Blenders makes it to ‘Prime Time’
How an insult to a sport rival’s mother resulted in shades selling like hotcakes.
SILMO Paris back to cruising speed with an increased focus on new tech
Aiming to raise awareness of new technologies among optical retailers, SILMO Paris 2024 will put an increased focus on its Fururology space.
Hong Kong-based Icare to open eyewear factory in France
Icare, the eyewear manufacturer based in Hong Kong, is investing over €5 million in the building of a new eyewear factory in France, which will complement its industrial structure that currently includes production sites in China and Cambodia. The new facility will be established in Vendôme, a small city in ...
Inspecs topline down 5 % in H1, rebound expected in H2
Confirming its previous guidance on a business slowdown in the first half of this year, INSPECS Group has announced that its H1 revenue declined by 7.3 percent year-on-year to £103.0 million (€122m). At constant exchange rates, sales were down by 5.2 percent versus H1 2023.
Rodenstock to repurpose main German site as engineering center and transfer lens production to Czech plant
German-based lens maker has announced the transfer of its lens production from its German site in Regen to its plant in the Czech Republic in the coming months. Regen will be repurposed as engineering and R&D center and its workforce will be halved in the process.
Specsavers profitability keeps declining
Specsavers has seen its profitability decline again in fiscal 2023/24, with its operating margin sliding below the 10 percent mark for the second consecutive year.
Innovation, digitization, sustainability and selective retail on 60 year-old Silhouette’s agenda
Silhouette celebrates its 60th company anniversary with product innovations while focusing on qualitative retail distribution, digitization, sustainability and independence.
Conant H1 sales jump 18%, plans new production plant in Thailand
The Chinese lens manufacturer has also reported profitability improvement in the period thanks to positive sales mix effects with a higher share of high added-value lenses.
Snap, Meta to reveal AR glasses
But both will be keeping the public waiting.
US business propels Fielmann topline over €1bn in H1 while price mix effects bolster margin gains
Driven by its US acquisitions and price-mix improvements, Fielmann Group has reported a double-digit revenue increase and significant margin improvements in H1 2024.
CooperVision upgrades FY outlook again as topline momentum continues
CooperCompanies has upgraded its fiscal 2024 financial outlook for its CooperVision business unit following a second consecutive quarter of double-digit organic revenue growth.
Fast-growing Thai Optical Group to increase RX capacity by 25%
Lens manufacturer Thai Optical Group is planning significant investments in RX lenses production capacity increase as the segment revenue increased by 50 percent in H1 2024, driven by the Americas and Europe.
Synsam posts record earnings in Q2
Nordics optical retail leader group Synsam has posted record earnings on a return to double-digit revenue growth for Q2 2024, driven by fast-growing eyeglasses and contact lenses’ subscriptions.
Aerial Vision buys 5.3% of iVision Tech, becomes a strategic partner
Aerial Vision International (AVI) has acquired a 5.31 percent stake in iVision Tech while the investment group Algebris Investments Limited raised its holding in the Italian eyewear supplier to 8.48 percent from a previous 3.34 percent through an accelerated bookbuilding transaction.
Ukraine eyewear market partly bounces back amid ongoing challenges
The Ukrainian eyewear market has partly rebounded from its 2022 drop following the start of the war with Russia despite severe supply chain disruptions. However, uncertainties and challenges remain, notably related to the workforce shortage and power outages.