Submissions Now Open for Vision Monday’s 2013 D.A.R.E. Awards

NEW YORK—Vision Monday is now accepting submissions for its Annual Vision Monday Dispensing and Retail Excellence (D.A.R.E) Awards sponsored by Europa International. Now in its third year, the D.A.R.E. Awards salute the most innovative and daring optical retailers in the U.S. and Canada for their dispensing, merchandising and philanthropic initiatives, as well as their marketing and advertising campaigns. Entries will be accepted from May 6, 2013 through June 14, 2013.


In 2013, D.A.R.E. will include the following six award categories:

• The Shop It Like It’s Hot Award for Most Daring Store Design or Retail Environment
• The PDA (Public Display of Attention) Award for Most Daring In-Store Merchandising and/or Window Display (NEW)
• The Lead, Follow or Get Out of the Web Award for Most Daring Social Media or Web Presence (including websites, social networking and viral marketing)
• The Resistance Is Futile Award for Most Daring Advertising Campaign (print, TV or radio)
• The Sphere of Influence Award for Most Daring Community Outreach, Philanthropic or Patient Education Program
• The Seeing Green Award for Most Daring Eco-chievement

Vision Monday began promoting the awards in their March 4, 2013 print edition and will continue to do so throughout the duration of the contest in print, VMail and through their social media properties. Additionally, for the first time this year the D.A.R.E. Awards have an exclusive sponsor, Europa International, which will also be promoting the contest.

For consideration, submissions must be from retailers (including online) or dispensers who have been continuously operating since May 1, 2012 and whose primary business is the retailing or dispensing of prescription eyewear or sunwear.

Submitters, who do not have to be retailers or ECPs, are welcome to nominate the same retailer or eyecare professional in multiple award categories as long as that retailer has run a qualifying program within the 12-month period from May 2012 to May 2013. Duplicate submissions in the same category will not increase a retailer’s chance of being recognized for an award. There is no fee associated with entering an optical retailer or dispensary for a D.A.R.E. Award.

The most daring of these retailers, as determined by a panel of judges, which will include Vision Monday editors, Europa executives and experts from fields such as retailing, merchandising and marketing, will be recognized in the September 9, 2013 print issue of Vision Monday, announced in VMail, featured on VisionMonday.com and highlighted through Vision Monday’s social media properties. Additionally, winners may be recognized by Europa on their company sites and social media accounts.

In addition, the judges will single out a selection of truly exceptional entries for the We the People reader vote award. The winner of this award will be determined by the entry that receives the most reader votes on www.VisionMonday.com/DARE between July 1, 2013 and August 9, 2013. The nominees for the We the People award will be announced in VMail on July 1, 2013 and the winner will also be revealed in the September 9, 2013 issue of Vision Monday. Vision Monday will also continue to highlight the contest, process and honorees on its Facebook page and Twitter posts throughout the year.

For more information visit www.visionmonday.com/DARE or email DAREawards@visionmonday.com.