2012 Vision Expo East Makes a Splash
ByPaddy Kamen

You’ve got to hand it to Vision Expo East (VEE). The biggest optical show in theU.S., held in the Big Apple every March, does nothing in a small way. But then, why should they? Americans know how to make a splash and VEE did it again this year (March 22-25) at theJavitsCenter. Amazing prizes, cash giveaways, draws, discounts, gifts and…dancing girls (well, no)…made VEE one of the most exciting shows on the planet.

A show record was set with the number of attendees exceeding 16,300. Exhibitors numbered more than 575, including 132 new companies. Together, they presented the latest trends in eyewear and advances in eyecare technology to eyecare professionals (ECPs) and buyers from 23 countries around the world.

And get this: three new luxury car leases were given away over the course of the show to attending eyecare professionals!

“Last year we celebrated our 25^th anniversary inNew York with parties, iPad giveaways and contests,” said Deborah Castor, vice president of shows and meetings for The Vision Council, co-sponsor of the show along with Reed Exhibitions. “Now we’re revving up for the next 25 years of unprecedented success and kicking off our show with a luxury car sweepstakes.”

Over the course of three days, 48 ECPs received a $100 instant cash prize. Each day, one lucky cash prizewinner won the ultimate grand prize – a lease on a Mercedes Benz C Class.

“This year’s exhibitors unveiled an unbelievable number of new product lines and technologies, along with enticing show specials, giving attendees even more reasons to stop by their booths,” said Tom Loughran, vice president for Reed Exhibitions. “Each day the list of show specials grew to include even more great offers.”

More than 230 exhibitors offered show specials from their booths, with many of them planning multiple specials.

“The Show Specials Program is an excellent resource for our company and brands, providing coverage and generating traffic to our booth,” said James Shyer, chief operating officer for Zyloware Eyewear. “The exposure it offers is very beneficial in making connections with buyers and targeting our audience.”

The VEE show team gave special support to new exhibitors, helping them to have the best show experience possible. In addition to providing information on important deadlines, free marketing and public relations opportunities, and general tips for a great show, the program offers access to a new exhibitor ambassador and a complimentary “How To” online course.

New exhibitors also had a special decal identifying them on the show floor. It was great to see them in virtually every area of the show, including Eyewear and Accessories, Low Vision, Lenses and Processing Technology, Medical and Scientific, the Galleria and a special section dedicated to the French connection.

It’s no secret that the French have an esteemed past and an exciting present in the eyewear industry, and this year at VEE they were highlighted in a new area, known as the French Loft. Showcasing the latest in French design were 10 high-end exhibitors with unique products. Exhibitors included Pierre Eyewear, Histoire de Voir, Jeremy Tarian, French Vintage Lunetier, Glance of Lens, Bruno Chaussignand, Struktur, Jacques Durand Lunetier, Lotho and Waiting for the Sun.

VEE continues to be the only show to present more than 60 hours of exclusive, business-focused education courses for the optical profession, such as Visionomics™, Boot Camps and E-technology, Frame Buyers Certificate, and Social Media and Internet Marketing. Back by popular demand, these courses are designed to help professionals manage the business end of their practices while increasing efficiency, improving practice management, and providing comprehensive and engaging patient care.

Learning, buying, selling, winning: VEE had it all in a show not to be missed. The 2013 exhibition and conference will take place from March 14-17 inNew York City. Mark your calendars now.

By Paddy Kamen

The concept of partnership is absolutely intrinsic to Transitions Optical, Inc. The leader in photochromic lens technology has brought their product to market in partnership with every major lens manufacturer on the planet. They could have left it at that but they also saw the need to build solid partnerships with eyecare professionals and have done so in spades, providing superior educational opportunities for ECPs in the form of online initiatives, on-the-ground educational tours and the annual Transitions Academy, along with wonderful point-of-purchase materials.

The public advertising campaigns undertaken by Transitions Optical have further supported partnerships with manufacturers and professionals by reaching out to educate consumers about lenses in general and photochromics in particular, in historically unprecedented ways. It’s no accident that so many consumers now know about photochromic technology and consider Transitions^® lenses to be a synonym for it.

In 2008, Transitions Optical began a new partnership that has achieved incredible results for all the partners: a four-year title sponsorship of the PGA TOUR event at the Innisbrook Resort and Golf Club in Palm Harbor, Florida. The Transitions Championship^® was an unbounded success from every possible point of view.

Professional golf is an elite game and the PGA TOUR is affiliated with many other premium brands, including MasterCard, Rolex, Cadillac, HSBC and RBC. Choosing attractive partners who want to be associated with such a classy game certainly helps a sponsorship along!

Connie Falvo, director of external affairs for Transitions Optical, spoke with Envision: seeing beyond magazine about the PGA TOUR sponsorship.

“This relationship opened up a network of consumers who may not have otherwise known about Transitions lenses,” Falvo explained. “We reached the avid golfer, the occasional golfer and even the non-golfer who loves to watch the sport on television and see the famous players. The fact that vision is critical for any sports activity, including golf, and the fact that golfers are out in the sun so much made it an obvious choice.”

The reach of media impressions for the Transitions Championship PGA TOUR event is mind-boggling. More than 800,000,000 impressions were achieved through the third year of the tournament, and over all four years of the Championship more than one billion impressions were made. Internationally, the tournament was broadcast into 500 million households in 209 countries around the globe.

The number of visitors to the tournament increased every year and the 2012 event (Mar. 12-14), which marked the conclusion of the four-year agreement, attracted more than 55,000 visitors. Several Transitions-sponsored events at the tournament reinforced for consumers the connection between healthy vision and sports performance – as well as the ability to enjoy life’s everyday moments. With the support of industry partners, Transitions Optical introduced spectators to new products and eye health information, and kicked off its Official Sponsor of Sightseeing™ campaign.

“Our goal for the Transitions Championship has always been to increase awareness about healthy sight, and because of the ways our partners have rallied around the tournament, we’ve been able to add more excitement and expand our impact among consumers each year,” said Dave Cole, president, Transitions Optical. “While cheering on some of the world’s top-ranked golfers on the course is certainly a highlight, the family-friendly activities going on throughout the tournament week helped us keep eye health at the forefront.”

Not everyone realizes the number of charities that benefit from PGA TOUR events. The 2012 Transitions Championship week kicked off this year with the Think About Your Eyes Family Walk on Sunday, March 11, where families walked the Copperhead Course and raised more than $40,000 for Prevent Blindness Florida and its community outreach and education efforts. Jay Tobin, president and CEO of Prevent Blindness Florida, said, “The Transitions Championship and Think About Your Eyes Family Walk have dramatically increased public awareness of Prevent Blindness Florida and the importance of healthy sight for life. Additionally, with the funds raised from the walk, we have been able to expand our outreach to at-risk adults and children in the Tampa Bay area by providing free vision screenings, eye exams and glasses.”

Over the four years of the Transitions Championship, total funds raised for charity are expected to exceed $7 million dollars!

Partnerships are only as successful as the effort put into them and in this respect, Transitions Optical really shone for the PGA TOUR. Falvo notes, “We were told early last year that Transitions Optical led all title sponsors in terms of execution of the relationship and I was asked to present to a group of other sponsors on everything we did to make the most of the opportunity. That was an honour and very satisfying for everyone who has helped make the partnership such an outstanding success.”

Part of the success around the activation of the partnership was in the signing of PGA TOUR professional golfers as brand ambassadors for Transitions Optical, including American golfer and 14-time winner on the PGA TOUR Kenny Perry, South African golfer and 2008 Masters Champion Trevor Immelman and Canadian golfers Graham DeLaet and Ian Leggatt. “We were able to use their names and likenesses and they did all kinds of public relations work for us,” notes Falvo.

Going forward, Falvo says the Transitions Optical executive team is looking at opportunities for further sponsorships in the sports arena. “I can’t share any details at this point but we may be considering other ways to leverage the equity we’ve built here. I can say that because of the splash we made in the golf community, we’ve had non-stop calls from other highly visible brands who want to talk about partnerships.”

While the Transitions Optical title sponsorship agreement has concluded, the company remains an official marketing partner with the PGA TOUR and the Official Eyewear of the PGA TOUR, Champions Tour and Nationwide Tour.

And because things never stand still at Transitions Optical there are also exciting new product offerings, including the first and only variable polarization lenses –Transitions^® Vantage™ lenses – the only lenses that both darken and polarize upon UV exposure. Another very special sunwear product that was available at the championship – and is now on the market – is the new Nike^® MAX Transitions^® sunglass, designed especially for golf. These sunglasses feature a patented violet tint, engineered to enhance contour recognition on the greens and to increase visibility of the ball.

“Quite simply – these sunglasses are a game changer,” said Grady Lenski, global director with Transitions Sunwear. “By combining the best-in-class brand leadership of Nike with Transitions adaptive sun lenses, athletes and sport enthusiasts now have another important piece of equipment to help them up their game.”

‘Partnership’ is a word that is bandied about far too carelessly in today’s business world. Let’s hear it for Transitions Optical, a company that makes the word sing in every possible way, creating win-win relationships that build business success for all.

By Paddy Kamen

Mido is one of the longest-running optical trade fairs in the world but that doesn’t make it tired. Always reaching for new ways to express the diversity and dynamism of the sector, Mido – the International Optics, Optometry and Ophthalmology Exhibition, in its 42^nd incarnation again affirmed its position as a contender for the distinction of the world’s top optical show.

“Mido is a unique experience that is difficult to put into words,” according to show President Cirillo Marcolin. “To understand its potential and appreciate its usefulness, it must be experienced in person. A walk among the stands is a must for anyone who wants a greater understanding of the universe of eyewear.”

The Mido eyewear universe, held from March 11-13, included six pavilions in the Fieramilano Rho-Pero conference centre in Milan, where more than 1,000 exhibitors from 40+ countries showed their wares to 42,000 visitors from around the world.

The show was divided into six functional areas. The Mido Tech and Lens pavilions showed high-end R&D technologies, materials, lenses and accessories. The Fashion District, was, as you would expect, a potpourri of trends in prescription eyewear and sunglasses. The Mido Design lab displayed experimentation and realization of the avant-garde in frame shapes, materials and colours. The Asian pavilion was a draw for everyone interested in the latest offerings from the east. Spaces devoted to receptions, mini-conferences and teaching comprised the balance of the show floor.

Mido 2012 was a truly international show with a strong local emphasis. Its main audience is, of course, the opticians and eye specialists of Italy and they were catered to in every possible way, from special transportation to the show to the setting of show dates, which included Sunday and Monday, two days on which Italian eye offices and stores are traditionally closed. Further, special areas were designated for opticians and optometrists to learn, network and socialize. OttiClub by Mido offered a place for in-depth talks on topics of interest to opticians. And upcoming opticianry grads were treated to special guided tours of the show to help them understand and appreciate the vast dimensions of the industry. Ophthalmic lab associations and optometrists likewise engaged in the learning and socializing opportunities afforded by Mido, making it so much more than just a buying opportunity.

There was a focus on sunwear at this year’s Mido as optometrists enjoyed a special seminar on optometric applications for sunwear in sporting activities. In addition, a special meeting of the European Sunglass Association (ESA) and the Vision Council from the U.S. was held with the aim of unifying their messaging to focus on the visual health aspect of sunwear. The ESA released the results of a study on the European sunwear market to their members at the meeting.

The European optics industry sales results for 2011 were released just prior to the show, on March 7. Given the difficult realities of the Italian economy in particular and the European Union in general, the news was good. Italy, Spain, Germany and France saw sales rise by 1.9 per cent over the previous year.

Show organizers recently announced the revision of the 2013 schedule as a result of feedback from exhibitors and attendees. As Marcolin explains, “This strategic choice aptly responds to the needs revealed by the evaluation of the national and international fairs scenario as well as the requests and feedback received from exhibitors and visitors who attended the last event and whose remarks weigh heavily on our decisions.”  The event will be held on March 2, 3, and 4.

Let’s hope the positive trend is sustained as Mido continues to shine with diversity and innovation in the world of international trade shows.

By Paddy Kamen

The 16th annual Transitions Academy (Jan. 29 – Feb. 1, in Orlando, FLA) was high on the innovation scale, with the launch of their incredible new lens, the Transitions^® Vantage™. This amazing lens both darkens and polarizes in response to light. More on that in a moment.

Everyone who has had the privilege of attending the Transitions Academy knows how focused it is on helping everyone improve their business. And with over 1,300 attendees from many sectors of the industry – labs, manufacturing, independent retail and managed vision care professionals – it is no small task to keep the learning relevant for everyone. To that end, channel-specific tracks were created to ensure that everyone received the most pertinent information.

The core curriculum zeroed in on ‘Value-Focused Selling’ and attendees learned a powerful method for identifying organizational priorities and achieving goals. Canadian participants were treated to a marketing breakout session designed just for them, entitled ‘What’s Possible for 2012’. There’s no doubt that attendees learned more about their customers and businesses from every angle – by discovering new trends, products and tools they can leverage in 2012.

Brantford, Ontario-based optometrist Trisha Beal won the 3^rd annual Eyecare Professional of the Year award at the Awards Recognition ceremony. Beal is effusive about Transitions Academy: “This was my 7^th Academy. It always wows me and I’m reenergized and refocused by the event, which is a real class act. I’m also grateful to Transitions for being the kind of company that puts so much effort into helping eyecare professionals educate patients.”

The big news about the Transitions Vantage lens took centre stage throughout the Academy. Variable polarization is an entirely new concept in lenses, changing the paradigm from one where polarization was only available as a fixed film in a sun lens to one where the degree of polarization varies, depending on the degree of UV exposure.

“We are quite literally making the impossible, possible,” explained John Ligas, director of research and development for Transitions Optical, who presented Vantage lenses before 1,300 industry professionals at the Academy. “In the past, the only photochromic variable was clear to dark. Transitions Vantage lenses not only break the paradigm that tint is the only photochromic variable, but they also challenge conventional thinking that a clear lens can’t become polarized and a polarized lens can’t become clear.”

With Transitions Vantage lenses, the darker the lens via photochromic technology, the more polarization there is. Tests of actual wearers, comparing Transitions Vantage lenses to Transitions^® VI lenses, are very positive, with eight out of 10 photochromic patients satisfied with the outdoor experience, and nine out of 10 satisfied with the indoor clarity of the lenses. Wearers also prefered the polarization benefits: visual contrast, crispness and sharpness of vision when worn outdoors.

A new Transitions global communication campaign – Life Well Lit™ – will help convey the practical and emotional benefits of Transitions lenses to consumers. To this end, Canadian television advertising will increase in 2012, with the aim of driving consumers to eyecare professionals.

“We’re going to be doing even more on TV, with a solid broadcast mix of prime time, top-20 programming and other appropriate shows, reaching 81 per cent of our target audience more than 20 times each,” said Isabelle Tremblay-Dawson, marketing manager for Transitions Optical.

Transitions will also host educational events for industry professionals in seven Canadian cities during May and June. The “What’s Possible” tour will focus on helping professionals excel with Transitions products. Look for events in Winnipeg, Edmonton, Calgary, Vancouver, Toronto, Quebec City and Montreal.

Kudos to Transitions for another successful Academy and most of all for another groundbreaking lens product!

Get ready for Mido!

The 42^nd edition of the international fair Mido is getting nearer. It will take place in Milano at the Fieramilano Rho-Pero from March 11^th (Sunday) to 13^th, for the first time on two weekdays. This decision was made to satisfy the requests of many exhibitors and visitors who expressed a preference for the fair to be held during the week.

Mido is not merely a showcase. It does not only share information on the products exhibited and the overall sector trends, but also and above all provides an overview of all the alternatives available in terms of the expertise and capacity of suppliers:skills in manufacturing products with particular specifications, outstanding creativity and innovation, and general reliability.

Mido is primarily an all-in-one event: its visitors will find previews of eyewear trends, the latest in lens and machinery technologies, high-fashion designer signatures, and emerging players making their debuts with new collections. Each pavilion is dedicated to a specific segment – a strong point that has stood the test of time. The key spaces of the fair include the Mido Fashion District, an exclusive space inaugurated this year where the most glamorous eyewear firms face-off, and the now historical Mido Design Lab, where cutting-edge firms in terms of experimentation and design can be found. The world of lenses has a dedicated pavilion that, beginning this year, encompasses a Health & Innovation area. The offering is completed by Mido Tech, the exhibition area dedicated to instrumentation and machinery.

The 2011 edition, with more than 1100 exhibitors from 44 countries and representatives of all 5 continents, recorded more than 42 thousand visitors, amounting to +3% over 2010 (+7% of Italian visitors), thereby confirming Mido as a leading international optical fair.

By Paddy Kamen

Optical professionals need look no further than Silmo for globally sourced product, education, business tips and excitement. This past September 29^th and 30^th , Paris also featured glorious weather – warm and sunny – that was matched by the enthusiasm for all things to do with eyewear, contact lenses and optical technologies within the halls of the Paris Nord Villepinte convention center.

The show was well attended, with 1,000 brands and businesses participating. Even more professionals attended than last year, with 34,671 streaming into the 80,000-square-metre, bright and comfortable hall. While 44 per cent of professional visitors were from France, fully 56 per cent were from other countries, including Canada.

Marie-Sophie Dion, owner of three optical stores in and around Montreal (Bar à Lunettes), makes Silmo an annual ‘must’ on her agenda. She explains: “Silmo is essential for opticians selling high-end frames; it is the best place to buy our stock for the coming year.”

This was the second year for Silmo at the new location, near the Charles de Gaulle Airport. Dion appreciates this. “I like it much better. The ambiance is good, and it’s a modern, high-quality venue with lots of light and fresh air. The exhibit arrangement is good in that it is not too spread out and everything is easy to find.”

Dion’s only disappointment at Silmo was that vintage frame styles were still very much alive. “I was hoping to find them gone but they were bigger than ever,” she notes. Nevertheless she found much to like, including Jason Kirk’s new acrylic collection.”

Michael and Beverley Suliteanu from Westgroupe also make an annual pilgrimage to Silmo to sell to their international clientele, and this year they were especially excited to launch the Evatik sunwear collection. “It was the first time we’ve offered sunglasses,” explains Michael Suliteanu. “All our distributors were thrilled with them and picked them up. We were happy to have them available for immediate shipment.”

“Men’s eyewear can traditionally be divided into two distinct categories: fashion and technical,” observes Beverly Suliteanu. “By marrying cutting-edge technology with fashion-forward styling, Evatik Sunwear defies convention and offers today’s urban male the ultimate accessory to express and enhance his personal style.”

Westgroupe was also delighted to extend its global reach, adding several new countries, including Russia, Japan and the Philippines to its client list.

The iconic American company l.a. Eyeworks was nominated for the Silmo d’Or award for its Rialto frame design. Although they did not win the award, the nomination, “is always a stimulating focal point for activity and discussion,” says Brent Zerger, director of communication. “With the new collection, we were especially excited to advance our proposal for re-imagining the role of metal in the next chapter of the optical vocabulary. Overall, the l.a. Eyeworks collection looked beyond the broader market’s obsession with referential elements and shaping towards a cleaner, more refined emphasis on pattern, surface, and edge. We also debuted a book we’ve been working on for some time, Framed: Greg Gorman for l.a.Eyeworks, a survey of the legendary photographer’s timeless portraits for our advertising campaigns.”

Zerger was encouraged to see new design ideas in the Village section of the show. “Independent designers were pushing new and disciplined ideas that speak to their individual philosophies. The conservative, watchful mood of the past few years seems to be giving way to a thankfully more creative and thoughtful time.”

l.a.Eyeworks has supported the Silmo exhibition from its beginning. “I expect we will continue to do so,” says Zerger. “Although we have our misgivings about the show’s relocation outside the city, the Villepinte location is a perfectly fine facility and we have made adjustments to make the show work for us.”

The second edition of Silmo Academy, a science symposium for optical professionals wishing to enhance their knowledge, drew a great deal of interest, with over 300 participants enjoying talks from speakers with rich backgrounds in science research, academia and the business world. Great care is put into making the academy relevant for all. A scientific committee, chaired by Silmo past-president Guy Charlot, is responsible for symposia content. This year’s themes were children’s vision, reading and myopia.

Optical professionals were further enriched by the merchandising training offered at Silmo. Store design and layout was the subject and, in addition to speakers and a keynote address, personal coaching was available by appointment.

As the world’s premier prize for the optical professions, the Silmo d’Or awards are an intrinsic part of the show. This year’s ceremony was held at the Le Bourget Air Museum, where guests were seated between two Concorde planes.

Gabriele Pezzini, a renowned designer from Italy, was the 2011 president of the Grand Jury. He praised the jury’s expertise, commitment and objective approach to selecting the winners in each category, highlighting the importance of weighing both aesthetics and production, with the end customer always in mind. A list of Silmo d’Or winners can be found at: http://en.silmoparis.com/SILMO-show/2011-Ambitions-in-action.

Be certain to clear your calendars well in advance for the 2012 edition of Silmo, to be held October 4^th through 7^th. It’s an event not to be missed!

By Evra Taylor

Branded by its organizers as “The complete eyecare event,” this year’s International Vision Expo West was the most inclusive ophthalmic conference and expo yet. As a testament to this, approximately 13,000 optometrists, ophthalmologists and opticians gathered at the Sands Expo & Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada from September 21-25 to participate in an impressively broad range of activities. One of the event’s themes was “expand your field of vision,” a fitting description of a forum offering everything from the latest in fashion and trends to a comprehensive education program taught by leading authorities, along with courses on business practice and networking opportunities.

Tom Loughran, vice president of Reed Exhibitions, co-owners of the event with The Vision Council, said, “Today’s eyecare professional demands educational tools and customized business solutions for a healthy practice and healthy patients. We pride ourselves on being able to offer something for everyone. Without a doubt, Vision Expo is the place to network, learn and compare new technologies and concepts that practitioners can immediately implement in their practices. Overall, show quality remained high and feedback from the show floor was excellent. Attendees were much more focused in their approach on the show floor than we have seen in the past. They did their research and came to Vision Expo West with the intent to learn, source and buy”.

A brand study was undertaken in 2010, resulting in several changes designed to refresh the Expo experience. This year, the exhibit hall was expanded by 12,000 square feet to a total of nearly 170,000 square feet. Multiple pavilions, the Galleria and The Suites housed more than 450 exhibitors on several floors. The Galleria showcased fashion-forward designs, with more than 100 booths and brands featuring some of the most fashionable eyewear collections from around the world, boasting edgy new eyewear styles at a variety of price points.

Jill Gardner, senior vice president of Signature Eyewear, expressed her enthusiasm, which was echoed by her peers. “The energy and traffic at this year’s Expo was positively buzzing. We had a great show and were excited to see so many customers in attendance. We definitely felt the excitement of the show was a positive direction for our industry, even once the show was over.”

“Vision Expo West 2011 was one of the most successful shows to date,” said Joseph Tallier, vice president of global sales for Ogi Eyewear.

Adopting a new approach this year, the continuing education program encompassed four core competencies: Business Solutions, Medical/Clinical, Optical Technology and Contact Lenses, making it easier for eyecare professionals to develop a continuing education curriculum personalized to their individual needs and allowing them to practice to the fullest extent of their license.

One of Vision Expo’s claims to fame is that with 388 hours of high-level education to select from, it educates more optometrists than any other eyecare meeting. In fact, the number of teaching hours was increased by more than 80 hours over last year’s offering. What’s more, it is the only education program with content for every level of staff. Optometry students were not left behind: they received free exhibit hall registration, along with the option to sit in on any continuing education course free of charge.

Management & Business Academy (MBA) from International Vision Expo East participated in this year’s Vision Expo West event. Created by CIBA Vision and Essilor, and endorsed by the American Optometric Association and The Vision Council, the MBA provides continuing education on topics such as staff management, practice performance measurement and practice growth strategies.

Introduced at last year’s show, “My Show Planner,” the award-winning Vision Mobile technology, offered attendees the ability to plan their show, explore exhibitor show specials, and keep track of appointments with exhibitors, via their mobile devices.

Vision Expo West proved to be an enormous success from a content point of view and the graphic design of its marketing materials was a show-stopper, as well.

The Optical Laboratories Association (OLA) celebrated its 25^th anniversary at the OLA 2011 meeting, held during the Expo, during which 13 companies were presented with awards for 16 products. Winners of the OLA 2011 Awards of Excellence were announced during an evening reception in the exhibit hall. “This year’s silver anniversary is not about celebrating a single year of great products. It’s about celebrating 25 years of products that have helped to shape the optical business as we know it,” said Jonathan Jacobs, OLA immediate past president.

By Paddy Kamen

Building on 15 years of success in educating eyecare professionals, the Academy of Ophthalmic Education (AOE) holds two continuing education seminars this autumn: October 29 and 30 in Toronto, and December 11 in Vancouver. Top speakers from leading schools across North America provide interactive seminars for continuing education credits in two streams, one for opticians and one for optometrists, as well as ophthalmic and optometric assistants.

The Khan Group, led by Yavar Ali Khan of Toronto, owns the AOE brand, in addition to Optifair, the trade show that accompanies the educational seminars. Khan is a licensed optician with an extensive background in optical education and regulation. He has revised and developed curriculum for ophthalmic dispensers at Toronto’s Ryerson University and extended that expertise into programs at Seneca College in Toronto and Georgian College in Barrie, ON. In addition to serving as chair and president of the Board of Ophthalmic Dispensers (now the College of Opticians of Ontario), and as a board member of the Association of Ontario Opticians, Khan has also taught applied optics to ophthalmology residents at the University of Toronto.

It was no surprise that 600 opticians and 250 optometrists showed up for AOE and Optifair: attendance has been growing year over year. Clearly Khan is meeting a need in the continuing education market. The secret to his success? “I have always felt there is a desire for people to learn, but you have to give them something relevant,” explains Khan. “We have an advisory committee that brings suggestions to the table about what speakers they want to hear from and what they need to learn to stay current. Our objective is to keep the standard of education high by delivering top-quality education that really makes a difference to our attendees. We’re bringing in top educators, researchers and clinicians from across the spectrum.”

By directly serving both the opticianry and optometric communities, the AOE conferences bring the professions together in a positive learning environment. “By respecting each group’s knowledge and expertise we help to establish common ground,” explains Khan. “And exhibitors on the trade show floor value Optifair for the opportunity to visit with participants from both professions at the same show.”

Khan understands, on a very personal level, the benefits of mixing ‘the Os.’ One of his sons is, like him, a licensed optician, and another son (and daughter-in-law), along with Khan’s daughter (and her husband), are all optometrists. Which must make for some very lively discussions around the family dinner table!

Get ready for Mido!

The 42^nd edition of the international fair Mido is getting nearer. It will take place in Milan at the Fieramilano Rho-Pero from March 11^th (Sunday) to 13^th, for the first time on two weekdays. This decision was made to satisfy the requests of many exhibitors and visitors who expressed a preference for the fair to be held during the week.

Mido is not merely a showcase. It does not only share information on the products exhibited and the overall sector trends, but also, and above all, provides an overview of all the alternatives available in terms of the expertise and capacity of suppliers:skills in manufacturing products with particular specifications, outstanding creativity and innovation, and general reliability.

Mido is primarily an all-in-one event: its visitors will find previews of eyewear trends, the latest in lens and machinery technologies, high-fashion designer signatures, and emerging players making their debuts with new collections. Each pavilion is dedicated to a specific segment – a strong point that has stood the test of time. The key spaces of the fair include the Mido Fashion District, an exclusive space inaugurated this year where the most glamorous eyewear firms face-off, and the now historical Mido Design Lab, where cutting-edge firms in terms of experimentation and design can be found. The world of lenses has a dedicated pavilion that, beginning this year, encompasses a Health & Innovation area. The offering is completed by Mido Tech, the exhibition area dedicated to instrumentation and machinery.

The 2011 edition, with more than 1100 exhibitors from 44 countries and representatives of all 5 continents, recorded more than 42 thousand visitors, amounting to +3% over 2010 (+7% of Italian visitors), thereby confirming Mido as a leading international optical fair.

By Evra Taylor

“Expand your field of vision,” ran the website slogan for the 25^th International Vision Expo East (VEE) and Conference. And the event delivered on that promise for the more than 30,000 ophthalmologists, optometrists and opticians from around the world who gathered at New  York’s Jacob K. Javits Convention Center from March 18 to 20 to attend the event.

VEE had a dual mission as a showcase for the latest and greatest from among 549 exhibitors displaying eyeglass frames, lenses and accessories, and featuring cutting-edge developments in medical and diagnostic products. The second part of its mandate was educational, with over 300 hours of continuing education offered. In addition, this year’s VEE experience provided an ideal opportunity for exhibitors to network with customers and see what the competition held in store. Tom Loughran, vice president for Reed Exhibitions, co-owners of the event with The Vision Council, aptly described it as, “Your one-stop shop for education, products, trends and solutions.”

Naturally, the tragic earthquake in Japan was on peoples’ minds. However, exhibitors and attendees reported a positive spirit that welcomed the introduction of new products and innovative technologies. By all accounts VEE was a resounding success, recording a seven per cent increase in attendance over 2010. And from a staging point of view, one of the hallmarks of this year’s assembly was a new layout in which The Underground and The Galleria were merged, making it easier to navigate the exhibits.

Overall, Canadian manufacturers and distributors were extremely pleased with the event as well as their return on the significant investment required to exhibit at a world-class trade fair.

Beverly Suliteanu of Montreal-based Westgroupe feels that the U.S.optical market is in an upswing. “We have enjoyed double-digit growth since we launched our products in the U.S.and so far, 2011 is on track to improve on this growth.”

Several opticians and frames manufacturers consider the European flair that informs Canadian design a decided advantage in product differentiation from the big global brand names. “A number of Canadian collections have enjoyed success in the U.S. I think our design aesthetic is a little more forward than that of a lot of the American companies, which makes our products stand out,” Suliteanu stated.

At Toronto-based Eyenigma, eyewear designer Stephen Kapoor voiced his satisfaction with this year’s event. “We signed some very good U.S.orders and several of my colleagues reported improved results over last year’s show. The Americans trust us and they feel comfortable doing business with Canadians.”

According to optician Charlene Bickell, from Oakley Optical in Winnipeg, who was attending Vision Expo East for the first time, it is an excellent way to strengthen one’s knowledge of fashion and design in the optical industry. “There is definitely room for Canadian companies to expand into the U.S.With all the sales reps gathered together in one place, it’s a great opportunity for them to share information about the latest trends.”

Don Armstrong, owner of i. Frame eyewear designers and distributors, reports that his firm is in the process of expanding its sales force and distribution operation. “The recession hit the low to medium size optical sector very hard. But in the luxury segment of the market, which is our target, it’s hard for us not to do well. We’ll be doubling our exhibit space next year. In our industry, if you cultivate relationships with your clientele and if your product is unique, you really don’t have competition,” he stated.

For Shiu-Chi Mo of McCray Optical Supply in Toronto, exhibiting at Vision Expo East proved worthwhile. “It was a very good marketing opportunity for us. This was our second year attending and the sales at this Expo increased over those of last year. Since this was our first year as distributors of Breitfeld & Schliekert in Canada and the U.S., we were able to display those collections and showcase unique niche items, such as our spring hinge tool kit.”

Fellow Torontonian Mel Rapp, owner of Rapp Optical, attends VEE as both a buyer and a seller. He feels that Canadian firms can do well south of the border as long as they have products that fulfill well-defined criteria. In the design end of his business, Rapp manufactures handmade eyeglass frames for several high-end retailers. As a result, he said, his key criterion is quality, not price.

Mehran Baghaie designer and owner of Spectacle Eyeworks in Vancouver came away from the Expo with a particularly positive economic outlook. “Our industry is definitively on the upturn in the States. No one was talking about the economy. Opticians are trying to look past the recession and surge forward. In fact, the recession hasn’t hurt our company. What affects us more are the Canadian and American currencies being at par.”

While eyewear and eyecare professionals took in the sights at Vision Expo East, the general public was privileged to view the exhibition “Eyewear from the Beginning to the Future – The History of Eyeglasses from their Invention in Italy to the Latest Trends.” The event took place from March 18 to 24 at Grand Central Terminal in New York City as part of the Made in Italy Eyewear initiative designed to highlight the excellence of Italian eyewear worldwide. Almost 200 eyeglasses selected from several museum and private collections reconstructed a virtual map of the history of eyeglasses from their origins to modern times.

With the month of March witnessing such spectacular eyewear-related events in both the professional and consumer sectors, it bodes well for the remainder of 2011 in terms of the industry’s continued growth and Canadian participation in it.