Are We All Becoming Chameleons?

[HindSight2020]

It seems more and more evident than ever that optical companies are vertically integrating and operating under numerous aliases. Although rather sheepish in my opinion, I can understand why it is happening.

http://csollabs.ca/index.php (owned & operated by a large Canadian chain but wholesales to ECP's)

http://www.eyeexamcentre.ca/General/Home.aspx (also owned by the same chain)

It is the direct result of the feeding frenzy, supply chain segregation and need for self preservation and survival caused by the ongoing lack of action or concern from the governing bodies and domination of our industry from few very large manufacturers. It seems a 'free for all' has begun.

In theory, the inception and existence of numerous associations and glorified buying groups to help counteract these trends seemed to be the answer. By joining a big brother peer group and pooling your spend, this was the answer. But was it? I certainly don't think so.

The individuals I speak with regularly have grave concerns in the direction they are headed. Within these groups is the need for control of its members and greed to always achieve their goals to maximize one's 'bonus rebate'. The discounts aren't even that great anymore and are tiered based on performance. They control the brands you sell, what you charge to the patient and tell you how to run your practice.

They are closely aligned with the large manufacturers, because they have to be - an almost monopolistic advantage. Who pulls the strings? Who is the real puppet master?

Has our industry hit rock bottom yet? Where will it go from here? What would you say is the main culprit of today's woes? Is it fixable?

[optimensch]

Interesting. I looked at csollabs site and I notice at the bottom of the landing page a notice that the site was last updated over a year ago. With such cutting edge free form products made by using wonderful (but unnamed 'German' and 'Swiss') technology, you'd think the site would be updated more often. A person named galganov is managing the site but doesn't seem to be doing much. Maybe their business is booming and they are taking market share from n, e, z and h but here in my corner of Quebec I haven't heard of them until now. Is the product good? Which chain owns it?

[optimensch]

"Has our industry hit rock bottom yet? Where will it go from here? What would you say is the main culprit of today's woes? Is it fixable?"
1- No
2- downsizing of remaining independents and further growth of chains buying up older established shops. Eventually the 'independent' chains will be bought by larger multinationals, lux? Hal group? E? Consumers will increasingly buy online, contacts and frames , sunglasses.
3- Internet as a delivery system is a massive disrupter. Luxottica. Essilor. Free form nonsense hype. Warby Parker, Costco, clearly contacts, artificially low interest rates, high taxes, municipal corruption in Quebec, fiat money, central banks, increasing poverty, energy costs, amazon, eBay, luxottica, inflation, competition, deregulation for Internet suppliers and more regulation of b/m professionals, bc, LASIK, multifocal IOLS, surgical reversal of presbyopia, condo glut, Ciba, J & J, Revenue Quebec, CRA, Apple, Samsung, gravity, religion, cancer, Xbox, Monsanto, immigration control, homeland security, government spying, corporate spying, big data, algorithms, day traders, naked short sellers, too big to fail banks, real estate agents, luxottica, essilor, Facebook, twitter, google, Islamic radicalism, sushi, over fishing, MBA schools, lawyers, accountants, zombies, hpv, weather, Alzheimer's, dark energy, CRTC, Jeffrey Loria, Canadian Senate, Canadian bacon, Tim hortons, vision expo west, vision expo east, hot pockets.
4-the fix is in.

[Chris Ryser]

Nothing New .....................Just look at their registrant address ..............................it Hakim Optical

Domain name: csollabs.ca
Domain status: registered
Creation date: 2010/07/28
Expiry date: 2013/07/28
Updated date: 2012/07/24

Registrar:
Name: Tucows.com Co.
Number: 156

Registrant:
Name: Hakim Optical Laboratory Ltd.

Administrative contact:
Name: Hootan Beigi
Postal address: 3430 Lawrence Ave.
Toronto ON M1H 1A9 Canada
Phone: 416-439-5393 Fax:
Email: web.dev@hakimoptical.ca

Technical contact:
Name: Hootan Beigi
Postal address: 320 Erie Ave
Brantford ON N3S 2H8 Canada
Phone: +1.5197525381
Email: web.dev@hakimoptical.ca

Name servers:
ns1.galganov.biz
ns2.galganov.biz

% WHOIS look-up made at 2013-06-30 07:44:06 (GMT)
%
% Use of CIRA's WHOIS service is governed by the Terms of Use in its Legal
% Notice, available at http://www.cira.ca/legal-notice/?lang=en
%
% (c) 2013 Canadian Internet Registration Authority, (http://www.cira.ca/)

[Chris Ryser]

Same thing ...................................also Hakim Optical

Domain name: eyeexamcentre.ca Domain status: registered Creation date: 2008/05/14 Expiry date: 2014/05/14 Updated date: 2013/05/12 Registrar: Name: Tucows.com Co. Number: 156 Registrant: Name: Hakim Optical Laboratory Ltd. Administrative contact: Name: Hootan Beigi Postal address: 320 Erie Ave Brantford ON N3S 2H8 Canada Phone: +1.5197525381 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting +1.5197525381 FREE end_of_the_skype_highlighting Fax: Email: web.dev@hakimoptical.ca Technical contact: Name: Hootan Beigi Postal address: 320 Erie Ave Brantford ON N3S 2H8 Canada Phone: +1.5197525381 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting +1.5197525381 FREE end_of_the_skype_highlighting Fax: Email: web.dev@hakimoptical.ca Name servers: ns1.cyan.mysitehosted.com ns2.cyan.mysitehosted.com % WHOIS look-up made at 2013-06-30 07:56:25 (GMT) % % Use of CIRA's WHOIS service is governed by the Terms of Use in its Legal % Notice, available at http://www.cira.ca/legal-notice/?lang=en % % (c) 2013 Canadian Internet Registration Authority, (http://www.cira.ca/)

[optimensch]

Chris you are like a CSI detective for the optical industry!
Interesting to know this.
In Quebec NewLook, Greiche also have their own surfacing/coating/freeform facilities but I haven't heard that they are reselling their house product to independents.

[HindSight2020]

Confirmed! My point exactly...if the lab wasn't called SOL and was Hakim Wholesalers, how many independents would call up and open an account? Not too many.

The latest rumor from the mill is BIG E and BIG L are in talks for a joint acquisition of the H chain.

[Stan Tabor]

"Has our industry hit rock bottom yet? Where will it go from here? What would you say is the main culprit of today's woes? Is it fixable?"
1- No
2- downsizing of remaining independents and further growth of chains buying up older established shops. Eventually the 'independent' chains will be bought by larger multinationals, lux? Hal group? E? Consumers will increasingly buy online, contacts and frames , sunglasses.
3- Internet as a delivery system is a massive disrupter. Luxottica. Essilor. Free form nonsense hype. Warby Parker, Costco, clearly contacts, artificially low interest rates, high taxes, municipal corruption in Quebec, fiat money, central banks, increasing poverty, energy costs, amazon, eBay, luxottica, inflation, competition, deregulation for Internet suppliers and more regulation of b/m professionals, bc, LASIK, multifocal IOLS, surgical reversal of presbyopia, condo glut, Ciba, J & J, Revenue Quebec, CRA, Apple, Samsung, gravity, religion, cancer, Xbox, Monsanto, immigration control, homeland security, government spying, corporate spying, big data, algorithms, day traders, naked short sellers, too big to fail banks, real estate agents, luxottica, essilor, Facebook, twitter, google, Islamic radicalism, sushi, over fishing, MBA schools, lawyers, accountants, zombies, hpv, weather, Alzheimer's, dark energy, CRTC, Jeffrey Loria, Canadian Senate, Canadian bacon, Tim hortons, vision expo west, vision expo east, hot pockets.
4-the fix is in.

Indeed this post confirms the mensch status bestowed upon you. If I would add one thing it would be the role insurance has played in the ongoing race to the bottom.

[optimensch]

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/look-e...174240259.html

ULTIMATELY get it to the optimal bite-sized, chewable and delicious treat to sell to LUX. (editorial comment)

MONTREAL, QUEBEC--(Marketwired - Jun 25, 2013) - New Look Eyewear Inc. (BCI.TO) ("New Look") announced today a new business initiative to affiliate with and invest in independent optical clinics serving markets and market segments not currently served under the New Look banner. Pursuant to such arrangements, New Look will provide certain optical products, services and systems to the affiliated clinics. To-date in 2013, two such arrangements have been concluded: one in Ontario and the other in Québec.
Martial Gagné, President of New look commented: "These are the fifth and sixth new opportunities, consisting of four corporate stores and two affiliated clinics added by the company since the beginning of 2013".
Antoine Amiel, Vice-Chairman of New Look noted that: "This is a natural extension of our business in markets and market segments not currently served by our banner".
As of May 31, 2013, New Look had 10,400,699 Class A common shares issued and outstanding. New Look is a leader in the eye care industry in Eastern Canada having a network of 74 corporate stores under the New Look banner, two affiliated clinics and a laboratory using state-of-the-art technologies.