By Staff
Friday, May 17, 2024 12:24 AM
BENTONVILLE, Ark.—
Walmart Inc. (NYSE: WMT) has announced first quarter financial results for the three months ending on April 30, 2024, showcasing strong growth in revenue and operating income. The results shared by the omnichannel, global retailer are for Q1 of its 2025 fiscal year, which runs for 12 months ending January 31, 2025. Specific highlights for the first quarter include consolidated revenue of $161.5 billion, up 6.0 percent, or 5.8 percent constant currency versus the same period last year; reported operating income up $0.6 billion (9.6 percent) and adjusted operating income up 13.7 percent, attributed to higher gross margins and growth in membership income; and growth in global e-commerce sales by 21 percent, led by store-fulfilled pickup/delivery and marketplace.
By Staff
Friday, May 17, 2024 12:21 AM
OBERKOCHEN, Germany—The
Zeiss Group (CZMWY) has reported the results of the first half of fiscal year 2023/24. The group generated revenue totaling €5.304 million for the period ended March 31, 2024, which is an increase of 10 percent compared with the comparable period the previous year. All four Zeiss segments contributed to the company's growth, Zeiss noted. Earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) totaled €739 million, compared with €-178 million in the prior-year period. Expenditures on research and development remained at 15 percent of revenue, according to the company.
By Staff
Friday, May 17, 2024 12:15 AM
CINCINNATI—
Super Optical has announced that it is forming a national network of sales representatives to help increase awareness of its FastGrind Lens Surfacing System and other core products. The move is in response to a recent survey of existing FastGrind customers, which revealed that the leading reason FastGrind was not adopted by the practice sooner was because they were not aware of the technology benefits or savings potential, Super Optical said. “To date Super Optical has handled FastGrind sales completely internally, which has brought FastGrind to nearly 60 countries worldwide," CEO/owner Andy Hawes explained.
By Staff
Thursday, May 16, 2024 2:28 PM
On Monday, May 6, at the 2024 Mercuriades Award gala ceremony, presented by the FCCQ (Fédération des chambres de commerce du Québec), IRIS received the “Investissement Québec Productivity Enhancement” award. This recognition crowns IRIS’ ongoing commitment to innovation and excellence, notably in integrating EMR (electronic medical record) and AI (artificial intelligence) within its clinics.
By Staff
Thursday, May 16, 2024 1:44 PM
A new
Global Port Tracker report predicts an increase in inbound cargo volume in the U.S. The report, released by the National Retail Federation (NRF) and Hackett Associates, shows that monthly inbound cargo should climb above 2 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU) through this summer and into the early fall.
In March, U.S. ports covered by Global Port Tracker handled 1.93 million TEU, the equivalent of one 20-foot container or its equivalent, down 1.4 percent from February, but up 18.7 percent from March 2023, following a reduction in Asian exports due to the Lunar New Year shutdowns.
Global Port Tracker projects April will see 1.96 million TEU in inbound cargo, up 10 percent year-over-year. May is forecast to see 2.06 million TEU, up 6.8 percent year-over-year, to tie last October for the highest level since 2.26 million TEU in August 2022.
Meanwhile, June is forecast to see 2.03 million TEU in inbound cargo, up 10.7 percent from the same month last year. July is predicted to slip slightly to 2.02 million TEU, up 5.5 percent, while August will see a slight increase to 2.1 million TEU, up 7.1 percent. September is expected to reach 2.04 million TEU, up 0.5 percent.
Monthly volume has reached the 2 million TEU mark only twice since a 19-month streak that ended in October 2022.
The first half of 2024 is expected to total 11.9 million TEU, up 13 percent from the same period last year. Imports during 2023 totaled 22.3 million TEU, down 12.8 percent from 2022.
By Gwendolyn Plummer
Thursday, May 16, 2024 8:30 AM
NEW YORK—This week, May 13 through 19, 2024, is Myopia Awareness Week, a global event that aims to raise awareness about juvenile-onset myopia and encourage eyecare professionals to take necessary actions. The week has been marked by a number of myopia awareness related initiatives, both big and small, as
reported in
VMAIL Weekend. In addition, ECPs have been putting in the extra work this week to educate their patients about myopia, both online and in person. This week, we’re taking a look at how some indies are approaching Myopia Awareness Week.
By Staff
Thursday, May 16, 2024 8:25 AM
The team at
The Eye Shop in Queen Creek, Ariz., reminded parents that early summer is a great time to schedule their kids’ annual eye exams.
By Staff
Thursday, May 16, 2024 8:20 AM
NEW YORK—May is Small Business Month, an important marker for many independent ECPs who juggle life as both doctors and small business owners. While celebrating yourself and supporting other small business owners this May, it’s also a great moment to reflect on your business, where you’ve been, how far you’ve come and what your next steps might look like. In celebration of Small Business Month, the
U.S. Chamber of Commerce put together a list of 11 critical areas for business development, including a number of action items to help business owners get started.
By Staff
Thursday, May 16, 2024 8:15 AM
Campaign Builder from
Constant Contact offers a new way for small businesses (SMBs) and nonprofits to automate their marketing. Campaign Builder leverages artificial intelligence (AI) and other technologies, like the company’s customer data platform (CDP), to automatically generate turnkey, multi-channel marketing campaigns for SMBs in minutes, according to the company’s announcement. Campaign Builder leverages Constant Contact's AI platform, along with best practices from its decades of experience as a digital marketing pioneer, to automate the areas where SMBs are most likely to get stuck—creating content and choosing the right channels to reach their audience.
By Staff
Thursday, May 16, 2024 12:24 AM
TOKYO—
Hoya Corporation (7741:Tokyo) has announced consolidated revenue of 196.8 million yen for the fourth quarter ending March 31, 2024, up 6 percent from year-ago, and down 1 percent on a constant currency basis. Pretax profit rose to 72.1 million yen, a 34 percent increase versus year-ago, up 27 percent with the constant currency effect. Operating profit slipped 1 percent to 53 million yen compared to the prior-year period, a decrease of 5 percent in constant currency, according to Hoya.
By Staff
Thursday, May 16, 2024 12:21 AM
NEW YORK—
Eyenovia, Inc. (NASDAQ: EYEN), a commercial-stage ophthalmic company with two FDA-approved products and a late-stage asset in pediatric progressive myopia, has announced its financial and operating results for the quarter ended March 31, 2024.
By Staff
Thursday, May 16, 2024 12:15 AM
NEW YORK—The readers of
Vision Monday and
20/20 Magazine are being asked once again to
share nominations to tell their stories for the Ultimate Partners annual editorial initiative. The deadline for submissions has been extended to May 22. Now in its fourth year, Jobson’s 2024 Ultimate Partners program allows readers to highlight their great business support partners and showcase their support. Open to all eyecare professionals, the program is looking to spotlight your most successful collaborations and celebrate the crucial support shared during both challenges and opportunities.
By Staff
Wednesday, May 15, 2024 1:20 PM
Canadian seniors are finding it too expensive to maintain a regular eye exam schedule. A new Specsavers survey, conducted by Leger, found that despite provincial insurance coverage for seniors, 41 percent of Canadian seniors are missing their annual eye exam.
The survey found that the cost of eyewear remains a barrier for many seniors, causing them to delay their exams, creating concern among eyecare providers. Missed exams can lead to undiagnosed eye conditions that can cause significant damage to vision, the survey said.
Half of Canadian seniors do not have vision health benefits and one in four have skipped or delayed updating their eyewear prescriptions due to financial barriers, putting seniors' vision at risk, according to the survey.
Subsequent health complications due to these risks are one of the major drivers behind the need for seniors to get regular eye exams. According to Specsavers, one-in-five seniors do not know their family's eye health history and may not be aware of their increased risk of vision-threatening diseases, such as glaucoma and age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
According to Specsavers, many in the industry are calling for a national strategy for eyecare, through the proposed
Bill C-284, to ensure better health outcomes for Canadians. This is particularly important for senior populations who are more likely to be diagnosed with eye diseases such as glaucoma and AMD.
By Staff
Wednesday, May 15, 2024 10:27 AM
MONTREAL—WestGroupe, a family-operated optical company headquartered here, has announced a donation of $15,000 (CAD) and ongoing partnership to support the efforts of the Waterloo Eye Institute (WEI). WEI aims to revolutionize eye and vision care, clinical education and research at the University of Waterloo’s School of Optometry & Vision Science.