All articles by Pierre-Marie Bernard
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ArticleMixed feelings in Fukui over “Made in Japan” eyewear amid export surge
Exports of Japanese eyewear products have strongly rebounded in recent years, lifted in part by the growing popularity overseas of the Made in Japan label, notably in the US and Europe. However, a recent survey, as well as an initiative by the Fukui eyewear industry association, shows mixed feelings over the country-of-origin label in the region. Meanwhile, the shortage of workers and the increasing number of subcontractors closing shop remain the main challenge for the local industry.
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ArticlePPG Optical grows with legacy products and innovations, looks for more sustainable processes
Amy Mercante, General Manager Specialty Products, discusses the performance of the group’s optical division and other industry topics including smart eyewear, additive manufacturing and sustainability challenges in the lens supply chain.
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ArticleEyewear stocks down by 2% in Q1, and by 10% since April 2
We are publishing here with a slight delay our quarterly chart on the evolution of the stock prices of eyewear companies. The reason for us delaying this update was the scheduled announcement of US President Donald Trump’s new reciprocal tariffs on April 2, which was certain to impact stock markets ...
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ArticleUS tariffs turnaround brings the sector some relief but raises questions on spillover effects, “de-risking” policies
Combined US Import duties on China-origin optical products now range between 152.5 percent and 178 percent, while most other countries’ reciprocal rates have been lowered to the 10 percent baseline rate for 90 days.
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ArticleEuropean market softness weighs on Inspecs FY2024 results
Slightly correcting preliminary results communicated at the end of January, INSPECS Group has announced that its revenue amounted to £198.3 million (€228.8m) in fiscal 2024, down by 2.5 percent year over year. In constant currencies, the group’s topline was flat versus FY 2023. As shown in our table below, sales ...
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ArticleUS administration focus on transshipments calls for higher vigilance on goods’ country of origin
As transshipments have become an increasing focal point of the US trade policy, we have asked The Vision Council experts questions on the notion of ”substantial transformation” of products, which is the basis of the determination of their country of origin under US law, and on possible issues related to “Made in country X” markings.
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ArticleAiming for critical mass, Groupe Héron plans to almost double sales by 2030
Groupe Héron, the French-based retail group operating in the optical and audition markets, is aiming to almost double its business by 2030 to achieve critical mass, Bernhard Nuesser, Group CEO and Partner, has told us in an interview. Based on an organic compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8 percent ...
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ArticleHow will US consumers react to higher eyewear price tags?
The announcement by US President Donald Trump of wide-ranging and higher-than-expected “reciprocal tariffs” last week has left the global economy reeling, particularly in Asia where post-COVID supply chain reroutings aimed at “derisking” China became much less relevant overnight. While the situation might evolve quickly, depending on how target countries choose ...
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ArticleMain eyewear stocks down 7% and supply chains in doubt on US tariffs shock
So-called “reciprocal tariffs” announced by US President Donald Trump have sent global eyewear stocks down. The particularly high rates slapped on China and Southeast Asian countries challenge supply chain adjustments made in the last 2 years. Questions on how US consumers will respond to higher eyewear prices abound.
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ArticleKering Eyewear builds up in-house supply chain in Belluno
The eyewear division of Kering is acquiring Visard, a specialist in injected plastic frames, and taking a minority share (for now) in Mistral, an acetate eyewear manufacturer.
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ArticleMenrad Germany files for insolvency
Menrad Group has announced that Ferdinand Menrad GmbH, its German entity, has entered insolvency proceedings due to an expected future liquidity bottleneck. The insolvency proceedings only concern the German legal entity of the group. Its subsidiaries in Austria, France, Switzerland, the Netherlands, the UK, Italy, Poland, Turkey and Brazil, as ...
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ArticleZeiss tests e-commerce model with partner ECPs in India
ZEISS India has announced the launch of a new e-commerce initiative in partnership with local partner eye care professionals (ECPs). The company said that the new service, dubbed Lead Generation Service, was aimed at enhancing the optical retail of its local partners by providing them with an additional sales channel ...
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ArticleConant Optical revenue and profit up sharply in 2024 on volume and price mix effects
Annual sales were up by 18 percent to RMB 2,061 million. The company is investing into increasing production capacities and smart eyewear lens R&D.
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ArticleTopcon seeks to move from a hardware-based to a solutions-based business after ownership change
US-based private equity firm KKR will be acquiring a majority stake in Topcon Corporation as part of a planned management buyout (MBO), both companies have announced. The tender buyout offer, which is scheduled for the end of July this year, values the Japanese equipment maker at 348 billion yen (€2.2bn). ...
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ArticleMarcolin improves margins on slightly declining sales
Announcing preliminary results ahead of its general assembly scheduled for April 7, Marcolin has reported that its total sales declined by 2.2 percent year on year to €545.8 million. At constant exchange rates, revenue was down by 1.8 percent, but it was up by 2.1 percent on a like-for-like basis ...
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ArticleMister Spex expects discount detox and repositioning to start paying off in 2025
Revenue declined by 3 percent in 2024, including a double-digit drop in Germany in Q4. Turning around the business turnaround will take time as the group expects a 5-10 percent sales decline and an improving but still largely negative EBIT margin in FY 2025.
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ArticleWith close to 100 new stores in 2024, KRYS GROUP consolidates its market leadership in France
Driven by a record number of new store openings, KRYS GROUP has announced that it consolidated its market leadership in the French optical market last year, lifting its market share to 18.4 percent versus 17.0 percent in 2023. The voluntary group also stressed its sustained development over the last twelve ...
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ArticleFrance drove Q2 revenue 3% uptick for Afflelou but Spain grew at a faster pace
Afflelou Group has reported total network sales for the second quarter of its 2025 fiscal year that have increased by 3.3 percent to €238.8 million, indicating a deceleration from the previous quarter (+5.8 percent). For the first six months of the year, total sales were up by 4.5 percent to ...
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ArticleOptic 2000 revenue flattish in 2024
Total group revenue was up by 1.1 percent year on year to €1,308 million last year, with sales of flagship banner Optic 2000 inching up by 0.6 percent.
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ArticleMultiparty closed-loop waste recycling program for luxury eyewear kicks off in Italy
Gruppo MAIP, an Italian-based supplier of thermoplastic materials, has announced that it was joining the ReGenesis Protocol, a multi-party recycling program developed for the high-end fashion manufacturing sector. In partnership with Eastman, Gruppo MAIP will supply fully recycled and traceable acetate to eyewear manufacturers participating in this program, for both ...
