I am willing to give up anything that Essilor owns. They are fully intergrated in this industry, equipment, lenses, labs, frames and stores in other parts of the world. An independent has to question his business sense when the same company buys Frames Direct to directly compete against you at prices that most independents cannot match. Why would you buy from them unless you have a desire to not have any value in the industry?
I hope so too, Dave. We need you, and the few others like you, around for a long time.Originally Posted by CEO
I think that the big E is large enough now and with those customers so commited that they would have very little trouble launching a massive retail operation. Might even aquire an existing one. Those "loyal" customers would maintain their denial and continue doing biz with them. They'd lose a few customers but gain so much it would not matter. They are already wetting their toes. No neeb to start paying attention now though. To start beding concerned now would equate to worrying that a giant meteor was going to hit the earth. No cause or point for concern. Zeiss will wither away with the public Verilux adds. Done deal folks. Not what you want to hear. Sorry.
Sounds like a good time for a small INDEPENDENT lab to start producing the same type of work that they do. It would only take a decently equiped lab with enough blanks and operating capital to do it.
they have reached an agreement to form a global strategic alliance
As far I know it is only a friendly relationship..........but you never know.
Nikon Corporation (Michio Kariya, President) in Japan and Essilor International S.A. (Xavier Fontanet, Chairman and CEO) in France said that they have reached an agreement to form a global strategic alliance in research by forming a 50/50 joint venture in Japan to be called Nikon and Essilor International Joint Research Center Co. Ltd., start its operation as from mid-March, 2009.
Zeiss is one example, which has already opened 130 shops...........................
With the adoption of GATT ( General Agreement on Trade & Tariffs ) and permission to FDI ( Foreign Direct Investment ), in the retail sector by the Government of India, the scenario in this segment has started witnessing the changes. National and Multinational Companies from the organized sector, having realized the weaknesses of this otherwise potential sector, have come up with the proposal to establish a chain of retail stores across the length and breadth of country. Zeiss is one example, which has already opened 130 shops, and has a plan to open another 200. Tatas have already opened 7 retail show room under the name & style of “Titan Eye”. Reliance Optical wing is already functional with 5 shops and will soon be visible with the chain of Optical Retail shops. All these shops are equipped with an Optometrist and trained Technicians, besides offering a large variety of Frames and Lenses.
The threat to small conventional Opticians is, therefore, imminent, unless they take strong measures to face the challenge. The first and foremost requirement in this sequence is the knowledge base. Here again there may be problem. A person, who has been successfully running the show for 10, 20 or more years, finds it hard to accept the reality. But he must also realize that time and tide wait for none. The survival of the fittest would ultimate be the key to success.
source:
http://editorial.theopticalnews.com/
They have gone full blast into retail in India, the goal is 500 stores. So they are not that much more loyal to their longtime retail customers.
Last edited by Chris Ryser; 06-19-2010 at 03:18 PM.
Boy, I sure hope your wrong about Younger!......................
As it says in above thread : A person, who has been successfully running the show for 10, 20 or more years, finds it hard to accept the reality. But he must also realize that time and tide wait for none. The survival of the fittest would ultimate be the key to success.
Possible solution: Start today to support our local independent companies in Lenses........Frames........Accessories...........Consumable s.
And lets not forget YOUNGER, also an independent, that is the main sponsor of OptiBoard that lets you tell the world what it is all about.
PALs and FF is where the money is, Younger has chosen not to compete in that market and instead make it's own niche in sunwear and trilogy offerings; Serving a niche requires less marketing and discounting unfortunatly it does not take serious marketshare from the 800lb gorilla who's selling everything else to opticals who in the future would find it easier to sell a second pair designed by the same manufacturer instead of switching brands.
Man of contrary opinion
To SPEED:
Cannot agree. History shows that success comes to the man of contrary opinion. What you speak is what it is. I cannot see this as a fait a compli. I have designed my business model away from dealings with large companies who have no discernable character. So far it has proven very successful
Today: http://eyeoverheard.wordpress.com/20...cal/#more-9389
Here's a rough translation of the French part of the article:
The French giant of Essilor optics would have started negotiations with the Shamir kibbutz to repurchase to him his shares in the company Shamir Optical Industry Ltd. The quoted value of the Israeli manufacturer of optical glasses is estimated at 190 million dollars. The Calcalist daily newspaper, which reveals the negotiations between the two companies, believes it that it is likely great there to see the transaction succeeding. Today, the Shamir kibbutz has 58% of the actions of the company Shamir Optical Industry Ltd, the remainder being distributed between the funds American Royce & Associates (9,9%) and of the small carriers. It is not impossible only Essilor launches an purchase offer to take the control of the Israeli company, even if the Shamir kibbutz keeps a minority of the capital. The bringing together between Essilor and Shamir is supported by the fact that the two manufacturers carry on complementary activities. Shamir Optical Industry Ltd. is one of the world leaders in the design and the manufacture of ophthalmic glasses and moulds of high-quality for unifocaux and progressive glasses. In nearly forty years, Shamir acquired an international reputation, always with the point of last technologies. Shamir invests important resources research and development, and several of its developments constituted besides of the technological breakthroughs which placed it at the head in the field of progressive optics. Shamir is the only company of optics to being with dimensions in Nasdaq, the largest market electronic of actions of the world. It made its entry on the US market in 2005 when it raised funds of an amount of 56 million dollars.
Love or hate Essilor, the New York Post cover is funny.
There are rules. Knowing those are easy. There are exceptions to the rules. Knowing those are easy. Knowing when to use them is slightly less easy. There are exceptions to the exceptions. Knowing those is a little more tricky, and know when to use those is even more so. Our industry is FULL of all of the above.
Me too ! 75% of my inventory is Younger.
DragonlensmanWV N.A.O.L.
"There is nothing patriotic about hating your government or pretending you can hate your government but love your country."
Good Assement...
I would consider the purchase of Shamir unlikely. They posted amazing profits last quarter, their strategy of becoming a "software only" company is paying off hugely, and since they are located on Kibbutz (like a commune) in Isreal, selling to Essilor means more than a job change, it will change their entire way of life.
Shamir's strategy is to own as little as possible, Essilor's is to own as much as possible. Shamir has worked very hard the last 5 years on their strategy of becoming a "click fee, research company", and its a good one, but their strategy is the opposite of Essilor's so a merger would be a big problem for both of them. However, marketing agreement, developement agreements, and other co-mingling is necessary as Shamir does not have its own A/R and its dependant on their Crizal certification to drive sales.
Huh? I thought Lux was the bad guy? Why's everyone hatin Essilor these days? I know they teamed up with Lux but as long as Lux doesn't buy them, I don't take issue.
Don't panic.......
there is also Rodenstock, established in 1877, so much for continuity.
Georg Mayer
Rodenstock - Thailand
I'm in the middle of negotiating with shamir to sell me semi-finished product, so far they're willing to sell genesis and piccolo ( I was buying those 9 years ago from an authorized distributor) but I'm holding out for creation; we'll see what comes of it.
Late as usual, but I'm here none the less.
So Zeiss...that company that's opened something like 200 retail shops (and another 200 planned) to compete directly with you. That's who you want to support? The same Zeiss that purchsed Sola and American Optical?
Now Hoya compared to Zeiss has a cleaner slate - not by much, but cleaner. Hoya has purchased a good number of independent labs around the world, and has shops throughout Asia to - you guess it - compete directly with independents (like yourself).
You better start acting Doc...like finding a lab that supplies Younger, KBco, XCel, and VisionEase.
Audiyoda - I thought KBCo was Essilor owned.
I thought Essilor's polarized purchase was SLC/iRx.
**EDIT
Actually you're right - happened in 2007. Funny that there's a direct link to Essilor on the SLC website and the iRx website. There's no such link on the KBCo site.
So I guess that leaves Younger and VisionEase as the only polarized options if you want to stay away from Essilor.
Last edited by Audiyoda; 07-05-2010 at 11:36 AM.
Yes Essilor owns KbCo.
We have had excellent success with both these products. Coppertone is VE's newest, and I love their gray version of this lens. Very strong feedback from patients.
:cheers:
Essilor leases the name in the US. In the US, you are simply getting essilor lenses branded with Nikon (hence getting Nikon at wallyworld) but other places in the world, you get Nikon lenses which are, apparently, pretty damned good.
We dispense a lot of Seiko Supercede. I have personally tried several others (Shamir, Nikon, Zeiss and essilor). But I keep going back to my Seiko's. We have been dispensing about 20 a month for a couple of years now. I don't believe we have had one non-adapt. And it is the best pair I have ever worn.
I've run enough VE where I'm lab manager that I'll never purposely offer them again. I've rejected - just to estimate - about 15% of my stock to front surface pits/carbon deposits/scratches (not just polarized but the entire stock I carry). I've never had that kind of problem with any supplier, never. While I do like the color of their gray over Younger's more green/gray I do everything possible to not run their products.
This is a REAL funny thread!!! Yes Essilor is the BAD boy on the block and all of the indep. in my area push VARILUX like crazy. They are cutting their own throats by selling out to all of the B.S. HYPE THAT ESSILOR IS KNOWN FOR ALL OF THEIR MARKETING BLA BLA BLA.
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