EXCITEMENT BUILDS AS TRANSITIONS OPTICAL PRESENTS ’03 TRADE SUPPORT TO NEW YORK LAB, LENS MANUFACTURING PARTNERS

Educational and Social Event Previewed Business-Building Tools
PINELLAS PARK, Fla., Jan. 3, 2003 – Despite the busy holiday season and the threat of a transit strike, representatives from optical laboratories and lens manufacturers serving the New York City area attended an informative and entertaining event hosted by Transitions Optical, Inc., on Dec. 16. The event was designed to thank valuable partners for their commitment to Transitions&reg Lenses and to present the unprecedented trade support planned for 2003 to help lens manufacturers, labs and their customers grow their businesses with Transitions.

Along with lens manufacturer representatives, labs in attendance included 21st Century Optics, Barry Optical, Hirsch Optical and Tri-Supreme Optical.

Partnering for Success

“This event demonstrates the commitment of Transitions Optical and the Solutions Team to helping us build our business,” said Barney Woythaler, vice president of operations for 21st Century Optics, Long Island City, N.Y. “Even in a flat economy, Transitions is devoting resources to help us grow and is providing smart tools and programs that we can pass along to our customers. Their dedication is unwavering.”

“It was so wonderful for our sales staff to hear about all the exciting new plans from Transitions first-hand,” said Jennifer Vail, director of training and marketing for Tri-Supreme Optical, Long Island, N.Y. “We can’t wait to take advantage of the new programs in 2003.”

“The response to the event was extremely positive,” said Johanna DiChiara, northeast account manager, Transitions. “It’s the excitement we saw from our partners that will make 2003 truly successful, and we were delighted to provide a forum to share our plans for the coming year in a relaxed, intimate atmosphere.”

The event featured Transitions’ television and print advertising, the new Present & Earn Every Day Program and a demonstration of Transitions Optical’s On-line Marketing Tool.

In addition to DiChiara, attending the event were Transitions’ P.J. Downes, sales director labs/ECPs; Samantha Platt, channel marketing manager, North America; Kelley Darcangelo, sales support coordinator, labs; Shannon Hunt, marketing coordinator, national retail accounts; Susy Cabral, professional and public relations manager; and Linda Reynolds, account manager. They were joined by Transitions lens consultants Lee Pochter, New York metro; Elisabeth Fuchs, New Jersey; and Shawna Miller, Long Island/Queens.

The event took place at Ernie’s Restaurant on Manhattan’s Upper West Side.

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Transitions Optical representatives introduced the unprecedented trade support for 2003 to its lab and lens manufacturing partners through an educational and social event held in New York City Dec. 16.

From left to right: Lee Pochter, Transitions Solutions Team; Kelley Darcangelo, sales support coordinator, labs; Samantha Platt, channel marketing manager for North America; Susy Cabral, professional and public relations manager; Johanna DiChiara, northeast account manager; Shawna Miller, Solutions Team; Shannon Hunt, marketing coordinator, national retail accounts; Elisabeth Fuchs, Solutions Team; Linda Reynolds, account manager; and P.J. Downes, sales director of labs/ECPs.


From left to right: Kelley Darcangelo, sales support coordinator, labs; Lee Pochter, Transitions Solutions Team; Alex Perez, Hirsch Optical Corp.; Ceasar Biscar, Hirsch Optical Corp.; and Mark Cohen, Barry Optical.