MINNEAPOLIS—Shopko projects continued growth over the next two years. Having opened 53 new stores in 2015, Shopko recently announced the opening of 10 new Shopko Hometown stores, bringing the total number of stores opened this year to 12. Once the addition of these 10 stores is complete, the company plans to continue to accelerate the addition of new Shopko Hometown stores through 2017.


Kirk Lauterback (l), manager of optical merchandising and marketing,
presenting a 2015 sales update and Tom Bobka, OD, director of
optometric services, presented the direction for 2016.

Owned by an affiliate of Sun Capital Partners, Inc., a leading private investment firm, Shopko Stores Operating Co, LLC, founded in 1962 and headquartered in Green Bay, Wis., is a $3 billion retailer that operates 362 stores in 24 states throughout the Central, Western and Pacific Northwest regions. Retail formats include 131 Shopko stores, providing quality name-brand merchandise, great values, pharmacy and optical services in small to mid-sized cities; five Shopko Express Rx stores, a convenient neighborhood drugstore concept; Shopko Pharmacy locations; and 221 Shopko Hometown stores, a smaller concept store developed to meet the needs of smaller communities. Overall, Shopko operates 262 pharmacy locations.

Today, Shopko’s 140 Shopko centers include 129 Shopko Optical Centers, nine Hometown Optical Centers and two Shopko Express Optical Centers.

“Shopko is proud of the exceptional eyecare services it provides in 140 Shopko Optical Centers, services ranging from complete vision screenings, high-tech retinal camera imagery, contact lens selection and fittings, best-in-class digital HDV lenses and fashionable, functional eyeglass frames that surprise and delight our customers,” said Thomas Bobka, OD, director, optometric relations. “Each day, we help our customers see the world clearly through the personalized service rendered by hundreds of skilled Shopko opticians and optometrists.”

"Shopko is well positioned to take care of our customers and patients in our Shopko and Shopko Hometown stores, fulfilling the health and wellness needs of the neighbors we serve in communities across the U.S.,” said Darren Singer, senior vice president, retail health and wellness. “We help our customers on their journey to wellness by connecting the dots between our optical centers, our pharmacies and in our complete OTC and personal care product assortment.”


The Region One Performance Award Winner (top) was Kathie Doescher from Manitowoc, Wis.  (L to R) Barb Demmerly, Region Three optical supervisor; Missy Johnson, system administrator; James Radebaugh, Region One optical supervisor; Kathie Doescher, optical manager; Darren Singer, SVP health and wellness, Kirk Lauterback, manager of optical merchandising and marketing; John Burcham, Region Two optical supervisor; and Dr. Tom Bobka, director of optometric services.
 
The Region Two Performance Award Winner (middle) was Brooke Bushbaum from Mason City, Iowa. (L to R) James Radebaugh, Region One optical supervisor; Missy Johnson, system administrator; Barb Demmerly, Region Three optical supervisor; Dr. Tom Bobka, director of optometric services; Darren Singer, SVP health and wellness; Brooke Bushbaum, optical manager; Kirk Lauterback, manager of optical merchandising and marketing; and John Burcham, Region Two optical supervisor.
 
The Region Three Performance Award Winner (bottom) was Laurie Kaiser from Missoula, Mont. (L to R) James Radebaugh, Region One optical supervisor; Missy Johnson, system administrator; Laurie Kaiser, optical manager; Barb Demmerly, Region Three optical supervisor; Dr. Tom Bobka, director of optometric services; Darren Singer, SVP health and wellness; Kirk Lauterback, manager of optical merchandising and marketing; and John Burcham, Region Two optical supervisor.

While Shopko has had optical management conferences for the past 18 years, this year’s format at the Hyatt Regency here, included both store managers and pharmacy managers. “This set-up allowed Shopko’s optical center managers a great opportunity to be part of a total store management meeting, where our store, optical and pharmacy management all joined with Shopko’s leadership team,” noted Kirk Lauterback, manager of optical merchandising and marketing.

He added, “This was also a great opportunity for Shopko to recognize our optical managers and center teams for their excellent performance during the past year. Recognition included customer service, sales and overall performance awards in addition to celebrating the anniversaries of our managers, many of whom have been with us since we opened our first optical centers in the late 1970s.

“The conference also allowed us to provide training on system and process updates while reviewing our 2016 key initiatives, which include continued center growth, new product launches and innovative marketing initiatives. In addition, our vendor showcase allowed our managers to meet with our great frame, ophthalmic lens, contact lens and accessory vendors.”

Platinum optical sponsors for this year’s event included CooperVision, Carl Zeiss Vision and Nouveau Eyewear.