NEW YORK—Vision Monday is pleased to announce the winners of the Third Annual Dispensing And Retail Excellence (D.A.R.E.) Awards, sponsored by Europa International, commending the most daring optical retailers in the U.S. and Canada.

The 2013 D.A.R.E. Award winners are:

• The PDA (Public Display of Attention) Award for Most Daring In-Store Merchandising and/or Window Display (NEW for 2013) – Black Optical, Tulsa, Okla.
• The Lead, Follow or Get Out of the Web Award for Mosting Daring Social Media or Web Presence – My Eye Xpert, Gurnee, Ill.
• The Seeing Green Award for Most Daring Eco-chievement – Eye Impact, Houston, Texas
• The Resistance Is Futile Award for Most Daring Advertising Campaign – SVS Vision Centers, Mount Clemens, Mich.
• The Sphere of Influence Award for Most Daring Community Outreach, Philanthropic or Patient Education Program – Stanton Optical, Palm Springs, Fla.
• The Shop It Like It’s Hot Award for Most Daring Store Design or Retail Environment – The Spectrum, Regina, Sask., Canada
• The “We The People” Readers’ Vote Award for Most Daring Retailer – Specs Around Town, Bloomington, Ill.
With Honorable Mentions: Selima Optique SoHo, New York, N.Y.; The Eye Gallery, Ypsilanti, Mich.


The Third Annual D.A.R.E. Awards honor daring optical retailers and dispensers from across North America. Winners are chosen by the D.A.R.E. Award judging panel for each of the six Award categories. A selection of six additional nominees, one per Award category, is presented to VM readers for the “We The People” Readers’ Vote in which a seventh winner is designated via public vote. The entry or entries with the second highest number of reader votes is recognized with Honorable Mention.

Retailers and ECPs were asked to submit entries May 6, 2013 through June 14, 2013. Selections for the “We the People” Reader’s Vote Award were announced on July 1, 2013 to be reviewed and voted on by the public between July 1 and Aug. 9, 2013.

To see the D.A.R.E. Award winner submissions and supporting materials, including photos, videos and audio files, look for the cover story of VM’s Sept. 23 print issue or visit VisionMonday.com to view the feature online or in the VM Digital Edition.