Sih Lee (l), SVP Payments Technology, New Business & Innovation, Synchrony Financial and Dave Ziegler, OD, Ziegler Leffingwell Eyecare, Milwaukee, Wis.
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NEW YORK—An expert in retail business innovation, including new mobile payment trends plus a veteran OD who’s modernized his practice with technology to enhance the patient experience are the initial speakers on the program for “Retail Smart,” the VM LIVE event that will explore how technology is impacting consumer behavior and reshaping the shopping experience. The informative session, produced by Vision Monday, will be held at the Venetian hotel in Las Vegas from 3:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Sept. 26, just prior to Vision Expo West.

Attendees will learn how smart retailers are erasing boundaries between discovery, choice and purchase. Using smartphones, tablets, apps, modern in-store display and environments, they create a fluid, frictionless experience for shoppers, whether online or in-store.

Sih Lee, SVP Payments Technology, New Business & Innovation for Synchrony Financial will speak at “Retail Smart” about how the revolution in payment trends is changing the consumer’s shopping expectations and experience. A noted business and retail innovation expert, Lee has spent the past 20+ years as an accomplished entrepreneur, inventor and corporate executive across a broad spectrum of markets—ranging from online gaming to the financial services industry. His contributions revolve around developing consumer-oriented solutions that are scalable at mass market level, as well as finding leading-edge technology solutions targeting enterprise markets. In his current role at Synchrony Financial, Lee focuses on launching new retail card programs, leading the technology roadmap for emerging payments, and setting strategic alignment for innovation through disruptive technology, partnerships and investments.

Dave Ziegler, OD, has practiced in the Milwaukee, Wis. area for 37 years, with an emphasis on specialty contact lenses and medical eyecare. He has lectured internationally and published articles for over 25 years on building optometric practices by improving the patient experience. He was part of the Management Business Academy (MBA) faculty, is a noted optometric columnist, and serves on the Essilor advisory board. At Ziegler Leffingwell Eyecare, Dr. Ziegler has recently reconceptualized the practice using a range of new digital technologies and featured areas, as well as the practice’s website communications to patients, all underscoring their “experience” for both eyecare and eyewear, which he’ll share with the VM LIVE audience.

“Consumers’ shopping habits are changing fast, and retailers need to keep up,” said Marge Axelrad, Vision Monday’s editorial director. “Today, shoppers want instant information about product features, styles and availability, and they want to decide where, when and how to make a purchase and have it delivered to them. Come to VM LIVE to learn how new systems and strategies can engage customers and create a seamless path to purchase.”

At VM LIVE, retail experts and successful store owners will discuss the latest advances in payment systems, store design and merchandising, and technologies designed to modernize the patient experience. Registration details are available here for VM LIVE.

VM LIVE is another in a series of Vision Monday’s leadership-driven, special live information-sharing and networking events, targeting top optical retailers, executive decision makers and influential practitioners.