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New Zealand News
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Thursday, 08 December 2011 |
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 Specsavers claims to have grown its market share this year to more than 30 per cent in New Zealand, faster than in any other country. The company said in a media release that it had taken the country's number one spot in the optical market in February this year after just 26 months. Since then its market share has climbed from 26.2 per cent to more than 30 per cent. Specsavers has grown by 345 per cent overall since its began operations in New Zealand in 2008, the company claims, despite the impact of the global financial crisis and ''home-grown issues'' Kiwis faced in the year.
Graeme Edmond, Specsavers New Zealand's managing director, said the group was seeing ever-increasing numbers because it offered value and affordability in eye care without compromising on quality. "Our success here mirrors the business's global trend. Worldwide, Specsavers has grown every year since the first store was opened in the UK 26 years ago," he said.
Specsavers has 53 stores in New Zealand with stores co-owned and operated by professional local optometrists and dispensing opticians. The company expects to open between 55 and 60 stores before reaching market saturation.
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New Zealand News
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Tuesday, 03 May 2011 |
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 Visique will be raising funds for Christchurch throughout May. For every eye exam completed at participating locations this month, a NZ$2 donation will be given to the Christchurch Mayoral Fund.
In addition to the contribution from eye exams, Visique will also be petitioning for donations from their strategic suppliers. There will also be donation boxes placed in every practice to account for the goodwill of visitors. Visique are aiming for the overall contribution from eye exams, strategic partner, staff and client donations to be in excess of NZ$20,000.
Visique General Manager, Pete Campbell, says "As a New Zealand owned company, with practices throughout the country, including in Christchurch, we all felt it incredibly important to show our support to those affected. And we consider ourselves beyond fortunate that all of our staff made it through the earthquake safely. Most importantly, we recognize that Kiwis are a resilient bunch, and we know, that with the support of the nation behind them Christchurch will find the strength to rebuild."
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New Zealand News
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Friday, 11 February 2011 |
Luxottica – owner of the OPSM, Budget Eyewear and Sunglass Hut retail brands - announced it has acquired Northern Island-based MySight Vision Specialists Group.
The acquisition comprises the MySight Optometrists and Visions Specialists Group of 12 practices, and LensDirect, an online contact lens business. This transaction follows last year’s purchases of 14 optical stores and the website www.contacts2go.co.nz, taking Luxottica’s total number of eyecare and eyewear retails stores to 110 in New Zealand.
Chris Beer, CEO of Luxottica Asia Pacific, said: “New Zealand is an important market for the group and we are focused on growing our key retail brands here both organically and through acquisition.
“The MySight Vision Specialist Group purchase marks an important step in our strategy to increase our budget offering to New Zealanders. Of the 12 stores purchased, nine will be branded Budget Eyewear and the others will come under the OPSM banner,” he said.
The Budget Eyewear brand is focused on offering a wide range of quality frames and sunglasses at affordable prices; frames start from as little as $80 and there are over 500 products to choose from.
“We are also committed to delivering the best service, advanced eye care and an extensive range of luxury and designer branded products from around the world to our customers across our OPSM, Budget Eyewear and Sunglass Hut retail brands, which are designed to reflect our diverse customer groups’ differing needs and budget,” said Mr Beer.
“MySight Vision Specialists Group has a strong heritage and we have been impressed by the service-focused approach of its optometrists and other employees. As we do for all our people, we will be looking to provide many of them with tailored training and career development opportunities - a distinct benefit of being part of a larger organisation. Luxottica is known for its commitment to employee development. Initiatives such as the Luxottica Institute of Learning provides optometrists with CPD and the Luxottica Optometry Council, which allows optometrists a forum on how to support business growth from a clinical and professional view.”
Mark Shaw-Taylor, Luxottica’s Vice President of Acquisitions, Real Estate and Vision Services, said that with the numerous nationwide corporate and government contracts and relationships with the leading health fund in place with OPSM and Budget Eyewear, these new stores will benefit our corporate customers’ employees and health fund members, giving them closer locations and seamless experience with a preferred provider.
“For instance, Southern Cross Health Fund members will now receive a pre-negotiated discount when they next shop at any of the new stores in our expanded network. In addition with other service contracts, Luxottica has a unique paperless transaction process that eliminates the need for customers to chase down quotes and physically go to their service providers to have orders for optical wear approved. We also process claims directly with their providers,” Mr Shaw-Taylor explained.
“For existing customers of MySight Vision Specialists Group, our aim is to provide them with the same consistent service through the people who have served them over the years. In addition, we will be able to offer them up-to-the-minute eye care and an unrivalled range of quality products, all of which go through the same rigorous level of testing as our top luxury brands,” he said.
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New Zealand News
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Friday, 19 November 2010 |
Some 600 optometrists, dispensers, wholesalers and practice staff enjoyed a weekend in Auckland recently at the inaugural Visionz trade fair. The event kicked off on Friday October 8 with an opening cocktail function at the Skycity Auckland Convention Centre where Visionz, EduVisionz and the ADONZ annual conference were being held. In the picture: Karen and Alan Saks, Cushla O’Neill, Grant Watters, Steph Cawte, Dr Dean Corbett and Debra So at the Visionz opening cocktail function.
New Zealand Optical Wholesalers Association (NZOWA) president Alex Bicheno introduced Oliver Goldsmith who had come to New Zealand to not only catch up with old friends but also officially open the event.
Guests at the cocktail function took the opportunity to visit exhibitors and view all that was new in eyewear, accessories, sunwear and equipment. Many were enthusiastic at the level of involvement of the wholesalers and the obvious effort that had been undertaken by them in participating in such an event.
EduVisionz clinical and business sessions were also held on Saturday and Sunday and those who attended were well rewarded with all the speakers involved providing a high level of education, both clinically and for general business.
From most feedback received the event was a great success for everyone associated with the industry. The call has been made to have this as a biennal event but that it be a cohesive event for the industry as a whole - only time will tell.
Source: NZ Optics
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New Zealand News
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Friday, 01 October 2010 |
Nearly 300 visitors and 120 wholesale company representatives are registered to attend the inaugural Visionz optical fair that has been established by the New Zealand Optical Wholesalers Association (NZOWA). Being held on level five of the Skycity Convention Centre in Auckland's CBD, October 9 and 10, the event is gearing up to be a great success.
"The NZOWA wanted to establish an event on the NZ optical calendar that could showcase the New Zealand optical industry in its entirety and unite it in one key location at one time," explains NZOWA president, Alex Bicheno. "With that in mind Visionz was developed. It will be the largest trade fair held to date in New Zealand, with over 40 optical wholesalers exhibiting."
Every sector of the industry is represented with the most up-to-date equipment and instruments, contact lenses and solutions, frames and sunglasses, accessories and the latest ophthalmic lens technologies on display for visitors. To celebrate the inaugural Visionz event the NZOWA is hosting a cocktail function on Friday October 8 at the venue. At 5.30pm renowned frame designer Oliver Goldsmith will officially open the event.
"I'm thrilled to be coming back to NZ," enthused Oliver. "I've always loved visiting NZ and more importantly dealing with Kiwis. It's fantastic to see the NZOWA being proactive in establishing an industry event to unite the entire industry together in one place and at one time."
Being held in conjunction with Visionz is an extensive educational programme, EduVisionz. A clinical and business programme has been put together with an extremely impressive line up of high calibre speakers and it is the ideal event to gain continuing education points or some valuable business skills.
For more information download the brochure at: www.nzoptics.co.nz/uploads/broadcast-email/Visionz.pdf or for the EduVisionz programme and to register for any part of Visionz go to www.registerhere.co.nz
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New Zealand News
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Friday, 30 July 2010 |
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New Zealand's biggest locally owned optometrist wholesaler has been placed in receivership, following increased competition at home and a failed push into Australia. Optical Holdings (OHL) and two associated companies were put into receivership on Monday after a poor performing year.
Receiver William Black, of McGrathNicol, said the company had struggled with recession and the recent entry of international competitors, such as Specsavers. Since taking control, receivers had cut staff, mostly based in Auckland, significantly to 17 and continued to operate with a view to selling the business as a going concern, he said. Mr Black would not disclose how much was owed but said that it was less than NZ$1 million.
The OHL group's wholesale equipment and distribution division comprises OHL Eyewear Ltd, Arco Optical Ltd and Eye Concepts Ltd which supply New Zealand's optical profession and associated organisations with a world class range of fashion eyewear, contact lenses and accessories as well as a comprehensive range of specialised ophthalmic equipment.
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