In Case You Missed It” Department

THE

IN CASE YOU M ISSED IT 2 MISSED IT 013 . Developments . Headlines . Trends

013 was yet another year that moved the optical industry forward week shutdown, all influencing the depth and pace of economic recov- in significant directions. Forces as diverse as online retailing, ery across the country. 2managed care, consolidation, rebranding, technology, demands Across the couple of thousand (we counted!) headlines of the stories on the independent, a growing number of alliances, the growth of social and reports issued by Vision Monday via our print publications, digital media, the continued rise of social-purpose marketing and a changing editions, our website, various live events and our e-newsletters, we health care benefits landscape pushed and buffeted the business. have selected only a few here to help you review the year that was. Indeed, the real-word landscape was as impactful as the competi- This year-end review is conceived as an extension of our regular print tive and virtual landscapes this year as the weather and nature took issues’ “In Case You Missed It” department. their toll in the form of tornadoes, fires, hurricanes and severe heat Likely, we’ve made some choices that don’t reflect all of the ones and cold. you remember. If so, let us know. And prepare, with us, for a another Even as the stock market rose, fell and rose again and unemploy- 52 weeks of headlines in 2014. Best wishes from all of us to all of you ment came down slightly by the fall, the tension in Washington made for a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year. itself felt through budget fights and battles still ongoing over health –[email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; care reform. The U.S. government actually stopped, too, during a two- [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]

VISIONMONDAY.COM DECEMBER 16, 2013 40 IN CASE YOU MISSED IT 2 . 013 Developments . Headlines . Trends TREND Consolidation, Combination, Conglomeration

espite a relatively flat optical market, many large and mid-size companies managed to grow their market shares this year by forging new alliances through mergers, acquisitions and strategic partnerships. These moves caused shifts throughout the distribution chain, as wholesalers, retailers and suppliers realigned themselves in new configurations. In some cases, this resulted in greater consolidation within a particular part of the industry, such as the whole- sale lab or lens manufacturing sectors. But some companies formed partnerships that extended their reach into new areas.

Mergers & Acquisitions Walman Acquires Rite-Style Diversified Ophthalmics Merges With Firestone Optics Hilco Acquires i-Promotions PFO Global Acquires Optima CooperVision Buys Websystem3 Local Eye Site Acquires EyeBuzz ABB Concise Merges with Optical Distributor Group Valeant Purchases Bausch + Lomb ATK Acquires Bushnell Outdoor Products Essilor Acquires 51 Percent Stake in Transitions Optical FYIdoctors Acquires Vision Source’s Canadian Resources Luxury Optical Buys Leonard Opticians and Opticians 3 Essilor Expands in Sun With Acquisition of Polycore My Eye Doctor on Major Expansion Drive

WellPoint Acquires 1-800 Contacts Continued on page 42

In Super Bowl XLVII, the 2 Second Sight’s A NEWSLETTER VM’s Eye Baltimore Ravens beat Argus II retinal e-newsletter the San Francisco 49ers prosthesis gets Vision Technologies Raised to the Next Power debuts FDA approval A NEWSLETTER VM’s dba e-newsletter Doing Business in Optical’s Local Markets Vision Council boosts “Argo” wins best debuts awareness of computer picture at 85th Annual vision syndrome at Con- Academy Awards sumer Electronics Show

JANUARY 2013 FEBRUARY 2013

DECEMBER 16, 2013 Visit VisionMonday.com and go to the Cover Story for live links to all these articles. 42 IN CASE YOU MISSED IT 2 . 013 Developments . Headlines . Trends TREND Consolidation, Combination, Conglomeration M&A’s Continued from page 40 A.T. Cross Sells Cross Accessory Division, Changes Name to Costa, Inc. Sequential Brands Acquires Revo Brand, Inks Global License with B. Robinson for Sunglasses Essilor Announces Eight Strategic Acquisitions, Including Two U.S. Labs Essilor Announces Acquisition of LensTech and Plans for X-Cel Optical Essilor Buys Classic Optical, Strengthening Its Managed Care Offering Essilor to Acquire Costa, Inc. Refac and Its U.S. Vision Subsidiary to Acquire Nationwide Vision Marcolin and PAI Partners Buy Viva from HVHC Superior Vision and Block Vision Merge Canada’s New Look Acquires Vogue Optical

Partnerships & Alliances 1-800 Contacts and Walmart End CL Alliance Walmart & Sam’s Club Debut New CL Program WellPoint Names Advisory Board, Adds 1-800 Contacts to In-Network Program Superior Adds Costco to Provider Network Walmart Adds Vision Benefits for Employees Via VSP MES Vision Launches Online Service for Members SoloHealth Partners with HHS to Inform About Affordable Healthcare Act EyeMed Establishes National Lab Network Featuring Essilor Laboratories of America + Walman Optical Co. Family of Businesses Superior Vision Partners with Ditto for Virtual Try-On L’Amy America and A&A Optical Announce Sales and Service Partnership More

Jobson establishes non-profit Rick Bay Foundation for Excel- VM’s 7th Global Leadership Summit Boston copes with lence in Eyecare Education bombing tragedy

VM debuts Showtime! new VisionMon- Vision Expo East day.com site in NYC

MARCH 2013 APRIL 2013

DECEMBER 16, 2013 VISIONMONDAY.COM 44 IN CASE YOU MISSED IT 2 . 013 Developments . Headlines . Trends TREND Branding...and Rebranding

013 was the Year of the Brand, both new Companies Rebrand Images to Consumers and refreshed. Some companies, including EyeMed Rebrands, Unveils Three-Tiered MVC Plan several large retail groups and managed care players, overhauled their corporate branding, Pearle Vision Launches Major Rebranding Campaign, New Prototype messaging and/or image, while others breathed Davis Vision Debuts ‘Eyecare Reframed’ Branding new life into established brands. And of course, ABB Optical Group Is New Name After Merger with ODG when you talk about “branding” you can’t forget Safilo Launches New Polaroid Branding and Premium Sun all of the new eyewear licences announced or those brands that collaborated together to raise The Rising Tide of Private Label Digital PALs their collective profiles. Visionworks Completes National Rebranding

New Eyewear Licenses Zac Posen and Kenmark Sign Exclusive Eyewear Marchon Signs Global License Agreement for Liu Jo Eyewear Pregiata Eyewear and Tom Rebl Sign License Agreement LBI Signs License for Paris Blues Eyewear Colors in Optics Signs License for Elie Tahari Eyewear Mondottica Int’l Signs Yohji Yamamoto Licenses and Marimekko and Joules Licenses Mondottica USA Announces License for CB Sports and Cody Air Safilo Expands with Jack Spade License

New Eyewear Collaborations Capsule Collection by Karl Lagerfeld & Italia Independent Pharrell Williams Guest Designer for Moncler Lunettes Shwood Debuts Second Pendleton Collaboration Ivory+Mason Collection Teams Up With Famous Faces More

Newsmaker—Adlens’ James Chen balances MAY 20, 2013 / NO. 6 $15 27 VOL. VISIONMONDAY.COM commerce with philanthropy. —12 ECPs and optical suppliers Exclusive: Brick and Order VM’s Top 50 U.S. Retailers’ continue providing relief for ‘The State of the Opto- sales top $8 billion for 2012 Oklahoma tornado victims metric Profession: 2013’ identifies trends, issues

VIVA FOCUSED ON A LEGACY OF ICONIC BRANDS: INTERNATIONAL BONGO CATHERINE DENEUVE GANT GUESS GUESS BY MARCIANO GROUP CANDIE’S HARLEY-DAVIDSON RAMPAGE SKECHERS WILLIAM RAST VIVAGROUP.COM Optical community helps those devastated by tor- The Vision Council concludes nadoes in Oklahoma merger agreement with COLA

MAY 2013 JUNE 2013

DECEMBER 16, 2013 VISIONMONDAY.COM 46 IN CASE YOU MISSED IT 2 . 013 Developments . Headlines . Trends TREND Brick, Click...Direct to Consumer

he lines of optical retailing are blurring as websites expand their virtual stores into the brick-and-mortar realm and traditional retailers explore omni- channel opportunities. While much of the buzz until now has been about disrupters coming from the online space, existing optical companies are realizing that electronic retailing technology must be embraced, not ignored.

Click to Brick Warby Parker Adds Stores Eyeglasses.com Opens First Store Coastal.com Opens Second Store Tortoise & Blonde Open Pop-Ups in Collaboration with Urban Outfitters Reorder of Business at The Monocle Order

Click Expands B. Robinson and Cynthia Rowley Launch Rowley Eyewear and Mr. Powers E-Comm Sites Steve Alan Debuts Eyewear Site Adlens Debuts E-Commerce Site Glasses.com Debuts 3D Try-On App Iristocracy Debuts Curated Eyewear and Accessories Site

Omni-Channel ‘Attention Internet Shoppers’ Rite Aid Testing In-Store and Online Sales of Rx Glasses LensCrafters Implements Digital Tools and Omni-Channel Strategy Sunglass Hut Opens New Tech Design Store in Miami Sunglass Hut Debuts in Times Square More

Think About Your Eyes campaign relaunches with new industry partners

Prince William and Duchess Kate ‘Great Glasses Play Day’ VM launches have their first baby. The future initiative marks success Intelligent Office monarch is named “George.” for second year microsite

JULY 2013 AUGUST 2013

DECEMBER 16, 2013 VISIONMONDAY.COM 48 IN CASE YOU MISSED IT 2 . 013 Developments . Headlines . Trends TREND The Intelligent Office

he emergence of the Intelligent The Patient Experience Office emphasizes the central role Constant Connectivity of technology today in eyecare prac- Smartphones, Tablets and Mobile Apps Change the Conversation tices and optical retail businesses. Electron- ic health records have been widely imple- Education, Try On and Measurement Made Easy mented to streamline patient records and practice management. A wide range of tools Practice Management that tap cutting-edge technology improve patient/doctor interaction both in and out of No Longer a Choice, Incentives Effectively Mandate Electronic Communication for ODs the office. Together they can make practices EHR: ‘Everywhere’ Health Records more efficient and boost the bottom line all The Intelligent Office: How New Technologies Are Transforming the Eyecare Practice while improving patient care. Automating the Exam Lane with Software Integration

TREND Health and Wellness

s individuals continue accepting more Essilor Launches E-SPF Factor responsibility for their health care, their awareness and focus on eyecare The New Blue – What ECPs Need to Know has grown. This, in part, is due to the optical The Vision Council Issues Digital Eyestrain Report field not only informing them about issues that New Vision Council Report Examines Gaps in UV Safety can affect their eye health and wellness but also developing and promoting products to ad- Think About Your Eyes National Campaign Launches with New Industry Partners dress them. As health care and technology both PBA’s Cost of Vision Report Reveals Significant Increase in Vision Care Spending in U.S. evolve and merge, we can expect the same for I-Mer-See Launches Social Media Platform for Visually Impaired technology and eye health and wellness in the future. ‘State of the Profession’ Report 2013

U.S. Government partially shuts “dba LIVE event exclusively at vision expo West october 3rd – october 5th

Booth #16115

VM_DARE_eyeopener_0813.inddWord of Mouth1 —Readers’ votes speak8/8/13 4:44 PM SEPTEMBER 23, 2013 / $15 / NO. 11 27 VOL. VISIONMONDAY.COM volumes on top optical shops. —14 down when funding from Con- Vision Expo explores ‘Technology What It Takes VM’s Top Labs to Be a Top Lab gress ran out. Administration West opens Transforming Retail’ VM’s annual report analyzes the biggest wholesalers and what sets them apart Report: annual sales changed the government status in Las Vegas hit $2.1 billion to ‘open” after two weeks.

World Sight Day Boston Red 2 State health insur- VM’s Eye 2013: a call to Sox win Zyloware’s ance exchanges open Zone debuts action answered World Series Henry Shyer for the Affordable at Vision by the opti- turns 80 Care Act Expo West cal community worldwide

SEPTEMBER 2013 OCTOBER 2013

DECEMBER 16, 2013 VISIONMONDAY.COM 50 IN CASE YOU MISSED IT 2 . 013 Developments . Headlines . Trends Corner Office

013 saw its fair share Ellisor Moves to Exec Chairman as Jim Greenwood Named President and CEO of Vision Source of comings and go- Luisa Delgado Named CEO of Safilo Group ings when it came to who was occupying the FGX International Names Cesar Melo as CEO executive suite in the optical Kenmark Promotes Mike Cundiff to CEO, Announces Retirement of Don Howard industry. From suppliers to MES Vision’s Shappet Named Chairman of NAVCP, Block Vision’s Alcorn Is Chairman of NASHO retailers to associations, Steffey Promoted to President of National Vision heads of companies were changing offices on a regular Allergan Names Douglas Ingram President basis, both here in the U.S. Cirillo Marcolin Confirmed as President of ANFAO and Mido Through 2017 and abroad. New leadership Superior Vision Names Rothrock President often signaled a fresh take Weikel Named President, CEO of Luxottica Retail Optical North America on corporate cultures as optical companies headed into Luxottica Names Lukas Ruecker President of EyeMed Vision Care exciting new territories. Holly Rush to Succeed Andrea Dorigo as President, Luxottica North America

Remembering...

he world of opti- Jobson Establishes Rick Bay Foundation for Excellence in Eyecare cal lost its share of legends in 2013. As Optical Industry Veteran Timothy Steffey the year draws to a Prevent Blindness Georgia’s Jenny Pomeroy close, take a look back with Marcolin Group Founder, Giovanni Coffen Marcolin us at some of the notable Paul Berman, OD, Sports Vision Specialist and Founder of Special Olympics Opening Eyes Program executives and optical pioneers who passed away Ed Iwinski, Optical Industry Veteran over the last 12 months. Frank Besch of Barnett & Ramel George Trobaugh of Barnett & Ramel

Midwest optical practices and associations attempt to regroup in tornado aftermath

VM and 2020 Magazine Typhoon Haiyan hits announce EyeVote Readers’ The Phillipines Choice Awards

NOVEMBER 2013 DECEMBER 2013

DECEMBER 16, 2013 Read the Digital Edition on VisionMonday.com for live links to all these headlines.