a result of the patterning in these natural wood and horn materials,” explains Carne. “B-16 is a good example. This is my best seller; a gorgeous wood frame for the man who wants a chunkier, retro look. From a distance, it looks like a heavy acetate but is in fact light as a feather. You don’t get better quality than Gold & Wood.”

The Caviar Collection®, from UltraPalm, defines luxury with a series of glamorous frames for women that are bound to attract the most flattering attention possible. Some designs are complex, others are simple and pretty, but all are dripping with luxurious Austrian crystals. Pieces for men are, of course, more subdued but no less striking. Marketing coordinator for Caviar distributor UltraPalm, Lionel Cohoone, notes that Caviar frames are indeed exclusive. “Only 4,000 pairs of each model are created and this limit adds to the value. Luxury, for me, connotes something that is not widely available. When you wear Caviar frames it’s like wearing a one-of-a-kind. Combine this with extreme design details and Caviar’s rich history of making eyewear and you have a luxury product that is second-to-none.

Born-in-Canada eyewear company Claudia Alan Inc. recently introduced five new styles to its AYA Optical Collection. The new line includes two limited editions,Sitkaand Langham, featuring natural buffalo horn and bamboo materials and sophisticated retro styling. TheSitkafeatures a keyhole bridge and rounded silhouette, while the Langham is more rectangular. Both have horn front pieces and bamboo temples, and each design is available with either a light or dark-coloured face. Beautiful raven artwork etchings by native artist Corinne Hunt (co-designer of the 2010 Olympic medals) bring a third element of beauty to these eco-chic frames.

President, Carla D’Angelo, notes: “Luxury in eyewear is definitely about quality of materials: in this case one-of-a-kind horn materials. These frames are handmade and each takes about two days to construct. We are careful to select only the best portions of the horn so that patterns are appealing on the face. Claudia Alan has created a unique and luxurious product. We are proud to have combined safe, natural and renewable materials with indigenous-influenced art and quality craftsmanship in our AYA frames.”

Defying Expectations: Optifair Excites and Unites the Vision Professions

Posted on by

By Paddy Kamen

Ali Khan likes to defy the odds. This registered optician has created a successful continuing education conference for both optometrists and opticians in the same place, on the same day. This feat might be nothing special in Europe or the U.S., but here the political silos were pretty much unbreachable until Khan came along.

The Optifair shows, put on by The Khan Group and their education arm, the Academy of Ophthalmic Education (AOE), feature a trade show in addition to educational streams for both opticians and optometrists, which run concurrently throughout the day.

Optifairs are popular with optical professionals and distributors alike. Attendance at the October 2012 Optifair in Toronto was approximately 750 opticians and over 200 optometrists, with 40 of 42 booths sold for the trade show. The Vancouver conference is newer, with the second annual event scheduled for May 26, 2013.

What factors have led to Khan’s success in a market that was supposedly replete with conferences staged by professional associations?

“For one thing, we cannot take any chances with the quality of the continuing education so we fly in professional speakers, mostly from the U.S.We are continuously researching topics and seeking speakers who make the day very stimulating and enjoyable for the attendees in both streams,” he explains.

Khan says that opticians enjoy a mix of medical and pharmacology lectures, in addition to marketing. “Some people say opticians are not interested in continuing education, but we’ve proven them wrong.”

There are also stringent requirements for any speaker affiliated with a supplier. “We don’t allow them to stand up there and advertise. All our lectures are approved as Class ‘A’ credits by the appropriate accrediting bodies and are valid for optical professionals from across Canada,” he explains.

Exhibitors appreciate the fact they receive a steady steam of visitors throughout the day, due to the fact that the educational stream’s coffee and lunch breaks are staggered, notes Khan. “We also have excellent food in the trade show hall, making it easier for professional participants to visit and mingle with exhibitors. Further, we offer lunch to exhibitors well before the continuing education participants meet them on the trade show floor. The shows have become known a place to learn, socialize and make connections for everyone in the optical business.”

In conjunction with the April Optifair in Toronto, The Khan Group is sponsoring a gala fundraising evening in support of the Canadian Coalition of Eye Care Professionals (CCEPro) and the Foundation Fighting Blindness. The Eye Ball, will be held on April 13, the evening before the Optifair. “We’re expecting 300 people, along with VIPs from the federal and provincial governments,” says Khan. “We’ve always had a lot of fun at these events and this one promises to be very special, indeed.”

Wowing both optometrists and opticians with stellar continuing education, pleasing exhibitors and also fundraising for good causes – clearly Ali Khan has found a way to defy the odds as he continues to change and challenge the optical professions in Canada.

Let Your Resume Do its Job

Posted on by

By Paddy Kamen

Your resume has a job to do. What is it? Getting you an interview!

Here are four essential tips to help you land that interview.

Tip #1: Hit the Mark Immediately
Most employers make a decision about a resume within five seconds, so your past job titles must be effective and descriptive. Don’t say ‘Administration’ when you can say ‘Management of Client Records.’

Under each job title, use action verbs to describe your past accomplishments as they relate to the needs of this employer (study the job advertisement carefully).

Don’t state your personal qualities (e.g. trustworthy, hardworking); instead, describe your accomplishments (e.g. increased sales by 90 per cent over two years).

Reflect back to the employer that you understand their needs by using the keywords from the ad.

Tip # 2: Make it Easy for the Employer to Evaluate You
For every point on your resume, place yourself in the employer’s position and ask, will I be meeting their needs with this information?

Put your most relevant experience first.

Use bullet points and keep it concise.

You don’t need to use the pronoun ‘I’, as in “I did this or that.” They’ll know it was you because it’s your resume.

Avoid putting in extraneous information, such as your hobbies, church affiliations, or the fact that you are available for an interview (of course you are!).

Tip #3: Pay Attention to Detail
One typo or negative phrase can send your resume to the trash.

Proofread it a couple of days after you write it (but before submitting it). Then, have two people proof it for you. Finally, print it and read it out loud to someone else.

Put your name and contact information on each page.

Tip #4: Make it Look Great
Choose a format that will look good in the body of an email as well as in a Word document.

Keep your resume to two pages maximum, and allow for lots of white space between words and paragraphs, in a 12-point common font.

Ready to submit your resume? Visit any Breton.com website and click on ‘Find a Job’. Our services are international and powered by Local Eye Site.

Good luck!

Biomedical Ethics and the Vision Industry: Shared Decision-Making is Key

Posted on by

Evra Taylor

Biomedical ethics is a relatively new field that is founded largely on dialogue and interpretation, rather than on the black and white conclusions that characterize other medical specialties. In biomedical ethics, the art of medicine meets the science of medicine.

Dr. Eugene Bereza, director of McGill University’s Biomedical Ethics Unit, teaches practicum courses in the Masters program, as well as medical school residents. According to Bereza, biomedical ethics emerged in order to find an alternative to an old-style model of medical paternalism.

Another impetus for the specialization was organ transplantation, which raises issues around how decisions are made about who receives organs. “As technology exploded, questions arose about how to use it,” explained Bereza. “For example, transplanting organs required a new definition of ‘brain dead’ and answers to questions like, ‘Who receives life support and what are the criteria for its cessation?’ The decisions being made weren’t keeping pace with the technologies at hand – and these issues came under the umbrella of medical ethics.”

Dr. Bereza is interested specifically in the doctor-patient relationship and how it has changed over the past 40 years. “Forty years ago, the doctor told the patient what to do. Now, doctors are supposed to listen to patients and take into account their preferences.” This is a newer model of care based on joint decision-making. How does this changing medical landscape affect the optical profession? “I would think that ophthalmologists and optometrists would have had to change like most other medical professions. Whether it’s diabetes or your eyes, the role of the physician is to properly diagnose and suggest appropriate treatments, and not to be perceived as the sole decision-maker.”

Dr. Bereza presented the following scenario: a 94-year-old woman visits her doctor’s office and says, “I’m having trouble with my vision.” The doctor says, “You have cataracts and we should remove them – then you’ll see better”. In the old days, the doctor would have said, “I’m scheduling surgery next month,” without considering the patient’s preferences and lifestyle. However, the patient might say, “I’m 94 years old. I’d rather not have the surgery. I’d rather stumble around the house.”

In another scenario, a 94-year-old woman asks her eyecare professional, “I can’t see. Can you do something?” She has arthritis and moderate dementia. The modern-day doctor ponders, “Am I going to do surgery on a 94-year-old woman with moderate dementia, who has limited mobility?” The doctor considers her likelihood of complying with treatment, plus her elevated risk of post-operative infection. “It’s quite appropriate for an eyecare professional to offer an opinion or advice, but ultimately the decision is going to lie with the patient. Two 94-year-olds might have two different preferences. Eyecare practitioners have to think about how this procedure fits into their patients’ lives,” explained Dr. Bereza.

In the above scenarios, the ocular professional shouldn’t be the only one making the decision, he said. Furthermore, it would be wrong for the practitioner to assume that because the patient has dementia, she doesn’t need to see. Naturally, the physician should want to improve the patient’s quality of life. “However, it’s valid for the ophthalmologist to say, ‘She’s in a nursing home with dementia. She has no visitors and no TV, and she stares at blank walls all day. What is the purpose of performing surgery, with the possibility that she’ll develop a post-operative infection, become septic and die?’”

“There has to be a shared exploration of the way the treatment fits into the patient’s life,” added Dr. Bereza. In this facet of biomedical ethics, the key point is shared decision-making, which must be integrated into a rapidly evolving healthcare landscape, and the unfortunate reality of shrinking human resources and budgets.

Fashion’s Perfect Fit: FYSH UK and Jeanne Beker!

Posted on by

By Paddy Kamen

Kismet marches to the beat of its own drummer. But sometimes enchantment happens when hunches are followed and bold moves create a synergy akin to magic.

Beverly Suliteanu, WestGroupe’s vice-president of marketing and product development, envisioned a special collection within one of WestGroupe’s brands, with proceeds going back to the community. She followed her hunch and quickly realized that Canadian fashion icon Jeanne Beker would be an ideal partner. “Given FYSH UK’s ties to fashion, the not-for-profit organization Dress For Success was a natural fit and, with Jeanne Beker as one of its ambassadors, everything fell into place.  We approached Jeanne and Dress for Success this past spring to discuss a possible partnership. All parties instantly loved the idea!”

Beker is, indeed, an inspired choice, with career accomplishments as significant as they are varied. The Toronto native began as an actress, studied acting both in New York and Paris, and obtained a fine arts degree from York University. After moving into arts and entertainment reporting, Beker was chosen to host Fashion Television (FT), which has become Citytv’s most widely syndicated show with viewers in over 130 countries. Beker is now the host and producer at Fashion Television Channel, Canada’s only channel dedicated to fashion, beauty and design.

“The partnership makes perfect sense, not only because FYSH UK draws inspiration from the fashion runways, but also because its brand philosophy emphasizes the celebration of individuality and uniqueness, a message that Jeanne strongly supports,” says Suliteanu.

Suliteanu and Beker worked together to select the styles from FYSH UK’s new releases that became the Jeanne Beker collection. “Jeanne’s capsule collection features a selection of design-driven styles with an eye-catching palette,” notes Suliteanu. “There is an assortment of flattering eye shapes within the collection and each model is available in four colour options. The collection has a fashion-forward attitude, without going too wild.”

The one design that captured Beker’s attention right from the start is a retro-inspired acetate frame in a black and white zebra print with scalloped edges. This has become Jeanne Beker’s signature frame. “This model comes in solid front colours combined with the patterned temples to make it a fun and easy style to wear with any outfit. But for the ultimate fashionista, the black and white full print (front as well as the temples) will elicit the biggest reaction,” explains Suliteanu.

WestGroupe marketing campaign features a full suite of collateral and in-store point-of-sale materials, including a banner, counter card and display insert to highlight the new collection and encourage sell-through. Suliteanu says the January 2013 launch will also be supported with trade and consumer advertising, a mailer to be distributed to retailers promoting the collection, as well as an email campaign highlighting the signature collection. A special section will be devoted to the collection on the FYSH UK website (www.fyshuk.com), including a promotional video featuring highlights from the campaign photo shoot. A comprehensive public relations and social media program includes real-time fan engagement via WestGroupe’s online platforms, national media outreach and a media launch event that took place in Toronto last November with Beker in attendance, along with Envision: seeing beyond magazine publisher, Martine Breton. With coverage on CTV’s etalk and tweets from Flare magazine, the media ‘buzz’ has begun; bloggers and fashion enthusiasts alike are sharing their excitement about this stylish new collection both on and offline.

A portion of the sales from this capsule collection will be donated to a charity close to Jeanne Beker’s heart – Dress for Success, which is dedicated to empowering women and inspiring them to put their best foot forward in attitude and dress.

Were You Out When Opportunity Knocked?

Posted on by

By Shirley Ha, BSc. (Hons), O.D.

As the online retail economy continues to grow, and as more people adopt mobile technology including smart phones and tablets[i], consumers will have greater opportunities to browse online and research optical products 24/7/365.

The December 2011 Vision Council Vision Watch Internet Influence Report stated that 26.7 per cent of 1,306 contact lens buyers surveyed in the U.S. used the Internet in some capacity when purchasing contact lenses; another 16.4 per cent purchased their lenses online. The two most influential forces cited by survey respondents were price and convenience[ii]. And as a result, bricks and mortar businesses lost sales revenue of about $604 million to online sources.

To minimize contact lens prescription walkouts, practitioners must build on or implement marketing strategies to improve retention of existing contact lens patients.

Educated Patients are Loyal Patients
Over the years, marketers have turned contact lenses into a commodity, which is why patients seek alternative retail outlets. Patients need to understand that contact lenses are medical devices that sit on the surface of the eyes to correct their vision. Emphasize that you want their eyes to be healthy, to work well together and to have normal field of vision. Besides the cornea, they need to understand that the lids, lashes, conjunctiva and tear film all need to be assessed periodically to ensure optimum vision, comfort, eye health and continued contact lens success.

Differentiate Yourself
Know and meet your patients’ lifestyle and visual needs. Market yourself as the go-to expert with access to a diverse product line, including specialty lenses for keratoconus, orthokeratology presbyopia and therapeutic uses that only you can customize for them. Upgrade as many existing patients as possible to newer-technology products and communicate the benefits for them to them.

Set Appropriate Fees
Competing with online providers who benefit from low overhead and high-volume purchases will get you nothing except a revenue shortfall. Be fair to yourself and to your patients. Don’t undervalue what you do but, at the same time, keep profit margins reasonable. Patients associate higher prices with higher quality products and exceptional service, but they look at the value they receive from the interaction, too. They want to buy from you; don’t give them a reason to shop elsewhere because of over-inflated prices.

Sell Annual Supplies
You should be selling annual supplies. Explain to patients the economic benefits of volume purchasing and manufacturer rebates, if available. If this doesn’t convince them, explain the health benefits of fresh lenses on the eyes when replaced in a timely manner. It is much better than extending the wear of their last pair and putting their eyes at risk for contact lens complications. Encourage patients to take an interest in their eye health and help them to realize how precious their eyes and good vision are.

Create a Digital Footprint
There is no denying it – both you and your patients spend time online for sports, games, news and information, entertainment, retail and/or social networking. During the week of Oct. 22, 2012, comScore’s survey of 1,989 U.S. respondents ranked “Retailer Websites” second, after “Online Search Engine”, as the most valuable tool for shopping[iii]. Yet, in a recent survey conducted by Breton Communications, fewer than three-quarters (74.2 per cent) of Canadian eyecare professionals reported having a website and 11.2 per cent had no Internet access in their offices[iv].

At the very least, create a business website and have a digital presence where your patients can seek you out. Be the person in front of your patients when they are on their smart phones commuting to and from work or on their tablets after dinner.

If you haven’t done so, consider getting on the social media bandwagon or create a blog and start building fans and followers who are interested in your products and services.

E-stores: To Have or Not?
This is a contentious topic for many practitioners but the reality is that in recent years, more and more practices have incorporated secured contact lens re-ordering platforms through their websites. This has enabled them to capture revenue that would have been lost to online suppliers, while making the contact lens sales process simpler and more convenient for their patients.

Your patients come to you for guidance and as a resource and will pay a premium if they perceive value in the services you provide. Your job as a practitioner/salesperson is to direct them towards a final sale with your reputable service. So make service your number one brand!

[i] WALL, Mike. “2012 Canada Digital Future in Focus: Trends Every Marketer Needs to Know”, comScore Webinar presentation, March 2012.

[ii] The Vision Council Research: December 2011 Vision Council VisionWatch Internet Influence Report.

[iii] FULGONI, Gian, LIPSMAN, Andrew, ESSLING, Ian. “The State of the U.S. Online Retail Economy in Q3 2012”, comScore Webinar presentation, November 2012.

[iv] SOMMERS, JoAnne. “Canada’s ECPs by the Numbers”, Envision: seeing beyond, November/December 2012, p. 8-18.