For Sports Eye Safety Month, ECPs Get Social

By Gwendolyn Plummer
Wednesday, September 20, 2023 8:30 AM NEW YORK—For sports lovers, Fall is an exciting time. Many sport seasons restart in the Fall, both professional and amateur—which also makes this season the perfect time to talk to patients about keeping their eyes safe while getting active. This Sports Eye Safety Month, Prevent Blindness shared new data that shows more than 32,000 sports-related eye injuries were treated in the U.S. last year—an increase of nearly 20 percent from the previous year.

Dr. Chinn’s Vision Care

By Staff
Wednesday, September 20, 2023 8:25 AM Dr. Chinn’s Vision Care showed off its newest lens cloth collaboration with local artist Nicholas Danger.

Celebrating Guide Dogs This September

By Staff
Wednesday, September 20, 2023 8:20 AM NEW YORK—We never really need an excuse to celebrate dogs, but there is something extra special about celebrating man’s best friend in September, which is National Guide Dog Month. Guide dogs work hard and change lives every day, making them pretty easy to celebrate—but it can be helpful to get some ideas anyway. Here, we’re taking a look at how people are celebrating National Guide Dog Month this September, from those in the industry to vets and others. Feel free to get inspired, and make sure to take some time to celebrate all the work guide dogs do.

51 Loans, Grants and Programs to Help Your Small Business

By Staff
Wednesday, September 20, 2023 8:15 AM NEW YORK—Whether you’re starting a new small business or looking to grow the one you already own, finding funding can be a challenge for businesses of all sizes. A regular update on specific programs is shared by CO, the special information resource website for small businesses developed by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Each week, an updated list of loans, small business grants or other opportunities to connect with programs and organizations are available to help small businesses.

OPR Eyewear Brings Handmade, Luxury Eyewear to New York’s Hudson Yards

By Gwendolyn Plummer
Thursday, September 7, 2023 8:30 AM NEW YORK—For many of us, the COVID lockdowns of 2020 and 2021 provided some time to slow down, to reassess and to try to get some rest—but for Idriss and Federica Nestor, the opposite was true. Instead, the married couple used that time to develop OPR Eyewear, their home-grown, family-owned eyewear business in New York City. Idriss told The Independent Eye, “My wife and I have always been very passionate about glasses until one day, during COVID, we decided to finally invest in our dream and create our own brand. I had a consulting company while Federica had a legal background—very different worlds that, nevertheless, prepared us for what we were about to create.”

Elevate Eye Care + Eyewear

By Staff
Thursday, September 7, 2023 8:25 AM The team at Elevate Eye Care + Eyewear in Rochester Hills, Michigan celebrated its first anniversary in August.

Get Involved This Color Blindness Awareness Month

By Staff
Thursday, September 7, 2023 8:20 AM NEW YORK—In August, EnChroma announced that more than 160 organizations and influencers committed to support September as International Color Blindness Awareness Month 2023. Throughout the month of September, EnChroma and all those who committed to getting involved (including major museums, universities, businesses, libraries, school districts, state and federal parks, tourism agencies, influencers, and Lions and Kiwanis Clubs) will share information to educate the public about color vision deficiency, both online and in person. And with September just beginning, there’s plenty of time for ECPs and other organizations to get involved, too.

Mastercard Is Ramping Up Services for Small Businesses to Help in an Increasingly Digital Environment

By Staff
Thursday, September 7, 2023 8:15 AM Mastercard is augmenting a suite of services that it provides for small businesses, including new tools to help companies accept payments, obtain financing, protect against cyber crimes and more, the company said. As small businesses work to adapt to an increasingly digital business environment, Mastercard International’s Ginger Siegel, North America Small Business Lead, told CO, the U.S. Dept. of Commerce resource site, “Many small business owners wear multiple hats and lack dedicated personnel in key areas, such as finance, marketing and technology."

Southern College of Optometry Awards Three Young Alumni Who Own or Operate Private Practices

By Gwendolyn Plummer
Thursday, August 24, 2023 8:30 AM MEMPHIS, Tenn.—Southern College of Optometry in Memphis, Tennessee, has recognized three young alumni with the Hayes Center for Practice Excellence Award—an award which recognizes a graduate of the past 10 years who owns and operates a private optometry practice. This year’s recipients are: Autumn Adams, OD, for the Practice Acquisition Award; Derek Hennig, OD, for the Partnership Award; and Andrew Bradbury, OD, for the New Practice Award.

l.a.Eyeworks

By Staff
Thursday, August 24, 2023 8:25 AM l.a.Eyeworks showed support for the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes with a window display. Image via laeyeworks on Instagram

Getting Inspired for the Back-to-School Season

By Staff
Thursday, August 24, 2023 8:20 AM NEW YORK—The back-to-school season has arrived. While some students are already in the classroom, plenty of others don’t get started again until after Labor Day. So there's no time like the present to squeeze in those back-to-school eye exams—and it’s up to ECPs to remind parents about the importance of getting their children’s eyes checked even if they've already started the school year. This week, we’re taking a look at a few inspiring social media posts that do just that.

Family Business Magazine’s Transitions Fall Conference to Explore ‘The Art of Ownership’

By Staff
Thursday, August 24, 2023 8:15 AM NEW YORK—What does it take to be a good and effective owner of a multigenerational family business? Responsible owners play the most critical role in ensuring the long-term survival and success of a family business. They know how to balance the needs of the business with their own needs. Find out what it takes to be a good and effective owner at Transitions Fall 2023, November 1-3 in San Diego, Calif. The conference, sponsored by Family Business Magazine, will take place at the Coronado Island Marriott Resort & Spa.

Indies Have Some Fun With the 'Barbie' Movie

By Gwendolyn Plummer
Thursday, August 10, 2023 8:30 AM NEW YORK—This week, the "Barbie" movie officially made over $1 billion at the box office. Director Greta Gerwig has become the first and only woman with sole director’s credit for a billion dollar movie, NPR reported, and the film’s popularity has taken the world by storm. On social media in particular, the "Barbie" movie has generated countless trends that users are enjoying—from meme templates to full-hearted reminiscing on childhood memories with Barbie dolls.

Spectacle Optometry

By Staff
Thursday, August 10, 2023 8:25 AM The team at Spectacle Optometry in Anaheim Hills, California celebrated four years in business.

A Few Ideas to Make the Most of National Eye Exam Month

By Staff
Thursday, August 10, 2023 8:20 AM NEW YORK—With August set aside as National Eye Exam Month, there’s no better time than now to remind patients about why an annual eye exam is so important—from aesthetic to medical reasons. August is just beginning, so there’s still plenty of time to remind your patients to take advantage of this month—and this week, we’re taking a look at how some indies around the country are doing exactly that. Feel free to get inspired.