Vision Expo is moving to Orlando. The main topic of discussion this year in New York was ………next year!
It is a general reflection of the economy that attendances were visibly down this year both at The Loft, the exhibition for independent eyewear brands, and at The Javits Center, where Vision Expo was making its final appearance.
The Loft has already set out its stall for 2025; they are staying in New York and, what started as a show that profited from the presence of a larger, more mainstream event, is now ready to stand on its own two feet and trust that it can attract enough independent buyers to make it a success.
The talk was positive and, even if sales felt a little soft this year, that was more a reflection of market conditions than anything else.
So does Vision Expo have the clout to pull a professional audience to Orlando? Will the Mouse have the draw for the optician (and family) or will the show fizzle and die?
Will the more rarefied format of The Loft seduce buyers to come to NY, even if they will have to look elsewhere for other necessary purchases?
This March we saw 30 vendors at The Loft. The smart money says that those vendors will come back and perhaps there will be opportunities to make a wider NY show without compromising the independent principles of The Loft.
Let’s hope so!
This might well be the seismic shift that independent eyewear craves.
About Jason Kirk
As CEO and co- founder of Kirk & Kirk, Jason along with his partner and wife Karen create and distribute high-end, independent eyewear collections. Jason also provides optical consultancy, helping other companies with sales, communication and production. With a career spanning 30 years, Jason has a wealth of experience in the optical industry, covering a broad spectrum of disciplines.
He has managed and developed several international brands, run two frame-manufacturing plants, produced and sourced eyewear for optical and fashion companies across the globe, and opened and operated three award-winning London stores.Â
Jason has also been a speaker and a writer on various aspects of optics, including the history, the challenges, and the opportunities of the sector, and he is considered a valued friend to both TEF Magazine and the independent optical industry.
Read more about his brand on TEF Magazine or visit his website.
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