By Staff
Thursday, March 23, 2023 8:20 AM
NEW YORK—At sundown on Wednesday, March 22, 2023, the month of Ramadan officially began. Celebrated by over 1 billion Muslins worldwide, Ramadan is the holiest month in the Muslim calendar. For thirty days (this year, from March 22 to April 21), millions will fast from sunup to sundown every day. The month also involves prayer, charity, community time and introspection for Muslims everywhere, including those who do not fast during the month. Islam is the third most popular religion here in the U.S.
By Staff
Thursday, March 9, 2023 2:35 PM
NEW YORK—March is Workplace Eye Wellness Month, a month headed up by Prevent Blindness to help keep eyes healthy, safe and protected on the job. Thousands of workers in the U.S. sustain eye injuries at work each year, many of which are preventable. The American Academy of Ophthalmology states that 90 percent of these eye injuries could be avoided by wearing the proper eye protection. There’s still plenty of time to get involved and spread the word to your patients and teams—here are just a few ideas.
By Staff
Thursday, March 2, 2023 8:20 AM
LONDON—This past weekend, thousands of ECPs headed to London for the U.K.’s largest optical exhibition, 100% Optical, which ran from February 25—27 at ExCeL London. On the heels of Mido and situated right at the beginning of the year, 100% Optical draws visitors from across Europe, showcasing the beauty and innovation of British eyewear to a large audience. This week, we’re taking a look at a few shots from indies’ busy, successful and exciting 100% Optical.
By Staff
Thursday, February 23, 2023 8:20 AM
NEW YORK—Last Tuesday, people all around the world spent their Valentine’s Day sharing love. Whether it’s romantic, platonic, familial or self-love, Valentine’s Day always offers up the perfect opportunity to spread love—however that looks for you. Most importantly, of course, Valentine’s Day provided a perfect opportunity for ECPs everywhere to remind their patients that loving their eyes is a vital part of self care. This week, we’re taking a look at how indies celebrated this Valentine’s Day, from in-office gatherings to special treats for patients.
By Staff
Tuesday, January 31, 2023 8:20 AM
NEW YORK—Love is in the air this month. No matter your relationship status, February 14 can be a fun, loving day to celebrate—it doesn’t matter if that celebration involves date night, friends’ night or a day full of self care. There’s still plenty of time to get ready for Valentine’s Day, including some time to decorate the office or put together some sweet social media ideas. Here, we’re taking a look at a few ways indies have celebrated Valentine’s Day to spark some inspiration.
By Staff
Wednesday, January 18, 2023 7:20 AM
NEW YORK—Fresh year, fresh starts and fresh frames—a perfect motto to welcome in 2023. As the new year begins in full force, independent ECPs are celebrating the way we all know best: with new glasses and updated eye exams. This week, we’re taking a look at how indies have been ringing in the new year, and how they’re making their patients part of the celebration. There’s still time to wish people a happy new year—we’re still in January, after all—so get ready to take down some social media inspiration.
By Staff
Thursday, December 29, 2022 8:20 AM
NEW YORK—Winter has only just begun, and although the days are cold and dark those of us in the eyewear and eyecare industries know better than anyone just how important it is to keep the eyes protected during the winter months. It’s easy for people to think of sunglasses as just a summer accessory—part of the reason why education is such an important sector of our industry.
By Staff
Wednesday, December 7, 2022 2:50 PM
NEW YORK—Last week, Pantone announced its color of the year for 2023: Viva Magenta. A strong, deep and warm shade of red, Viva Magenta is vivacious and bold—a color full of optimism for the year ahead. Pantone Color Institute’s executive director Leatrice Eiseman
said, “In this age of technology, we look to draw inspiration from nature and what is real. PANTONE 18-1750 Viva Magenta descends from the red family, and is inspired by the red of cochineal, one of the most precious dyes belonging to the natural dye family as well as one of the strongest and brightest the world has known.
By Staff
Tuesday, November 22, 2022 8:20 AM
NEW YORK—One of the most exciting things about running a small business is brainstorming creative ways to bring new customers in. In this day and age it’s more important than ever to attract customers online through social media and reviews, but it remains vital to never forget the power of a show-stopping window display. As they change through the seasons, window displays offer a perfect venue to celebrate a holiday, show off a new collection and set the general tone that customers can expect when they walk into a shop.
By Staff
Monday, November 14, 2022 8:20 AM
NEW YORK—With just over a week to go until Thanksgiving, the holiday shopping season is in full swing—which means now is the best time to start getting ready for Black Friday and, of course,
Small Business Saturday. Scheduled for the Saturday after Thanksgiving—and the day after Black Friday—each year, American Express’ Small Business Saturday is a day dedicated to shopping small and supporting local businesses. Last year, American Express
reported that consumers spent an estimated $23.3 billion on Small Business Saturday—making it a holiday that no small business should miss out on.
By Staff
Monday, October 31, 2022 8:20 AM
NEW YORK—Thanksgiving is in the air, and fall is in full swing. Fall is remarkable for so many things, but there are few more special than the gorgeous, showstopping colors that appear in nature every autumn. The reds, oranges and yellows of fall provide some of nature’s most beautiful moments, so it makes perfect sense for those shades to carry over into fashion, too. Here, we’re taking a look at how some indies are incorporating the colors of fall into their frame staging and social media strategy. Get inspired—there are still plenty of leaves to fall.
By Staff
Thursday, October 13, 2022 8:20 AM
NEW YORK—As the days of October dwindle down, Halloween is just two weeks away. Halloween is one of the holidays that lends itself best to social media content: from costumes to scary movies to creative, spooky treats, there’s no shortage of ways to share your Halloween excitement online. Plus, the holiday is pretty relevant for the optical industry, too. The right pair of frames can make or break a costume, and ensuring patients get properly fitted for costume contacts is a top priority for many ECPs this time of year.
By Staff
Monday, September 26, 2022 8:20 AM
NEW YORK—Each year, Europa Eyewear hosts a special
DB4K Design Duel where they give young patients a chance to design their very own DB4K frame. The team chooses a winning design which will then be produced in real life and added to the DB4K collection, carrying the designer’s name. The fun contest is a great way for kids—and parents—to get involved in their eyecare and show off their artistic chops. Plus, it gives some fantastic insight into what kinds of designs and colors kids are gravitating toward. This year’s entries include bold colors, intricate patterns and some serious design skills.
By Staff
Wednesday, September 14, 2022 8:20 AM
NEW YORK—Yellow is not a color many of us reach for in our day-to-day lives—it can be hard to style, and some shades of it are undeniably harsh on the eyes. But like it or not, yellow is having a moment in fashion. Maybe it’s the U.S. Open pushing bright, yellow tennis balls to the forefront of our minds—or maybe it’s just us clinging to summer sunshine as the days slowly get shorter. Whatever it is, it’s happening. Here, we’re taking a look at some of the ways yellow eyewear has popped up across the industry lately; feel free to use this moment to get inspired for your own in-store displays, social media posts or eyewear wardrobes.
By Staff
Wednesday, August 31, 2022 8:20 AM
NEW YORK—They say not to judge a book by its cover, but there’s no denying that we all do sometimes—and the same goes for judging a shop by its storefront. Although there’s only so much a shop owner can control when it comes to their store’s physical appearance, a bright, welcoming atmosphere can really go a long way. Adding unique elements can also make a store stand out from the crowd, and even entice potential customers to come in.