Vision Expo today announces the finalists for the third annual OPTImum Retail Award, which celebrates independent retailers by allowing them to showcase their products, stores, visions and stories to the optical industry. Applicants were asked to share their in-store innovations, individuality, culture, brand loyalty and technology usage.
The 2020 finalists are:
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Black Optical
Born in Tulsa, Oklahoma in 2007, Black Optical established itself as a leading curator in its rapidly growing community. Gary grew his vision to include two other successful locations, in Oklahoma City and Dallas. From the beginning, Black Optical set out to achieve three things: to curate and retail the best eyewear in the world, to welcome and care for every client like a friend, and to create aesthetic environments that inspire.
G is for Glasses
When we sat down to talk about G is for Glasses for this contest we realized how our vision, individuality, culture, technology use and brand loyalty all blend together to make our shop what it is. Creating a culture was part of our original vision of G, our individuality was the catalyst which set our culture and brand loyalty into motion. Technology helped establish our business from the very beginning, and is constantly evolving as we grow.
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Globe Specs
The GLOBE SPECS’ third store is now in Japan’s ancient capital of Kyoto. Since we were invited to take part in an extremely elegant 100 years old brick building and also as to seek for the way of blend the new store into the historical city of Kyoto, I had explored and hunted for various antique furniture, components and furnishings which are made in the same era as the facility building from all around the world.
Gogosha Optique
VISION: What innovations are you implementing and why?
We are developing and implementing appointment based services, a membership program and building an on-line experience that best reflects in in-store experience we offer. It allows us to better service our remote clients as well as make our services available beyond our brick and mortar location.
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The Eye Place
The Eye Place aims to be a little different. Brainchild of third-generation Optometrist Alex Kemp, the business was established in 2006 but has a heritage that goes much further back. The first store that Alex took on from its retiring owner in Bakewell, Derbyshire was in a direct line of opticians going back to 1720.
To determine the final winner, Vision Expo social media channels are now open for voting until March 9 to be factored into the judges’ scores. Vision Expo is encouraging the vision community to share their input and vote to help select the winner. To vote, as well as read the full stories of the finalists, click here.
The 2020 OPTImum Retail Award winner will be announced at Vision Expo East during the Independence @ The Creative Edge panel at The Bridge on Saturday, March 28 at 5 p.m.
To determine the finalists, a committee of the industry’s top leaders deliberated and voted on which stories they feel are most deserving of the award. This year’s committee members include Dr. Arian Fartash, optometrist and influencer of @glamoptometrist; Christian Roth, eyewear designer and the first Council of Fashion Designers of America member in the eyewear category since 1990; and James Spina, 20/20 Magazine editor-in-chief and senior vice president.
The River, one of three new neighborhoods to debut at Vision Expo East 2020, will open on March 26, one day earlier than the general Exhibit Hall. Education at Vision Expo will take place March 26–29, 2020. The Vision Expo Exhibit Hall will be open from March 27–29, 2020.
To register for Vision Expo East 2020, visit visionexpoeast.com and be sure to follow along on all of Vision Expo’s social media channels, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.
