By Gwendolyn Plummer
Sunday, September 3, 2023 1:00 AM
NEW YORK—If there’s one constant in a post-2020 world, it’s change. The economy, labor market, retail landscape and overall world we live in has been in constant flux since March 2020, teaching us all how to be adaptive and inventive in everything we do. For many consumers, products labeled as “Made in the USA” have long been preferable—from giving back to the local economy to lowering your carbon footprint, there are plenty of reasons that Americans want to buy homegrown products. That has not changed—though inflation has put a slight damper on what Americans are willing to spend.
By Staff
Sunday, July 23, 2023 1:00 AM
Collaborative. Confident. Accomplished. Supportive. These are the characteristics that describe this year’s “class” of Vision Monday’s Most Influential Women. Having finally emerged from the shadows of the pandemic, this 2023 group of honorees are at long last looking forward to a brighter and more promising future. Their positivity and can-do attitudes are apparent as they tell us their stories of success in an ever-changing optical industry.
By Staff
Wednesday, May 24, 2023 1:00 AM
NEW YORK—Sustainability is definitely progressing in the optical business world, from all directions. New conversations with optical retailers large, mid-sized and smaller independents reaffirm that the eyecare and eyewear space is supporting new involvement and the commitment to evaluate and implement sustainable practices. This means operationally within companies, within the supply chain and to the consumer, as more sustainably made optical products are being brought to patients and customers.
By Marge Axelrad and Daniel Breeman
Thursday, April 27, 2023 1:00 AM
NEW YORK—2023’s vision care space will see a more measured pace of new deals and practice acquisitions. At the same time, in many cases, internal investments in infrastructure, systems and support will accelerate for both private equity-based groups and practice transition facilitators in the U.S. optical market this year.
By Daniel Breeman
Sunday, February 26, 2023 1:00 AM
From continuing supply chain issues to private equity acquisitions and consolidation, to staffing issues and finally to an uncertain economy with the looming possibility of recession in the coming months, independent eyecare professionals are carefully navigating their next moves as they look to remain profitable and expand their practices in 2023. To help alleviate some of these pressures and stresses, ECP alliances and buying groups are clearly stepping up their game with new and enhanced programs and services with the goal of helping ECPs navigate their way through a challenging business environment that presents both observed obstacles and unforeseen challenges on the horizon.
By Gwendolyn Plummer
Thursday, February 9, 2023 1:00 AM
NEW YORK—The past few years have seen massive, sometimes unpredictable, change in consumer behavior. From a pandemic none of us expected to social media-driven shopping trends that change at the drop of a hat, it can feel almost impossible to predict what consumers will want, or need, next.
By Staff
Monday, December 5, 2022 1:00 AM
NEW YORK—The crescendo of a global pandemic’s impact on health care, geopolitical upheaval, rising racial, diversity and inclusion awareness, climate change and fundamental economic challenges have escalated many things, one of which is a mindset among many that a company, large and global or small and independent, can and needs to more clearly spell out its values, priorities and support on a range of issues and worthy causes.
By Gwendolyn Plummer and Marge Axelrad
Monday, October 17, 2022 1:00 AM
NEW YORK—Long term societal issues, like those of diversity, equity & inclusion, have been fighting the hard fight for many years. With the escalation of the disruption unleashed by the global pandemic, the brighter spotlight on the topic from media, and a groundswell among individuals and organizations that more vocal and active commitment was needed, DE&I initiatives continue to expand. Voices from within health care, business, family, politics and culture are starting to join with those in structured organizations along with more assertive storytelling from groups victimized or impacted by the lack of inclusion in hiring, in receiving or accessing fair and equitable business or health care services and more.
By Gwendolyn Plummer
Tuesday, September 6, 2022 1:00 AM
NEW YORK—What it means to be American-made can be different for everyone. In July of 2021, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) introduced a new rule that both clarified and narrowed what it means to be a product “Made in the USA.” Under this new rule, the FTC prohibits companies from labeling their products as “Made in the USA” unless “virtually all”
https://www.ftc.gov/business-guidance/blog/2022/04/ftc-charges-battery-maker-first-case-under-made-usa-labeling-rule pieces or ingredients are made and sourced in the U.S. In addition, the final assembly or processing and “substantial transformation” of the item must occur within the U.S. as well.
By Staff
Friday, September 2, 2022 2:30 PM
For many, 2022 has been a year of change, adaptation and newness. We have clung to hope for the past two years—waiting for things to go “back to normal,” like COVID-19 never happened. As we continue to live through this pandemic, it’s become clear that normal is something that will continue to change throughout our lives—something that we will be adapting to every day, week, month and year.
By Marge Axelrad and Mark Tosh
Wednesday, June 29, 2022 1:00 AM
NEW YORK—After the shock of the 2020 pandemic and the slow build back to some semblance of stability by the end of that year, the leading U.S. optical retailers and companies, both national and regional groups, came back in 2021 with a solid mid-to-high double digit performance overall. While the 2020 year was characterized as working past store and office closures to “craft a comeback,” as
VM noted in our 2021 Top 50, the 12 months of 2021 were marked by tightening up operations, accelerating new digital technologies to power operations and to demonstrate new ideas to consumers and patients. Companies reconsidered initiatives like more online sales choices or remote eyecare.
By Marge Axelrad
Friday, May 20, 2022 1:00 AM
NEW YORK—The challenging business and cultural climate of the past couple of years have brought on many new definitions of what constitutes an excellent customer or patient experience. That’s because the pandemic shutdown was such an initial shock to the normal interactions between patients and doctors, customers and retailers that everything underwent a reassessment and rethinking, even as the situation improved.
By Staff
Saturday, April 23, 2022 1:00 AM
NEW YORK—Retail reinvention, fresh branding strategies, technology’s impact on health and vision and expanding patients’ access to care—megatrends shaped by the global pandemic—were brought into sharp focus by an array of experts at the Vision Monday Leadership Summit on March 30. The exclusive, in-person event, held at the Times Center here, featured a unique group of speakers who examined the dizzying pace of changes that are transforming retail and health care right now.