OP
Bi-monthly Eyewear Fashion Magazine
Everything between you and eye Vol.11 Issue 1 Sep/Oct 2011 A FourPlus Publication
3D Eyewear
The Next Big Thing
Louis Vuitton
The Language Of Luxury
Just One Question
– Ravi Kant - COO, Eyewear Division, Titan Industries
ement
lus Suppl
An OpticP
Need to know about fashionable eyewear? Check out the free Demystifying Polarisation OpticPlus supplement A Clearer Picture of - GALLERIA
Polarisation Technology
US
“Titan Eye Plus’ product quality norms are higher than ISO standards”
2011 •
OPTICPL
Sep/Oct
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Sole Distributors :
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Sole Distributors :
Shailaja Optical Industries B-104, Aditya Towers, Chandavarkar Road, Borivali (west), Mumbai - 400 092 (India) Phone : 022-2895 6262 / 2892 5858 / 022-3201 1473 Fax : 022-2892 3591 E-mail : info@shailajaeyewear.com Website : www.shailajaeyewear.com
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C Everything between you and eye Vol.11 Issue 1 Sep-Oct 2011 A FourPlus Publication
OP Fashion Magazine
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The Next Big Thing
Louis Vuittuaon ge
The Lang Of Luxury
Just One Question
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Sep/Oct
OPTICPLUS
Bi-monthly Eyewear
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3D Eyewear: The Next Big Thing As 3D gains popularity, 3D eyewear is one of the more exciting things to have happened in the ophthalmic world.
Designer Profile
26
Louis Vuitton: The Language Of Luxury Here’s a brand that’s all class and elegance.
PRINTED & PUBLISHED by Siraj Bolar on behalf of FourPlus Publications, and printed by him at Mail Order Solutions India Pvt Ltd, Malad, Mumbai and published at 106/A, Shivdham, 62, Link Road, Malad West, Mumbai-400 064. Editor: Siraj Bolar
All correspondence should be addressed to FourPlus Publications, 3rd Floor, Sahdev, Vishal Nagar, Marve Road, Malad (West), Mumbai-400 064 Tel.: (022) 2889 9662 Fax: (022) 2889 9665 E-mail: response@opticplus.in
In Focus
36
“Titan Eye Plus’ product quality norms are higher than ISO standards” – Ravi Kant, COO, Eyewear Division, Titan Industries
INDIA | MIDDLE EAST | SOUTH EAST ASIA 12
OPTICPLUS : Everything between you and eye
Trends
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‘Bling’ In The Festivities It’s the time to bling it on, given the huge range of eyewear styles to choose from!
Market Talk
56
Retails Tales
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Where Have The Good People Gone?
Interaction And Information – Just A Touch Away
Finding qualified optometrists is a big challenge for optical businesses, in recent times.
Interactive touch-screen kiosks are the noveau way of engaging with and educating customers.
Management 68 Matters
Just One Question
Managing Success Or Inspiring Failures
“What will be the impact of FDI on the retail business?”
Yatish Chandrashekhar explains the role of a Retail Area Manager and concept of a Model Store for running a successful retail chain.
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Members from the optical industry opine how FDI can affect their business.
Ophtha 102 Talk Strabismus - A Warning Sign? Strabismus, commonly known as squint, could hint at bigger and more alarming ailments.
Eye Study
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Corneal Staining Understanding its True Significance Dr Gary Andrasko chats with Dr John Lauren from the University of Alabama-Birmingham School of Optometry.
PLUS OPTICMAN HAPPENINGS EVENTS OFF THE SHELF SNAPSHOTS INTERNATIONAL SNAPSHOTS
OPTICPLUS : Everything between you and eye
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TRIVIA SOUNDING BOARD BYWORD EYE MATTERS GALLERIA OPTICPLUS MATE STAR FORECAST
142 144 145 154 158 168 170
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this is ic!berlin hello loved people! hello hated people! hello berlin! hello tokyo! hello mama! hello papa! hello mr. president! hello young people! hello tall people! hello bikers! hallo tante sybille! hallo angela! hallo frau bundeskanzlerin! hallo hundee guten tag dogs! hallo oldenburg! hallo philipp! hallo tante greta! hallo maria! hallo helden! hallo ic! berlin blechbrillen! hello loved people! hello hated people! hello berlin! hello tokyo! hello mama! hello papa! hello mr. president! hello young people! hello tall people! hello bikers! hallo tante sybille! hallo angela! hallo frau bundeskanzlerin! hallo hundee guten tag dogs! hallo oldenburg! hallo philipp! hallo tante greta! hallo maria! hallo helden! hallo ic! berlin blechbrillen!
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OPTICPLUS E E
xpanding one's retail business seems to be something most opticians are strategising about these days with plenty of single stores growing into multi-store businesses. When we spoke to some of these entreprenuers, they talked about how they wanted to have the right strategies in place and a manpower that can help them execute their plans. In this issue, we have three articles which will help them realise precisely these ambitions. The ‘Management Matters’ article talks about how they can adopt the Model Store concept and empower their Retail Area Manager to have well-performing outlets across the retail chain.
Editorial
Siraj Bolar
E-I-C
Alim Bolar
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Vinita Bhatia G E
Prema Chande Dr Cyres Mehta Dr Deepak Garg Subash Kataria E A
Ishita Bal
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The ‘OpticMan’ column is back, this time with pointers on things to bear in mind while opening more outlets. And then there’s ‘Retail Tales’, which talks about how technologies like touchscreen kiosks can be used to educate customers and also keep them interested during their shopping experience.
Design
Tabrez Bolar
C D
Purav Mehta A E
Amarjeet Prabhakar
And this time in ‘Just One Question’, people from the optical industry give their honest opinion on how they think the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) roll-out will affect them. It is heartening to note that most of them have adopted a positive stance towards it.
D A S
Mithun Jagda Paul Daniel Nadar Sonal Mehta
G D/P
Marketing Jasbir Bolar
Needless to say, this is a power-packed issue and all the other regular articles like ‘Designer Profile’, ‘Trends, ‘Eye Study’, ‘Ophtha Talk’, etc. are also part of this issue. And as always, you can check out what’s hot and what’s not in our Galleria supplement.
M D
Farhan Shaikh
B D M
Finance
R K Tharoor
F D
Manoj Nahak Nirmala Panchal
Your feedback will help us shape the content in OpticPlus, so that you get the information you can truly use. So do write to us at response@opticplus.in
A
Administration Samit Medidhi O A
Suhas Dhumal Harish Javir
Read on. Enjoy!
O A ____________________________________
Acknowledgement
Model: Davor Zoljan, Ingrid Aureada, Suzan Nesrin Hakmi Modelling Agency: Diva Dubai (www.divadubai.com) Photography: Alim Bolar Contributing Writers: Vandana Gupta, Deepanjolie Figg -------------------------------------------Our Bankers: The Shamrao Vithal Co-operative Bank Ltd. Malad (West)
Views and opinions expressed in this publications are not necessarily those of FourPlus Publications. While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy of information published, neither FourPlus Publications nor any of its employees accept any responsibility for any errors or omissions.
OPTICPLUS : Everything between you and eye
15
LENS TALK
Big
The Next F
Thing
ew had imagined that 3D eyewear would become quite a buzzword in the ophthalmic world. Until recently, the technology had little to offer and was available at a price affordable to few. Also, 3D-viewing was possible with bulky, uncomfortable, one-size-fits-all eyewear. This is set to change. It is only in recent years that 3D is being considered a profitable business. Thus movie, gaming and television companies have been investing in 3D technology. Sony, LG, Samsung, Panasonic and Philips have already launched 3D LED televisions, while Nintendo, Sony and Microsoft have been producing 3D games for their gaming consoles for quite some time now. 16
With the rising popularity of 3D animation movies, gaming consoles and televisions, the launch of 3D eyewear seems to be one of the most exciting things to have happened in the ophthalmic world.
HOW 3D GLASSES WORK
3D glasses create the illusion of three dimensions by filtering out the light not intended for the eye, resulting in each eye receiving a different image. For instance, when you watch a movie wearing 3D glasses, you have the illusion that objects are flying off the screen and careening in your direction, and characters are reaching out to grab you. It makes you feel like you're a part of the action and not just sitting there watching a movie. The 3D viewing experience is gearing up for a revolution of sorts. The days when the only eyewear available to consumers was a pair of flimsy paper glasses (with one red and one blue lens) are gone. Now, eyewear manufacturing companies have taken OPTICPLUS : Everything between you and eye
notice of individual needs, and are now going to provide for people of all ages and vision correction needs, thereby becoming extremely helpful for those who were inconvenienced by having to wear 3D glasses over their regular spectacles. 3D eyewear can be categorised in two basic types – the active shutter type and passive polarized type. Non-linear polarized 3D glasses have one lens using clockwise circular polarization and the other anti-clockwise, with the two images required for stereo vision polarized the same way. Circular polarization is used so the image separation is maintained even if the viewer tilts their head, which would not be possible with the more usual linear polarizers.
OPTICPLUS
SOPHISTICATED 3D EYEWEAR
The boost in the 3D eyewear market can certainly be attributed to the dazzling success of the movie, Avatar. While red-blue lenses produce a dull black-and-white picture with red and blue fringes, polarized 3D glasses allow for colour 3D. Since a demand for the latter became evident with the advancement in special effects used in movies, audiences needed refined 3D glasses for a better viewing experience. Further examples of slightly more sophisticated models of 3D eyewear are those that come in battery-powered and rechargeable varieties. Brands like Marchon, Oakley, XpanD, Polaroid, Monster Vision Max, Gunnar
Brands like Marchon, Oakley, Polaroid, Gunnar Optiks and RealD have launched their own 3D eyewear range. Optiks and RealD have already come out with their own 3D eyewear ranges. For instance, Marchon3D, a division of Marchon Eyewear, is an eyewear manufacturer that uses the patented M3D technology to bring out several lines of cutting-edge, optically contoured designs in 3D eyewear for OPTICPLUS : Everything between you and eye
use in movie theatres, 3D gaming consoles and passive 3D televisions and computers. David Johnson, President of Marchon3D, says, “The grant of our first patent by the US Patent Office is key not only to our portfolio of intellectual property, but assures broad protection for both our existing and future innovations and products. The scope of protection afforded by this patent allows us to further establish ourselves as the industry leader in bringing passive 3D content to consumers.� David further states that the issuance of this patent prohibits the unauthorised manufacture of lenses falling within the broader scheme of things. It covers not only products 17
OPTICPLUS
manufactured or sold in the US, but also products manufactured abroad and imported into the country. Additionally, Marchon3D has other pending applications in the US and other countries worldwide relating to different aspects of the M3D lenses. “The marketplace has quickly become crowded with 3D products. We have always believed that M3D provides the best-in-breed solution for consuming passive 3D content and now consumers can be rest assured that we not only have the leading innovations but also the protection of our patent behind us. They now know that when they put on a pair of 3D glasses with M3D technology, they are getting the best 3D experience out there,” David adds. Hannah Sarbin, Vice President - New Business Development, Marchon Eyewear points out that the range – which will see a simultaneous global release shortly– is expected to create most excitement in Western European and Scandinavian countries, alongside Russia.
SOME ISSUES THAT NEED TO BE IRONED OUT
Most eyewear companies are committed to the curved lens and assembled frame sector as well. Not only are they trying to develop frames and lenses in a range of colours and shapes, but they are doing their best to ensure that the new eyewear ranges also boast UVA, UVB and UVC protection, rendering them multipurpose - i.e. as both, 3D glasses and sunglasses. Due to its transmission profile (light and UV), glasses utilizing 3D polarization technology are not ideal for normal daily outdoor use and will not provide the same level of protection as sunglasses. 3D eyewear fitted with prescription lenses are also in the making. Oakley's 3D glasses, for example, are optimised for indoor cinema application and are not intended for outdoor use. Another technical issue that is challenging the 3D business worldwide is the compatibility of 3D eyewear from one brand of television sets with the 20
One technical issue currently challenging this business worldwide is the compatibility of 3D eyewear from one brand of television sets with other brands. models from other brands. But, the trade group Consumer Electronics Association is working towards getting brands to agree on a standard for 3D eyewear. Oakley's CEO Colin Baden says, “We began with a single goal: to set the standard for optical performance in 3D. No one has ever engineered optically correct 3D glasses. We collaborated with industry partners and utilised the DreamWorks facility for testing. For Oakley 3D Gascan, we achieved unparalleled visual clarity while extending the wearer’s peripheral OPTICPLUS : Everything between you and eye
viewing angle and providing truer alignment of 3D images. This is a technological breakthrough that sets a new standard for 3D.” Oakley has, therefore, been promoting its HDO-3D technology for its 3D lenses which eliminate the 'ghosting' or 'crosstalk' between images that reach each eye from one moment to the next, a potential problem with inferior 3D glasses. Interestingly, luxury fashion brand Gucci is also opting for the same route for its 3D glasses which will provide wearers an ability to look into a mirror, glasses on, without see a distorted image. This shows that fashion too has come calling to this business!
LENS CURVATURE
Lens curvature is another issue with conventional 3D glasses. Greater curvature around the eyes provides a wider field of view, but without highly precise optics, even a mild curve can cause visual distortion. Take the example of the curvature in Oakley's 3D lenses, which minimises distractive glare. These durable lightweight frames also make contact only at the sides of the head and bridge of the nose, and
do not hook the ears like conventional frames with curved ear stems, which is likely to increase their appeal amongst customers. 3D lenses were developed to deliver a prime entertainment experience in cinemas that utilise passive polarization, the technology found in most 3D theatres. It comes as no surprise that companies like Oakley are pursuing partnerships with manufacturers of home 3D systems that utilize passive polarization technology. This will allow consumers to use the same glasses for home and cinema 3D entertainment.
prices are expected to fall. With mass production, some manufacturers have already managed to launch eyewear costing $99, which is a far cry from initial prices, which were almost triple that. The added possibility of exciting new developments means the day isn’t far when the same pair of glasses will be suitable for use across various 3D platforms – be it
OPTICPLUS cinema, laptops, gaming consoles or television sets. Looks like 3D eyewear is here to stay. __________________________________ – Vandana Gupta ................................................................................ Email us at response@opticplus.in
The Polaroid Premium 3D Glass Collection consists of a range of custom frames with precisely curved circular polarized lenses allowing moviegoers and TV viewers to fully experience 3D with an uncompromising field of vision. Prescription lens wearers also have the option of choosing from a range of premium 3D cover styles that fit comfortably over any optical frame.
THE FINAL WORD
Although currently the 3D eyewear market will remain rather high-end,
All about the third dimension How it works in real life: 3D refers to how your eyes and brain create the impression of a third dimension. Human eyes are approximately two inches apart. Accordingly, each eye sees a slightly different part of the world.
This can be observed by a simple test: close your left eye, then your right one and then your left one again. You will notice that each time, the image changes slightly. The brain then puts these two different images together to form one 3D image that has depth to it. This happens because of the binocular vision system in your brain which uses the
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OPTICPLUS : Everything between you and eye
difference to calculate distance and co-relate the images.
How it works in reel life: The way 3D works in movies is that two images shot from different perspectives and having different polarizations are superimposed over each other. These are then projected on the screen. The glasses one wears to view the movie allows only one of these images into each eye because they contain lenses with different polarization. And on receiving a slightly different image in each eye, your brain makes the calculations, hence offering the 3D effect.
DESIGNER PROFILE
26
OPTICPLUS : Everything between you and eye
One of the unique luxury brands, it has a history of not holding a single bargain sale of its products in 154 years: it is Louis Vuitton (LV). With Angelina Jolie reportedly being paid $10 million this year to be the face of this high-end fashion label and the Millward Brown’s 2011 list of the World’s Most Powerful Brands ranking it as numero uno, Louis Vuitton seems to have marked its fashion territory once again.
Louis Vuitton
OPTICPLUS
The Language Of Luxury T
here was a time when celebrities flaunting a Louis Vuitton bag at a red carpet event meant that they have arrived on the social circuit. That’s the charm possessed by just two alphabets – LV. Louis Vuitton is known the world over for its designer luggage pattern: beige-on-chestnut ‘LV’ monogram – a design that has been patented worldwide. This signature design makes its handbags and luggage a class apart and is a status symbol in the world of fashion.
Rome wasn’t built in a day and neither was this brand’s longstanding global stature. The strength of this luxury label was borne out of one headstrong French lad’s wish to escape from the pigeonholed life he was born into on Aug 4, 1821 in the rustic mountains of Anchay, Jura district in eastern France. Following his milliner mother’s death, his father remarried and introduced Louis to a stepmother who was neither nurturing nor inspiring. So the 13-year old resolved to break away from the shackles of provincial life and move to the city of his dreams: Paris! Thus, began a journey of over 400 kms, and he paid his way to Paris by doing odd jobs. He arrived there in 1837, aged 16, and took up an apprentice position with Monsieur Marechal, a renowned box-maker. Louis started off as a layetier’s (packer) apprentice, picking up the basics of making travelling trunk bases and luggage cases from his master. His passion for travel also inspired many of his designs including the quatrefoils and flowers featured on the Monogram canvas which took cues from the Victorian Era’s common practice to use oriental influence. Louis’ fortune changed with the accession of Napoleon III to the French throne in 1851 when he was appointed
OPTICPLUS : Everything between you and eye
27
OPTICPLUS
Imperial Layetier to Empress Eugenie who commissioned him to create quality products for “packing the most beautiful clothes in an exquisite way!” Imaginative in his use of scraps and baubles, he artfully designed travel cases to pack the Empress’ garments for a sea journey. These were highly appreciated by friends of the royal couple too, which secured more elite clientele for Vuitton. Inspired to deconstruct earlier established models of travel cases, the admiration also gave Louis the confidence to launch his own line. Love bloomed in 1854 when Louis met the beautiful 17-year old ClemenceEmile Parriaux. Marriage followed and so did commercial success.
RISE TO FAME
1854 was a turning point in Louis’ life. His new range of designer luggage goods, including hat boxes and handbags, with the now-famous monogrammed LV label on beigeon-chestnut shades hit the market. Appreciated for their high quality and stylish designs, the first LV store did brisk business and by 1860, Louis expanded and relocated his factory to Asniéres. International recognition and a bronze medal awarded at the 1867 World's Fair, followed by a gold medal at the 1889 World's Fair (a Paris event) further added to the LV brand value which didn’t diminish even after its founder died in 1892. After Louis’ death, his son George continued to grow the LV Empire and actively fought counterfeiting of the brand by patenting the iconic monogrammed canvas in 1914. Within four years, he took out worldwide patents on the now legendary Louis Vuitton canvas featuring his father's initials against background motifs of stars and flowers. He also introduced the 5-combination lock pattern to the LV range. George’s son, Gaston-Louis Vuitton, took over the company in 1936 and built the international appeal of the brand further by adding smaller purses, wallets and women’s bags to the label. 30
Louis Vuitton’s passion for travel inspired many of his designs, including the quatrefoils and flowers on the Monogram canvas.
between Louis Vuitton and famed French spirits, champagne, and perfume group Moët et Chandon and Hennessy.
Business flourished further under Gaston as he began using leather for everything -- from the manufacture of luggage and hand bags to clothing and fashionable accessories. A lesser known fact, the Alma bags were personally designed by this prodigious grandson.
By 1997, with fashion designer Marc Jacobs firmly established in the LVMH house of fashion, the brand ventured into prêt-a-porter lines - a business move that made the Louis Vuitton brand open up to similar creative collaborations with Stephen Sprouse and Takashi Murakami.
MARKET SPECIALISATIONS
Over the years, Louis Vuitton’s pricing strategy - that of having no set sales because these lead to price discounts - has aroused as much interest in the company’s ability to retain its unique brand value across four generations and six continents. From luggage to clothing to accessories, LV stands firm as a luxury powerhouse with its well-
By mid 1970’s, the brand established itself in New York, London, Washington, Buenos Aires and moved on to capture big-spenders in the Asian market, opening new stores across Japan, China and South Korea. 1987 gave the world LVMH (Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessy) - a $4 billion merger OPTICPLUS : Everything between you and eye
OPTICPLUS Louis Vuitton Timeline 1854 1885
planned mergers and brand expansion programmes. The LV ad campaigns are interestingly well played out in that they’re inspired by Louis Vuitton’s voyaging and use ‘journeys’ as a recurring theme. And considering they feature legends including actor Sean Connery, director Francis Ford Coppola and the first American woman in space Sally Ride, one gets a clear picture of what the LV patron would be like. Both the LV man and the LV woman have accomplished remarkable feats in their profession and have a penchant for travel much like Louis Vuitton himself. The LV man is classy and full of purpose, while the LV woman is elegant, assertive, successful and grounded, all at once. Clearly, these people effortlessly stand out wherever they go.
FRAMED! BY LOUIS VUITTON
Who wouldn’t want to be framed by Louis Vuitton? After all, this is what real eye-candy is all about! Be it their hand-polished acetate and metal frames for men’s sunglasses, like the Damier PM range – elegant lines met by distinctive hinges and temple tips, offset by Roadscape lenses for colour enhancement. Add to that 100% UV protection lenses 32
with special polarization and we have high fashion eye protection with visual comfort; or the Conspiration pilote range that reveals the LV Monogram on their lenses only in bright sunlight; their metal engraved frames with LV logos, hand-polished stems and ‘trunk corner’ details lends an exclusive identity to the wearer in under a minute. There’s something for the ladies too. The Conspiration Carre Canvas line takes the classic aviator shape and crosses it over to the ladies department: chic, square-framed sunglasses with a feminine-twist granted by the LV Damier Azur; complete UV protection, sleek metal frames, trunk details on hinges and logo over the right lenses are design constants. Though an eye for design is what LV is admired for, the latest 4Motion Eyewear from the LV Summer collection sparks style shifts to active sports eyewear. Inspired by natural elements like air, water, fire and earth, this range comes equipped for easy adjustments to the frame-front angles, nose pads, temple arms length and curve flexibility to afford the wearer maximum stability. Today, the LV product line innovations include signature collections of designer watches, shoes, pens, perfumes, travel books, distilled spirits OPTICPLUS : Everything between you and eye
Founded by Louis Vuitton in Paris First international store opened in Oxford Street, London 1889 Won gold medal at the World Fair in Paris 1914 George Vuitton patents monogram to combat counterfeiting 1915-77 Expansion of LV stores in the Paris, New York, London, Alexandria, Washington, Buenos Aires, Tokyo and Osaka 1983-86 Vuitton Cup Yacht Race introduced along with new stores in Taiwan, South Korea and Beijing 1987 LVMH created by merger with Moet and Hennessy 1996 Centennial of the Monogram Canvas 1997 Designer Mark Jacobs joins LV to raise its fashion quotient further 2000 Sharon Stone designed vanity case ‘amfAR’ auctioned for AIDS research fund raising 2001-04 LV stores opened at Manhattan's Fifth Avenue, Moscow in Russia and New Delhi in India
and jewellery apart from sunglasses. It's no surprise then that Louis Vuitton also topped the Millward Brown's 2011 list of the World’s Most Powerful Brands! Over the years, LV’s products have demonstrated the brand’s commitment to retaining class, creativity and exclusivity. And this focus on quality above popularity, consistency over mass appeal and authenticity over affordability simply continues to add to the charm of Louis Vuitton. ___________________________________________ - Deepanjolie Figg ................................................................................ Email us at response@opticplus.in
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IN FOCUS
“Titan Eye Plus' product quality norms are higher than ISO standards”
Vinita Bhatia (VB): Hello, Ravi Kant. It’s nice to have you with us. When Titan made its entry into eyewear retailing, it did raise many eyebrows. What was it that made you enter this segment? Ravi Kant (RK): We want to bring in products that are essentially fashion and lifestyle accessories. This is why we started with Tanishq, our jewellery brand, and then moved to watches. It was natural for Titan to get into this lifestyle category. So in March 2007, Titan Eye Plus entered into the organised eyewear segment. The other reason is that the eyewear market is still a largely unorganised one. We can use our extensive 36
experience here which includes retailing and design, to change the dynamics of this industry and at the same time bring in products that are truly world class with the best retail standards. We currently have over 175 stores in 52 towns. Our plan is to have at least 300 stores in the next two years. That’s the dream we are chasing. VB: Do people in India still consider eyewear to be more of a para-medical product? RK: Yes, that is true. It is a prescriptive product and a highly technical one at that. Unlike watches and jewellery, people don’t pick it off the shelf, and OPTICPLUS : Everything between you and eye
OPTICPLUS Titan Eye Plus aims to have 300 stores in its retail network within two years. And it takes pride in the fact that it offers a wide range of products that can fit the budget and preferences of all kinds of buyers. Ravi Kant, COO – Eyewear Division of Titan Industries talks to Vinita Bhatia, about how the company is investing heavily on training its staff so that they are better equipped to convert potential buyers into loyal customers.
OPTICPLUS : Everything between you and eye
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Your world. See the brilliance.
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though a style accessory in markets overseas, it nonetheless stands on the basic principles of vision care with a medical aspect.
highly stylized eyewear weren’t available in India. So we’re trying to add this style-quotient without ignoring the medical aspect.
Therefore, Titan Eye Plus concentrates on each of these parameters. Apart from style, we put a lot of focus on its medical aspect. That is why we have invested in the latest equipments for our stores. For instance, we have state-of-the-art clinics in our stores for checkups and we guarantee zero-error eye testing.
Usually when a customer finds out that he has to wear spectacles, his biggest concern is how it will affect his appearance, and this is especially true for young girls. But wearing spectacles doesn’t make you look ugly and this is our message. On the contrary, wearing smart frames can even enhance your looks. This is the approach we are taking in the market.
VB: But then Titan is trying to add in the style quotient, right? RK: Until recently, the eyewear here focused on the medical aspect only. Customers considered spectacles to be a functional product solely to improve their vision. The style facet in that sense was missing. Till recently,
VB: What is the USP that Titan Eye Plus is communicating to its customers to set itself apart from competitors? RK: Many things we do are different from what our competitors do but we can’t be a 100% different. Our strategy is that we want to be a one-stop shop for all kinds of consumers. We want to offer the best services. When I say one-stop shop, I mean that we have
“Our plan is to have at least 300 stores in the next two years.” – Ravi Kant, COO, Eyewear Division – Titan Industries
OPTICPLUS 20 brands of frames and sunglasses, each. Additionally, we have house brands and international ones too. In the frames section itself, we have three in-house brands – Titan, Eye Plus, and Dash which is for children. And we have a whole lot of international brands. Similarly, in sunglasses we have house brands like Fastrack which is a youth brand. We recently launched the Cabana range, a fashionable collection of sunglasses. If you look at price points, we are present from Rs 500 to Rs 30,000, clearly offering a better choice-range to the customer. We want to be world class in our products and services and to achieve this, we are investing a lot in training our optometrists and even the sales staff who we call eyewear consultants. They are trained to understand the needs of our customers and how they should recommend the lens or coating accordingly. Quality is of critical importance in eyewear and people really have to trust to their eye care practitioner. And what works in our favour here is that Titan already has a very strong brand identity. VB: Are your optometrists trained enough to deliver the standards that Titan promises? RK: Yes, absolutely. They are all highly qualified optometrists. In fact, we have set up a separate training institute near Bangalore under an exclusive arrangement with Sankara Netralaya. Any optometrist we hire undergoes a two-month training there. And every quarter to six months we conduct refresher training programs. Along with a full-fledged training department we also invite experts from other countries to come in for training. We firmly believe that investment in such training programmes will go a long way, because eyewear is a product category wherein, if satisfied with your services, customers will maintain loyalty.
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OPTICPLUS : Everything between you and eye
VB: Is it difficult to find qualified optometrists? RK: Yes, this is our biggest challenge. Good optometrists are becoming scarce. With many companies expanding and new stores coming up, job opportunities in this industry are very good. But this also makes it difficult for us to get the right people and retain them. The staff at our eyewear stores are our biggest asset unlike in other product categories like apparel and footwear. Even in Titan Industries for watches, people just walk into a store and pick up a product. They don’t necessarily need help from the sales person. But in the eyewear category a lot of interaction is required making it imperative for us to find good optometrists who will work in converting potential buyers into loyal customers. VB: Have there been any specific initiatives undertaken by you for better customer management? RK: Well, we have undertaken some new initiatives like customer mapping, merchandising and inventory management among others. We have also invested in SAP and their customer relationship management (CRM) systems to help us track customers nationally. So now, if a customer visits a Titan Eye Plus store in any part of the country, their data will show up in our systems and our eyewear consultants will be able address their needs appropriately. In the next one year, we should be able to track the lifestyle preferences of our customers and get back to them about new products as well as solicit their feedback and recommendations. VB: Isn't there a conflict of interest while selling your in-house products and those of the companies you promote? RK: We are a multi-brand store which means that we have a range of our house brands and we keep those of other brands, too. So in the case of lenses, we sell Titan, Essilor and Kodak lenses. Here, our idea of working with external suppliers is to give a complete choice to the customer. 42
We try to select brands that will minimise this conflict of interest. And this where price laddering helps. To give you an example, our Eye Plus house brand’s range might be from Rs 500 to Rs 1,200. Then we have Titan, which starts from Rs 1,200 and goes up to Rs 5,000. The international fashion brands start above this range. So we select these brands and present them in a way that serves a wide range of customers in terms of their budget and preferences.
optical stores. So I don’t think we will specially focus only on big cities.
VB: Are your products customised to suit the Indian customer’s needs? RK: Our design team studies designs and models which sell well and work for the facial contours of the Indian people. So the frames are made as per our orders. Right from the sizes to the colour to design, we decide everything. Our product quality norms are higher than the existing ISO standards. Our suppliers have to meet these standards or else we do not take the consignment. Our
Even in the eyewear category, people have realised that they can have a better buying experience right from eye testing to the selection of frames and finally, the vision itself. This decides the outlet they choose to shop from. And customers know that though a similar looking frame might be priced lower outside, our quality would be very different. For instance, the ISO standard for metal frames says that we have to do sweat test for 24 hours to ensure that the plating will last. This is
VB: Do you think that Indian customers prefer buying from an independent optical outlet over a retail chain? RK: I think the times are changing and so is the customer consciousness. As opposed to earlier, a lot of people are now moving to buying vegetables in malls and hypermarts. And this is because of the shopping experience they are offered.
“Till recently, highly stylised eyewear wasn’t available in India. So we’re trying to add this style-quotient without ignoring the medical aspect.” – Ravi Kant, COO, Eyewear Division – Titan Industries
quality team goes to these regions before the consignment is shipped to inspect the products and only if they are satisfied is the consignment then authorised for dispatch. VB: Do you plan on opening your outlets only in bigger cities or do you intend to move into more remote areas as well? RK: Since we are expanding, we are executing a strategy of populating ourselves in big cities as well as small towns. In some cities like Mumbai, we have over 20 stores. At the same time, the smaller towns in Maharashtra, too, need quality OPTICPLUS : Everything between you and eye
OPTICPLUS because, due to the high humidity in several parts of our country, the sweat eats into the plating. We do a 48-hour sweat test. All these quality standards add to the cost of the product. So when you buy a certain product from a brand, you are buying the value that that brand stands for. Customers know this and are willing to pay for it. VB: With your experience in eyewear retailing, can you give us an insight into the expectations of an Indian customer? RK: For eyewear, it is price, comfort and style. Now comfort has two aspects - one is the comfort that wearing the frame offers; the second is getting the correct lens as per the prescription. This aside, people are always concerned about how they will look in the eyewear they choose. That is why many people don’t prefer buying spectacles and sunglasses on their own. They take their family or friends along to get a second opinion. And all our research shows that appearance is a huge concern in the minds of the customers. VB: Initally there was apprehension in the industry with entry the of large retail chains. However, now the industry seems to have adjusted and some factions are even thrilled about it. Is there something that Titan Eye Plus would like to share with the optical industry at large? RK: I would like to say that there is an opportunity for people in the trade to come together as a community and improve the standards of this industry. There is benefit in regulating the industry and coming together to resolve the issues we face. And if Titan can do anything to make this happen, then we will gladly participate in it. VB: I am sure that the optical fraternity will be glad to hear this. Thank you so much for talking to us, Ravi Kant. __________________________________________ – Vinita Bhatia ................................................................................ Email us at response@opticplus.in OPTICPLUS : Everything between you and eye
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See Better. Look Perfect.
TRENDS
It’s festive time again! The time to put on the best attire and wear the bling (as blingy as it can get). And there’s a huge range of styles to choose from so go ahead and take a pick because it’s the season to make a statement. And we suggest, make it big!
‘Bling’ In The Festivities F
estive season comes with oodles of festive glamour and in a generation when it’s all about being ‘in’, the entire ensemble including the eyewear should reflect that kind of attitude. It’s the time to go gaga with bejewelled dresses, heavy gold jewellery and sequined footwear. And why leave eyewear out of this festive equation? This is where festive eyewear comes in. Now is when one can satisfy the diva inside with larger-than-life eyewear that screams for attention. Yes, this season’s about large, diamond-rimmed frames and over-sized sunglasses. They come with intricate ornamental detailing on the sides and are so popular! They can single-handedly make up for any compromise made on the bling-factor in an outfit. Talk about multi-tasking! 48
This season seems to have something for everyone and every occasion. Be it the workplace or afterhours, be it school or college or a social function, this current season’s collection seems to make sure that everyone has something unique to flaunt.
WORK MEETS PLAY
Even with festivities around the corner, work must go on. So for people who will be working their way through all the celebrations, fret not. Bring the bling into the boardroom, festive-style! Yes, formal eyewear has gone in for a complete revamp (we thank!) with trendy half-rimmed frames and ornate sides. They come in dashing metallic finishes and are sure to add class to any formal or semi-formal outfit. OPTICPLUS : Everything between you and eye
What’s more? There’s glossy and matte for choices and they come in more vivacious colours like red, green, orange, pink, purple than the usual black and brown. A pair of these in flamboyant colours will more than make up for monochromatic work outfits. So what if one still has to wear pinstripe shirt with a tie and trousers. Time to let the eyewear do the talking!
GEEK ALERT
For those who don’t particularly have a thing for bling, there’s good news! The ‘studious’ look takes precedence this season as designers and fashionistas find inspiration down memory lane and emerge glorious with the back-toschool theme. The international fashion scene has stamped nerdy fashion as approved and we love!
OPTICPLUS with formal wear but also complement casual, outdoorsy wear. They can also help bring a certain consistency and cohesiveness to one’s ensemble. As for those women who are wondering whether it will suit their Indian ethnic wear, we suggest looking up Kareena Kapoor in 3 Idiots. With her flaunting a pair of reading glasses on ethnic kurtas and churidars with such élan, one will only look more in tune with the current fashion drift.
MEOW!
Firm upholders of everything classic there’s more in store! Retro eyewear has made a comeback like never before with cat-eye glasses reigning over almost every catwalk ramp out there. But this is retro gone bold. With models strutting down the runway in clothes with shocking colours and outrageous, catchy prints and flaunting over-sized, over-the-top cat eye glasses, it’s all about getting noticed for the right reasons. In bold, striking colours like orange and red
The latest eyewear trend spells geeky with dark, thick-rimmed glasses ruling the game. Yes, we’re talking those ‘intellectual’ Woody Allen reading glasses that every A-list Hollywood and B-town actor is seen sporting on countless red carpet events. Even corporate business men and politicos are catching on now! From Johnny Depp to our homegrown Ranbir Kapoor and from Anne Hathaway to our very own Deepika Padukone, all seem to be making a style statement by parading in these brown/black Andy Warhol glasses. These nerdy pairs come in different shapes like large square and rectangular frames and there are even the unconventional round ones. In fact, the most universal example of the
Festive season’s all about large, diamond-rimmed frames and over-sized sunglasses. They are popular and can single-handedly make up for any compromise made on the bling-factor in an outfit. latter would be Harry Potter, who has sported the round pair throughout the entire Harry Potter series. So for those parents who have a hard time getting their kids to wear their prescription glasses, now they know the trick! While some like it sleek and sophisticated (read modern) others prefer the old school over-sized ones. Earlier worn as prescribed glasses, these über nerdy pairs are now worn solely for fashion purposes. Why? For one, their old world charm instantly adds class and dash to the wearer’s persona and not only do they go well OPTICPLUS : Everything between you and eye
or just plain black and brown, cat eye glasses definitely provide a muchneeded edge. These shades come in different printed patterns, and animal print, especially leopard, seems to be a big hit with them. Example: Dolce and Gabbana’s sexy red leopard shades being flaunted by Naomi Campbell for their Animalier 2011 Ad Campaign. Jimmy Choo paid tribute to the everin-vogue animal print in its recently launched line of animal print scarves. One of these wrapped around plus a cat eye shade in leopard print to go with it and you have the style 49
info@ronakoptik.com
OPTICPLUS
sunglasses by Christian Dior that come in different metallic shades of blue, green, pink to the classic pearly white. And with gold details around the temples, they will be the perfect finishing touch to the zari-work done on festive outfits!
STOCK IT UP
quotient down to the T! And what is interesting is that they go with different outfits, from ultra modern to pure vintage. So those bored of run-ofthe-mill stuff, want to experiment? Go ahead and try this heady mix of retro meets high street fashion because cat eye sunglasses are all the rage. And we assure, there won’t be any disappointment!
CLASS MAGNIFIED
There are some brands that empathise with the needs of men and women who live life extravagantly and want everything including their eyewear to reflect that. The British men’s brand Alfred Dunhill is one that likes to indulge its high-end clientele’s deep passion for all things luxurious and what better time to flaunt this kind of eyewear than the season of functions, parties, night outs and grand weddings! Dunhill’s latest collection in sunglasses includes the aviator style with precious metal frames and distinctly masculine colours. Effortlessly 52
The ‘studious’ look is in and the latest eyewear trend is going geeky with dark, thick-rimmed glasses ruling the game. stylish, these timeless designs combined with luxurious elements in clean shapes will immediately bring that sense of refined elegance to grand sherwanis and designer suits this season. As for women going all out this festive season with lehengas, anarkalis, evening gowns and of course, the quintessential saree, they need eyewear that will live up to the panache of these apparels. And the baroque style sunglasses from the latest limited eyewear collection by Prada match this description to the nines. With its highly original, stylistic sides and gradients in navy blue, brown and black, one is likely to turn into the showstopper at the party they’re planning to attend! There’s also the range of over-sized OPTICPLUS : Everything between you and eye
Owners are going all out now to give their stores a complete makeover, putting up decorations and eyecatching lights in order to add that festive holiday appeal to their store’s appearance. A great way for them to keep customers coming back to their store is by sending them email updates on new arrivals, discount deals and other offers, and with the internet at their disposal, doing this is easier than ever. Why not spice up the facebook pages with images of the latest eyewear collections, exciting news about current styles (what’s in, what’s not) and use an attractive festive theme. A great way to keep your customers interested! Any takers for this idea?! So there you have it. The latest in the world of eyewear fashion awaits. Will it be office wear gone chic with metal acetate frames or over-thetop, over-sized sunglasses with gold details on the sides? Will it be the experimental and edgy cat eye sunglasses or the geeky (aka hipster) reading glasses? The festive season is right around the corner and it’s time for people to celebrate their true fashion sense. And you know just the right choices to offer them. __________________________________________ - Ishita Bal ................................................................................ Email us at response@opticplus.in
MARKET TALK
Where Have The Good People Gone? Finding qualified optometrists is one of the biggest challenges for most optical outlets in this country. The reason lies in the limited number of trained optometrists available here and the increasingly growing demand for their services.
V
ision care is a growing business. A good indication of this is the entry of multinational companies like Grand Vision which tied up with Reliance Retail to launch Vision Express' chain of optical stores. Tata’s Titan Industries too decided to join the bandwagon with its Titan Eye Plus network. The entry of these corporate giants has had an unexpected spin-off, especially for optometrists. They have better job opportunities to look forward to. So much so that there is now a shortage of qualified optometrists in the country. “Our biggest challenge is getting good optometrists because they are becoming scarce. Many optical companies are expanding and new stores are coming 56
up, so job opportunities in this industry are very good. Therefore, getting the right people and retaining is difficult,” says Ravi Kant, COO – Eyewear Division, Titan Industries. And it is not just big retail chains that are facing this problem when it comes to hiring good optometrists. Even independent retail outlets are unable to identify and employ them. Abhay Vadhar of Lens n Specs recounts how it took him close to four months to hire one optometrist for his new outlet. Even optometry institutions in the country agree to this. “To provide excellent vision care to all the people in the country, India needs 1,15,000 optometrists. At the moment we are graduating around 1,200 students annually. This number, while significantly higher from 250 odd optometrists who were graduating till a decade ago, is still not enough to meet the demand for qualified eye care practitioners,” said Prema Chande, Principal of Lotus College of Optometry.
IMPORTANT ROLE PLAYED BY OPTOMETRISTS
The Indian optical industry is estimated to be growing at the rate of 20-30% annually. And it has the potential to continue at this pace, provided a pool of well-trained optometrists join this growing industry.
OPTICPLUS : Everything between you and eye
OPTICPLUS DEARTH OF OPTOMETRISTS
It is pretty clear that an optometrist’s role is very important in the eye care business. This is well evident in the fact that in countries like the US, Australia, Malaysia and Singapore, all optical outlets are expected to have at least one qualified optometrist by law. However, no such legislation is currently applicable in India. It goes without saying that all optical outlets should have a trained optometrist who can diagnose the patients. A lot of optical outlets in the country even offer computerised eye testing, but the test should be conducted by a qualified optometrist in order to get the right reading. All pharmacies need to have at least one trained pharmocologist to run the outlet and there are hopes that this situation will be replicated in the optical industry as well in the near future. According to Prema, there are many new optometry schools that have come up and recently Association of Schools and College of Optometry (ASCO) has tabled a minimum competency standard for optometry. Measures like this will ensure that more well-qualified optometrists will join the business. Aditi Moghe, Assistant Lecturer of the School of Optometry, Bharti Vidyapeeth Deemed University Medical College has observed that even the number of student admissions for the four-year optometry courses is going up, which is a good sign. “This means that within the next few years more trained optometrists will be present in the market,” she adds.
Dr. Aditya Goyal, Principal of the Sankara College of Optometry adds that realising this, optometry institutions are now promoting optometry courses to students who have completed their Higher Secondary Certification course. “Most students do not even know what optometry constitutes,” he says, “but this is set to change as students are beginning to understand the lucrative job prospects that are present in this field.” Institutes like Lotus College of Optometry are firstly educating students about what an optometrist actually does when it comes to offering vision care. Most people confuse an optometrist as someone who only checks refractive error, but this is not true. An optometrist is involved in offering vision care including examination, diagnosis and treatment of eyes, related to visual, optical symptoms, refractive errors and their correction, using lenses and other optical aids. Besides identifying refractive errors and prescribing corrective measures, fitting spectacles, contact lenses or low vision aids, they also conduct eye testing, vision training, guide patients with limited sight or genetic vision defects. They are also trained to prescribe vision therapy eye exercises to patients complaining of visual disorders.
“At the moment around 1,200 optometry students graduate, annually. But it isn't enough to meet the demand for qualified eye care practitioners.” – Prema Chande, Principal of Lotus College of Optometry.
A COMMON MINIMUM STANDARD
Most four year programs follow the Common Minimum Optometry curriculum set by the Association of Schools and College of Optometry (ASCO) in India. During the first year, the program covers subjects on basic sciences like general anatomy, physiology and optics. The second academic year covers primary eye care subjects on eye diseases, evaluation of the visual system and dispensing optics. During the third academic year, lectures are imparted on specialised subjects like contact lenses, low vision and binocular vision. The fourth year is set aside for internship.
OPTICPLUS : Everything between you and eye
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Talking about the need for this standardisation, Vivek Mendonca, President of ASCO, said, “There were many optometry colleges offering 6-months, 2 year or 4-year courses. We created this standardisation so that there is a common curriculum and syllabus for 4-year and graduate courses. This will benefit students as well as the people who employ them.” The Common Minimum Optometry curriculum has been circulated to around 80 colleges in India which offer courses on this topic. These include the 15 institutions which are members of ASCO. The remaining institutions will debate the possibility of implementing this standardisation at their individual educational boards. And Vivek hopes this will happen soon because this standard was set by the consensus of 18 colleges which had met up in Chennai recently to debate it. “It is just a matter of time before this positive change is effected in all colleges offering optometry courses,” he adds.
“We created a standardisation so that there is a common curriculum and syllabus for 4-year and graduate courses.” – Vivek Mendonca, President, Association of Schools and College of Optometry
OPTICPLUS eyes and making recommendations on what they should opt for. So, in a way, optometrists help bring in repeat business. But besides hiring optometrists, there is another big challenge for independent opticians and optical chains. This is about retaining them. Like Ravi Kant pointed out, there is a lot of poaching that takes place in this industry, since the base of trained optometrists is so limited. This is why, he says, they have regular training sessions for their eye care practitioners, so they can keep updating their knowledge. It is also ensured that they enjoy the best environment to work in. In fact, the recent Titan EyePlus TV ads show emphasis on the well-trained optometrists in the retail chain. This is to send out the right message that customers who come to the retail chain can expect their eyes to be tested by the best of eye care practitioners out there. Optometrists play such an important role in the optical business. It is, therefore, no wonder that the Indian optical industry is trying its best to increase awareness regarding the opportunities for those in this field. The best we can do is spread the word and encourage curiosity about optometry. And going by the increasing demands, there’s a world of opportunities that awaits the new generation of optometrists. _________________________________________________________________ – Vinita Bhatia ........................................................................................................................... Email us at response@opticplus.in
Seeking Qualified Optometrists? Name Of College / City
Contact Person
Contact No
Bharti Vidyapeeth Deemed University Medical College School Of Optometry, Pune
Amit Shinde
020-4373226
Dr. DY Patil, Pune
Veshal Madan
020-27420069
Most optical outlets are aware that having an optometrist is useful to their business. Pranav Doshi of Bright Eyes Optics points out that customers are more comfortable getting their eyes tested by a qualified optometrist and they take their suggestions about eye care and eye wear at face value.
Elite School Of Optometry, Chennai
Dr. Krishnakumar Ramani
044-23321835
Institute For Technology & Manag, Navi Mumbai
Prashant Bhatkar
022-27742806
Krishnalaya School Of Optometry, Kolkata
Ashima Das
033-23580201
“Optometrists are able to position higher-end prescription lenses better as compared to an optician. They can also answer any technical queries that a customer might have about the quality of lenses, for e.g. why they should go for silicon hydrogel lenses over rigid permeable gas lenses,” he points out. Optometrists can educate customers about the importance of coming for regular eye tests and also opting for disposable contact lenses as compared to conventional ones.
Laxmi Eye Hospital, Panvel
Mohan Hindupurkar
022-27454060
Lotus College Of Optometry, Mumbai
Prema Chande
022-26207655
Manipal College Of Allied Sciences, Manipal
Dr. B Rajasekhar
91-8202925312
Nagar School Of Optometry, Ahmedabad
Nitin V. Trivedi
079-55212872
Sankara Institute Of Optometry, Bangalore
Aditya Goyal
91-9381053158
Another benefit of having an optometrist is that most people prefer to come back to independent optical outlets where they have a personal rapport with the person checking their
Shri Ganapati Netralaya, Jalna
Rajesh Gare
02482-240411
MANAGING MANPOWER
58
Sri Ramchandra University Of Chennai, Chennai
OPTICPLUS : Everything between you and eye
044-24769816
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RETAIL TALES
Interaction And Information –
Just A Touch Away
Interactive touch-screen kiosks are the noveau way of engaging with and educating customers who walk into an optical retail outlet about the eyewear and lens models they can opt for. And opticians as well as their customers seem to be accepting this technology in the optical industry quite well.
H
ow would you like an equipment that services your customer, updates him about the latest products, helps him try out a few options, answers a few queries and even makes a sale! Welcome to the new age technology of touchscreen kiosks. The technology is not new and has been around for ages. However, with the new age economy, more and more buyers are getting comfortable buying things without the involvement of a sales person. These gadgets, or kiosks, as they are called, are getting popular all
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across the globe and has been seen in a lot of optical stores across the country too. Companies such as Luxottica, Rodenstock and Shamir Optical Industry amongst others are using technology to stay a step ahead in their business. Shamir recently launched its touch-screen kiosk called ‘Imagine’, a very handy machine for eye care practitioners to position in their outlets at a strategic spot. “Not just prospective patients, but even OPTICPLUS : Everything between you and eye
their friends and family members accompanying them can use this machine to learn more about optical solutions that are available,” says Dagan Avishal, VP-Sales of Shamir Optical Industry.
It’s a well-known fact that having a strong, well-rounded sales team is the building base for a retail chain. And most people in the retail business have a hard time hiring staff that have an impeccable knowledge of the products on their stands and are able to provide correct, up-to-date information to the customer. But all that could be a thing of the past with touch-screen kiosks entering the picture. These kiosks provide the customer with relevant info, all at a single command.
SMART TECHNOLOGY
Earlier this year, Melbourne-based EyeClarity Melton won the prestigious Business Review Weekly AMP Retailer of the Year 2011 Award for best use of technology. And the technology
OPTICPLUS lenses that are suitable for their eyes can be confusing for a customer. A kiosk can come in handy here. Recently, Luxottica launched touchscreen kiosks in limited Sunglass Hut locations globally as part of its efforts to provide Oakley consumers with the eyewear styles and models that they truly need. Geared up by the great response from customers, it now plans to launch touch-screen kiosks in 50 European wholesale outlets in 2011. These kiosks can also be a good way for companies to educate their customers about the new lens material or optical designs that they have introduced as well as eyewear for specific conditions.
Touch-screen kiosks provide consumers information about the latest collections in an outlet and the services they can avail there. that helped it bag this award is the ‘Myeyes’ touch-screen kiosk which helps customers choose from eyewear that can better suit their lifestyle and budget, with minimal assistance from an eye care practitioner. Many other optical retail chains, especially in Europe and the US, are adopting this medium of technological interactivity in their business practises. And it is not surprising why they are doing so. Deployed at retail outlets that have a high customer walk-in rate, these touch-screen units provide consumers a ready guide packed with information on the latest collections
They help in offering customised solutions to customers. For eg, if a customer wants to buy prescription lenses with AR and hydrophobic coating alongwith sun protection features, he can experience how his vision will be with the inclusion of these attributes. that have been introduced by the outlet and also assist them in choosing the services that they would like to avail of. For the optician, the touch-screen kiosk can be a handy tool when sales personnel are busy. “Sometimes people have some personal preference about the eyewear model that will suit them, but they may not want to discuss this with the salesperson at the retail counter. They might prefer using the kiosk to help decide, for instance, whether over-the-top models suit them or not,” adds Sachin Furia, the proprieter of Prince Optics.
THE INDUSTRY CATCHES ON
Helping customers decide better is one of the reasons why companies like Shamir and Luxottica are investing in this technology. According to Dagan, picking up eyewear especially in terms of finding frames that look right on each individual’s face as well as choosing OPTICPLUS : Everything between you and eye
INTERACTIVITY, SIMPLY
With kiosks offering a very high level of interactivity, due to the technology available, the regular shopper can get things done that he would never get done by a normal sales person. Photographing themselves with the eyewear, comparing such images with different eyewear, even sharing them on social media sites and getting an instant response from friends and family - these are the different ‘Wow’ factors that seem to help attract a lot of investment into this technology. Will the influx of iPads and other tablets make this technology redundant? After all, the investment is much lesser and the mobility is way better. Technology is fickle and what’s new today will be redundant tomorrow. But as of now, touch-screen kiosks seem to be the answer when it comes to impressing clients and increasing sales. __________________________________ - Vinita Bhatia ................................................................................ Email us at response@opticplus.in 63
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MANAGEMENT MATTERS
Managing Success Or Inspiring Failures I
n today’s scenario where retail chains are cropping up everywhere, there is no denying the significant role that a Retail Area Manager (RAM) plays when it comes to ensuring that a retail chain works successfully and each outlet performs consistently. However, according to Yatish Chandrashekhar, this role isn’t a clearly defined one and is ‘born out of confusion’.
WHO IS A RETAIL AREA MANAGER?
Retail chains are no longer the domain of the corporate giants. It is becoming evident that single store owners are creating more outlets than they would have thought of, a few years ago. But is the Indian optical retailer prepared for the long haul? Does he understand the roles that he needs to play to make these outlets a success? Yatish Chandrashekhar, VP of IIHT Friedman Group, at a recent event explained one such role of a Retail Area Manager and the concept of a Model Store for a successful retail chain. 68
OPTICPLUS : Everything between you and eye
With the responsibility of generating more business in a retail chain, an RAM usually sets the individual and store sales goals and ensures that these are met. He might also formulate systems to objectively hold salespeople in each outlet accountable for their sales and track their performance. It is also the RAM’s responsibility to eliminate loopholes in coordination that lead to unnecessary delays and make sure that operations run smoothly. But despite their best efforts, Yatish says, RAMs find themselves pulled in different directions, handling crisis after
OPTICPLUS situation and fully explore their role, according to Yatish, is by ensuring that store managers do their jobs - and do it right. After all, they are responsible for leadership, team-building and personal development of the staff in the retail outlets. But the moot question is how can RAMs handle the leadership part of their job if they’re spending most of their time on compliance issues? The truth is that they can’t.
crisis with very little time to achieve their goals. However, handling crises is what an increasing number of RAMs unfortunately find themselves doing. According to Yatish, most of these crises are the result of incompetence or non-compliance on part of the store managers – the people who handle each retail outlet. Therefore, the role of an RAM has evolved to that of controlling the behaviour and productivity of these store managers as well as their store operations along with personnel issues and morale. Yatish recently conducted a workshop on ‘Managing Retail Store Clusters’, where he outlined the crucial role that RAMs play in a retail environment and how they can empower the staff in each outlet to ensure that that the output from every outlet remains consistent over a period of time. But this utopian situation of getting things right at the ground level is easier said than done, and most RAMs, while being aware of it, do not know how to actualise it. This is not surprising because these RAMs are generally
The role of an RAM gets limited to fire-fighting as he tries to overcome issues that crop up at different outlets on a regular basis. former store managers who were promoted because of their superior job performance. So an RAM tries to emulate his predecessor assuming that, by doing it, he will be fulfilling his role, but as Yatish points out, an RAM’s role is born out of confusion because it’s undefined. So does running one store, no matter how well, adequately prepare the RAM to look after 10 stores or maybe 20? Probably not.
DELEGATE TO EMPOWER
So does this mean that an RAM is just a traffic cop who visits his stores to settle disputes, look for violations and hand out tickets? Unfortunately, this is what most RAMs end up doing and the only way they can move out of this OPTICPLUS : Everything between you and eye
That is why it’s so important for RAMs to get their store managers to accept responsibility and completely handle the operational side of their business. These stores managers need to effectively lead their teams from within the store, by taking on the responsibility of coaching and developing their teams. The RAM’s role is to manage the overall retail business from afar. Most RAMs know merchandising, inventory management, customer mapping, brand projection, etc, and apply the same to the entire retail chain. Despite this, at times there’s a discrepancy in the performance of one store in the chain as compared to the other stores. That’s when the role of an RAM gets limited to fire-fighting as he tries to overcome the issues that crop up at different outlets on a regular basis. A good RAM will then strive to ensure that the overall sales target for the entire chain is met. But it is not an ideal situation as any retail company will want each of its outlets to achieve their individual store targets. This is where goal-setting is imperative and why it is important that certain standards be established which all stores can emulate in order to become consistent performers.
MOVING BEYOND THE STEREOTYPE
When people are given the role of an RAM, they take on that role based on what they think they should be doing rather than what they ought to do. 69
“This methodology is severely flawed because it perpetuates a misguided focus. Despite their hopes of strong recruiting, coaching, motivation and leadership, the role of an RAM gradually reduces to a purely operational or financially oriented one,” Yatish notes. And then they have to take on the additional pressures of sales, staffing, budgeting, loss prevention, customer care, training, coaching, disciplining, recruitment and more. This takes them away from what they would really like to or rather should do. So how can an RAM handle the leadership of a retail chain if he is unable to get the key staff to manage the operational issues of the business? The key word here is ‘follow-up.’ For e.g., if an RAM tells his
“Despite their best intentions, many RAMs find themselves pulled in a variety of directions, handling crisis after crisis with very little time to achieve their goals.” - Yatish Chandrashekar, VP of IIHT Friedman Group
team of merchandisers or visualisers to do a particular window display for a season, then ideally he need not get involved in all the elements of getting this display up and in order. “Every responsibility comes with a hat. The key is to give the person responsible for an activity the respective hat and make them wear it to ensure they fulfil the duties that come with that hat. In the end you have to decide, as an RAM, are you managing failures or ensuring success? You need to collaborate with your employees to inspire success,” says Yatish. So what’s the difference between managing failures and ensuring success considering they rhetorically mean the same? In a scenario where a certain thing needed to get done, 72
an RAM who manages failures would ask the relevant person why he failed to do his job; whereas an RAM who ensures success would follow-up with the concerned person right from the time the task was delegated to him and ensure that it gets done; he would keep encouraging the person with suggestions on how to complete the task efficiently and acknowledge him once the task is completed. Similarly, Yatish believes that the role of an RAM should not be limited to telling store managers what they are doing right or pointing out deficiencies. Their role instead is that of a relationship manager who invisibly connects the company’s management to the sales staff at the store. Their role is, therefore, that of a partnership devoted to elevating each store’s performance to a higher level. OPTICPLUS : Everything between you and eye
Ultimately they should make each store a highly profitable one. But the challenge is to be able to do that despite the varying strengths of each store. This is why Yatish suggests that retail chains have something called the ‘model store’.
ENTER THE MODEL STORE
The model store, as the name suggests, is defined as an outlet that meets or exceeds established written standards of excellence in sales, customer service, merchandising, operations and management. As the perfect example of how a store should run, the model store becomes a prototype for the remainder outlets in the chain. Once a model store has been established and duplications have been proven possible, the next step is to create a model retail chain. But what if a single model store can’t be created? Then how can an RAM create an entire chain of stores? A model store requires a flawless support structure of operational
merchandisers, marketers etc., each have their own personal and professional viewpoints on how a store should be run and how they should manage their own profiles too. For instance, the merchandiser may want a particular display to be showcased in a part of the outlet where the marketing personnel wants the promotional matter to be displayed instead. Such varying opinions tend to generate conflict over issues and they can and should be avioided. Rather than separate efforts, a model store requires constant collaboration across the ladder and timely acknowledgement by senior executives like the RAM that everything is running as it should. By pooling into one outlet the talents of people who best perform their respective roles, the RAM will create a model store that is better equipped to meet the projected goals every month. This model store can then be emulated across the other outlets in the chain, effectively. Implementing this strategy systems, policies and procedures as well as a staff that consistently performs at its highest possible level. This is obviously trickier in real life than it is in theory because of the different personalities and perspectives involved. Giving an instance, Yatish says that in some retail outlets, especially in fast moving seasonal products like apparel, monthly reviews of the stores are conducted to check if each store is meeting external and internal storeperformance policies. And this is not just about meeting sales targets; it also involves ensuring the way the staff greets customers, and maintains general hygiene. These companies also use mystery shoppers so that they get unbiased opinions about the customer shopping experience in their outlets. This is vital tool that can be emulated once a model store has been created. While creating a model store, an RAM has to bear in mind the possibility of conflicting opinions. For eg., employees like buyers,
OPTICPLUS will allow the RAM to concentrate his efforts on truly exploring the potential of the business. This way he can manage his area of retail outlets as one entity and they can be supervised and cultivated en masse. And it will automatically enforce, across the chain, universal standards of success - such as flawless customer service, top-notch selling skills and comprehensive product knowledge. If this process is followed then, Yatish believes, the model store will at the very least provide the RAM with a general template for maximising the return on their investment in people. __________________________________________ – Vinita Bhatia was part of the ‘Managing Retail Store Cluster’ workshop conducted by the IIHT Friedman Group for leading retail companies the world over. ................................................................................ Email us at response@opticplus.in
Building The Model Store To begin the process of building the model store, an RAM needs the cooperation of all department heads and senior executives in the retail chain.
Once this has been accomplished, he can begin to create the model store prototype based on the criteria already approved by his company. Indicated below are a few guidelines for the RAM: 1 The store: While deciding which outlet should you use to re-create as a model store, which one would you choose? Would it be your best performing store which always meets its targets or the least-performing one? Yatish Chandrashekar of VP of IIHT Friedman Group recommends that a company should opt for the store which is in between these two extremes. This is because this outlet is already performing well, but has the potential to better itself. 2) Manager for the store: The success of the store depends largely on the store manager. Therefore, an RAM needs to ensure that the manager of the model store is one who understands the company’s compliance policies and is willing to debate the same. And once these policies are mutually agreed upon, the store manager should adhere to it completely. 3) Partnership with the manger: The RAM should brief the manager on every detail of the model store project and ensure that he agrees to the process.
OPTICPLUS : Everything between you and eye
It is important to get his agreement so that he will invest his time and effort to make the model store a successful prototype. The RAM should also assist him in conducting a thorough assessment of the outlet’s staff’s abilities, so that he can train them aptly on areas like customer service skills, product knowledge, operational issues, etc. 4) Establish goals: The creation of the budget and targets for the outlet should be worked out between the RAM and the store manager. It should be ensured that the sales goals are distributed fairly amongst all individuals in the outlet. 5) Regular staff meetings: Regular staff meetings are an important tool to review the progress being made. Each staff member should be well briefed of what is expected from him so that the common goals can be achieved. “Most RAMs make the mistake of setting expectations from their staff but not giving them the right tools to fulfil those expectations. You can’t expect someone to travel 20 kms in an hour unless you give them a vehicle!” adds Yatish. After these meetings, the RAM can discuss with the manager about areas that need improvement so that the latter has a ready-to-do list to work on. This can then be reviewed every few months to ensure that the improvements are taking place. Source: IIHT Friedman Group
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F A B R I C A
www.benetton.com
OPTICMAN
After a few months of hibernation, Opticman is back to share his views and opinions about what’s right and what needs to be fixed in the Indian optical industry.
Starting A New Store?
Opticman gives some pointers
H
i, everyone! It’s nice to be back. I’ve been reading a lot lately and the one thing that keeps getting more and more apparent is that - the multinationals are coming! With the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) just around the corner, surely the retail optical sector will be affected. You and I are going to be affected. There will be no exception. All of us need to be better prepared. How will we cope in this situation? Worry? Or prepare ourselves to handle it? If you are the type who believes in preparing yourself rather than wasting time worrying then read on ahead! To deal with the emergence of the new economy, and the idea of consumerism taking newer forms every now and then, I think as far as optical retailing is concerned, it’s time to go back to the basics. And by that I mean providing a better level of service and managing your inventory in a more efficient way. Expansion, in order to benefit from the scale of volume, is another viable option. I can provide you some tips and broad guidelines to help you take this route as I have done myself. The three main things that you need to do before anything else are :
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• Get your retailing concepts right. • Locate yourself well. • Identify your target market. You might ask what is the meaning of ‘getting your retailing concepts right’? Well, I am sure that most of us are not going to enroll ourselves for a Masters degree in retailing at this point. But surely there are a few things that we can learn to help us understand the concept better.
TRY TO ANTICIPATE PROFILES OF THE CUSTOMERS WHO WILL VISIT YOU.
We assume the answer to this question to be very obvious. But that’s precisely where one could go wrong. A detailed analysis of this is critical in helping you prepare yourself for the FDI roll-out. Here are just a few of the questions you need to ask yourself and then find the relevant answers. • What is the average age of your clientele? • Would the clientele be very fashionable? • What would be the likely level of their education? • What would be the income bracket of this potential target of customers?
OPTICPLUS : Everything between you and eye
OPTICPLUS developing and changing at a fast pace these days. Some places have developed so much so quickly that people visiting the place after a span of two years find it hard to believe that it’s the same place!
RETAIL STORE DESIGN
Having finalised the store location, you must understand the basics of retail store designs. Remember that the first impression is always the last impression. A very important factor in your retail store design is to keep it neat and free of clutter. The products on display must be highlighted prominently, rather than the furniture and fixtures. The entrance must be easily accessible. Those who are in need of better vision will generally visit your store. They should have no impediments, hurdles or difficulties in accessing your store. Steep steps up or down should be completely avoided. As far as the interiors go, you should ensure that they are designed keeping in mind the future growth. As you grow, there will be greater need for space as there’ll continue to be additions to your initial stocks and equipments. Whatever your store design, ensure that there is good ventilation. No customer wants to wait in a claustrophobic or ill-ventilated store. Does your store appeal to its target audience? There are a few guidelines that should be strictly followed if you wish to build on the ‘store appeal’. These are very simple and basic in nature but they often remain ignored. There can be a lot more questions added to this list based on your requirements. Use this only as a building base to begin the questionnaire.
RESEARCH THE NEIGHBOURHOOD IN WHICH YOU INTEND TO OPEN YOUR NEW STORE.
It is very important to have first hand information about the location and the neighbourhood where you intend to start your new store. • Are there a lot of offices in the neighbourhood? • Schools and colleges? Other retail trade? Residences? Residential complexes? High-rises? • What is the population of the immediate neighbourhood? • And the surrounding areas from which you can hope to gather business? It has been generally assumed that 50-70% of potential customers come from the primary neighbourhood; 20-25% come from the surrounding areas amd only 5% would come from peripheral zones. These figures representational of a high-street store in a normal neighborhood. Stores in high-profile shopping districts as well as busy malls will reflect a completely different set of figures. And if you are looking at opening stores in areas beyond the city you currently operate in, then remember to review the customer-base regularly. Cities and towns are
In the minds of the target audience, your store image should be up-to-date on all these categories: • Cleanliness • Dependability • Honesty • Reliability • Friendliness • Trendiness in fashion • And most importantly, competence at work These may appear to be rather simplistic but most retailers tend to ignore these aspects and instead focus on ‘looking’ better than the shop they want to compete with. You need to work hard to achieve this store image, but once your store reflects the image as described above, then the customer in all probability will enter your store. And this is where the next part of retailing begins - the SALE of optical products. More on that later... _________________________________________________________________ Opticman is one amongst you. He hobnobs with everyone who matters in the optical industry. He is very knowledgeable about optics and his experience has taught him the nitty-gritty of the optical business. Some may find him to be prudish and cocky, while others may find him extremely amiable. But one thing’s for sure - he will say things to you the way they are whether you like it or not! ...........................................................................................................................
OPTICPLUS : Everything between you and eye
Email us at response@opticplus.in 79
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HAPPENINGS
Fun And Business At A ‘Sterling’ Event! Sterling Group’s dealer meet, which was held recently at Hong Kong and Macau, garnered it a lot of goodwill from the 120 opticians who participated in the event.
K
udos to Sterling Optics for having pulled off such a great event with a total of 120 opticians across two locations. The host made sure that every guest had a wonderful time while also ensuring good business. Sterling Group is known for being a great host and has done this in the 82
past too. However, for this event it seems to have gone all out to ensure that each and every guest had a holiday-cum-business trip that they will treasure for a long time. But this is not the first time Sterling Group organised an event like this. “We had held a dealer event for the first time in 2008 and the response was very good. That is why we decided to hold it again in 2011,” said Ketan Parikh, MD, Sterling Group. Last year too, Sterling Group had celebrated its silver jubilee in Macau with over 66 customers and it was such a success that when it devised the sales campaign, all the members who had participated requested that the venue for the reward program should be Macau. OPTICPLUS : Everything between you and eye
WHEN, WHERE, WHO
The event was held at the luxurious Hotel Venetian Macau, a 40-storey casino resort known to be the largest single structure hotel building in the whole of Asia. This extravagant venue was one of the highlights of the event for the 120 visitors. There were two groups of opticians who comprised Sterling’s guests. The first group was part of the trip from the 5th to the 7th of September in Macau while the second group was in Macau and Hong Kong from the 7th to the 10th of September. The guests were flown into Hong Kong and then ferried to the hotel. In the evening they explored the Ice World in the hotel, which houses one of the largest indoor ice exhibitions. Gathered
OPTICPLUS What The Guests Had To Say: “I Klein Jeans, Lacoste and Valentino from Marchon. Valentino, which was earlier with the Safilo Group, is the latest addition to Marchon’s portfolio. The latter is likely to roll out the collections in January, 2012.
Ketan Parikh poses with Kumar Lalwani
guests had a great time posing with various sculptures and sipping drinks from ice cups at the Ice Bar before heading to dinner at Aruna’s Maharaja Indian Curry restaurant. The next day they previewed various collections distributed by Sterling and later explored the city. On the third day, corporate presentations were made by Sterling Group, Marchon and Marcolin. Lunch was accompanied by a live Italian opera playing in the background after which the guests were ferried to Hong Kong for their return to India. Guests in the second group who were able to spend a day in Hong Kong had the added opportunity to visit the Ozone Bar which offers a spectacular view of the city.
DEBUTING NEW BRANDS
Four new brands were also launched during the event. One of them was Diesel which is now distributed by Marcolin and the others were Calvin
Joseph Mak, Regional Sales ManagerAsia Pacific of Marchon and Jeff Lam, Regional Deputy Sales Manager-Asia Pacific of Marchon made individual presentations where they took the audience through the changes taking place in Marchon and also the addition of new labels. Christina Sheng, Regional ManagerAsia Pacific of Marcolin gave a presentation about Marcolin and about new initiatives that the organisation was undertaking. Giving her company was Marta Todesco, Brand Manager-Tom Ford for Marcolin Italy, who spoke at length about the brand and the customer profile for its products. Ketan, too, shared his views on how opticians in the country should review their current business strategy to better harness the latent growth opportunities with a video presentation. He added that Sterling has the licence to distribute Tommy Hilfiger eyewear and pens till 2023. This aside, the company would launch eyewear from Salvatore Ferragamo, soon. This announcement set the mood for a lot of merriment amongst the gathered. Ample entertainment was provided by belly dancers who even brought a lot of reticent opticians to groove it up OPTICPLUS : Everything between you and eye
t was an awesome experience to be part of such an elite group from the Sterling Group and fellow opticians. The time I spent and the bonding I developed with all of you was one of the best. I will cherish the days of sheer pleasure and enjoyment and I look forward to meeting you often in near future.” – Ashish, Broadway Opticians, Mussoorie
“S
terling Group is an amazing company and an impeccable host.” – Navneet Kalra, Dayal Opticals, New Delhi
“T
he recent trip has left an indelible mark in my mind. It's heartening to know that Sterling has lapped up more brands such as Ferragamo and Diesel for distribution. It was a visual delight to see such a mind-boggling range of so many diverse brands during the visit. It was a great opportunity to indulge in fellowship with many of our friends from all over India and exchange views and ideas.” – Snehal Turakhia, Turakhia Opticians, Chennai
“I
am grateful to you for making this trip more enjoyable. You made sure that I had a good time and that I was taken good care of. You treated me like I was part of your family and were so generous and kind. Ketan Parikh’s presentation and Sterling’s products were very impressive. Thank you for everything.” – SA Salahudeen, City Optik Group, Calicut
“T
hanks for organising such a great event and making us a part of it. It is very easy to say but really difficult to arrange such a gathering. It was great hard work by Sterling and you have made it a trip worth remembering for all of us.” – Sandeep Pahwa, Laxmi Group, New Delhi
on the dance floor. Needless to say, the event was a memorable one for the participants and hosts, alike, if the bonhomie and camaraderie witnessed was any indication. __________________________________ - OpticPlus Bureau ................................................................................ Email us at response@opticplus.in 83
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HAPPENINGS
Presents Its
‘Point Of View’ A new corporate identity and the launch of new collections – some of the things that Eternity Lifestyles showcased at its dealer meet at Goa, an event that was a good mix of fun and socialising along with some serious business.
so that the members from Eternity Lifestyles could give personalised attention to each of their guests. And give them personalised attention they surely did.
T
It was also used as a platform to inform the opticians about its recent diversification into the lifestyle retail segment. It has managed to position all its brands in over 60 lifestyle stores in the country and plans to become more aggressive on this new business avenue.
hink Goa and one thinks of the sun, sea and a good time to be had by all. Eternity Lifestyles ensured that this was the mood for its third dealer meet held at Hotel Alila Diwa in South Goa from the 14th to the 18th of September, 2011. The event saw the participation of over 200 opticians from all over the country in six different groups. Each group comprised around 40,
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This is the third event that Eternity Lifestyles has organised in the past six years. And this is where it showcases all the brands that it currently distributes in the country. These include Cartier, Mont Blanc, Chrome Hearts, Ferrari, Rudy Project, DSquared2, John Galliano, Maybach, as well as its in-house brands – Opium and 129.
NEW LAUNCHES
At the event, Eternity Lifestyles launched three new collections OPTICPLUS : Everything between you and eye
Provogue, Park Avenue and Polar. Provogue’s new collection comprises 17 models ans the styles that dominate this range are largely aviators and wayfarers. Eternity also announced that as part of its plans to market the brand, it will even work with interested opticians in designing their shop-inshop displays for Provogue. Like Provogue, Park Avenue too started as a clothing company by the Raymond Group with corporate men’s and women’s wear. It recently started a new ad campaign with a tagline ‘True Shades’ to raise awareness about its optical products. Its latest collection comprises 13 metal and 3 plastic models in wraparound, aviator and wayfarers. Eternity is positioning the Polar sunglasses as a product which meshes the popular fashion brands with the utility of gradient polarised lenses, especially in colours that the above mentioned brands do not offer. Polar has unveiled a new ad campaign called ‘Blue Dream’ as well.
OPTICPLUS the POV messaging of their choice. There will also be a virtual room where customers can try on various glasses showcased on the site and take photos before making a purchase.
BUSINESS AND LOTS OF FUN
The event was also about transacting business. There were product buying sessions and many opticians were seen browsing through the collections to understand the positioning of each brand.
be just a company that gets products from suppliers and gives it to opticians. We want to help our customers become extensions of the brands that they sell. We want to help them market and not just sell these brands.” The company has revamped its corporate collateral as well to match this new branding exercise. The company has come up with over a dozen catch phrases like ‘I make friends, not clients’, ‘First impression is often very judgemental’. These are on the flipsides of 17 visiting cards, on the logistics material, displays, etc. Ronak also took the audience through the Opium brand, highlighting that it targeted 16 to 35 years in tier-1 and tier-2 cities. The company is patenting the trademark for its Optimatrix polycarbonate lenses which go in the collection to guarantee the product quality.
CHANGING PERSPECTIVES
Eternity Lifestyles used the dealer meet to introduce its new corporate identity, ‘A Point Of View’ (POV). Usually offering a point of view acts like an icebreaker to a conversation; it is a way to initiate a dialogue. But Eternity wants to portray it as a way to live life. Ronak Sheth, Director, Eternity Lifestyles, said, “We do not want to
Additionally, the company has revamped its corporate website and it is creating a new one called www. mypointofview.com. The latter is aimed at having an interactive experience for Eternity Lifestyles’ customers and the end-buyers as well and will have a section that carries forward the POV branding. These include categories like ‘Why POV’, ‘Experts POV’, ‘Discuss POV’, etc. Kiran Sheth, Director, Eternity Director explains, “In the ‘Experts POV’ and ‘Discuss POV’ we will incorporate feedback from the opticians about various collections, so that they have a closer bond with our company.” Once the site is live, customers can browse through products like T-shirts and mugs and customise them with OPTICPLUS : Everything between you and eye
In the words of Ajay Nagpal of Mumbai-based Virgo Optiks, events like these help opticians interact with each other and see the collections from various brands under a single roof. VV Ramana of Optorium in Hyderabad also expressed his satisfaction at being a part of the event because he could meet with several opticians from the country in a very informal ambience. The ambience got even better in the evenings with the entertainment Eternity had planned. African drummers from the Drum Cafe kept the audience engaged in playing out music with the djembe drums and percussion instruments. Everyone was seen having a ball, drumming away and Ronak even did an impromptu solo performance. While mixing business with pleasure, Ronak also made an impassioned plea to all opticians to collaborate wherein they would gather all the unused stock of optical frames and sunglasses and donate them to the under-privileged. This found a lot of favour amongst those present in the audience. Business, enjoyment and philanthropy – they all came together in the pleasurable environment of Goa. And it also gave the opticians the perfect break from their business to just soak up the sun and the surf. __________________________________ - Vinita Bhatia ................................................................................ Email us at response@opticplus.in 87
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Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in retail is likely to be rolled out soon. While some people in the industry are apprehensive about it, others are willing to take it in their stride. OpticPlus asked people from the trade how FDI’s entry will affect the optical business. This is what they had to say…
JUST ONE QUESTION
“How will FDI affect the optical retail business?” Vikram Gupta
Prime Lenses, Goa
I think the FDI will have a good impact on this industry as it will raise the level of opticianry in India. The market will become bigger which will lead to more eyewear options and better quality of service. As a result, people will spend more on getting better eye care. In fact, the optical industry can pull revenues from other industries. By providing better service, people might spend more on eyewear than other accessories. Though people in the industry are apprehensive about the competition that FDI will bring with it, in the long run, this competition will benefit the market. ____________________________________________________
Anup Kumar R Kumar Optics, Ahmedabad
The FDI will definitely have an impact on us and as retailers we have to read about it, understand how it functions so we can match large retail chains. When corporate and pan-Indian optical stores opened, they weren’t very successful in areas where local opticians improved themselves. Similarly, FDI 90
though not good for independent retailers, can be fought by cost cutting, improved margins and better deals for our customers. If I want to match the retail chains, I will have to improve my staff and train them. We cannot stop the FDI because it’s a political decision. But we can upgrade our workmanship and fine-tune ourselves. Let us just learn how to endure these changes with the least possible damage. ____________________________________________________
Sanjay Shah
Avi Optics, Mumbai
I don’t think FDI’s entry is something to be scared about. With the FDI coming in, the quality of the products and the range available to customers will drastically improve. Local customers will learn more about international brands and will know what to ask for when they walk into our stores. I believe that if it’s healthy competition, it is good competition. FDI will benefit both the retail chains and the local retailer. Because of higher awareness about the utility and extreme quality-standards of global brands, customers won’t mind paying more because by then they’ll know what they’re paying for. For instance, customers ask for Crizal because of the brand’s awareness. The standard of the service provided will automatically improve because of the competition. It’ll encourage us to improve ourselves. ____________________________________________________
OPTICPLUS : Everything between you and eye
OPTICPLUS Jayant Chheda
Suvin Optics, Mumbai
FDI in its first run will not have much effect due to two reasons. Firstly, Europe and USA’s economy are in bad shape. And secondly, for their Indian counterpart, the optical industry is not an attractive option to choose from. They’d rather invest in the clothing industry. Also, the optical retail is not an investmentoriented business so it doesn’t really need FDI. Foreign retail chains could wait for more liberal FDI rules to come in place. Also, the present scenario of FDI in optical retail is not very encouraging but in the long run, its effects will be normalised because by then all the players would have settled in. ____________________________________________________
Piyush Shah
Pearl Optics, Bangalore
Mukesh Moradia
Pramukh Swami Opticals, Surat
FDI’s entry will only benefit the Indian optical market in the long run. The business has been growing and will continue to do so. Others may not concur with me but our optical industry will only be upgraded by the entry of these foreign chains. We’ll learn a lot from them and become more organised and systematic in our ways. Those amongst us who continue to provide good quality of service have nothing to worry about. ____________________________________________________
Naresh Chokshi Laxmi Opticians, Ahmedabad
With the FDI coming in, the Indian optical market will obviously become highly competitive. The retailer will have to put his best foot forward by becoming more alert and learning newer and better marketing strategies. The only way to sustain oneself in such a market is to improve the quality of service we have been providing our customers so far. ____________________________________________________
FDI’s entry will entail a total rehaul of the optical marketing scenario as the penetration level of the industry will get a boost. The number of spectacle-users will also go up as there will be higher awareness. Backed by a lot of advertisements, international brands will also get a big push and the entire market is likely to grow. This is something we’d seen when Titan entered the industry. And of course, we will have to be geared up with good offers and promotional activities besides providing better quality of service to handle the expected level of competition. But yes, more the competition, better the market. ____________________________________________________
Harish Gajjar
Gajjar Group, Mumbai
FDI’s entry in to the Indian optical industry will definitely improve the standards here. Five or 10 years ago, this industry was relatively unorganised (barring the presence of a few big retailers). But the entry of retail chains helped in the standardisation of frames and lenses. Better variety of brands were made available to customers and more importantly, buyers were satisfied once they were educated about their vision care issues. Similarly, the FDI will bring higher exposure to the eyewear sector, thereby improving the level of vision care in the Indian optical industry. ........................................................................................................................... Email us at response@opticplus.in.
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EVENTS
OPTICPLUS
CIOF Getting Bigger 2011 And Better WHERE:
Beijing, China WHEN:
Sep 14-16, 2011
The 24th China International Optics Fair (CIOF 2011) was spread out over 44,700 square meters. With over 700 global companies participating in the event this time, CIOF was definitely bigger and better than last year.
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he 24th session of the China International Optics Fair (CIOF 2011) was held at the China International Exhibition Centre, Beijing from 14th to 16th September 2011. And the good news is that it lived up to its organisers aspirations of being bigger and better than last year. While 731 exhibitors from 22 countries participated in CIOF 2010, the organisers were aiming at crossing the 770 benchmark this year. Over 300 brands from 23 countries participated in the event. Even well-known international brands including Armani
Exchange, Hugo Boss, Alfred Dunhill, Dior, Marc Jacobs, Mercedes Benz, Mykita, etc, were part of the event.
optometry and ophthalmology were also showcased.
GOVERNMENT’S ENDORSEMENT
CIOF is organised by the China Optometric and Optical Association. In fact, the Ministry of Commerce in China endorses it as one of the distinguished exhibitions of the country and hence the Chinese government gave full support and subsidy to the event.
The event organisers are currently collating the final numbers on the number of exhibitors, trade visitors and the countries represented. But overall the response to the event was buoyant. The participation of indigenous Chinese companies underlines the general belief that China is poised to become an important optical trading hub.
This year, the exhibition halls covered a total of 44,700 square meters. A new pavilion, Hall 6, was deployed to house international exhibitors. Four global companies, which had stayed away from the event in 2010, participated as well. These include Safilo, Mykita, Lindberg and Cazal.
At present, China is estimated to be one of the biggest consumer markets in eyewear and sunglasses and Chinese manufacturing enterprises are constantly looking for high-technology machinery, materials, components and accessories to cater to the demands of the expanding local market.
As always, this year too CIOF continued to display and demonstrated the state-of-the-art exhibits ranging from spectacle frames, sunglasses, 3D glasses, lenses, contact lens, visual test equipment, machinery and raw materials for making spectacle frames and lenses. Instruments for
This made the event organisers confident that more exhibitors would use CIOF as their chosen channel to grab a share of the lucrative Chinese market. And from the looks of the visitor turnout at the event, their confidence was on the mark.
OPTICPLUS : Everything between you and eye
INTERESTING MIX
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WHERE:
Paris, France WHEN:
Sep 29-Oct 02, 2011
Silmo 2011 garnered the usual excitement amongst exhibitors and visitors, alike. This is a good reminder of why it continues to reign as one of the leading optical trade fairs, globally.
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Silmo 2011: Stepping Up A Gear
hey came, they saw and they concurred – that Silmo 2011 was a success. Known to be one of the two leading trade fairs in the optical world (Mido being the other), it was heartening to see that Silmo 2011 lived up to expectations to a great extent! It has always been projected as a favoured destination where visitors can explore the latest collections, participate in the launch of new brands and witness optical innovation in style and technology.
from sectors including sunglasses and optical frames, lenses, contact lenses, technological equipment, store design and layout.
Silmo's organisers put in extra effort to make this event successful by adding 6% area to the floor plan. Spread across 80,000 square meters, it saw the participation of over 120 new companies and 34,671 industry professionals. 56% of these were international visitors - an increase of 5% over last year.
GETTING ATTENTION
The event organisers had announced in advance that this time around, Silmo would be an action-packed programme with a variety of events to complement a roster of exhibitors 96
And it looks like they were not off the mark. The impression one got this time around was that Silmo’s organisers were not willing to take competition lying down and would attract attention more than ever. Even before the four-day event had begun on 29th September, 2011, there was already a lot of excitement going around. Marchon, which has been participating in Silmo since 1995, was back at the event this year as well. According to Eric Lefort, MD of Marchon France, Silmo is a huge opportunity for their company to get visibility. “Additionally, this is a great way to show our entire portfolio and collections as Silmo is a meeting point between fashion and eyewear,” he added. The company’s expectations from
OPTICPLUS : Everything between you and eye
OPTICPLUS "I'm happy, not just for us, but also for all our exhibitors." A tête-à-tête with ERIC LENOIR, Commissioner General, Silmo 2011’s organising committee ON THE ADDED ATTRACTIONS IN SILMO’S RECENT EDITION: 6% additional space was added to Silmo 2011. 120 new companies participated in this edition, which is a very positive development for us.
the trade fair this year was very high, especially as it chose to present its new collections and brands there. Ogi Eyewear too participated in Silmo for the second time following a successful showing at its debut. Phil Windyk, Marketing Director of Ogi Eyewear stated, “Each year the Silmo show attracts many influential retailers from across the globe. Beginning partnerships with these key retailers makes us very confident about the future.” Other exhibitors too believed that Silmo presents a great opportunity for them to meet their raw material suppliers to preview new, unreleased materials. They also used this chance to visit their favourite boutique stores in Paris to gain an insight into the future of fashion. Overall, there was mixed reaction about the success of the fair in general. While some exhibitors were satisfied about fulfilling their agenda of meeting their clientele, others did feel that the footfall this time was much lesser than last year. But according to Eric Lenoir, Commissioner General of Silmo 2011’s organising committee, the turnout is not a serious problem since today most visitors attend an exhibition only if they are serious about their business prospects. He added that even exhibitors are happier dealing with people who are their real customers, rather than those with a cursory interest.
ON NON-PARTICIPATION OF BIG PLAYERS LIKE LUXOTTICA, SAFILO AND MARCOLIN: I do not know why big Italian players like Luxottica, Safilo and Marcolin did not participate in Silmo 2011. I made every effort to bring them in, but I am unconvinced by the reasons they gave me for not participating. They have not been in Silmo for the past four years. Honestly, I am unhappy not having them here. Surprisingly, though they are not a part of Silmo, they take visitors from here to their showrooms in the town, which I think is very unfair. I know during the last Mido event, Luxottica had buses taking the visiting opticians to their showrooms outside the event. I don't understand why they do this. ON THE IMPACT OF THESE COMPANIES NOT PARTICIPATING IN THE EVENT: The non-participation of these companies has not had much of impact on the show. In a way, this has worked in the favour of other brands, who had access to more visitors, giving them better chance and time to sell. So, the other brands had greater opportunity with lesser competition. ON THE IMPACT OF D'OR AWARDS ON WINNERS: The d’Or awards are important to big players like Essilor because it's sort of a confirmation of what they claim in the market. For the smaller companies it is an opportunity to show the world that they are doing big things and are getting recognition for it. One case in particular is iC! Berlin. In 1997, this company was very small and a friend had recommended it. After seeing their products and the dynamism of the young people involved in the company, I gave them free stall space in that Silmo edition. They surprised everyone when they won the d’Or award during the event and since then their growth has been phenomenal. They are here again this time and have won the award for the second time. This is the impact d'Or has on the industry!
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which is manufactured and distributed by Demenego. The success of this collection lies precisely in its ability to interpret, satisfy and provide a discerning female customer base with the assurance it demands in terms of style, taste and quality of material.
The much-anticipated Silmo d’Or awards, that recognised the work of all those pioneering optical companies, was held at the National Air and Space Museum in Le Bourget. A separate section was created where those competing for the international awards displayed their products before the awards ceremony. A TV booth was also set up to showcase all the news from the optical profession with lively debates and interviews broadcast live by Acuité. Visitors were seen participating in the Silmo ‘Star For A Day’ contest where they stood the chance of winning a photoshoot with a fashion photographer on registering their badge at silmoparis.com. These were but some of the goodies that Silmo had in store for exhibitors and visitors. Looking at this list, is it any wonder then that this event has emerged as a must-visit trade fair for the global optical industry?
Snapshots of some visiting delegates from India
NOT TO BE MISSED
Some of the things that visitors looked forward to was the Silmo Academy - a symposium for eyewear professionals wishing to enhance their knowledge. Topics addressed this year included understanding the issues surrounding children’s vision, reading and myopia. There was also a Low Vision area, where information and awareness related to sight impairment was raised.
__________________________________________________________________ – OpticPlus Bureau ............................................................................................................................ Email us at response@opticplus.in
With the kind of programs conducted, Silmo showed that it was moving ahead in the right direction. These programs were there to galvanize creativity, stimulate imagination and facilitate visits by professionals. The Merchandising Workshop, for instance, saw specialist merchandising support being provided to all opticians who wished to generate more visitors to their store and make optimal use of their sales area. There were experts who coached visitors on how to use merchandising as a good sales point. They took the audience through the seven key points of merchandising. Opticians also benefited from the Optic Dating section which is reportedly an original approach to hiring new staff based on the speed dating principle.
KEEPING FASHION IN MIND
VISION: Essilor's
Some new collections that were launched at Silmo included ‘Beam and Sunbeam’ from Kirk Originals. These models are made entirely from an acrylic material that shines like glass when finished, resulting in frames that are light and comfortable to wear. Seeoo was another debutante brand from artisan Gerard Lansik of Vienna. It had already won the Red Dot Product Design Award in 2010 for its innovation and creativity. And then there was the Caracte're Eyewear collection for women, 98
Winners of the 18th Silmo d'Or awards
Optifog Essilor's Mr Orange LOW VISION/OPTIC INSTRUMENT: Ceciaa's Clear Reader-Advanced CHILDREN: Opal for the Lulu Castagnette frame from The Three Little Bears collection OPTIC FRAME: Gold & Wood’s B23.2 model SUNGLASSES: ic! Berlin for the Power Law sunglass SPORTS EQUIPMENT: Silhouette for the Evil Eye Halfrim Pro frame from Adidas Eyewear FRAME TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION: Lindberg Precious Horn frame MATERIAL/EQUIPMENT:
OPTICPLUS : Everything between you and eye
OPTHA TALK
A rather common eye problem, Strabismus, more commonly known as Squint, could be hinting at bigger and more alarming ailments. Needless to say it can be tackled on early detection but this can only happen with an increased awareness about this disorder. We talked to Dr. Cyres Mehta and Dr. Deepak Garg about this eye disorder to help us understand how to deal with it better.
Strabismus
A Warning Sign?
S
trabismus, more commonly known as Squint, is a disorder in which both the eyes aren’t aligned properly and hence cannot look at the same object at the same time, resulting in a lack of ‘depth-perception’ which is our ability to perceive the world in three dimensions; without it, a person will be unable to do certain tasks like flying an airplane or driving, for the rest of his life.
TYPES OF SQUINT
What essentially happens in squint is that the muscles in the eye don’t function together. As a result, each eye looking in a different direction sends out images of different sizes to the brain. The brain is then unable to superimpose these ‘out of sync’ images. Hence, one eye shuts down, leading to the suppression of the image by that eye. The good eye continues to function and the other eye becomes weak or as it is referred to, the ‘lazy eye’. 102
There are various types of squint and they affect people across the age bar. While some are acquired at birth (nystagmus – eye is weak at birth), some set in later during adulthood, but the two most commonly found are - Paralytic and Concomitant (non-paralytic). A Paralytic squint occurs when the extra ocular muscles in the eye get paralysed, leaving the eye incapable of moving in one direction. This usually happens when there’s a growth or an aneurysm (bulge in the wall of a blood vessel) in the head, or due to something pressing on a nerve on the way to the eye muscle. In some rare cases a brain tumour could also be a cause. A Concomitant squint occurs when there’s a muscle balance problem between the two eyes wherein one eye looks elsewhere while the other one looks straight. A child can be born with OPTICPLUS : Everything between you and eye
this type of squint or he can develop it later in which case it would be the result of a very high refractive error in one eye and none in the other or a cataract in one and not in the other; in these cases, the eye with the refractive error or cataract becomes lazy and moves in or out. A child’s eye moves inward (meaning towards the nose) and an adult’s eye moves outward (away from the nose). Dr. Cyres Mehta, Surgical Director and Chief at International Eye Center, elaborates, “If you see an adult with his eye moved out, then the problem occurred in adulthood. And if the eye’s moved in, then the problem occurred when the adult was a child.” No one factor can be pinned as being the sole cause of squint, but doctors believe heredity could play a role here as vision characteristics are usually inherited from parents. For instance, if the father had a high refractive error in one eye and not in the other, the
OPTICPLUS “We do school camps because this helps detect and treat eye problems at a very early stage. The trick is to do a routine test after three years of age and keep going for it, once a year.” – Dr. Deepak Garg, Medical Director and Pediatric Opthalmologist at Eye Solutions
Strabismus, if not corrected before 7 or 8 years of age, can lead to extremely weak vision and it becomes a big problem to improve the vision later.
child is likely to have the same, and eventually the eye with the error starts squinting. Other theories are that the shape of the skull is such that it forces one of the eyes to squint, or the internal muscles of the eye are weak.
WARNING SIGN
There should be a higher awareness amongst parents and teachers as most of times a squint is detected by them. This is most crucial as there’s no way for a doctor to pick up if a child has squint because some squints happen erratically. So if a child’s eye seems to be squinting in the morning, it may disappear by the evening time. This type of squint progresses by occurring more and more and then eventually turning constant. Initially the angle of
the squint might be very small but the deviation increases over a period of time. In such cases, it is critical for the school teacher to be observant enough to notice that there’s something wrong with the child’s eye. Dr. Deepak Garg, Medical Director and Pediatric Opthalmologist at Eye Solutions, explains, “We do school camps because this helps detect and treat eye problems at a very early stage. The trick is to do a routine test after three years of age and keep going for it, once a year. So if they’re developing a squint, it can be tackled at an early stage.” While squint itself can be cured by surgery or physiotherapy in some cases, it could also be hinting at some OPTICPLUS : Everything between you and eye
other major ailment. Dr. Mehta says, “All paralytic squints point at some other problem like aneurysm, brain tumour or pressure on one of nerves passing through the eye and in cases where the patient’s eye can’t move outward, known as a ‘false localising sign’, an MRI is done to find out the ailment behind it, but most of the times it’s a defect in the muscles.” According to Dr. Garg, one reason why small children have a squint could be because of a cancer in the eye known as ‘retinoblastoma’ which can be determined only in a detailed examination of the retina. A squint can even be caused by a congenial cataract or macular disease. In kids from age 4-5, the most common indication of a squint is a high refractive error in which case they simply need to get glasses. In adults it could be pointing at uncontrolled diabetes or hypertension. Either way, it is imperative that one goes for regular eye examinations in order to prevent other problems from spiralling out.
PROFESSIONAL HAZARD
Squint is a very visible cosmetic blemish, and in a generation obsessed with beauty, it can severely affect the self-esteem of a person. But more importantly, it can take away one’s ability to perform certain tasks or activities. Dr. Garg explains, “All human beings have binocular vision - looking at one object with both eyes. The advantage to this is depth perception. 103
For eg: eagles have depth perception so they can fly. But a frog doesn’t have it because each eye looks in a different direction. When one has squint, one loses binocular vision, thus decreasing one’s visual abilities. Such a person cannot become a doctor, pilot, surgeon, pathologist, etc., because he doesn’t have depth perception.” So it’s a big loss in vision and can prevent a person from pursuing the profession of his interest.
"All paralytic squints point at some other problem like aneurysm or brain tumour among others." – Dr. Cyres Mehta, Surgical Director and Chief at International Eye Center
VISION THERAPY
Very small percentage of squints can be cured by glasses. Almost 99 percent of squints that children are born with and 95 percent of squints that are acquired in adulthood, require surgical intervention. In the case of children, squint may get worse with viral diseases like jaundice. If they don’t get it corrected before 7 or 8 years of age, it can lead to extremely weak vision and it becomes a big 104
problem to improve the vision later. All this can be prevented by going for regular eye examinations. There are eye exercises to help cure squint. One of them involves looking through a binocular that has the image of a lion in one lens and a cage in the other, and the patient is supposed to keep looking until he can superimpose these two images and ‘cage the lion’. The same exercise is repeated with
OPTICPLUS resection. In some cases, one needs to go in for cataract surgery as that could be the cause of the squint. He says that once they’re explained about its benefits and safety procedure, a majority of the people are willing to go in for surgery. But unfortunately about 20-25%, according to Dr. Garg, go into a state of denial and choose to believe that squint goes away automatically and that it’s not something that needs medical help to be cured. He goes on to add, “Parents are sceptical of surgery because of the general anaesthesia that is given to children. Even though with better machines and better drugs it’s very safe, still anaesthesia always has that risk factor. Therefore, some parents refuse.” A question that most patients ask before surgery is, ‘why is it being performed on both the eyes?’ Dr. Garg explains that squint is a bilateral problem. It shifts from one eye to the other in that it’s not necessary that the same eye will squint each time. The other eye might squint at another time. “That’s why when we do a squint surgery, 70-80% of the time we do it on both the eyes.”
different images each time. There’s also vision therapy wherein a machine called ‘synoptophore’ is used to strengthen the eye muscles. Though an option, vision therapy has its limitations. Dr. Garg says that it helps in dealing with only one type of squint – intermittent exotropia (outward deviation of the eye).
SURGICAL INTERVENTION
Surgery essentially involves working on the eye muscles. The three basic types performed (depending on the type of squint) are, Recession – weakening the eye muscles, Resection – strengthening the eye muscles, and Transposition – moving the eye muscle from one location to the other to change the function of that muscle entirely. Ninety percent of the surgeries, Dr. Mehta says, involve recession and OPTICPLUS : Everything between you and eye
The good news is that squint surgery is an affordable option. Giving a ballpark figure, Dr. Mehta points out that in small hospitals, it costs somewhere between Rs. 7000-8000 rupees while in major hospitals it’s about Rs. 25,00030,000. Squint is likely to remain for the rest of one’s life if left untreated and that’s a heavy price to pay for those who aren’t ready to accept this problem and instead choose to live in denial. Squint surgery is a one-day procedure and a safe one at that, given the technology. So considering the convenient and affordable options available to cure it, taking care of this problem is easier now than ever. __________________________________________ – Ishita Bal ................................................................................ Email us at response@opticplus.in
is now online! www.drharmanns.com
Registered opticians can now purchase all Dr.Harmann’s products at the click of a button.
Follow a few easy steps and you are on your way to being a privileged customer of Dr Harmann’s.
Visit www.drharmanns.com Click on the register link on the left panel Fill in the details and await confirmation of your account by email. Login using the details that have been emailed to you. Use Order Form link to place your order!
Visit us at www.drharmanns.com and enjoy the experience of getting the latest product updates and ordering your stocks online.
FOR TRADE ENQUIRIES CONTACT:
Suvin Optics
1&2 GROUND FLOOR, BLOCK ‘B’, BHANGWADI, KALBADEVI ROAD, MUMBAI 400 002 Tel.: (022) 2208 6702 / 2207 0081 Fax: (022) 2205 1009 E-Mail: suvinoptics@gmail.com
EYE
STUDY
Often, contact lens users experience discomfort on wearing their lenses and tend to blame the lens brand for it. But a recent study suggests that the preservatives present in the lens solution could be the cause. Read on to find out more...
Corneal Staining
A
Understanding Its True SigniďŹ cance
n intact corneal epithelium (the cellular covering on the cornea) acts as a powerful barrier against the invasion of unwanted microorganisms into the deeper layers of the cornea. jJst as water leaves a stain on a glass window, similarly, according to researchers, the cornea too gets stained when it comes in regular contact with the preservatives (chemical keratitis) generally present in lens solutions. And if the staining crosses a certain limit, it damages the epithelial barrier posing a serious threat to ones eye health. Eye care practitioners have been using sodium fluorescein for over 100 years 108
to help detect any signs of an injured epithelial cell. Research quantifies one specific type of corneal staining - staining induced by multipurpose solutions following lens insertion. This is commonly called solution-induced corneal staining or SICS. Different lens materials absorb and release the various solution preservatives at different rates and in different amounts. In general, the preservatives are released onto the eye in greatest quantities within 2 to 4 hours after lens insertion. For this reason, SICS is typically more pronounced during the early hours of lens wear. OPTICPLUS : Everything between you and eye
There has been a lot of discussion as to what SICS means and how eye care practitioners should approach this staining. To better understand corneal staining in general and SICS in particular, Dr. Gary Andrasko, Director of Contact Lens Research Practice in the Ohio interviewed Dr. John Lauren. The latter is an associate professor at the University of Alabama-Birmingham School of Optometry. His PhD research involved an evaluation of the surface cells of the corneal epithelium. He also looked at corneal staining at the cellular level and is one of a handful of people who has observed the fluorescein stained cornea with the high magnification of a laboratory
OPTICPLUS
microscope. Here are excerpts of the interview which Dr. Gary has posted on his website www.staininggrid.com: Dr. Gary (GA): What is the nature and function of the corneal epithelium? Dr. John Lauren (JL): The corneal epithelium is essentially a cellular covering on the cornea that protects it from any unwanted microorganisms. An intact epithelium is the best defense against corneal adverse events and hence is of crucial importance to eye health. The corneal epithelium has three layers – squamous cells which are scale-like cells and they are similar in shape to tiny leaves flattened out and overlapping one another in an irregular fashion; then there are individual RBC's moving through the conjunctival capillaries just beyond the limbus (the border of the cornea) and the sclera (the white of the eye); finally, there are the individual corneal epithelial surface cells. 1 GA: Your work with Wilson in the mid1990's provided a new understanding of corneal staining. What did you find? JL: While I was a graduate student working with Dr. Graeme Wilson
Why do some lens/solution combinations cause more staining than other?
One thought is that the staining is primarily caused by solution preservatives (chemical keratitis) as they are released on the eye. A recent study has shown that different lens materials absorb and release the various solution preservatives at different rates and in different amounts. In general, the preservatives are released onto the eye in greatest quantities within 2 to 4 hours after lens insertion. For this reason, solution-
and Dr. Hongwei Ren at UAB, we used a rabbit model (according to ARVO guidelines) to investigate the nature of fluorescein staining on the corneal surface. I am not sure if we were the first ones to discover it, but I think we were the first to publish it in the ‘Hyperfluorescent staining of the cornea is due to the uptake of fluorescein by individual cells.’ We found no evidence of any accumulation OPTICPLUS : Everything between you and eye
induced corneal staining is typically more pronounced during the early hours of lens wear.
This is why the 2-hour staining percentages are reported on the Staining Grid. Therefore, it is important for the eye care practitioner to evaluate solution induced staining in the lens wearing day (i.e., 2-4 hours after lens insertion). Source: www.staininggrid.com
of fluorescein on the corneal surface or in intercellular spaces that resulted in hyperfluorescence. 2 Hyperfluorescence in our definition would be the brightness of the small spots on the corneal surface that stand out from the adjacent epithelium and are distinctly visible with the slit lamp even when viewed through the fluorescein-laden tear film. 109
OPTICPLUS quite clear: corneal staining indicates that the corneal epithelium is not able to perform its protective function as well as a cornea without significant stain. GA: Based upon all the research that we have just discussed, please tell us how you view solution-induced corneal staining and if it is important to avoid it. JL: I think all hyperfluorescent corneal fluorescein staining is negative. One could conclude that induced corneal staining, regardless of the cause, indicates the premature initiation of programmed cell death. Cells are dying earlier than Mother Nature intended. The question then becomes: how much staining/additional cell death is acceptable? Certainly the corneal epithelium is capable of replacing
An intact corneal epithelium acts as a barrier against the invasion of unwanted microorganisms into the deeper layers of the cornea.
GA: At this year's BCLA meeting, Eric Papas presented some research regarding the inflammatory nature of corneal staining. Did his findings make sense to you based on the current theories of staining? JL: I did not attend the BCLA meeting but I read a synopsis of Eric Papas' presentation and I find myself very impressed with his work. He found an increase in cytokines (protein inflammatory markers) with contact lens wear and an additional increase in those patients exhibiting solutioninduced corneal staining (SICS). Although he did not find a correlation between the degree of stain in those patients with SICS and the level of cytokines, I think the basic principle is clear: Some multi-purpose solutions can cause SICS and SICS is associated with an increase in inflammation compared to contact lens wearers without SICS. I think it is 110
almost self-evident that the physiology of the corneal epithelium has been altered when we see fluorescein staining of the corneal surface whether it is associated with dryness, mechanical abrasion, or some type of chemical insult. That this altered physiology is also associated with an increase in inflammatory markers should not be surprising. GA: Dr. Jerry Paugh has found some interesting results correlating solutioninduced corneal staining with a leaky barrier function. Please elucidate. JL: Dr. Paugh's excellent work on this area also makes it evident that fluorescein staining of the cornea indicates a compromise of the corneal epithelium. His work does not necessarily tell us the long-term significance of the compromise of the epithelial barrier function, but once again, I think the basic principle is OPTICPLUS : Everything between you and eye
lost cells under normal physiological conditions as well as in cases of injury. How much physiological compromise can a cornea tolerate on a chronic basis? Could we relate the amount of corneal staining to some measure that in turn could be related to negative long-term consequences for the cornea? I do not know when we will be able to properly answer these questions, but at this point I think we can safely say that corneal staining is not good - we are just uncertain of how bad it is. Thanks Dr. Laurent.
__________________________________________ References 1. Laurent J. Evaluation of the cornea through the use of contact lens cytology. PhD dissertation, University of Alabama Birmingham, 1996. 2. Wilson G, Ren H, Laurent J. Corneal epithelial fluorescein staining. J Am Optom Assoc 1995;66(7):435-41. ................................................................................ Email us at response@opticplus.in
OFF THE SHELF
Be a style guru with Maui Jim’s new sunglasses
Becoming a style guru is now possible as Maui Jim, the US-based makers of UV-blocking polarized sunglasses, has introduced two new models - Wiki Wiki and Dawn Patrol. The collection contains fresh varieties viz. Wiki Wiki Gold/ HCL, Wiki Wiki Silver/ Grey, Wiki Wiki Gloss Black/ HT, Dawn Patrol Grey/ Rose, Dawn Patrol Black/ Grey and Dawn Patrol Tortoise/ HCL. These chic shades come with inherent PolarizedPlus 2 lens technology that ensures day-long protection to the wearer’s eyes from the harmful UV rays of sun.
The feather-light sunglasses have a flexible frame design that gives the user a snug fit. With anti-corrosive traditional hinges, adjustable non-slip Rabalon nose pads and rubber temple tips, Wiki Wiki and Dawn Patrol provide good comfort. A high-gloss finish and the flexibility to incorporate Rx-able lenses make Maui Jim sunglasses a preferred choice!
Diesel’s Spring-Summer 2012 eyewear collection
Diesel Eyewear’s Spring-Summer 2012 sunglasses collection is the birth of a new collaboration between Marcolin and Diesel. The collection truly underlines the label's positioning as a bold and iconic brand. The rivets decoration on the eyewear has an overlap effect; the asymmetric color finishing implies versatility. The contrast of shiny and matt material and contrast colors emphasize its multi-faceted design, while embodying Diesel's heritage rock and roll edge. The black and blue Double Trouble is for men, the ivory and petroleum model for women, while the military colors (mud, khaki, military green) are for both.
Less is more with the new Rodenstock spectacles
Rodenstock's latest trends for this summer has a total of 16 new correction frames. Following the principle of ‘less is more’, discrete patterns are at the centre of this collection alongwith high-quality titanium and Trogamid, the finest Italian acetate and timelessly modern stainless steel.
Retro trend, less dominant though, is still noticeable in the ladies' frames. The R 5251 among others, is reminiscent of cat eye spectacles of the 50's made of multilayer acetate. This collection spells Rodenstock's technical competence – even in minute details.
Charmant’s new Puma Eyewear for teens
Charmant Eyewear launched new Puma range for boys and girls. The optical collection includes styles made of acetate, monel and CFX, Charmant’s memory metal. The colour palette is directly influenced by Puma’s signature colour red along with electric blue, bright yellow, orange and green are used as accent colours. The brand’s image as one of sport and lifestyle is reflected in the collection. The temple curvature has a sporty inspiration and all frames feature a double injected rubber temple tip to keep frames securely in place during any activity.
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Gotti’s four designs in one colour
Black has long stood for elegance and secrecy. And that is precisely the impression that the new götti Switzerland Black Edition gives These new glasses, part of the brand’s collection consisting of four models, will be debuted for the first time in September 2011. The colours were applied using götti Switzerland’s ‘physical vapor deposition’ process, providing a high level of colour fastness and adhesion, and all götti titanium models will now be refined using this technique. The entire glasses are in black except a hinge that's in silver to provide contrast. When the earpieces unfold, a small Ö becomes visible like a hidden treasure suddenly discovered.
Safilo launches special edition 1921 sunglasses from Gucci
Gucci has introduced special edition 1921 sunglasses as part of an exclusive collection to celebrate its 90th anniversary. Designed by Creative Director Frida Giannini, the model pays homage to the icons, craftsmanship, and luxury materials for which the House has become famous since its founding in Florence by Guccio Gucci in 1921. Completely covered in natural leather, the special edition women’s sunglasses feature an elegant, large upsweep shape and glass lenses. An 18-carat gold plaque on the left temple carries a new engraved trademark, G Gucci Firenze 1921. The model is available in three colours – cherry, beige, and brown – and comes with a leather case.
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Dunhill Eyewear for modern gentlemen
Dunhill Eyewear has added 16 new models to its 2011 Spring/Summer collection. Presented in three ranges - dunhill Club, dunhill Classic and dunhill Ultimate, they are classic yet modern, luxurious yet functional.
The dunhill Club range, constructed from Italian acetate and a sophisticated titanium-polyamide combination, is the perfect blend of form and function. The dunhill Classic range includes the most contemporary of materials, titanium, is timeless. The dunhill Ultimate range boasts of a carbon fibre/ rubber blend to ensure performance and comfort, in addition to Carbon Fibre – a dunhill signature material.
Oakley’s Frogskins Blacklight Pack
Oakley’s iconic Frogskins sunglasses are making a return in its ’80s-inspired Blacklight Pack. This collection of vibrant colours is most notable for lighting up under black lights. Skin shades are set to release in a gang of vibrant colourways, all part of the Blacklight Pack. The frames make an appearance in a variety of hues, each featuring polarized lenses with two-tone colours on the temples and frames. These retro classics will be produced in limited quantities.
Tom Davies' six new feminine styles
TD Tom Davies has launched six new feminine spectacle styles, available in limited editions of just 50 pieces per style. Inspired by a vintage aesthetic, each design is produced in the highest quality acetate, highlighting the feminine qualities of this material and experimenting with graduated colour (model LE 37670), striped effects (LE 37679) and an opaque/transparent contrast (model LE 27977). Designed and created exclusively in the TD Tom Davies workshop, these models are made-to-measure and hand-finished, ensuring the perfect balance of luxurious styling with a customised fit.
Nautica’s Summer collection
Nautica has added a new dimension to its 2011 summer sun and ophthalmic collection by incorporating unique design details and an element of 3D. Nautica3D combines the styling of its brand with the advanced technology offered through its partnership with Marchon3D. Within the collection, traditional styles are reinvented and modernized through colourations, plastic and metal materials and eye-catching embellishments. The Nautica3D collection offers the technology savvy wearer traditional style.
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Maybach Eyewear offers luxury from a new perspective
IVKO GmBH has been designing Maybach Eyewear’s luxury optical collection with natural horn frames giving it effortless class. The Star 1 is no different. Its metal parts are of solid 18K yellow gold, set with 104 diamonds which have a total weight of 0.5 carat. The temples are made of laminated natural buffalo horn and it has Carl Zeiss CR39 polarized lenses in dark blue / gray gradient.
Ogi Eyewear goes neoclassic with Seraphin
Ogi Eyewear's Seraphin line is a Neoclassic collection with a sharp modernistic edge and is aimed at romantic buyers who yearn for sophisticated luxury, precision handcrafting and classic price points. The Virginia, a retro-inspired cat-eye design with a layered front, is perfect for the boutique store enthusiast. The Zarthan has unconventional eyeline curves, discerning details on its mesh with deep lens shape and contemporary colour to give it lasting appeal.
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The gangster influence on Theo Eyewear's new collection
Belgium-based Theo Eyewear’s latest eyewear collection has been inspired by very unusual quarters – American gangsters Al Capone and Bonnie Clyde. Bonnie Clyde inspired the flamboyant Bonnie frame which is a feminine rounded model in bright colour. The Clyde model which can be worn by both genders has a large vintage look with a modern feeling. The Capone model is a bit more masculine acetate frame with a radical 3D-milling adding depth and contour to the landscape of the frame.
Bench gives adult fittings to young kids
Global Vision Optical Group in a JV with Brulimar Optical Group launched a series of trendsetting new designer frames for children in India. This includes 10 new styles under the Bench label for children and teen wear. Aimed at 5 to 14 year-old children, the collection has been designed to emulate style features popular in the adult eyewear market but adapted to fit comfortably on small faces and with touches of vibrant colour.
Fendi’s sunglass collection for men combines sophistication and style
Fendi’s sunglasses collection for men highlights sophistication and style with the double ‘F’ logo and is available in an array of specifically created colours. FS5138 is a zyl aviator with the double ‘F’ logo elaborately repeated throughout the interior temple with a mirror image in polished metal doubling as a nose bridge. Fendi is engraved onto a thin, metal ring that clasps around the exterior temples, contrasting against available frame colours: black, light havana, and havana. Fendi has applied its intricate logo to the vintage shape of FS5187 with the double ‘F’ on the nose bridge, the engraved metal ring clasped onto temples extending down the interior temples. It is available in black, brown, Havana, ivory and blue.
Nickelodeon comes to India
Nickelodeon India has launched its eyewear collection here in a tie-up with Ganko Opticians. The range comprises optical eyewear and sunglasses with the popular Nickelodeon characters – Dora the Explorer, Ninja Hattori and SpongeBob SquarePants. The collection of ophthalmic frames is aimed at children between the ages of 4 and 12 years. The design combines bright colours with functional details like double action spring hinges included on every model. The collection, in metal and acetate materials, combines over 30 styles in various sizes and colours. The range has a mix of soft hues including white, pink, light blue and more vibrant shades of red and purple. Each pair of glasses is completely hypoallergenic, has a special protective coating and features graphic character details on the temples.
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Henry Jullien’s Asphalt: A new concept of removable hinge without screws
Henry Jullien continues to develop its ‘Les Urbaines’ product line which it had launched in 2011 marking the 90th anniversary of the brand, with its first metal-acetate collection ‘Equinoxe’. This new line is aimed at a more urban audience.
The ‘Asphalt’ collection for men incorporates carbon and glass fibre, the innovation being the removable hinge with no screws involved. Other collections include ‘Les Signatures’- reflecting the history of the brand with ‘Doublé Or’ which are gold filled frames with classic styling. ‘Les Contemporaines’ plays on comfort and use of lightweight materials like Sandvik Nanoflex.
Tom Ford's Daphne sunglasses
Tom Ford’s Daphne, part of its 2011 summer collection, is aimed at the confident woman looking for over-the-top sunglasses. The very over-sized cat eye wrap around shades, contours the wearer’s face providing full coverage. It features a ‘criss-cross’ at the bridge, much like Tom Ford’s popular Whitney model. It is also the piece worn by the stunning model Abbey Lee Kershaw in the latest Tom Ford Spring/Summer 2011 eyewear campaign.
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Corneal Health And Contact Lens Solutions
For contact lens practitioners, besides providing maximum vision and comfort, maintaining corneal health becomes a topmost priority.
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ontact lenses and lens care solutions interact regularly with the most important optical element of the eye. Fortunately, the effects of contact lenses on cornea are relatively well defined. However, there is a lack of clarity on the influence of lens care solutions on corneal anatomy and physiology. Either of them causing damage to cornea will be a classical case of ‘fence eating the farm’. Whenever we talk about corneal health, the discussion is never complete without addressing corneal sodium fluorescein (NaFl) staining. In clinical practice, when we see corneal staining in our patients we must decide whether we think it is clinically relevant or inconsequential. In other words, we make a clinical decision concerning the need to manage, monitor or ignore this clinical finding. A REAL LIFE SCENARIO Contact lens care solutions are considered to cause epithelial damage
and is thought of as predisposing to corneal infections and worse. I remember seeing a stained cornea in a contact lens patient who had been dispensed lenses by my colleague - an optometrist and contact lens practitioner. This patient was using the most popular contact lens solution having PHMB as preservative. At first, I was concerned, but she said it was not a cause of concern as she had seen this before and it was not associated with any further problem. As her dispensing experience was far greater than mine, I did not object. But I was still curious about the small green specks that I had seen on the cornea. I decided to find out for myself the truth behind this – the so-called corneal staining.
Hyper-fluorescence. This can be easily mistaken as true corneal staining. All preservatives are taken up by soft contact lenses during the soak. Once applied, the lens releases these preservatives into the tear film. PHMB has extremely strong affinity for sodium fluorescein, almost 50 times greater than comparable preservatives, which results in benign transient fluorescence. This phenomenon is termed as 'Preservative Associated Transient Hyper-fluorescence' or PATH. This is different from true corneal staining in many ways (see table).
Image 01: True staining
THE TRUTH BEHIND CORNEAL STAINING The ‘staining’ that we see in contact lens users due to their lens care solution is actually due to simple phenomenon called PATH – Preservative Associated Transient Image 02: PATH
Difference between true staining and PATH PATH
Corneal Staining
Cause
Benign interaction
Epithelial damage
Symptoms
Asymptomatic
Symptomatic
Where?
Surface phenomenon
Depth varies
Appearance
Punctate
Macropunctate, coalesced
Resolution
In few hours
May take days
Complications
None
Possible
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Dr. Parikshit Gogate completed his MBBS in 1992 from BJ Medical College, Pune and MS (Ophthalmology) in 1997 from Government Medical College, Miraj. Continuing his passion for learning he successfully achieved DNB (Ophth) in 1998, FRCS (Ophth) in 2001 from Edinburg and MSc in Community Eye Health in 2001 from University College, London. He has a vast experience in the field of Ophthalmology and has been a Phaco trainer and has performed over 28,000 intra-ocular surgeries and over 1200 pediatric eye surgeries.
A DEEPER LOOK AT CORNEA Though corneal staining is the commonest test used to determine corneal epithelial integrity, there are other more elaborate ones that evaluate corneal biocompatibility of a lens care solution. Most are used only for research purposes. Corneal staining assesses corneal epithelium to the depth of less than one micron in a cornea that is 300-580 microns thick. The tissue biocompatibility tests depend on metabolic activity and cellular integrity and take place at the cellular level. Bio-compatibility testing is done in deeper layers, across the corneal cross section, using alamar blue assay, sodium fluorescein assay, USP cytotoxicity tests, scanning electron microscopy and confocal microscopy. The alamar blue assay checks out the respiratory activity of the cells. The sodium fluorescein permeability assay is a common test to gauge the potential toxicity of multi-purpose Image 03: Saline (control)
Cells demonstrate maintained tight cell junctions
lens care solutions; high sodium fluorescein permeability is related to breaks/disruptions in the tight junction between cells. Greater permeability signifies greater toxicity of multipurpose solutions. Sodium fluorescein assay shows that all PHMB based lens care solutions, which are widely available in Indian market, have equivalent permeability to saline control. Scanning electron microscopy pictures of human corneal epithelial cells exposed to PHMB solutions show maintenance of tight cell junctions and overall cell integrity. Confocal microscopy studies look at the amount and activity of mitochondria. Mitochondria are the powerhouses of the cell, which generate cellular energy. Corneal epithelial cells treated with PHMB based solutions showed high potential energy to maintain cell health.
Image 04: PHMB based solution
Cornea appears similar to saline(control)
Dr Gogate has many awards to his credit. To name a few - Bellpharma Award for best post-graduate paper at Maharashtra Ophthalmology Society’s annual meeting 1997, International Agency for Prevention of Blindness, General assembly at Dubai – Best Poster award (on childhood blindness in West Maharashtra) 2004, Best National Paper (India) at World Ophthalmology Congress, Brazil 2006. He has 38 papers in peer-reviewed journals, 16 international presentations, and 135 national presentations to his credit. He is also a reviewer for British Journal of Ophthalmology, Ophthalmology, American Journal of Ophthalmology, International Ophthalmology, Eye, Journal of cataract and Refractive Surgery and the Indian Journal of Ophthalmology. Community Eye Health, paediatric ophthalmology, training and research are his main areas of interest.
Opinions on corneal staining and its significance are divided amongst researchers and manufacturers worldwide. However, it is suggested that one realise on his own professional experience as validation that PHMB based multipurpose solutions are safe and highly effective products. Look at your patient’s eyes and see for yourself why these solutions have had such a long history of patient and practitioner satisfaction. By understanding what is truly significant, you will be able to provide the best possible care for your patients. _______________________________________
SNAPSHOTS Cecop India establishes its local presence
Ray-Ban organises concert for Indian rockers
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ecop India has officially started its local operations and held a select launch event for its preferred suppliers and associates recently in Mumbai. Gemma Arribas, Country Manager of Cecop India, said, “I’m very pleased with our reception in the Indian market and our growing pace. This is the result of many opticians having understood that unity is strength.” Cecop is a purchasing group in the optical industry which started its business 15 years ago. It has operations in Spain, Portugal, Italy, UK, Columbia, Brazil and now India. With around 2,000 independent optical retailers as members globally, it offers personalised marketing services. In India it has signed up with companies like Hoya, Sterling Group, Stylrite, Starlight, Prime Optics, Cooper Vision and Bausch + Lomb. It hopes to have 350 members on its Indian network by the end of December 2011. Gemma said, “We are growing at a rate of 25% year after year and our focus is now on Asia. We have a tried and tested model of going to suppliers as a group and getting better business benefits for our members 130
ay-Ban has created ‘Never Hide Sounds’ as a platform for young Indian rock bands to showcase their talent. Aligned with Rolling Stones India, it will hold the ‘Open Mic Night’ where western music bands from all over the country can perform. Five shortlisted bands will be flown to Mumbai for the Ray-Ban Never Hide Sounds Grand Finale concert on 4th December and will share the stage with Pentagram and Something Relevant. Each band will also receive musical instruments and gear worth Rs 50,000, courtesy of Ray-Ban. In the first elimination round, 15 bands will be short listed by a team of Rolling Stone India editors based on the quality of their demos. Their music and profiles will then be uploaded onto the Ray-Ban website. In the second round, the shortlist will be whittled down to five bands involving an online poll open to the general public and a jury selection with leading musicians and executives from the music industry. This aside, Ray-Ban will also organise the ‘Never Hide Sound’ mall activation campaign where customers in select malls can try out the brand’s frames and also enjoy the music by participating bands performing at the venue.
OPTICPLUS : Everything between you and eye
retinAware 2011 to be organised in New Delhi
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etinAware 2011, a national convention organised by Retina India, will be held on 24th and 25th September, 2011 at Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi. Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, former President of India, will inaugurate the convention.
Retina India, a registered national non-profit organisation, helps people with visual impairment due to retinal diseases. It brings all stakeholders together on one platform, including patients affected with retinal disorders and their family members, retina specialists, ophthalmologists, optometrists, general medical practitioners. low-vision experts, genetic and other counselors, mobility specialists, etc. with a focus on making treatments available to Indian patients, while also helping them with education and jobs. The event will include plenary sessions where experts will speak with patients and their families about the latest in research and treatments, focusing on diseases like diabetic retinopathy, macular degeneration, retinitis pigmentosa, retinopathy of prematurity, retinal detachment, eye trauma, etc. Treatments and research work will also be discussed including those on gene therapy, stem cell, medical devices like bionic eye and implants and new pharmaceutical drugs.
Vision Rx Lab opens lab in Ranchi
OPTICPLUS Around 30 opticians present during the inauguration were given technical demonstration of the V50 machine and also got to witness how the lens produced from this device were smoothened and polished. Faheem also gave a brief demonstration of quality control and hard coating procedure in the UltraTech 2.0 Machine. According to Vision Rx Lab, the ophthalmic lens processing lab consists of an integrated, computer-based production facility with a complete service laboratory for processing CR39, high-index and polycarbonate lenses. An in-house hard coating and surfacing center with imported technology from Germany, France and Switzerland, it has a production capacity of around 8000 spectacle lenses per month, offering a wide range of brands including Rodenstock from Germany, Transitions from USA and Shamir Optical from Israel, among others to provide solutions for all types of spectacle users. After the inauguration, a detailed presentation was made on progressive lens design, which has been recently launched in India. A special presentation on correct progressive dispensing was appreciated by all the attendees.
OneSight’s India clinic delivers more than just eyewear
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olkata-based Vision Rx Lab has extended its operations to Ranchi with the inauguration of high-tech ophthalmic lens production outfit with an ultraTech Hard coating plant in the city. The state-of-the-art laboratory was inaugurated on 17th July, 2011 by Sanjay Paul, Managing Director of Paul the Scientific Optician, in the presence of Amitava Ganguly, GM-Sales Vision Rx Lab, Atul Kumar, the company’s Branch In-Charge in Ranchi and Shaik Faheemuddin, its Professional Service Manager.
uring the second 2011 Global Clinic to India, OneSight’s eye care practitioners and trained volunteers examined patients who needed a range of eye care. After receiving full eye exams, volunteers discovered two who needed very strong prescriptions and one needed surgery immediately to remove a cancerous eye tumor. Thanks to OneSight and volunteers, these children and many others are now able to see their world clearly. OneSight, a Luxottica Foundation, is a family of charitable vision care programs dedicated to improving vision through outreach, research and education. Each year, its trained volunteers and doctors travel to countries worldwide to hand-deliver free primary vision care and eyewear to thousands of adults and children in need.
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Patients receive a thorough optical exam by licensed eye doctors and eyewear is dispensed. Sunglasses are dispensed to those not needing a prescription. To provide the complete care, the non-profit organisation partners with local ophthalmologists or international doctor outreach organisations to perform optical surgery for those patients referred from its clinic.
India to host blind cricket Twenty20 World Cup
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OPTICPLUS participate in this sporting event. All this was announced during a two-day meeting in the United Arab Emirates recently. The council also decided to stage a one-day World Cup in 2014 with a host to be chosen in September. Townley said that though Pakistan and South Africa have expressed interest, no formal bids have been submitted.
ndia will host the inaugural blind cricket Twenty20 World Cup in December. David Townley, president of the World Blind Cricket Council, said that the group voted to hold the tournament in Bangalore starting on 3rd December, 2012. The tournament will last a maximum of 14 days. He added that council members including Australia, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, India, Pakistan, South Africa, Bangladesh, Nepal, West Indies and England will
Ian Martin, National Disability Cricket Manager at England and Wales Cricket Board and Jon Long of the International Cricket Council (ICC), reported on the progress of building working relationships between blind cricket and other forms of disability cricket, as well as the relationship between the WBCC and ICC during this meeting.
Sushil Kumar Shinde unveils special cover to commemorate Aditya Jyot Eye Hospital
as D Sivanandan, ex-Mumbai Police Commissioner.
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Speaking on the occasion Dr. S. Natarajan, Chairman and Managing Director of Aditya Jyot Eye Hospital said, “We are extremely delighted to have a special cover dedicated to us from the department of Post and Telegraph. At Aditya Jyot Hospital it is our constant endeavor to offer world class eye care solutions to our patients.” Sushil Kumar Shinde applauded the contributions made by the hospital in the field of ophthalmology and said, “I am extremely honoured to felicitate the excellent work done by Aditya Jyot Eye Hospital and I am sure they would continue with same efforts in future as well.” Abha Singh added that it is not often that the government honours individual organisations by dedicating a special postal cover to them. “As such Aditya Jyot Eye Hospital should feel happy and honoured for their contributions made to the society,” she noted.
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umbai-based Aditya Jyot Eye Hospital was felicitated with a special cover by the Department of Post and Telegraph for its 21 years of excellent service in vision care and positive contribution towards the society. The special cover was unveiled by Sushil Kumar Shinde, Minister of Power, Government of India, at Mumbai. The event witnessed participation from dignitaries like Dr. Sri Prakash, Vice Chancellor of Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences in Bangalore; Abha Singh, Director Postal Services, General Post Office in Mumbai; Prof. Dr. K. Ananda Kannan, Dean Emeritus of Aditya Jyot Institute of Vision Sciences and Research; Dr. D. K. Mehta, retired Head of Dept of Ophthalmology, Guru Nanak Eye Centre in New Delhi as well 132
Aditya Jyot stated that it was a pioneer in the treatment for Retinal Endoscope and Preferential Hyper Acuity Perimeter in Asia followed by Constellation Vitrectomy System, Fourier Domain Optical Coherence Tomography - III for Retina, Cornea and Glaucoma, Photodynamic Therapy, Suture less 25 Gauge in Vitrectomy System for Suture less Vitreoretinal surgery, BIOM Wetlab, Twinlight Endoillumination for Vitreoretinal surgery in India. It also has a 24-hours eye bank, Aditya Jyot Eye Bank, in Mumbai, which was inaugurated by actor Aishwarya Rai in 2004. Currently, a qualified team of medical personnel from this institute have collected over 50 eyes in the last year itself. ____________________________________________________
OPTICPLUS : Everything between you and eye
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INTERNATIONA care they needed, causing them to lag behind at school.
Yves Béhar wins Index award
With the ‘See Better to Learn Better’ program, students are given an eye exam, and those who need glasses are encouraged to build their own frames from a library of unique colours, shapes, and sizes, which are then manufactured locally. According to Augen, more than 500,000 kids have received optometric care and more than 358,000 kids received donated frames and lenses. In the next year, they estimate more than 240,000 kids and 20,000 adults will receive glasses.
Brien Holden shortlisted for Eureka prize
Previous winners of the Leadership in Science prize have included Scientia Professor Martin Green, a leader in solar cell technology, Professor Michael Good, for leading the development of a malaria vaccine, and Professor Robert Clark, who is at the forefront of quantum computer technology.
Nicole Scherzinger sports Carrera’s ‘Champion’ sunglasses in new music video
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ves Béhar has won the prestigious Index award making him the first designer to receive the ‘Design to Improve Life’ prize from Index twice. Yves is the founder of the San Francisco design company Fuseproject. He created the program ‘See Better to Learn Better,’ a system for delivering attractive, affordable eyeglasses to school-age children, which won him a nomination in the 'Body' category of the awards. Yves’ team partnered with nonprofit organisation Verbien, Mexican company Augen and the Mexican government on this eyewear project, which was launched in 2010. Due to the high price and social stigma of wearing glasses, many students in Mexico were unable to receive the eye 134
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rofessor Brien Holden, CEO of Brien Holden Vision Institute, has been shortlisted for the prestigious Eureka science prize in Australia. He is one of three candidates shortlisted for the CSIRO Eureka Prize for Leadership in Science award. He has established four major research organisations at the University of New South Wales, and a series of humanitarian and education organisations worldwide. OPTICPLUS : Everything between you and eye
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arrera, a sunglass and sport eyewear brand from Safilo Group, announced the inclusion of its ‘Champion’ sunglass model in the new Nicole Scherzinger music video ‘Wet’. Part of the singer’s debut album Killer
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AL SNAPSHOTS Love, the video is currently available in Europe and will be released in the United States in November. The ‘Wet’ video finds Scherzinger setting her eye on having a risqué adventure as she lets loose at a deserted underground pool sporting Carrera’s signature and colourful ‘Champion’ sunglasses. This model was recently re-launched in the brand’s vintage collection, which features fashionable sunwear that are customised with iconic retro detailing. The aviator shape of the sunglass is inspired by the original design first introduced in the early eighties and produced in Optyl, an extremely lightweight and hypoallergenic patented material that is proprietary to the Safilo Group.
by Brigitte Lacombe and sports the new Prada ‘Linea Rossa’ eyewear collection. The three styles in this range includes Prada Upper Cut, Jab and Barnburner. "I am thrilled to be a part of this campaign," said Bernard. "Prada is known throughout the world as a top luxury brand and as a world champion, it is great to represent the sport in ads that will be seen around the globe. People are already familiar with the way I work my uppercut and jab in the ring, now they can see me executing them in my Prada ads." Hopkins is joined by fellow pugilists super lightweight world champion Amir Khan of the UK, and 2008 Olympic super heavyweight champion Roberto Cammarelle of Italy, who appear in separate ad layouts.
Prada signs Marcolin posts boxer Bernard best ever Hopkins for its first-half year ad campaign results; CEO resigns
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oxer Bernard Hopkins, who is nicknamed ‘The Executioner’, features in the latest ad campaign for Prada eyewear. He was photographed
arcolin reports excellent results for the first half of 2011. Compared to the same period of 2010, sales revenues rose by 8%, Ebitda by 16% and net profit by 11%. Net financial indebtedness was reduced by an additional 5.5 million euros, notwithstanding the payment of OPTICPLUS : Everything between you and eye
dividends for the first time in years in an amount of 6.1 million euros. The sales performance was enhanced by the growth experienced by brands in the fashion and luxury segment, some of which recorded double-digit growth, including the new Swarovski line launched in the market at the beginning of the year. The highest sales increases were reported in Korea, Hong Kong, India and Indonesia. Sales of the rest-of-world segment were also significant (+26.3%). Marcolin also reports that its CEO, Massimo Saracchi, resigned, having reached the end of his contractual term. He will continue to perform his duties until September 30.
EyeDispense, an iPad 2 App for optical professionals
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yeDispense, a new video dispensing App for optical professionals, was launched at the Apple App Store. Designed by Edinburgh-based optometrist David Crystal, this portable ophthalmic 135
dispensing application is a professional tool for successful video dispensing, giving clients with poor vision an easy way to select a frame. Using iPad 2’s rear camera, the App allows the user to take four different 3 second video clips, for the client to compare their frame choices at a glance. The choices can be emailed or uploaded on Facebook should they want to ask for their friends’ or family’s approval. Designed for iPad 2, the new App is a versatile solution for video dispensing, allowing the operator to move around the practice. David said, “I have developed this App especially for optical professionals, to make the purchase of spectacles an easier experience for clients without their optical correction. We are delighted with the results in our store. As well as adding to our image as a leading practice with the latest technology, our clients are delighted that they can make a confident frame choice. It’s a truly cost-effective way to improve patient care.”
Ashlee Simpson in Alexander McQueen sunglasses
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t is well known that American singer Ashlee Simpson likes the
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couture from Alexander McQueen. She has extended her love for the brand and was recently seen wearing Alexander McQueen sunglasses model AMQ 4167/s while shopping on the streets of Los Angeles. These oversized black frames with white zig-zag detailing around the edges,are part of the designer’s 2011 collection that was released before his tragic death last year.
Safilo’s board nominates Robert Polet as new Chairman
sunglasses and prescription frames contributed similarly to the organic, double-digit performance of the second quarter, with the prescription business growing nicely in the more mature markets, according to the company. These results translated into growth for the first half of 2011 equal to 5.7 percent from €566.8 million in 2011 compared to €536.4 million in the first half of 2010. Roberto Vedovotto, CEO of the Safilo Group, commented, “Expansion in high-growth regions further accelerated in the period, confirming both the quality of our products and of our commercial propositions, which are today further strengthened by the very dynamic work of the group on all its strategic top licensed brands as well as its house brand, Carrera.
Nine West announces exclusive worldwide licensing agreement with Marchon
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he board of directors of Safilo Group SpA proposed the enlargement of the group’s board from the current seven to eight members and the nomination of Robert Polet, formerly president and CEO of the Gucci Group, as new chairman of the group. Polet would replace Melchert Frans Groot, current chairman, who would remain on the board of directors as a non-executive member. The board also approved Safilo Group’s financial results for the second quarter and first half of 2011. Net sales for the first half of 2011, totaled €603.3 million, an increase of 4.0 percent over the same period last year. Sales of OPTICPLUS : Everything between you and eye
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he Jones Group has entered into an exclusive, worldwide license agreement with Marchon Eyewear, Inc. for the creation, production, marketing and global distribution of ophthalmic eyewear frames and prescription-ready sunglasses under the Nine West brand. Under the agreement, the Nine West ophthalmic eyewear collection will be marketed and sold globally in upscale optical chains and optical specialty retailers and by individual eyecare professionals beginning in early January 2012.
Richard Dickson, The Jones Group President and CEO of Branded Businesses, said, “Nine West’s origins as a premier global fashion brand allow us to extend it into relevant categories, particularly accessories such as eyewear; a perfect fit for Nine West. We believe this collaboration with Marchon will further enhance Nine West’s powerful brand message in the global optical arena.” He added that Marchon will launch Nine West’s full collection in January, comprising over 20 optical styles and 12 suns to the optical distribution. Nine West was previously licensed to Safilo Group, which continues its arrangement until the end of this year.
Shamir receives ODMA Award of Excellence for Glacier Plus coating
Oakley’s Samantha Stosur wins 2011 US Open Tennis hamir Australia received the Award of Excellence in the category of Lens Coating for Glacier Plus at ODMA2011. This AR coating increases light transmittance and reduces glare and ghost reflections.
akley brand ambassador Samantha Stosur won the 2011 US Open Tennis and the first Grand Slam title of her career. A member of the Oakley family for more than a decade, she said that she relied on the brand’s technology to reach the Open, where she defeated ace Serena Williams in two straight sets. “I’m so grateful to Oakley, not just for all they put into performance but for being there every step of the way,” said Stosur. “They have been supporting me for over a decade and their sunglasses have always been an integral part of my equipment on the court. Pat Cairns of Oakley Sports Marketing and Oakley are more than just a sponsor for me;
showed that the angle is 4-6° higher than competitors. Suitable for all lens types, Glacier Plus protects lenses from damage during day-to-day use.
De Rigo Vision and Lanvin Eyewear sign licensing agreement
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they are part of my family. It has been quite the journey, and I am proud to be associated with such an iconic brand.”
Tests performed on high-index 1.67 lenses showed that Glacier Plus had the lowest reflection rate of the five coatings tested — 9% lower than its nearest competitor. NSL Analytical, an independent laboratory in the United States approved by the Vision Council of America, performed the test. Bayer Ratio tests undertaken at NSL and Colts Laboratories also showed Glacier Plus to be 20-30% stronger than its nearest competitor. Glacier Plus’ enhanced hydrophobic and antistatic properties offer major benefits. Glacier Plus’ super hydrophobic properties were put to the test at the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology. It achieved an extremely high contact angle of 120°. Tests performed at Colts Laboratories also OPTICPLUS : Everything between you and eye
e Rigo Vision SpA and French eyewear brand Lanvin have signed a licensing agreement for the design, production and worldwide distribution of Lanvin sunglasses and prescription frames. “We are very pleased to begin this new and exciting partnership with a brand like Lanvin, which is synonymous to elegance, luxury and high creativity,” said Michele Aracri, CEO of De Rigo. “I’m certain that with the creative guidance of Alber Elbaz and De Rigo’s expertise we will develop a new eyewear collection of the highest quality combined with the most exclusive production techniques.” “We are pleased to announce this collaboration as we believe in the great potential of transferring our creativity, DNA and heritage to the world of De Rigo eyewear,” said Thierry Andretta, CEO of Lanvin. “We will be able to approach this collaboration with a strong, recognisable product infused with Lanvin's emblematic elegance, refinement, timelessness and astonishing level of quality and craftsmanship.” Lanvin, founded in 1889 by Jeanne Lanvin, is amongst the oldest French couture house today. It is under the artistic direction of Alber Elbaz who manages all the activities of the house. 137
It has 24 company-owned stores and 22 franchises, as well as 730 sales outlets. Additionally, the brand has extended its sales network through its e-commerce site, currently aimed at the European and American markets. The Lanvin eyewear collections will be distributed through the De Rigo Vision network of exclusive opticians and department stores worldwide, as well as Lanvin’s global boutiques. The new 2012 collections will be available at retail in December 2011.
L’Amy Group signs global licensing agreement for Balmain
the company said. It further added that these past few years, the French brand has redefined the image of its prêt-à-porter line to become one of the most influential fashion labels and a genuine style reference. In 2011, Olivier Rousteing was appointed artistic director of the Balmain collections for men and women. Alain Chaumet, president of the TWCL'Amy Group, said the partnership is part of the group’s growth strategy, “We are very proud to have been chosen by Balmain, whose international reputation fits perfectly with our aim to develop luxury accessories and to expand our brand portfolio.” Since the acquisition in 2010 by Groupe TWC, which is into fashion accessories, the TWC-L'Amy Group has doubled its distribution capacity, the company said, noting that the L’Amy Group’s existing subsidiaries in France, Italy, U.S. and Australia are joined by the TWC subsidiaries that are based in Germany, the Middle East and South East Asia where TWC has developed a firm presence.
OptraFair dates set for 2013
The L’Amy Group have entered into a global agreement for the design and distribution of prescription and sunglass eyewear for the Balmain brand. Under international license the L’Amy Group develops frames for brands such as Chloe, Kenzo, Nina Ricci, Sonia Rykiel and Rochas, as well as Theory, Proenza Schouler, Columbia and its own brand, L’Amy Lunettes. Since it was established by Pierre Balmain in 1945, Balmain has become “one of the most emblematic Parisian fashion houses,” a statement from 138
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ptrafair 2013 will take place between 13th to 15th April at The NEC in Birmingham, UK. The organizers of the event said that the biennial optical fair in 2011, reported a buoyant buying atmosphere at the event, with a total visitor count of were 7,586. When repeat visits over the three-day event were calculated, the OPTICPLUS : Everything between you and eye
OPTICPLUS attendance was calculated at 6,647, a 2 percent increase over the number of visitors to the last edition of the show in 2009. The 2011 show welcomed the return of several contact lens companies to the exhibitions, along with a range of exhibiting spectacle lens and frame companies, in shop-fitting, practice management systems and technology firms. The show also included an extensive continuing education (CET) program, innovations in eyewear from the Royal College of Art and Live Optrafair TV. “We are looking for ways to encourage more of the profession to attend this important event,” said Malcolm Polley, FMO’s Chief Executive, which organizes the event.
Lady Gaga in Emmanuelle Khanh Sunglasses
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ady Gaga hosted the Atom Factory VMA Dinner in Los Angeles. The quirky singer styled herself in a pair of burgundy Emmanuelle Khanh GP 1000 sunglasses from The Vintage Frames Company, a red Alexandre Vauthier Fall 2011 suit and platform booties. ................................................................ Email us at response@opticplus.in
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Blast from the Past
TRIVIA
Sensibilities change over decades and a great way of peeping into the sepia toned-years is reading the print ads of that era. They were all the rage at a time when newspapers were the most popular medium of reaching to the masses. So, we’re taking you down memory lane and bringing you vintage ads from yore – they’re elegant, to-the-point and simply endearing.
BAUSCH AND LOMB
This Bausch and Lomb ad dates back to the 1970’s when they debuted a new eyeglass headband featuring a ‘space-age’ fastener called Velcro! One cannot help but feel nostalgic, especially with the hand-sketched figures on top!
HOMI AND BALLIWALA This Homi and Balliwala ad dates back to 15th Aug, 1947, the glorious day when India became independent! It has an oldworld charm to it and will be cherished by those in the optical industry.
Starry Eyes Can you identify the following celebrities simply by gazing into their eyes? Check out your celebrity spotting skills by solving this fun quiz! 1
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ANSWERS: 1. Deepika Padukone • 2. Farhan Akhtar • 3. Sonu Nigam
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Down: 2 _____Béhar, the founder of the San Francisco design company Fuseproject, won the prestigious Index award for making him the first designer to receive the ‘Design to Improve Life’ prize from Index twice. (4) 3 _____Australia received the Award of Excellence in the category of Lens Coating for Glacier Plus for an AR coating that increases light transmittance and reduces glare and ghost reflections. (6) 4 Luxottica Group SpA has entered into an
agreement with _____and will acquiring it for approximately €20 million. (6) _____ will host the inaugural blind cricket Twenty20 World Cup in December. (5) Boxer_____ Hopkins features in the latest ad campaign for Prada eyewear. (7) _____ India has officially started its local operations and held a select launch event for its preferred suppliers and associates recently in Mumbai. (5) The _____ Companies, Inc announced that its subsidiary CooperVision has initiated a voluntary recall on limited lots contact lenses. (6) The ‘Champion’ sunglass by Carrera features in the new Nicole Scherzinger music ‘_____’ video. (3) D
Across: 1 The Apple App Store recently launched _____ , a new video dispensing App for optical professionals. (11) 5 _____Challenger Cricket tournament is aimed at creating a platform for the blind children in Delhi to enjoy the national sport. (6) 7 Professor Brien Holden, CEO of _____ Holden Vision Institute, has been shortlisted for the prestigious Eureka science prize in Australia. (5) 8 Ray-_____ has created ‘Never Hide Sounds’ as a platform for young Indian rock bands to showcase their talent at a national level. (3) 11 _____ India is a registered national non-profit organisation with a focus on helping people with visual impairment due to retinal diseases. (6) 12 Marcolin’s _____, Massimo Saracchi, resigned, having reached the end of his contractual term. (3) 14 _____Group continued to show support to Special Olympics, the international sports training and competition program for people with intellectual disabilities around the globe. (6) 15 Pippa Middleton presented quite the sunny picture when she was out for a walk sporting _____ sunglasses. (5)
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SOUNDING BOARD
INTERESTING INTERVIEW
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t was nice to read the interview of Guillaume Brouwet, CEO of Vision Express. I think this is the first time I have come across any of his interviews in any magazine. His answers were very candid. And he did not make any grandiose statements. What I’m very interested to know how the company will sustain its business if it keeps opening outlets left, right and center. Surely the margins in the optical business are not that great that it can fund an enterprise of such wide proportions. And also, according to me, just having more outlets does not necessarily mean they will get a lot of customers. Neither will low prices alone attract customers. On the contrary, in this business people want value for money and that personal touch which is something that small retail outlets like ours can provide. — Sandeep Deb Surabhi Optics, Orissa
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NICE ARTICLE ON LASIK
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have been reading OpticPlus magazine for quite some time now. I’m an optometrist working in a renowned optical retail chain in Kolkata. The articles published in your magazine are very professional, easy to understand and useful. It gives a holistic idea about the global optical retail industry. The advertisements also are very useful as they give an insight into the products that are available in other markets.
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For a long time, I have been looking for a good article about Lasik. I read your article ‘Lasik: Who can go for it?’ in the May-June 2011 issue. It was very useful and also helped in explaining Lasik to our customers. But I wished that you had given more details about the allergies that often result after the Lasik surgery. Anyway, I am looking forward to reading relevant articles about eye care in your future issues. — Somnath Basu Kolkata
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Japan that Tokyo is safe and also inform them that IOFT will be held as scheduled. Now, the IOFT’s Show Management team has been receiving a number of messages from overseas exhibitors to cheer up Japan and we’re doing our best to prepare for the show. Thank you for your kind support and cooperation. — Miyata Haruka Reed Exhibitions Japan Ltd
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WEAR SUNGLASSES ALWAYS
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I look forward to seeing more innovation from your magazine as time goes by.
It is shameful how many people land up in my clinic with ocular ailments which is nothing but the result of direct exposure to sunlight. I do hope that more people around the world wake up to the need to wear protective eyewear at all times, and not just when they are out on the beach.
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have been a regular reader of OpticPlus for over two years and I like the changes that have been incorporated in the magazine over the time. One column which you have recently introduced, Just One Question, is a very good one. It is nice to see so many people from the industry have different takes on the same question.
— Rushabh Kumar Kumar Opticians
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KEEPING THE FAITH
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e really appreciate that you wrote about International Optical Fair Tokyo (IOFT) 2011 and the situation in Japan in your magazine. Your article is exactly what we wanted to communicate to people the world over. We’d like to tell those living outside OPTICPLUS : Everything between you and eye
t was marvelous that OpticPlus decided to carry an article on ‘How UV Rays Can Result In Eye Diseases’. For the longest time now, I have been telling my patients that they should always wear sunglasses - even if it is not bright and sunny outside.
— Dr Aditya Sharma Smart Sight Clinic, Ludhiana
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TRYING TIMES FOR OPTICIANS
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alls are a big problem for all retailers including people from our trade. And though most of us like to put up a brave face and say that our business has not been affected, you will find that many have lost a good deal of clientele.
Byword
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Technology At Your Fingertips T
he statement that technology has totally changed our world has been done to death. But, clichéd or not, this is absolutely true. And this evolution has changed the way we work, correspond, socialise, and even shop!
In the article, ‘Malls versus Single Stores: What The Customer’s Verdict?’ I liked what Vivek Mendonsa says about eyewear buying being a preplanned purchase and not something people buy impulsively. The only other saving grace for our business is that people do not go to the malls to buy prescription eyewear. That is why outlets like mine are able to survive. But now the entry of the retail chains is another worry. I wonder what the way is for people like us to grow their business. — Shashikant Sachdeva Aditya Optical Store, Mumbai
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GOOD COVERAGE
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hank you so much for adding the article ‘Bharati Vidyapeeth Hosts Orthoptics Seminar’ in the latest issue of OpticPlus magazine.
Take touchscreen kiosks, for instance. For quite some time now, we have been seeing and using them in banks as well as public places like railway stations, where we need instant information about services offered in those locations. While it was a novelty earlier, today it has become a matter of habit to use these kiosks. Looking at these changes about how people access and demand information, malls too have caught on to the trend and positioned them in strategic locations all over the complex. Want to know which shop has a sale going on or where you can find shoes for toddlers? No problem. A few clicks on the kiosk and you have the answer you want! It was only a matter of time before these machines found their place of pride in retail outlets as well. Quite a good number of optical retail establishments the world over have already started placing touchscreen kiosks in their shops, which gives users easy access to various eyewear collections, information about eye health and eye care, etc. And customers seem to be loving it. You can read how companies like Rodenstock, Luxottica, Shamir as well as independent retail outlets are leveraging technologies like touchscreen kiosks to stay a step ahead in business in the ‘Retail Tales’ article in this issue. Interestingly, optical companies are not stopping at just touchscreen kiosks, when it comes to using tech to the hilt. Now they are eyeing tablets and smartphones as the next interface for connecting with their customers. This is an interesting trend and we are sure you will want to learn more about the newer developments in technology so you too can use it to your benefit and attract customers as well as convert this interest into business.
It was really nice reading it and you were very kind to have written about it. — Aditi Moghe Assistant Lecturer, School of Optometry Bharati Vidyapeeth Deemed University Medical College, Pune __________________________________________
Rest assured, you will get information on these and more on a regular basis in OpticPlus.
CORRIGENDUM
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he Spotlight article in the JulyAugust, 2011 issue had carried a photograph of Shaik Faheimuddin, Professional Services Manager, Vision Rx Lab and wrongly mentioned it as Saibal Majumdar. The error is regretted
_______________________ – Alim Bolar & Vinita Bhatia
— Editor ................................................................................ Email us at response@opticplus.in OPTICPLUS : Everything between you and eye
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