Vantage EyeCare Grows to 45 Locations and More Than 100 ECPs With Three Latest Transactions

By Staff
Thursday, November 29, 2018 12:18 AM PHILADELPHIA—Vantage EyeCare LLC, which now calls itself the largest private ophthalmology group in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware with 45 locations and more than 100 ECPs staffing its portfolio practices, this week announced it has agreed to acquire three additional eyecare groups in its mid-Atlantic operating area. The three additions are: Horizon Eye Care (six locations in southern New Jersey), Kay, Tabas, Niknam, DiDomenico Ophthalmology Associates (two locations in the Philadelphia area), and Ophthalmic Associates (one location in Lansdale, Pa.).

Visionary Eye Partners Sets Sights on Northeast Markets

By Mark Tosh
Thursday, November 15, 2018 12:30 AM BLOOMINGTON, Ill.—Visionary Eye Partners (VEP), a practice management company backed by Toronto’s Imperial Capital Group, has completed the acquisition of five separate eyecare practices over the past few months, the firm’s co-chief executive officer Nick Williams told Vision Monday.

Acuity Eyecare Opens Dallas Service Center to Support Regional Optical Practices and Field Teams

By dba Staff

Thursday, July 5, 2018 12:40 PM DALLAS—Acuity Eyecare Group recently celebrated the official opening of its new Dallas Service Center (DSC). The facility, which is designed to serve as the official Acuity headquarters, will be the primary center to serve and support Acuity doctors, regional optical stores/practices and field teams in their local markets, according to an announcement.

Total Eye Care Partners Acquires Leading Eyecare Practices in Tennessee and Kentucky

By dba Staff

Thursday, July 5, 2018 12:35 PM WEST CHESTER, Ohio—Total Eye Care Partners (Total ECP) has finalized two more acquisitions. Late last month, the group acquired Eyewear Gallery in Memphis, Tenn., from Dr. Warren Johnson, according to an announcement. In addition, Total ECP acquired Drs. Ditto & Musick Eye Care Center in Nicholasville, Ky., from David Ditto, OD, and John Musick, OD, FAAO.

Three Speakers Announced for VM LIVE’s ‘Retail Smart’ Event at Expo West

By dba Staff

Thursday, July 5, 2018 12:30 PM NEW YORK—A successful optometrist who has brought “outside the box” thinking to her practice’s newest location in one of the fastest-growing towns in Ohio is going to share her experience and a look behind the scenes at VM LIVE, the special live session and panel held during Vision Expo West in Las Vegas. Carole Burns, OD, FCOVD, joins the speaker roster at “Retail Smart,” and will discuss Professional VisionCare’s new location, the thinking that went into this new office, and the systems that support its operations.

For Eyes Unit of GrandVision Plans to Add 25 Additional Locations by Year’s End

By dba Staff

Tuesday, June 12, 2018 10:15 AM MIRAMAR, Fla.—It looks like 2018 will be a busy year for For Eyes, the U.S. unit of GrandVision N.V. The U.S. group plans to open up to 25 new locations over the next seven months, which will add about 20 percent to its existing retail base of about 120 locations across the U.S.

Refac Optical Group Selects Mi9 Retail to Drive Its Digital Transformation Strategy

By dba Staff

Tuesday, June 12, 2018 10:10 AM MIAMI—Refac Optical Group, parent company of Nationwide Vision and U.S. Vision, has chosen Mi9 Retail to “power its digital business,” according to an announcement by the enterprise software company late last month. Mi9 Retail, based here, said it provides omni-channel retail solutions that enable retailers to “automate and optimize their entire Plan-to-Sell process, from planning to executing, influencing, and selling merchandise in-store, online and on any device.”

FYidoctors Launches E-Commerce Platform in Effort to Improve Patients’ Overall Experience

By dba Staff


Tuesday, June 12, 2018 10:05 AM CALGARY, Alberta—FYidoctors, the leading doctor-owned provider of ophthalmic products and services, has launched an e-commerce platform that the firm believes integrates effectively with the brick-and-mortar offices within the group while enhancing and supporting communication with patients.

The Vision Council Names James Rosin as Optical Retail Division Chair

By dba Staff
Monday, May 21, 2018 10:15 AM ALEXANDRIA, Va.—The Vision Council has announced that James Rosin of Rosin Eyecare will serve as the inaugural chair of the recently formed Optical Retail Division. Stuart Jolly of Sam’s Club/Walmart has been named as vice chair. “We’re thrilled to add Jamie and Stuart to the team as we grow the Optical Retail Division. Their input will be invaluable to the development of the Division's programs and services, ensuring that we’re meeting our members’ needs and addressing their concerns,” said Ashley Mills, CEO of The Vision Council.

VM’s Top 50 Optical Retailers: A Fresh Picture Takes Shape as Consolidation Re-Orders the Ranking

By dba Staff
Monday, May 21, 2018 10:10 AM NEW YORK—It was a busy year in 2017 across the optical retailing business in the U.S. Many companies enjoyed modest organic growth as the U.S. economy continued to grow, the stock markets pushed upward and consumers and patients remained confident in their outlook for the future, a confluence of events that, in one way or another, played into a steady performance for optical retailing and eyecare overall last year.

Eyemart Express Offering Veterans and Military Families a Discount Program

By dba Staff
Monday, May 21, 2018 10:05 AM DALLAS—Eyewear retailer Eyemart Express has announced a new “thank you” program to show appreciation to veterans, retired, active- and non-active duty military personnel and their families. The program features a nationwide discount program that began May 14. To celebrate the program launch, all individuals who have served in the U.S. military, and their families, will receive 20 percent off eyewear purchases through June 2, according to the announcement.

Shopko Optical Management Conference Celebrates 40 Years

By Staff
Monday, May 21, 2018 12:15 AM GREEN BAY, Wis.—Shopko held its 2018 Shopko Optical Management Conference at the Radisson here late last month. This year’s conference, “Celebrating the Past, While Building for the Future,” celebrated Shopko Optical’s 40th anniversary.

Shopko Optical Management Conference Celebrates 40 Years

By Mark Tosh
Wednesday, May 9, 2018 3:25 PM GREEN BAY, Wis.—Shopko held its 2018 Shopko Optical Management Conference at the Radisson here late last month. This year’s conference, “Celebrating the Past, While Building for the Future,” celebrated Shopko Optical’s 40th anniversary. More than 130 Shopko center managers, regional, corporate and lab leadership team members were in attendance.

1-800 Contacts Decides to End Test of Brick-and-Mortar Lumen Optical Stores

By Staff
Wednesday, May 9, 2018 3:20 PM DRAPER, Utah—1-800 Contacts has decided to end its test of the brick-and-mortar retail format Lumen Optical and will close the remaining three stores in the Chicago area by the end of the month, a 1-800 Contacts executive told VMAILearlier this week.

Talent Shortage Continues on a Global Scale

By Hedley Lawson, Contributing Editor
Wednesday, May 9, 2018 3:16 PM We are continually contacted by client companies and others to discuss the difficulties they experience in finding and retaining talent in virtually every market sector around the world. To add to the difficulties, it is a situation that is unlikely to improve in 2018.