Curious of everyone's thoughts.
KC
VSP GLOBAL ANNOUNCES ITS ONLINE OPTICAL STORE, eyeconic.com
Beta Test Set to Launch in February
RANCHO CORDOVA, Calif.- January 24, 2011 – VSP GlobalSM announced it will launch a live beta test of eyeconic.comTM, an online optical retail store, on February 18, 2011 with 8,600 small California VSP® Vision Care clients. The beta will enable 473,000 VSP members to use eyeconic.com to purchase contact lenses, prescription eyewear and sunwear.
eyeconic.com is designed to enable independent eyecare providers to compete with online optical retailers. After the beta test is completed, eyeconic.com will make any additional changes needed and then launch the site to all 55 million VSP Vision Care members. Both members and consumers will have the ability to order contact lenses and browse, select, virtually try-on, and purchase sunwear and prescription eyewear using the Marchon® and Altair® portfolio of products. Additional frame brands may be available in the future. These transactions will support independent eyecare providers by:
- Referring consumers shopping online back to their office;
- Generating revenue for VSP practices;
- Connecting new patients with high quality eyecare;
- Giving providers a new channel for second pair, sunglass and contact lens sales.
"We've heard and understand the concerns doctors have regarding online sales, especially the fear of reducing patient visits," said David Plevyak, Vice President of Business Development and leader of VSP's online initiative. "Recognizing the online optical space is growing rapidly, we’re confident that eyeconic.com is the right online partner for independent eyecare providers. We're making them an integral part of the online solution by referring patients to independent eyecare providers, generating revenue for providers and by offering a virtual extension of their dispensary."
VSP Global developed eyeconic.com to address key issues impacting independent eyecare providers including:
- A change in consumer purchasing behaviors;
- A growing amount of direct revenue being lost by independent eyecare providers to online purchases;
- A growing need for doctors to generate a steady stream of non-office based revenue.
Plevyak added, “eyeconic.com will be the only player in the online optical marketplace that will offer the ability to use a VSP Vision Care benefit to purchase a mix of brands and prescription lenses including proprietary coatings and options. We believe there’s a growing market for this type of offering and look forward to providing VSP Vision Care members with a world-class online browsing and buying experience that will connect them back to their local independent eyecare provider. Also, purchases made on eyeconic.com will generate revenue for independent eyecare providers.”
Plevyak concluded, “For the 27,000 VSP eyecare providers, eyeconic.com will enable them to compete more effectively in the market. VSP has created a premium frame board for our members, while marrying it with our high quality doctor/patient experience and cutting edge lab services.”
VSP network doctors will find additional details at VSPOnline on eyefinity.com.
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About VSP Global
VSP Global includes VSP Vision Care, the largest not-for-profit vision benefits and services company in the United States with 55 million members; Marchon Eyewear Inc., one of the world’s largest manufacturers, designers and distributors of quality fashion and technologically-advanced eyewear and sunwear; Eyefinity®/Officemate® which offer innovative solutions and the premier management software and technology to improve overall practice management and patient experience; VSP Labs, industry leaders in new technologies, production processes, service and logistics. Since 1997, VSP has provided more than 603,000 low-income, uninsured children with free eyecare. Through relationships including those with the American Diabetes Association and Prevent Blindness America, VSP promotes the importance of annual eye exams for maintaining eye health and overall wellness.
(Oh, and how can VSP still call themselves 'not-for-profit'? They lost the supreme court case.)
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