Eyewear Intelligence: Vol 25 - No 19+20
Essilux and Meta announce long-term partnership | Meta advances Ray-Ban Meta, introduces Orion | Latest Spectacles from Snap not yet a product | SILMO Paris back to cruising speed with an increased focus on new tech | Silmo reports slight attendance increase, celebrates Silmo d’Or 30th anniversary | Italian eyewear exports fall in Q2, sector’s full year showing seen in line with 2023 | Specsavers profitability keeps declining | New alliance in the Middle East optical retail sector | Rodenstock to repurpose main German site as engineering center and transfer lens production to Czech plant | ZEISS invests in light field display technology startup with vision care platform in mind | Innovation, digitization, sustainability and selective retail on 60 year-old Silhouette’s agenda | MYKITA signs unexpected partnership with an LVMH brand | Inspecs topline down 5% in H1, rebound expected in H2 | Hong Kong-based Icare to open eyewear factory in France | Price reductions and Southeast Asian competition pressure Arts Optical ODM business | Japanese upmarket retail group JEH shows no signs of slowing down | The Vision Council reports on ‘Made in the USA’ | Blenders makes it to ‘Prime Time’
Eyewear Intelligence: Vol 25 - No 17+18
US business propels Fielmann topline over €1 billion in H1 while price mix effects bolster margin gains | Mister Spex to close all international stores under new restructuring plan | Synsam posts record earnings in Q2 | National Vision downgrades outlook after mixed Q2, announces stores fleet review and new president | Warby Parker upgrades FY outlook again on good Q2 results but bottom line remains in the red | Tokai looks to expand commercial and industrial footprint outside Japan | Zeiss survey shows parents’ high level of concern about their children eye health | Fast-growing Thai Optical Group to increase RX capacity by 25% | Conant H1 sales jump 18%, plans new production plant in Thailand | Neurolens says it can increase reading speed | CooperVision upgrades FY outlook again as topline momentum continues | Ukraine eyewear market partly bounces back amid ongoing challenges | Snap, Meta to reveal AR glasses | Aerial Vision buys 5.3% of iVision Tech, becomes a strategic partner | Kits Eyecare revenue up 26% in Q2
Eyewear Intelligence: Vol 25 - No 15+16
Essilux mixes med-tech and streetwear in shopping basket | Essilux posts solid Q2 results, answers questions on Supreme, Meta | Meta reportedly in discussion to take a 5% stake in Essilux | HOYA temporarily puts life care unit topline recovery over bottom line target | Kering Eyewear outperforms group in both revenue growth and profitability in H1 | Safilo topline down 3.1% in Q2 as EMEA slows down, but margins keep improving | Marcolin posts higher margin ratios on declining sales in H1 | Fielmann posts double-digit sales increase and higher profit ratios in H1 | Mister Spex founder and CEO steps down, former Luxottica manager takes key role | Private equity fund about to invest in Lunettes Pour Tous | The new reality of the Russian eyewear market | Brazilian optical retail market value up 5% in 2023 | A majority of stock listed eyewear companies saw their share value decline in Q2 | The Vision Council reviews Q2 in the US | Sun Hing progress in Asia offsets sales drop in key markets but gross margin takes a hit
Eyewear Intelligence: Vol 25 - No 13+14
Double-digit growth puts Specsavers above the £4 bn annual revenue mark | Fielmann more than doubles US retail footprint with new acquisition | Most top industry players maintained momentum last year, but frames companies slowed down | Spanish optical market up by 6.0 percent in 2023 | Backed by new investor, Vision Group aims for more acquisitions | Afflelou sales up 5 percent in Q3 | Multiópticas changes its corporate structure | New brand aims to revolutionize shape-memory eyewear with versatile proprietary technology | Mitsui expects return to growth for vision care unit sales in FY 2024 | Essilor, MicroOLED developing AR, with EU help | Google takes a seat at AR Alliance’s board, alongside Meta, Essilux and others | Zuckerberg on smartglasses and AI | SILMO Paris invites ECPs to grasp new technologies and reinvent the shop experience | J.F. REY new owners look to balance brand DNA and changes while navigating supply chain issues | Kirk & Kirk turns to crowfunding for marketing budget boost | Increased production capacity supports Menicon’s sales growth, weighs on profitability | French company offers quick 3D-printed substitute frames
Eyewear Intelligence: Vol 25 - No 11+12
German optical market slightly positive in 2023 despite declining volumes | Hoya reports 3% lens-revenue growth in Q4, expects flattish sales in 2024 following cyberattack | ZEISS Consumer Markets segment up 5% in H1 | ZEISS Vision Care publishes results of myopia control research on Asian and Caucasian children | Stable revenue and margins for Rodenstock in 2023 | Safilo Q1 revenues inch down as momentum in Europe fails to fully offset North American decline | Marcolin posts higher margins on lower sales in Q1, discloses more details on fiscal 2023 | Double-digit revenue growth and enhanced mix yielded higher profitability for De Rigo in 2023 | Synsam Group driven by Sweden and subscription plans in Q1 | Mixed Q1 results for Mister Spex as sales of prescription glasses decline slightly | Walgreens hoping to divest Boots in the UK | Warby Parker raises guidance after sales jump 16% in Q1 | National Vision accelerates remote eye exams following tepid Q1 comparable sales growth | Vision Council switches 2024 US market forecast to “growth” after positive Q1 | CVI upgrades outlook again as increased capacity kicks in | Price hikes and sunglasses drove Paris Miki’s growth in FY 03/2024 | Topcon looks outside the core ophthalmic sector | Topcon topline driven by “blossoming” Screening Business and currencies | Carl Zeiss Meditec revenue and margins down in H1 | Arts Optical posts 5% annual revenue growth on OEM business rebound in H2
Eyewear Intelligence: Vol 25 - No 9+10
Fielmann banks on US business and vision care services for mid-term growth | Fielmann sales up double digits in Q1 as US business integration offset European slowdown | US sun business sole exception to EssilorLuxottica’s smooth sailing in Q1 | Kering Eyewear stands out with 8% Q1 revenue hike as group topline slips | US startup picks eyewear market as launch pad for infinitely recyclable plastic material | Revenues up 5% at Optic 2000 Group | Inspecs posts flattish 2023 sales after Q4 drop, but profit ratios improved | New owner for Nexeye retail group | Hinge specialist OBE Präzision adds Vietnam to industrial base, invests in smart eyewear and 3D printing | Disposable daily CLs momentum slowed down in 2023 in Europe, survey shows | Assistance, design key drivers in eyewear purchases | Study suggests readers could ease poverty | Slight average eyewear stocks price hike in Q1 reflects extreme ups and downs | Vuzix losses pile up as AR smart glasses take-off takes its time
Eyewear Intelligence: Vol 25 - No 7+8
Hoya production and order systems greatly affected by cyberattack | Safilo looks at 2024 with confidence and hope after complex 2023 | EssilorLuxottica expands retail partnership with Reliance Brands in India | Product mix drives growth and profitability gains for Mister Spex as customer base stagnates | Organic growth and network expansion fuel Krys Group momentum | Two top-ten German optical retailers join forces to take over Edel-Optics | Afflelou maintains mid-single digit topline growth in Q2, gained market shares in 2023 | New management structure and increased retail focus for MPG | Mazzucchelli takes further steps on sustainability journey | New owner for Horizons Optical | iVision Tech enter lens business as 2023 parent company sales rise 19% | Retail expansion, price hikes and inbound tourism boosted JEH top and bottom lines in fiscal 2024 | Sales and profit up double digits for Conant Optical in 2023
Eyewear Intelligence: Vol 25 - No 5+6
Hans Anders and Eyes + More owner up for sale | EssilorLuxottica accelerates in Q4 to wrap another record year | Fielmann topped sales targets and improved profitability in 2023 | Synsam wraps up another double-digit growth fiscal year | After a good 2023, Atol to accelerate on audition and low-cost banners | National Vision posts good Q4, transitions out of Walmart partnership | Warby Parker sees top line momentum continuing as Q4 loss disappoints | Paris Miki reports Q3 slowdown despite booming sunglass segment | CooperVision raises 2024 guidance despite Q1 slowdown | Bausch + Lomb Q4 contact lens sales inch up 1% amid distribution disruptions | Kits Eyecare topline up 31% in 2023 driven by repeat customers and eyeglasses | Thai Optical Group sales flattish in 2023 | Backed by new financial partner, Opal-Demetz plans more M&A | Meta to provide glimpse of a second line of AR glasses | TPI aims to solve the “chicken-and-egg” 3D printed eyewear problem
Eyewear Intelligence: Vol 25 - No 3+4
Italian eyewear industry cautious on 2024 prospects after exports flatline in H2 | Italy’s ANFAO, Certottica launch sustainable eyewear certification | MIDO drew 40,000 visitors | Kering Eyewear sales surge 35 percent in 2023 | Safilo closed 2023 on a positive note | De Rigo wholesale and retail up double digits in 2023 | Sustained eye care sales growth and IT unit rebound for HOYA in Q3 | Zeiss acquires IP from Mitsui Chemicals | Rodenstock upgrades portfolio, finetunes group strategy and synergies | Fielmann remains committed to Italian market after closures announcement | Inspecs posts mixed results for 2023, resumes acquisitions strategy | Modo begins turnaround of Italia Independent with presentation of spring/summer collection | EssilorLuxottica acquires Japanese retail chain | Store network upgrade, digitization and HR key to Paris Miki rebound | Johnson & Johnson Q4 contact lens sales rise 7.9% | The Vision Council publishes new US optical-market and consumer data
Eyewear Intelligence: Vol 25 - No 1+2
Mido, ANFAO put CSE front and center in 2024 | “We need to train the eyewear factory workers of the future” | Opti gets ready for a 2024 rebound | ZEISS Consumer Markets unit up 5% in fiscal year, group topline over €10bn | German eyewear industry sales inched up in 2023 as exports slowed down | Eyewear stock price up 8% in Q4, sector market capitalization up 10% year-on-year | Essilux unveils Nuance, announces U.S. and Europe launch dates at CES | AI comes to Meta and Ray-Ban’s smart glasses | Smart glasses and AR technologies on display at the CES | Morrow Eyewear kicks off European expansion with Novacel partnership | Kaneko mother company posts very strong 9-month results | Opal Demetz acquires Roussilhe | Mitsui aims to boost its Life & Healthcare business’ profits by 2030 | Double-digit sales growth but lower margin in full year for Carl Zeiss Meditec | Guenther Fielmann has died
Eyewear Intelligence: Vol 24 - No 23+24
Report puts fresh numbers on German optical retail long-term trends | ANFAO taps Lorraine Berton as new president | An optical center in 15 minutes and a new investor for Vision Group | Magrabi aims to consolidate regional leadership before entering new markets | Synsam improves margins, expands EyeView roll out | Afflelou Group ends fiscal year on a strong Q4 | CooperVision slowed down by production capacity limitations | EssilorLuxottica integrates Bliz to sports portfolio | Shamir launches myopia management lens | Karün Eyewear to get a Walmart boost | Smart glasses win at CES 2024
Eyewear Intelligence: Vol 24 - No 21+22
Essilux reports Q3 slowdown, opens new Thai mega plant | Kering Eyewear fueled by Maui Jim in Q3 as comparable growth drops | Is Marcolin going to change hands? | Marcolin sees Q3 sales slip 10%, bolsters house brands with ic! berlin buy | Thélios acquires Barton Perreira | Smith rebound cushions Safilo’s Q3 revenue decline | HOYA lens growth driven by international markets and MiYOSMART in Q2 | Fielmann reports strong Q3, launches eye health services | Mister Spex posts mixed Q3 results | Hakim Group doubled footprint in the last two years | Warby Parker sees sales growth slowing after 14% jump in Q3 | National Vision moves to offset Walmart divorce impact, on track to meet FY guidance | JINS ends fiscal year on high note | Fittingbox acquires main VTO challenger | 10-year old Swiss Eyewear Group has passed the 20 million pairs mark | iVision Tech CEO details group’s strategy | Akoni Group puts focus on craftsmanship-loving opticians and consumers
Eyewear Intelligence: Vol 24 - No 19+20
Italian eyewear exports maintain momentum in Q2 | Silmo Paris kicks off post-Covid trade-show era | A tour of Silmo’s Futurology | French optical market flattish in 2022, official report says | Lafont celebrates French “savoir-faire,” Parisian chic and family legacy on 100th anniversary | Meta and Ray-Ban beef up smart glasses with influencers in mind | Amazon smart eyewear range upgrade includes Safilo partnership | Materialise to 3D-print new translucent material | PPG partners with lens coatings’ 3Dprint start-up | Leica brings ophthalmic lenses business in-house, opens factory | VeneVision adds injection to portfolio with new acquisition | Italian OEM group acquires Henry Jullien | Slow H1 for Arts Optical as sales of OEM prescription glasses drop | Eyewear companies’ average stock price down in Q3
Eyewear Intelligence: Vol 24 - No 17+18
Packed house and new layout for Silmo Paris | Global lens and frames market resilient to Covid and economic crisis, report finds | Thélios opens portfolio to proprietary brands with Vuarnet acquisition | Fielmann upgrades outlook following confirmation of SVS deal | Specsavers full-year results show profitability drop | Driven by sunglasses, Mister Spex posts positive operating margin in H1 | Synsam posts another record quarter | National Vision raises 2023 earnings guidance as prepares for end of Walmart partnership | Warby Parker sweetens outlook after Q2 sales rise 11%, store rollout continues | Safilo reaches deal with Thélios, Innovatek for Longarone plant and workers | The U.K. and North America drove INSPECS in H1 | CooperVision accelerates in Q3, upgrades full-year forecast | Menicon Q1 vision care sales inch up 4% | Modo acquires Italia Independent brand | Lenskart’s Neso Brands invests $4m in French DTC eyewear brand | Portfolio synergies and sunglasses on DEG roadmap
Eyewear Intelligence: Vol 24 - No 15+16
EssilorLuxottica maintains sales momentum in Q2, driven by optical portfolio | Specsavers revenue up mid-single digit in 2022/23 | Fielmann launches proprietary online vision check tool, reports good H1 results | National Vision reels as Walmart prepares to end partnership | Life Care unit drives Hoya in Q1 | Kering Eyewear posts 21 % comparable growth in Q2 | Solid half-year performance for Marcolin despite Q2 slowdown | A slow U.S. market and GrandVision exit weigh on Safilo results | Italian OEM group lists on the Milan stock exchange | Italian OEM cluster group surfing on luxury eyewear momentum | Tooz smart eyewear keeps focus on optical engines and scalability | Essilux to address hearing deficiency with glasses | Apple patents adjustable lenses | Micro-display company gets a €21m boost | Silmo Paris adds CSR prize to events portfolio | Lunor sees room for international expansion
Eyewear Intelligence: Vol 24 - No 13+14
Fielmann enters U.S. market with dual acquisition and high-profile recruitment | Two retail groups top our Q2 stock price chart | Safilo close to a complete solution for its Longarone plant | Driven by lenses, Spanish optical market tops pre-Covid level in 2022 | Alain Afflelou banner posts 8% growth in Q3, Spain up double digits | More “boutique” and more lenses on Mister Spex roadmap | Vuzix OEM consumer smart eyewear business enters countdown phase | Synsam frames production reshoring delivers 32% CO2 reduction (LCA) | KRYS GROUP to raise lens production capacity by 30% | De Rigo celebrates 40 years of Police | Mitsui to increase MR output and bolster synergies with coating unit in FY 2023 | Screening and shared data at the core of TOPCON 2025 plan | CooperVision to invest $500m in Puerto Rico manufacturing base | EU publishes alarming counterfeiting survey, ramps up IP platform | Go Eyewear Europe signs first fashion license, opens new HQ in Italy | Ten eyewear frames receive a Red Dot design award this year | American eyecare providers expect good things from 2023 | Sun Hing OEM unit hit by lower consumer demand in Western markets
Eyewear Intelligence: Vol 24 - No 11+12
How did the top eyewear companies perform in their last fiscal year? | Circularity gaining traction in the French eyewear market | French opticians release new market data ahead of new health care plan negotiations | Materialise and Vuzix join forces in smart eyewear | HOYA Life Care unit posts strong sales and margin increases in Q4 | Rodenstock sales up 4% in 2022 | EssilorLuxottica unveils Ray-Ban Reverse collection | EssilorLuxottica signs JV with GCC luxury powerhouse | Synsam eyewear subscription business underpins record Q1 sales gains | Germany and prescription frames drove Mister Spex’ growth in Q1 | Warby Parker confirms 2023 guidance after Q1 sales jump 12% | Paris Miki reports sales rebound and return to operating profit for 2022-23 | JINS downgrades outlook, rethinks business model and supply chain | NIDEK launches time-saving automated refraction software for ECPs | CooperCompanies upgrades outlook after solid Q2 | Menicon driven by dailies, ortho-k, overseas and currencies in FY2022 | Do soft contacts contain PFAS?
Eyewear Intelligence: Vol 24 - No 9+10
German market inched up in 2022 despite lower eyeglass purchases | Essilux picks up speed in Q1, progresses on GV integration | Fielmann draws path to 2025 revenue and profit targets | Fielmann sees 15% topline growth, improved profitability in Q1 | Maui Jim integration adds to Kering Eyewear 11% comparable growth for a strong Q1 | Growth in Europe and RoW offset declining U.S. sales for Safilo in Q1 | Good year overall for Marcolin but debt cost dampens profitability, sales momentum confirmed in Q1 | H2 slowdown weigh on INSPECS results for 2022 | European soft contact lens wholesale market up double-digit in 2022 | Vuzix opens European HQ, banks on OEM platform for consumer smart eyewear | Visottica moves forward with external growth strategy with Ideal acquisition | Italy issues €50 contribution for purchase of eyeglasses, contact lenses | France sees five-year rise in annual healthcare expenses
Eyewear Intelligence: Vol 24 - No 7+8
Mister Spex counts on upmarket move and cost control to return to profits after mixed 2022 | Marcolin posts 12% topline growth and stable margins for 2022 | KRYS GROUP up 5% in 2022, announces 2028 plan and targets | Afflelou driven by historical banner optical sales in Q2 | Eyewear stocks start 2023 on the right foot | Alcon jockeys for market share in reusables, sees mid-single digit percentage contact lens growth | Arts Optical reports flat sales but higher profit ratios | Italia Independent pushes back approval of 2022 results amid debt restructuring deal | Change of leadership at opti | A look at MIDO CSE Awards’ RoW winners Environmental sustainability and the eye care industry | How dirty is greenwashing? A legal perspective
Eyewear Intelligence: Vol 24 - No 5+6
EssilorLuxottica posts record revenue for 2022 despite Q4 slowdown | Safilo targets 4% annual growth pace for 2023-2027 | Safilo turns to luxury eyewear and fashion companies for its Longarone plant | Kering Eyewear invests in supply chain with new acquisition | ZEISS Vision Care advocates carefulness over speed in myopia management | ZEISS to accelerate in AR/VR glasses as tooz’ sole owner | The second demise of Google Glass | Fielmann eyes new investments, cost-cutting as 2022 sales inch up and profits fall | Synsam keeps growing but adjusts to tougher market | National Vision in the red in Q4 as uninsured customer base is hit by inflation | Warby Parker sees more store openings, looks to improve profitability after mixed Q4 | MyDay, myopia management keep driving CVI | Bausch + Lomb Q4 contact lens sales fall 4%, prepares to launch SiHy lenses in new markets | Up 21% in 2022, TOG forecasts 5-8% growth this year | KITS Eyecare up 11% last year, 29% in Q4 | Fast-growing Woodys moves to new HQ | Kubota Glass reports first sales, expands distribution in Japan