IOT to announce the release of IOT Neochromes® Light Activated Lenses at Vision Expo West

IOT’s focus on innovation has resulted in new break-through technology in photochromic lenses. The new photochromic dye formulation used in IOT Neochromes® lenses allows them to be crystal clear indoors, darken in seconds, and return to their un-activated state in 3-minutes1. In addition, IOT Neochromes® lenses offer more consistent performance across all available materials and in a broad range of outdoor temperatures.

IOT recognizes that technology alone is not enough. As part of our commitment to service, IOT has made the decision to open an onshore manufacturing facility in California where new high-performance light-activated dyes will be applied to IOT Neochromes® lenses2.
IOT will support partners who choose to launch new IOT Neochromes® light-activated lenses by offering access to our “Be Yourself” campaign. The campaign will show how IOT Neochromes® lenses adapt to any lighting conditions, allowing consumers total freedom to be themselves. Campaign assets will include print, digital, video elements, in addition to a consumer-friendly demonstration kit.

According to Daniel Crespo, president of IOT, “photochromic lenses are under 20% of the lenses dispensed but contain close to 50% of the value. It is part of our mission to provide our partners with an independent solution for this very important value-add category. New IOT Neochromes® light-activated lenses include the latest technology, so lenses are of the highest quality. This allows our partners to successfully compete with market leaders, with no compromise in performance.”

New IOT Neochromes® lenses offer exceptional performance from an independent company.

Visit booth LP12119 for a demonstration of new IOT Neochromes® light-activated lenses.
For more information contact your IOT representative or e-mail IOT at contact@iotamerica.com.

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PlanetVA Launches Virtual Try-On Platform From Just A Selfie

PlanetVA, a private company registered in Australia and Europe with a 16-year footprint in the virtual eyewear try-on arena, announces the launch of its latest eyewear virtual try-on platform vmPRO. By just taking a selfie the app creates a 3D face model of the user in just a matter of seconds. This app leverages current augmented reality trends and the latest artificial intelligence algorithms to allow the user to view their eyewear in every possible direction simply by dragging the face. Its unique reflection simulation permits the user to experience premium lens features in real time.

The PlanetVA vmPRO app boosts the fastest and easiest user experience of any high-end virtual try-on available today. It also allows the user to easily change and try-on sunglasses and optical frames without re-calibration. As a result, the service offers a faster and simpler way of virtually trying on eyewear. This is of utmost importance for an online presence as most users click away when they need to wait for too long and it is equally important for the major search engine rankings.

Ludwig Heymbeeck, founder of PlanetVA, says: “Our commitment and focus on creating the ultimate mobile experience allows retailers both online and in-store to provide the most robust and efficient virtual try-on experience to date. We also plan to introduce additional features of vmPRO such as accurate optical measurements and integration with our style assistant app by the end of this year.”

“Unlike our competitors, we have not applied for patents yet as we want to keep our solution proprietary. It will allow us to be better positioned in order to adapt to the fast-changing world of technology and use the latest and best available algorithms for the end user”, Ludwig says.

PlanetVA’s North American solution slated to launch later this year will position independent optical retailers with a total retail solution aimed at creating new patient experiences. Our partnership with a network of eyecare professionals specializing in marketing, equipment, and e-commerce will give PlanetVA the necessary tools to deliver this exciting new ecosystem.

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Daniel is the Editor-in-Chief of Optical Business News, the parent company of The Optical Vision Site and Optical Vision Resources as well as the founder of dba designs, a Denver based optical marketing and website design firm.










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Liberty is celebrating its 90th Anniversary

Founded in 1929, following the US stock market crash that led to the Great Depression, two brothers began crafting eyeglass frames in their Newark, New Jersey basement. As Italian immigrants pursuing the American Dream, they built the company that would become known as Liberty Optical. 

In the 1950s, Liberty achieved mass-market success with iconic ophthalmic frame styles such as the Broker, Par, and Libby. Business boomed and operations expanded as Liberty became one of the largest optical manufacturers in the USA by 1964.

During the 1980s, Liberty led the charge to develop protective eyeglasses for athletes young and old. The distinctive look of Rec Specs goggles captured the public’s imagination as Hall of Fame athletes wore Rec Specs in the NFL, NBA, and MLB. Over the last four decades, 9 out of 10 sport protective eyeglasses sold in the USA have been Rec Specs.

In the last two decades, Liberty expanded its product development mission with the engineering expertise developed from Rec Specs to introduce Performance Sunglasses Collections and the Switch Magnetic Interchange Technology line. Most recently, Liberty released the “Virtually Indestructible” Active Everyday Eyeglasses line, bringing the company back to its optical frame roots.

Launched in 2015, the Rec Specs Lab was established to produce Rx lenses that could address the vision protection and performance needs of athletes. Liberty now provides “Virtually Indestructible” complete frame and lens solutions for both youth and adults.

“I started at Liberty fresh from college and have been the CEO for 53 years,” says Anthony M. DiChiara, CEO & President Liberty. “Building on my Father and Uncle’s legacy, I am proud that we have continued their spirit of innovation, openness to change, and commitment to customer service. Those values and our core team, most of which have been with Liberty for decades, has allowed us to thrive for 90 years.”

 Today, Liberty remains committed to being at the forefront of Virtually Indestructible, Purpose-Built eyewear solutions that defend vision from injury and enhance vision performance. Liberty proudly embraces its “Heritage of Excellence” as a family owned and operated American company.

 View the full range of Rec Specs solutions at www.libertysport.com or call 800.444.5010 for more information.

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Optical Women’s Association Announces 2019 Award Honorees

The Optical Women’s Association (OWA) has announced its 2019 OWA Award Honorees.

Holly Rush, CEO of Costa Del Mar, will receive the Pleiades award, which honors an individual who has shown exceptional support in advancing the leadership role of women in the optical industry.

Laura Lewis, vice president of human resources at MyEyeDr., will receive the Pyxis award, which honors a member of the OWA who actively participates in the organization and promotes the OWA throughout the optical industry, contributing to the OWA’s continuing growth.

Jessica Goebert, public relations and marketing manager for De Rigo REM, will receive the Emerging Leader award, presented to a woman who is a rising star and exemplifies leadership qualities as a new distinctive talent within the optical industry.

“The OWA embodies core values of enhancing the leadership role of women, and these women exemplify true vision leadership and passion for the optical industry,” says OWA President Tiara Claxton.

The women will be honored at International Vision Expo East during the OWA’s annual Champagne Breakfast on Thursday, March 21, 2019, at the Edison Ballroom in New York City. This event will also feature keynote speaker Kathleen (Katie) Taylor, former president and CEO of Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts and current Chair of the Board of Royal Bank of Canada. The breakfast is sponsored by Luxottica and the OWA.

About the honorees:

Holly Rush

Holly Rush: Rush’s career spans more than 25 years in the consumer products industry leading the growth and development of large teams and well-known brands. She previously held key roles at L’Oreal as well as Duracell, a division of the Gillette Company. In 2011, she joined the optical industry, becoming the senior vice president of sales for Luxottica Wholesale and was part of the management team that helped restore the company to its leadership position in the U.S. She was subsequently named president of Luxottica Wholesale North America.  In 2016 she and her family relocated to Daytona Beach, FL, where she became the CEO of Costa Del Mar, a division of Essilor.

Rush is passionate about galvanizing teams and developing the next generation of leaders. She dedicates time to speaking engagements such as the “Women Rule” series hosted by POLITICO, Google, and the Tory Burch Foundation, along with the OWA and the Essilor Women’s Network. She was named one of Vision Monday magazine’s “Most Influential Women of the Year” in 2012, received Luxottica’s Founder’s Award for Entrepreneurship,  and given the Visionary award from the Foundation Fighting Blindness.

Laura Lewis

Laura Lewis: Lewis currently serves as the vice president of human resources with MyEyeDr., where she focuses on talent development and strategic growth. With a background that spans several industries including banking, insurance, and optical.

Lewis is an active member of the OWA, is a Sponsor Ambassador, and is a current member of the OWA Mentoring Committee. Recently, she was named OWA Subcommittee Chair of the Sponsor Ambassadors due to her meaningful work and contribution to fully developing the Sponsor Ambassador role. As one of her many passions, Lewis is committed to not only the support and development of the OWA, but also to the growth and development of its many individual members. She recently recorded a “Tuesday Talk” for the OWA titled “Shine and Sparkle: Interviewing with Intention.”

She is a graduate of James Madison University’s School of Business and was recently nominated as one of 2018’s Most Influential Women by Vision Monday magazine. In addition to her time spent with the OWA, Lewis enjoys spending free time with her two teenage sons, traveling, and volunteering.

Jessica Goebert

Jessica Goebert: Goebert is the senior public relations manager for De Rigo REM in Los Angeles, CA. She brings over a decade of diverse experience developing communications strategy for some of the most iconic brands across fashion, sport, and lifestyle. This includes six years in the optical industry, where she got her start at Luxottica Group, overseeing all brand communications for the company in North America before joining De Rigo REM, where she is responsible for leading all communications, social media, advertising, events, and industry relations.

As an active member of the OWA, Goebert is the co-chair of the Digital Marketing Committee where she has spearheaded content creation and messaging for the OWA’s social platforms and participated in event planning for the organization’s regional events in Southern California. Some of her achievements include dressing FLOTUS Michelle Obama and actress Octavia Spencer for the Oscars, receiving CLIO Image Award and Platinum PR Award nominations, and being named by Vision Monday magazine in 2017 as one of the most Influential Women in Optical.

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About the Optical Women’s Association: Founded in 1997 as a nonprofit, the Optical Women’s Association is committed to supporting and promoting the professional development of women involved in all facets of the optical industry. As the vision of the OWA evolves and expands, it maintains the focus of the OWA’s founding principles and core mission: to enhance and promote the leadership role of women in the optical industry through networking, education, and peer support.

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Essilor and Luxottica Marriage Approved

LUXEMBOURG and CHARENTON-LE-PONT, France— Twenty months after announcing the biggest deal in optical industry history, Delfin S.a.r.l, the majority shareholder of Luxottica Group S.p.A. and Essilor International have completed the combination of Essilor and Luxottica. The combined holding company, EssilorLuxottica, has pro forma combined revenues in excess of € 16 billion, nearly 150,000 employees and an unmatched global footprint, making it the world’s largest designer, manufacturer and distributor of ophthalmic lenses, prescription frames and sunglasses. EssilorLuxottica unveiled its new visual identity and corporate website today.

Beginning October 2, 2018, EssilorLuxottica shares will be traded on Euronext Paris, under the ticker symbol EL with the same ISIN code FR0000121667, according to an announcement posted on the website today. They will be part of the CAC 40 and Euro Stoxx 50 indices.

Leonardo Del Vecchio, executive chairman of EssilorLuxottica, said, “We are at the beginning of a new chapter in our history in which we so strongly believe, bringing together frames and lenses under the same roof and completing our vertically integrated business model. We will enhance the excellence of Luxottica and Essilor to improve the service level and offer consumers around the world ever better products that leverage on our most beloved brands with cutting-edge lens technologies. We will expand our offer and foster the development of our customers’ business and the entire industry.”

Hubert Sagnieres, who serves as executive vice chairman of EssilorLuxottica, a position with powers equal to those of the executive chairman, added, “The creation of EssilorLuxottica is a defining moment in our fight to elevate the importance of good vision as both a basic human right and a key lever for global development. EssilorLuxottica now has the means to give this important cause a much stronger voice and is in a position to grow the entire eyecare and eyewear industry thanks to its presence in all major segments, from lenses to frames to physical and online distribution. Our commitment to foster innovation, enhance customer service and reimagine the consumer experience will benefit all stakeholders. Moreover, the company’s mission will be strengthened by active and growing employee ownership, which is set to play a central role in the EssilorLuxottica governance model.”

In addition to their new roles at EssilorLuxottica, Del Vecchio and Sagnieres keep their respective positions as executive chairman of Luxottica and chief executive officer of Essilor International SAS, EssilorLuxottica said. Essilor International SAS and Luxottica maintain their respective boards of directors.

According to EssilorLuxottica, all conditions to the closing of the transaction have been satisfied, including approval by Essilor shareholders in May 2017, the hive-down of substantially all Essilor activities to Essilor International SAS (a wholly-owned subsidiary of Essilor) in November 2017 and clearance from all antitrust authorities whose authorization was a condition precedent to the closing of the transaction.

Following the contribution by Delfin, the majority shareholder of Luxottica, of its 62.42 percent stake in Luxottica to Essilor on Oct.1, 2018, Essilor became the parent company of Luxottica and was renamed EssilorLuxottica.

As consideration for the contribution by Delfin of its stake in Luxottica to Essilor, Essilor issued 139,703,301 new ordinary shares through a capital increase without preferential subscription rights pursuant to a resolution approved by Essilor shareholders in May 2017.

Following the closing, EssilorLuxottica main shareholders are Delfin (38.93 percent of capital with voting rights capped at 31 percent) and EssilorLuxottica employees (4.9 percent). The remaining 56.8 percent of the shares are being publicly held. EssilorLuxottica said it will soon be launching a Mandatory Exchange Offer for the remaining issued and outstanding Luxottica shares.

Essilor International and Luxottica will maintain their respective boards of directors. The board of directors of EssilorLuxottica is composed of 16 members: Leonel Ascencao Pereira, Romolo Bardin, Leonardo Del Vecchio, Juliette Favre, Giovanni Giallombardo, Bernard Hours, Annette Messemer, Francesco Milleri, Gianni Mion, Lucia Morselli, Olivier Pécoux, Sabrina Pucci3, Hubert Sagnieres, Cristina Scocchia, Jeanette Wong and Delphine Zablocki.

An integration committee, led by Leonardo Del Vecchio and Hubert Sagnieres, will ensure a smooth and successful integration of Essilor and Luxottica. The new EssilorLuxottica board of directors met today and decided on the following:
• The appointment of Hilary Halper, Essilor chief financial officer, and Stefano Grassi, Luxottica chief financial officer, as co-chief financial officers of the new combined entity.
• The Nomination and Compensation Committee will be mandated before the end of January 2019 to lead the search process for a chief executive officer.
• The approval of the new rules of procedure of the EssilorLuxottica board of directors to be published on the website of EssilorLuxottica.
• The approval of financial authorizations necessary for the combined company, Essilor International SAS and Luxottica to operate their respective businesses.

During the first part of 2019, EssilorLuxottica will present its first combined annual results and is expecting to hold a Capital Markets Day for investors and analysts.

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Kim Kardashian Signs A Deal With Carolina Lemke Berlin

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Bar Refaeli & Kim Kardashian West

Carolina Lemke Berlin announced that reality star celebrity Kim Kardashian will be the face of the Israeli eyewear company, Carolina Lemke Berlin, alongside model and actress Bar Rafaeli, the owner of the eyewear chain. Carolina Lemke Berlin is a 15-year-old fashion eyewear brand with 75 stores in Israel and 16 branches worldwide.

Kim Kardashian West will also become a partner in the creation of a limited edition line of eyewear, receiving 10% of the shares of the company set up in the United States by Bar Rafaeli. Carolina Lemke Berlin is expected to spend between $20 million and $30 million to enter the U.S. Market. In addition to the 10% share in the American company, Kardashian is reported to receive 5% of the proceeds of a new line of eyewear she will be designing.

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