is Safilo going to be the new Luxottica?

[finefocus]

I was just told that Safilo will soon be either buying or creating a giant retail network - I was told 700 (!!??!!) outlets (whether US only or worldwide wasn't mentioned) - all this from a Lux rep - has anyone else heard any of this?

[drk]

Pray tell: who is out there of any value to be purchased in North America?

I don't see it.

I'd be more willing to buy that Lux spins off Pearle to Safilo...

[Johns]

These rumors are exhausting me!:cheers:

Specualting isn't as exciting as it used to be!:hammer:

[L.A.B.]

lol

[finefocus]

These rumors are exhausting me!:cheers:

Specualting isn't as exciting as it used to be!:hammer:

The context was my declining to buy Lux product based on their competition with me (yeah, yeah, old news), and the reposte was that Safilo was about to do the same. This was an old-timer in the business who has been trustworthy in the past when representing another company.

[For-Life]

I'd be more willing to buy that Lux spins off Pearle to Safilo...

Only after Essilor buys out Lux

[Jacqui]

Only after Essilor buys out Lux

Should be the other way around :D Unless I get there first and buy both :D:D:D

[For-Life]

Should be the other way around :D Unless I get there first and buy both :D:D:D

great, another rumour

[Jacqui]

great, another rumour

Yes, Jacqui Inc. is gonna do it :D :D (we can't wait for FezzJohns to get started :D ).

[optirep]

Safilo Group to Open Retail Network
February 07, 2008
Milan, Italy-based Italian eyewear manufacturer Safilo Group SpA, plans to launch its own chain of retail stores, according to The Wall Street Journal. The company recently acquired two eyewear chains--Just Spectacles in Australia and Sunglass Island in Mexico--for about $41.5 million. In an interview, Claudio Gottardi, CEO of the company, said Safilo will open a network of prescription eyewear boutiques this year in countries such as China. In addition to the new chain, Safilo will also roll out Solstice stores, a 110-store chain in the United States, to other countries. For the next five years, Gottardi said the company will open or buy 100 to 200 stores a year. The company has not yet revealed the name of its new chain. "The majority of our future expansion will come from building our own stores under our own name," Gottardi said.

[optirep]

Now that being said. Luxottica has been BUYING chain stores for 15 years. They have closed many more than they have opened. Closed 15 or so Eye worlds in my area and 2 corporate Pearle Visons so far. I believe they closed a few vision corners in Ct and are closing some of the DOC stores in the mid west. They do open new stores in new malls and have open a few high end Sun shops though.
Now Safilo is buying or building new stores.

VSP will be Marchon

Viva is Davis

and the trend will continue!

The US is a brand driven country. If you can compete price wise then no problem. Most Independents service the customers better than any chain.

I now that many boards say they don't need brands but at LEAST the top 10 selling frames lines in this country are all branded product!

If the product brings you business BUY IT if it doesnt DONT!

[LENNY]

I now that many boards say they don't need brands but at LEAST the top 10 selling frames lines in this country are all branded product!

What are they?

[Now I See]

Safilo Group to Open Retail Network
February 07, 2008
Milan, Italy-based Italian eyewear manufacturer Safilo Group SpA, plans to launch its own chain of retail stores, according to The Wall Street Journal. The company recently acquired two eyewear chains--Just Spectacles in Australia and Sunglass Island in Mexico--for about $41.5 million. In an interview, Claudio Gottardi, CEO of the company, said Safilo will open a network of prescription eyewear boutiques this year in countries such as China. In addition to the new chain, Safilo will also roll out Solstice stores, a 110-store chain in the United States, to other countries. For the next five years, Gottardi said the company will open or buy 100 to 200 stores a year. The company has not yet revealed the name of its new chain. "The majority of our future expansion will come from building our own stores under our own name," Gottardi said.

Any info on where they will put these stores? In malls? Free-standing boutiques? Inside other retail locations?

[Chris Ryser]

08-24-2007, 10:04 AM
Just heard the news from India that Zeiss has opened the first 3 of 600 optical retail stores in Bombay India, and is planning to open the balance of 597 other optical stores over the next 3 month's. The target is a full 1000 stores in India within the next 12 month.

This is atom bomb size news for the optical retail industry, that one of the oldest optical manufacturers world wide, goes into a captive market situation.

That is a post from last year. The trend is there and continuing. It will be a corporate world.........not only in the oil business but also in the optical. So brace yourself and put on the seatbelts the optical is rocking.

Advertising 2008-05-15


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During your next mall visit,
Experience Zeiss at
UG-15, Grand Mall, Gurgaon. Phone :..........................

[Chris Ryser]

MILAN, July 30 (Reuters) - Italian eyewear group Safilo (SFLG.MI: Quote, Profile, Research) said net profit in the first-half of the year was 21.1 million euros ($32.89 million), down from 33.3 million euros a year ago.
Safilo, whose brands include Armani, Dior and Gucci, said in a statement net sales fell to 637 million euros from 667.8 million euros.
The company cut its forecast for sales growth for the year to around 4 percent at constant exchange rates from a previous forecast of 7 percent - 8 percent.
It said it expects EBITDA at around 13.5 percent - 14 percent of revenues -- down from a previous estimate of around 15 percent. It said net profit should reach 3 percent - 3.5 percent of revenues, down from a previous forecast of 4.5 percent - 5 percent.

from: http://in.reuters.com/article/rbssCo...00842720080730

[DragonLensmanWV]

Funny, I heard the same exact thing a few minutes ago -- from my former Lux rep. No other rep has mentioned this.
Is this going to be their policy to point out that Safilo is going to be as bad as them?

[safilomanager]

this is not true! Any optical retail that safilo would open are in emerging markets we are number one in market share with independents in the us and have no plans to effect that relationship. This is interesting that a luxottica rep wpuld say this. They have thousands of optical retail locations and I am sure their reps do not want to discuss that. I am in management with safilo so I am comfortable denying this. Ask that rep to discuss the impact of their retail on your practice. We know that the lux retail strategy is a fact not a rumor.

[Uncle Fester]

this is not true! Any optical retail that safilo would open are in emerging markets we are number one in market share with independents in the us and have no plans to effect that relationship. This is interesting that a luxottica rep wpuld say this. They have thousands of optical retail locations and I am sure their reps do not want to discuss that. I am in management with safilo so I am comfortable denying this. Ask that rep to discuss the impact of their retail on your practice. We know that the lux retail strategy is a fact not a rumor.

First--Welcome aboard the Optiboard! I hope you'll tune us in and keep us informed concerning Safilo's interests here on the Optiboard. When companies like Marchon do not refute optidirt it speaks volumes.

Wishing you fair winds and following seas!

[I should modify my headline to--The plot(s) thicken...or not...]

[Matthew]

I talked to a Safilo rep, no USA purchases of Optical stores is the policy, so he says.................

They are purchasing some foreign ones though. :angry:

[IndianaOD]

If Safilo even thinks of opening up a retail chain in Indiana, I'll have my returns shipped out the next day!

[Jubilee]

Does that include Solstice that is open in Circle Center?

[IndianaOD]

Does that include Solstice that is open in Circle Center?

Hmmm.. Never heard of Solstice. I'll have to look in to that! Thanks for the heads up. :finger:

[optigrrl]

I also heard that they lost Gucci and Luxottica picked up the contract...

[Johns]

If Safilo even thinks of opening up a retail chain in Indiana, I'll have my returns shipped out the next day!

It looks like you're going to have a busy Monday!:o

http://www.solsticestores.com/index.php?s=4&state=IN

[IndianaOD]

Do they only sell plano sunwear or do they offer ophthalmic frames and Rx lenses?

I guess Luckily we don't have too much Safilo at the moment. I was looking to expand their product lines in our office. Actually Gucci was my intent, but if they lost that then......?