VSP/Essilor Franchising Optometric Offices

[MakeOptics]

Essilor and VSP Global Test Co-Branding Market Concept With Independent ECPs

DALLAS, Texas And RANCHO CORDOVA, Calif.—After holding a series of meetings with independent eyecare professionals around the U.S. over the past year or more, Essilor of America and VSP Global jointly issued a statement that they are testing a marketing concept with a small group of independent practices in Kansas City, Missouri, which will begin this month.

“The doctor practices will retain ownership and remain independent, while benefitting from marketing and business resources that both companies provide,” the statement, provided to VMail, said. It further added, “Participating practices will align themselves under a new Personal Optics co-brand, which will feature a robust consumer marketing program designed to drive consumer awareness of the practices and increase dispensary traffic.”

Essilor and VSP Global’s statement noted, “Our [companies] have combined their best resources to provide industry-leading business and dispensary management consultation and marketing through a robust branding and advertising campaign. While testing the concept, Essilor and VSP Global will work with practices utilizing proven methods to identify opportunities to help increase revenue from dispensary sales, streamline operations, attract new patients and improve customer satisfaction and retention.”

The statement said, “This year and last, during our meetings with independent ECPs around the country, we heard that they need the industry to help them compete in the ever-changing marketplace. Research also tells us that consumers prefer the comprehensive eyecare they receive from independent ECPs but want an unparalleled shopping experience and choice for their eyewear.”

More information on the market test is to be posted at Optometry2020.com.

http://www.personaloptics.com/ - Good, Bad, or Indifferent as to the effects on Optometry and/or Opticianry?

[Judy Canty]

(VSP + Essilor) + (EyeMed + Essilor) = 0 (Independence)

[ak47]

perhaps a little refresher course would be helpful here:

in·de·pend·ent


adjective1.not influenced or controlled by others in matters of opinion,conduct, etc.; thinking or acting for oneself

[Uilleann]

It's like Vision Source - but with a new shiny insurance branch. What a bloated whale they be! How many scared OD's will run to sign up I wonder?

[MakeOptics]

It's like Vision Source - but with a new shiny insurance branch. What a bloated whale they be! How many scared OD's will run to sign up I wonder?

“The doctor practices will retain ownership and remain independent, while benefitting from marketing and business resources that both companies provide,” the statement, provided toVMail, said. It further added, “Participating practices will align themselves under a new Personal Optics co-brand, which will feature a robust consumer marketing program designed to drive consumer awareness of the practices and increase dispensary traffic.”

I like that they will retain ownership and remain independent, as opposed to get assimilated.

The statement said, “This year and last, during our meetings with independent ECPs around the country, we heard that they need the industry to help them compete in the ever-changing marketplace. Research also tells us that consumers prefer the comprehensive eyecare they receive from independent ECPs but want an unparalleled shopping experience and choice for their eyewear.”

I love how they talked to ECPs and this is their take away. Check this out from their panels and discussions:

http://visionmonday.com/latest-news/...-forums-36670/

DALLAS— Essilor of America announced yesterday that it will host four independent eyecare professional forums in October. The invitation-only “Optometry2020” gatherings are designed to discuss the state of the industry and to hear from optometrists about their business, as well as challenges and opportunities that they face and anticipate in an evolving independent optometric industry.
As a prelude to the forums, Essilor hosted a group of ECPs at Vision Expo West, to provide an industry overview and generate conversations with independent optometrists. The four new forums—one of which will be available via simulcast—will be held in other markets nationwide. Details about how to participate in the simulcast forum will be provided in coming weeks.

“Increasingly, we know that it’s imperative to understand the bigger picture of the optometric industry in this country,” stated Howard Purcell, OD and vice president of customer development, Essilor of America. “We have a vested interest in gaining insight into the changing dynamics of the industry, and we believe the time is now to generate conversations with the doctors who are on the frontline of these changes. We had some terrific conversations about these topics at VEW, and we look forward to hearing more from ECPs.”

At Essilor’s request, Tim Jankowski, OD, immediate past chair of VSP Global will join as a special guest at the forums, presenting highlights and answering questions about his company’s Bain & Company study that concluded the independent optometry industry faces major challenges, including competition from large national retail chains, increased consumer adoption of online purchases and desire for greater price transparency; and a shift from the personalized shopping experience toward a more efficient retail environment.

At the completion of the forums, Essilor will share a compilation of findings generated through discussions and input from ECPs nationwide.- See more at: http://visionmonday.com/latest-news/....hbKLQp55.dpuf

The panels were invitation only so the outcome was artificially created. Also they feel as though "a shift from the personalized shopping experience toward a more efficient retail environment" is what the industry needs. And correct me if I am wrong one of the threats is E's aquisition of online retailing and now they would like to eliminate the medical professional practice of optometry for a more efficient retail environment with transparent pricing. Wouldn't it just be easier to cut them a check every month for 100% of the profits and let them decide what is necessary fro the practice to earn back?

[Uilleann]

What continues to shock me is how many OD's are so terrified of not making a profit, that they readily hand their profit over to expensive MLM style buying groups and managed vision care CEO's. All in the name of making a profit. LOL

[Paul Smith LDO]

Interesting, VSP has certainly morphed into something that their founders would hardly recognize. Perhaps it is time for ECPs to form an insurance specifically designed to aid those of us in the private sector to combat those big ol' nasty insurance companies that are forcing patients away from the independents.

[Uilleann]

Interesting, VSP has certainly morphed into something that their founders would hardly recognize. Perhaps it is time for ECPs to form an insurance specifically designed to aid those of us in the private sector to combat those big ol' nasty insurance companies that are forcing patients away from the independents.

Doesn't (or at least didn't) the VSP mission statement (and Vision Source too for that matter) sound like that once? It's all fear driven hogwash anymore. It's amazing more docs don't see right through it.

[Judy Canty]

Fear is a powerful motivator.

[Chris Ryser]

So far their website success is not that tremendous and hangs around = Alexa rating at: 9,990,687 wich is not a superb result.

[HindSight2020]

Interesting, VSP has certainly morphed into something that their founders would hardly recognize. Perhaps it is time for ECPs to form an insurance specifically designed to aid those of us in the private sector to combat those big ol' nasty insurance companies that are forcing patients away from the independents.

+1 - strength is in numbers. And with numbers, there's options and opportunities to have suppliers line up and bid, not the other way around.

And I certainly wouldn't want the big E in that line up - their goal is to kill independent ecp's, not help them.Beware of the wolves in sheep's clothing.