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VIEW THE BIG IN CASE YOU MISSED IT PDF


2013 was yet another year that moved the optical industry forward in significant directions. Forces as diverse as online retailing, managed care, consolidation, rebranding, technology, demands on the independent, a growing number of alliances, the growth of social media, the continued rise of social-purpose marketing and a changing health care benefits landscape pushed and buffeted the business.

Indeed, the real-word landscape was as impactful as the competitive and virtual landscapes this year as the weather and nature took their toll in the form of tornadoes, fires, hurricanes and severe heat and cold.

Even as the stock market rose, fell and rose again and unemployment came down slightly by the fall, the tension in Washington made itself felt through budget fights and battles still ongoing over health care reform. The U.S. government actually stopped, too, during a two-week shutdown, all influencing the depth and pace of economic recovery across the country.

Across the couple of thousand (we counted!) headlines of the stories and reports issued by Vision Monday via our print publications, digital editions, our website, various live events and our e-newsletters, we have selected only a few here to help you review the year that was. This year-end review is conceived as an extension of our regular print issues’ “In Case You Missed It” department.

Likely, we’ve made some choices that don’t reflect all of the ones you remember. If so, let us know. And prepare, with us, for a another 52 weeks of headlines in 2014. Best wishes from all of us to all of you for a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year.

– maxelrad@jobson.com; mkane@jobson.com; akarp@jobson.com; dcarroll@jobson.com; jsailer@jobson.com; cwolinski@jobson.com