Latest News Briefs
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News briefs
Optical retail sales up 2.4% in the last year in France, research shows
Sales of French optical retailers were up by 2.4 percent year-on-year for the twelve-month period to endING in August 2024, according to a new report released by Xerfi, a research company, and the Rassemblement des Opticiens de France (ROF), the association of French opticians. Published regularly, the research is based ...
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News briefs
Mister Spex creates new head of optical expertise role
Mister Spex has announced the appointment of Eileen Preuss as Head of Optical Expertise, a newly created position reflecting the recent strategic focus change by the German retail group. Reporting to Francesco Liut, Chief Commercial Officer, Preuss will be overseeing the quality assurance of Mister Spex’ optical services, playing a ...
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News briefs
Ministerial gaffe puts Japanese eyewear brand in the spotlight
H-Fusion, a Japanese eyewear brand, is getting an unexpected and somewhat awkward publicity in the country after Shigeru Ishiba, the newly elected prime minister, sported one of its models at its inauguraul press conference, reportedly on the suggestion of his wife. The new eyeglasses would have probably remained largely unnoticed ...
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News briefs
iVision Tech H1 sales rise 23% despite results adjustment
Italian eyewear supplier iVision Tech said it posted sales of €5.4 million in the first half of 2024, up by about 23 percent from the €4.4 million reported the year earlier, while the total value of production grew to €6.9 million from €4.9 million. First-half Ebitda amounted to €1.0 million, ...
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News briefs
Nexeye appoints real estate director and new sales manager for the Netherlands
Dutch-based optical retail group Nexeye has announced the appointment of Roy Reubsaet as Group Real Estate Director, a new position within the company. Reubsaet has more than 15 years of experience in real estate management and has worked for HEMA, Ahold Real Estate and The Carphone Warehouse before joining Nexeye. ...
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News briefs
Sales of prescription products decline sequentially in the US in Q2
Q2 sales of prescription products in the US were down both in volume and value versus the previous quarter, while the market for sunglasses and readers went up, the Vision Council said. These trends followed the results of its quarterly Market inSights report, which is based on transaction data. However, ...
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News briefs
VSP Vision appoints new Chief Network Officer
VSP Vision has announced the appointment of Jeff Koziel as the group’s Chief Network Officer. In this position, Koziel will lead the group’s network strategy and related business divisions including VSP Ventures, VSP onsite clinics, Visionworks and the Eyeconic e-commerce website for contact lenses, sunglasses and prescription glasses. Koziel started ...
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News briefs
LVMH invests in Moncler
French luxury conglomerate LVMH, through a special purpose vehicle, has purchased a 10 percent stake in Double R, the investment vehicle controlled by Ruffini Partecipazioni Holding, which owns a direct stake in Moncler of around 15.8 percent. The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. Under the terms of ...
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News briefs
Eschenbach new low-vision device turns iPhones into video magnifiers
Eschenbach Optik’s low-vision division is launching Optaro, which the company presents as the first video magnifier specifically made for a smartphone, in fact for Apple’s iPhone. Attached to an iPhone with a custom-fit and integrated case or a magnetic Magsafe Universal Stand and controlled through a dedicated application, the device ...
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News briefs
Bausch + Lomb launches e-commerce marketplace in the US
Bausch + Lomb is launching Opal, an e-commerce marketplace platform aimed at helping US eye care practices manage contact lens orders from their patients, the company said. The platform, which is a complimentary service for eye care professionals, will initially offer the company’s contact lens ranges with over-the-counter products to ...
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News briefs
PlenOptika’s handheld autorefractor embarks on space mission
PlenOptika has announced that Polaris Dawn astronauts added its QuickSee Free autorefractor to their luggage for the space mission that took off early in September. One of the objectives of Polaris Dawn, a privately funded program, is to advance human spaceflight capabilities through scientific research. This includes research ...
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News briefs
Eyemart Express launches new e-commerce website
Eyemart Express, a US optical retailer operating 250 stores across three banners (Vision 4 Lens, Visionmart Express, Eyewear Express), has announced the launch of a new e-commerce website (eyemartexpress.com), through which customers will be able to schedule their eye exams and order prescription glasses for nationwide delivery within a few ...
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News briefs
National Vision and Pair Eyewear expand partnership
National Vision, the third largest optical retail group in the US, is expanding its exclusive partnership with Pair Eyewear, a brand of customizable eyeglasses and sunglasses for children and adults. After a successful test at approximately 100 stores earlier this year, National Vision will expand Pair Eyewear’s distribution through “store ...
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News briefs
J.F. REY appoints new general manager
French-based designer eyewear brand J.F. REY has announced the appointment of Fabrice Albert as its new General Manager, who will report to CEO and co-owner Walter Pirinoli. As previously reported, Pirinoli, together with Ralf Kmoch and Dan Levi, both from Visibilia, acquired the company in 2021. Albert’s main mission will ...
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News briefs
WCO studies scope of optometry practice in 39 countries
The World Council of Optometry (WCO) has published here a new study on the optometric demographics within its 39 member countries, gathering information on the scope of practice and legislation. Among the main findings, the organization stressed that an optometrists serves 23,200 persons on average in the countries surveyed and ...
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News briefs
All Mister Spex resolutions approved at extraordinary general meeting
Mister Spex has announced that all the resolutions proposed by its supervisory board were adopted by its shareholders during an extraordinary general meeting held online last week.These included the confirmation of the general resolutions passed during the group’s annual general meeting in June, whose confirmation had become legally necessary following ...
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News briefs
CooperVision promotes global and EMEA commercial directors from within
CooperVision has promoted Debbie Olive to the position of Chief Commercial Officer, from which she will oversee the company’s global commercial functions. Olive joined CooperVision in 2013 and has served in several positions including Vice President of Marketing for Europe and, most recently, President of EMEA. Her previous experiences includes ...
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News briefs
Marchon adds Canada Goose to license portfolio
Made from sustainable materials, the eyewear collections will be launched in Spring 2025.
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News briefs
Newsweek ranks US optical retailers’ customer service
Zenni Optical and Warby Parker respectively top the e-commerce and brick-and-mortar eyewear retail category rankings.
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News briefs
Fittingbox adds 3D viewer function to virtual try-on
The French-based IT company Fittingbox is enhancing its virtual try-on (VTO) software with 3D Viewer, a new functionality that enables online eyewear shoppers to look at a frame from every angle, rotating it and zooming in and out on specific parts for a more detailed view. They can also switch ...
