LAS VEGAS—The Optical Lab Division meeting promises to be the complete lab event with each component, from education to exclusive receptions and events, designed to help lab professionals grow and succeed. Combined with the continuing education and exhibits at International Vision Expo West, the meeting is a good opportunity for labs to get down to business. New for 2012, the education program will begin a day earlier on Sept. 5, and will feature sessions covering timely industry topics, including:

Private Label Branding –
Not Just for Manufacturers Anymore!
A dynamic panel of labs and suppliers will discuss the options and opportunities with private labeling. Attendees will hear about present processes, technology and forecasts for the future.

Warranties & Redos: Costs, Concerns & Impact
on an Industry
Christie Walker, editor of LabTalk magazine, will deliver and disseminate the most recent statistical analysis from The Vision Council data regarding this ongoing challenge.

What Do ECPs Want from Labs? Part II,
the Optician Perspective
This interactive panel will provide candid insight into the minds of optical laboratory customers. Find out what fears and concerns they have and how to them help their patients.

Digital Surfacing Workshop –
Tips, Techniques and Troubleshooting
A rapid fire showcase featuring four mini presentations by Vision Expo vendors, followed by hands-on, in-booth, learning workshops held on the show floor.

Putting it all Together –
Integrated Electronic Marketing for Labs
Marketing a lab today requires more than simply creating a website. Technology is changing how labs market to ECPs. This session explains why electronic ordering, websites, and social media are considered crucial elements of an effective lab marketing strategy.

In addition to lab-focused education, the 13th Annual Optical Pioneers Hall of Fame banquet—featuring the Directors’ Choice Award Recipient and Hall of Fame Honorees—will be held on Wednesday, Sept. 5 from 6:30–9:30 p.m. at The Venetian Resort-Hotel-Casino. Tickets are $90 and can be purchased online.

To learn more about the Optical Lab Division meeting, visit thevisioncouncil.org/labmeeting.

NOTE: There is no cost to attend the Optical Lab Division meeting for members of The Vision Council. Optical Lab Division members who register for the event will receive complimentary access to all breakfasts, luncheons and educational programming. RSVP now at thevisioncouncil.org/labmeeting. ■