All Eyewear Intelligence articles in Volume 23 No. 1+2

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  • Vision Expo
    Article

    Vision Expo East gears up for first show since 2019

    23 January 2022

    So far about 240 exhibitors have committed to Vision Expo East, whose next edition – the first since 2019 – is scheduled to run from March 31 to April 3 at the Jacob Javits Center in New York City. (The educational program and OptiCon@Vision Expo will be opening on ...

  • Specsavers
    Article

    Specsavers announces $100 million investment in Canada

    23 January 2022

    Shortly after the release of its annual results for the 2020/21 fiscal year, Specsavers disclosed further details on its strategy for its development in Canada, a market the group entered last year in May through the acquisition of Image Optometry, an independent chain with a total of 18 directly operated ...

  • News briefs

    JINS upgrades 2022 forecast

    23 January 2022

    The Japanese-based optical retail group JINS has reported a 3.1 percent year-on-year increase in Q1 revenues, reaching total sales of 15,275 million yen (€118.4m-$134.4m). The domestic market, which accounts for almost 80 percent of the company’s revenues, grew by 1.7 percent year-on-year, after a 14.6 percent drop in the previous ...

  • Mr.Ikeda
    Article

    New CEO for HOYA

    23 January 2022

    HOYA Corporation has selected Eichiro Ikeda, currently the group’s chief technology officer (CTO), to be its new chief executive officer as of March 1, in replacement of current CEO Hiroshi Suzuki. Suzuki, who spent more than 20 years at the helm of the Japanese group and delayed his retirement to ...

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    PDF Newsletter

    Eyewear Intelligence Newsletter: Vol 23 - 1+2

    23 January 2022

    Specsavers doubled profits in Covid year, earmarks $100 m investment for Canada | MPG accelerates in retail | HOYA appoints new CEO | Bausch files for IPO of eyecare business | Top 5 eyewear companies stock up 5% | U.S. market confirms rebound in Q3 | Restart for Vision Expo East in NY | Mojo Vision partners with sport brands | Ocuco invests in myopia treatment IT firm | Pro Optik discusses future plans online | Icare Group gets EcoVadis silver

  • News briefs

    Christopher Cloos launches collection with ex-Victoria Secret model

    22 January 2022

    According to Vision Monday, Christopher Cloos has a selected a former Victoria’s Secret model, Elsa Hosk, to be its first female global ambassador and to front its first eyewear line for women. The Cloos x Elsa collection has an old-Hollywood aesthetic, and its frames are biodegradable. The brand’s other ambassador, ...

  • News briefs

    Relatively few business failures among optical shops in France

    22 January 2022

    Altares, which collects and analyzes data on B2B markets, notably in France, the Benelux countries and North Africa, has released figures for business failures (bankruptcies, restructurings, liquidations) in France. There were 28,371 business failures in 2021, the lowest total in 35 years, with less than 100,000 jobs affected. The total ...

  • News briefs

    U.S. insurer offering discounts on blue-light filters

    22 January 2022

    Whereas eyewear brands are producing lenses to block blue light for the receptors, our eyes, at least one major medical insurer has begun incentivizing its policyholders to invest in filters to block blue light at the source, the screens of our digital devices. UnitedHealthcare in the U.S. is offering a ...

  • News briefs

    OWP celebrates 75th anniversary with limited edition

    22 January 2022

    OWP (Optische Werke Passau), founded on Jan. 13, 1947, is celebrating its 75th anniversary. This month it is launching 249, an anniversary frame that revives an acetate model designed in 1981. The edition is limited symbolically to 1,947 pieces. OWP owns the Metropolitan Eyewear, Mexx, Flair and Cazal brands. It ...

  • News briefs

    Mark’ennovy has a new head of DACH

    22 January 2022

    Josipa Kern is handing over management of Mark’ennovy’s DACH division to Sabine Otero, who has been manager of key accounts and professional affairs for the past five years. Kern will instead be focusing on business development, for which she is the lens manufacturer’s director, and the Executive Board, of which ...

  • News briefs

    Essilux nominates new board member

    22 January 2022

    Virginie Mercier Pitre – Essilor’s vice president commercial for Europe and, since Dec. 15, president of the Valoptec Association of EssiLux’s employees shareholders – has been nominated to take over Juliette Favre’s seat on EssilorLuxottica’s board of directors. Her nomination will be up for a vote at the next annual ...

  • News briefs

    Menrad implements a B2B online platform

    19 January 2022

    The eyewear manufacturer Menrad has opened its online service platform to all of its customers anywhere in the world. The platform enables opticians to purchase spare parts, frames or sunglasses; submit warranty claims (with the upload of up to five pictures); manage their account; view their order and invoice history ...

  • News briefs

    CooperVision and WCO publish guide to myopia management

    17 January 2022

    CooperVision and the World Council of Optometry (WCO) have issued a guide to the management of childhood myopia. Addressed to practitioners, the document takes the form of a FAQ (frequently asked questions) and covers such matters as the identification of children with myopia, myopia measurement, reasons to change tack in ...

  • bausch & Lomb
    Article

    Bausch Health files for IPO of its eyecare business

    17 January 2022

    In its quest to split into three publicly traded companies, Bausch Health has filed to make an initial public offering of common shares in the U.S. and most of Canada for its wholly owned subsidiary Bausch + Lomb Corporation. Specifically, it has filed a Registration Statement with the U.S. Securities ...

  • Specs bis
    Article

    Specsavers profits doubled in Covid year

    17 January 2022

    After having skipped the publication of its presentation last year at the time of the Covid outbreak, Specsavers has returned to disclosing the annual review of its business, however in a much less detailed format than before. For the financial year ended Feb. 28, 2021, the British-based retail group announced ...

  • News briefs

    opti settles in Munich permanently

    17 January 2022

    The organizer of the German trade show opti have announced in a press conference that the event would remain located in Munich on a permanent basis, putting an end to relocation speculations, and that the 2023 edition would take place from Jan. 27 to 29. As previously reported, the ...

  • News briefs

    Safilo increases participation in Privé Revaux

    17 January 2022

    Safilo has announced that its stake in Privé Revaux increased from 64.2 percent to 81.9 percent, following the resignation of David Schottenstein from his position of board member and CEO of the U.S. company. Schottenstein was the main founder of Privé Revaux, along with American celebrities, and the transaction was ...

  • Boots
    News briefs

    PE firms might be prepping a bid for Boots

    13 January 2022

    According to several financial websites, two private equity firms, Bain Capital and CVC Capital, are making a joint bid to acquire Boots, the U.K.’s largest retailer of beauty products. Another two firms, Apollo Global Management and Fortress Investment Group, might be making bids of their own. Boots’ present owner, the ...

  • News briefs

    Costa Sunglasses appoints VP of marketing

    12 January 2022

    Costa Sunglasses has appointed John Acosta as vice president of marketing, with a view – according to Justin Cupps, senior vice president – towards expanding the brand and engaging “with our core fans – the anglers, adventurers and explorers who live to be on the water.” Acosta was previously vice ...

  • News briefs

    Preliminary figures show record year for Kits Eyewear

    12 January 2022

    Kits Eyecare has released some preliminary figures for the fourth quarter and full year (ended on Dec. 31) of 2021. The vertically integrated, digital platform will be presenting final figures in March. As they stand, things look positive, with total eyeglasses delivered up by 150 percent to 50,000 for the ...