Marge Axelrad, Sr. VP/Editorial Director
Marge oversees the overall editorial direction of
Vision Monday and its print publication,
VMAIL, e-newsletters,
VisionMonday.com and special events including the
VM Global Leadership Summit.
She is also in charge of general corporate and company news, industry developments and business trends,
financial news. Marge specializes in frame sunwear companies, practice management programs,
spectacle lens and contact lens companies, managed care, wholesale laboratories, and research.
She is also the editor of
CLICK, a twice-a-month e-newsletter. Contact Marge at
maxelrad@jobson.com.
By Marge Axelrad
Monday, March 11, 2024 1:08 AM
Despite some perceptions to the contrary, overall, the global luxury sector had experienced some challenges in the past year or two, where growth was hard-fought. Some of the world’s leading luxury firms reported slight ups and downs, as customers around the world coped with inflationary pressures and higher interest rates, creating some headwinds around the category from high-end home purchases, to travel and tourism, to auto purchases and the fashion retail sectors.
By Marge Axelrad
Sunday, March 3, 2024 2:07 AM
I’m not a good Goodbye Girl. Not especially great at making an exit, leaving, or letting go. But the last few months have been a different sort of transition for me, professionally and personally, too. This feels more like moving forward, heading toward something that will enable me to develop other perspectives, and make time for new ideas and experiences from a different place.
By Marge Axelrad
Sunday, March 3, 2024 1:07 AM
MILAN and NEW YORK—Continued investment in distribution, manufacturing capabilities, new brands, acquisitions and more have been significant over the past few years at Thélios, the eyewear division of LVMH, the world’s largest luxury group. In an exclusive interview with VM at this year’s Mido in February, CEO Alessandro Zanardo described the Thélios of today as a more “integrated” company. “We now have full control over all the technologies for eyewear and can start to implement production in creative and effective ways for our collections and brands.”
By Marge Axelrad
Sunday, March 3, 2024 1:06 AM
NEW YORK—“Within our portfolio, and with consumers in general, luxury serves an important aspirational role. In the same way that what we see on the runway is translated into our neighborhood stores, luxury brands are charged with setting the standard at its highest and showing us what true excellence looks like,” observed Sherianne James, chief marketing officer, professional solutions, EssilorLuxottica N.A.
By Marge Axelrad
Sunday, March 3, 2024 1:05 AM
NEW YORK—Thomas Burkhardt, president of Marchon Eyewear, shares the point of view that luxury is being redefined by specialty high-end brands. He said, “With luxury eyewear, there is, of course, continued appeal of aspirational brand names. However, the biggest increase in interest in luxury eyewear is currently being seen in high-end specialty brands, like Cutler and Gross or Linda Farrow, and we are partnering with these brands for distribution in the U.S.
By Marge Axelrad
Sunday, March 3, 2024 1:04 AM
LUGANO, Switzerland—In 2020, Balmain Eyewear marked its initial licensing venture with Akoni Group, paving the way for the introduction of the Group’s own specialty eyewear line, Akoni Eyewear. Subsequently, in 2022, Akoni Group secured the license for Valentino Eyewear. The Switzerland-based Akoni Group oversees the design, production and global distribution of its eyewear products.
By Marge Axelrad
Sunday, March 3, 2024 1:03 AM
NEW YORK—“It’s important to first define what’s meant by ‘luxury eyewear,’” observed Ruth Domber, owner of New York’s 10/10 Optics. “In my experience over the last four decades, this may have nothing to do with price but everything to do with originality, materials, the hand of creativity and, most importantly, the unique aspects of the designs that set them apart from the mass offerings available to ECPs. Luxury means ‘not everyone has it, can get it or knows how to present it,’ and in some ways, this would apply to what is perceived as the best in eyewear.”
By Marge Axelrad
Sunday, March 3, 2024 1:02 AM
MALIBU, Calif.—“People are more willing to spend on luxury eyewear now more than ever,” commented Salvatore Sampino, the luxury eyewear veteran who works with Dr. Gregory Michael O’Connor to advance the best of eyecare and eyewear for patients and clients in Southern California.
By Marge Axelrad
Sunday, March 3, 2024 1:01 AM
NEW YORK—Now operating 13 New York-area locations, from Manhattan to Long Island, Optyx New York has been expanding its commitment to luxury eyewear brands for discerning customers. CEO Harvey Ross said, “We believe that our luxury eyewear customers see eyeglasses as more than just tools for vision correction, but as a vibrant channel of self-expression, a pivotal fashion statement and a reflection of their unique identity. We take pride in a diverse selection of frames from all over the world, featuring independent brands as well as designers. We empower our clients to explore and express their individual style boldly.”
By Marge Axelrad
Monday, December 11, 2023 12:00 AM
NEW YORK—The embrace of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DE&I) this year has continued to expand among many businesses, large and small, public and private. In healthcare, too, and vision care in particular, DE&I has continued its evolution.
By Marge Axelrad
Sunday, November 26, 2023 2:00 AM
DE&I isn’t ever ‘over.’ It’s a consistent, constant effort to recognize, learn, dialog, partner and devise ways to address issues that impact employees, colleagues, patients and customers on behalf of your business, office, organization. The immense challenge of DE&I is that those who are committed to it find that they consistently need to push it to the front of the priorities facing company leaders, managers and teams. Keeping DE&I top of mind and a top priority is critical.
By Marge Axelrad
Sunday, November 26, 2023 1:00 AM
NEW YORK—The embrace of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DE&I) this year has continued to expand among many businesses, large and small, public and private. In healthcare, too, and vision care in particular, DE&I has continued its evolution.
By Marge Axelrad
Monday, October 30, 2023 2:00 AM
Modern technologies, combined with new societal attitudes towards inclusion and access to care, are helping to advance the scope of products and services for those who are vision-impaired.
By Marge Axelrad
Sunday, September 3, 2023 2:00 AM
It’s September and, for many folks, it’s when the year ‘begins’ again. Summer breaks are over, people get back to school, back to business, back to forecasting for the year-end and the next years ahead.
By Marge Axelrad
Sunday, July 23, 2023 2:02 AM
Twenty-one years. More than 750 women. From thousands of submissions received by its readers in that span of time,
Vision Monday’s editors have been making very tough choices to identify and share the stories of just some of the women across the eyewear and eyecare field making a difference, creating impact, changing the game and influencing others in the work that they do.