By Gwendolyn Plummer
Thursday, June 20, 2024 8:30 AM
NEW YORK—On June 6, members of the eyecare and eyewear communities celebrated the ninth annual National Eyewear Day, a day founded by Zyloware Eyewear that is dedicated to bringing awareness to comprehensive eye exams and overall eye health. As
reported in
VMAIL, Zyloware kicked off National Eyewear Day with a number of resources to help everyone get involved, and partnered with Optical Academy to provide free eye exams and eyewear as part of a community event. In addition, many ECPs across the country took part in National Eyewear Day in their own communities, through fundraising, special events and more. Here, we’re taking a look at how some indies celebrated eyewear this June 6.
By Staff
Thursday, June 20, 2024 8:25 AM
The team at
Babcock Eye Care in Portsmouth, Ohio, was excited to see their own Taylor Babcock, OD, speaking at the Ohio Senate Health Committee hearing in April.
By Staff
Thursday, June 20, 2024 8:20 AM
NEW YORK—Summer has arrived, bringing warmer weather, longer days, kids out of school, and, of course, new eyewear. As we head into these hot days of July, August and some of September, there’s no better time than now to start thinking about how to refresh your practice or online presence to welcome in the new season. There are countless ways to bring some summer energy into your work life, from special sales to in-store décor and everything in between—so, we’re taking a look at how some indies are celebrating the start of summer. Get inspired—and stay cool out there.
By Staff
Thursday, June 20, 2024 8:15 AM
Shoppers are still willing to buy even as smaller job and wage gains and high interest rates are slowing the growth of consumer spending, according to Jack Kleinhenz, chief economist for the
National Retail Federation (NRF). “U.S. economic growth for the remainder of this year will depend on several factors but particularly the pace of job growth, inflation and what actions will be taken by the Federal Reserve,” Kleinhenz said. “The good news is that the economy is growing, inflation is moderating, and overall fundamentals look fine as increased consumer spending supports underlying momentum.”
By Gwendolyn Plummer
Thursday, June 6, 2024 8:30 AM
NEW YORK—Prevent Blindness has again declared June as Cataract Awareness Month. In recognition of the month, Prevent Blindness offers a variety of free informational resources in English and Spanish including fact sheets, social media graphics and a listing of vision care financial assistance programs. The group also offers a dedicated
web resource, and the “Understanding Cataract” episode in the “Focus on Eye Health Expert Series,” featuring Albert Cheung, MD, cataract, cornea and anterior segment specialist with Virginia Eye Consultants and assistant professor at Eastern Virginia Medical School, Department of Ophthalmology.
By Staff
Thursday, June 6, 2024 8:25 AM
In Winston-Salem, North Carolina,
Eyes on Trade celebrated six years in business.
By Staff
Thursday, June 6, 2024 8:20 AM
NEW YORK—This month, seven eyewear designers, many of which are independent, united to launch the third annual edCFDA Pride Eyewear Initiative. The designers Blake Kuwahara (Blake Kuwahara Eyewear), Christian Roth (Christian Roth Eyewear), Gai Gherardi and Barbara McReynolds (l.a.Eyeworks), Jeff Press (PRESS), Patty Perreira (Barton Perreira), Selima Salaun (Selima Optique) and Stirling Barrett (KREWE), are each offering a limited edition sunglass design, with a portion of the proceeds collectively benefiting
Bring Change to Mind (BC2M), an organization dedicated to ending stigma and discrimination surrounding mental health.
By Staff
Thursday, June 6, 2024 8:15 AM
The
U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has announced that the agency has removed its 504 Loan Program’s cap on lending for clean energy projects as part of broader SBA and government efforts to usher in the nation’s clean energy future. “Small businesses and start-ups play a crucial role not only in innovating to develop the future of climate technology but also in adopting sustainable practices and transitioning to clean energy to help advance the ambitious goal of net zero by 2050,” said SBA administrator Isabel Casillas Guzman, head of the SBA.
By Gwendolyn Plummer
Thursday, May 16, 2024 8:30 AM
NEW YORK—This week, May 13 through 19, 2024, is Myopia Awareness Week, a global event that aims to raise awareness about juvenile-onset myopia and encourage eyecare professionals to take necessary actions. The week has been marked by a number of myopia awareness related initiatives, both big and small, as
reported in
VMAIL Weekend. In addition, ECPs have been putting in the extra work this week to educate their patients about myopia, both online and in person. Here, we’re taking a look at how some indies are approaching Myopia Awareness Week.
By Staff
Thursday, May 16, 2024 8:25 AM
The team at
The Eye Shop in Queen Creek, Ariz., reminded parents that early summer is a great time to schedule their kids’ annual eye exams.
By Staff
Thursday, May 16, 2024 8:20 AM
NEW YORK—May is Small Business Month, an important marker for many independent ECPs who juggle life as both doctors and small business owners. While celebrating yourself and supporting other small business owners this May, it’s also a great moment to reflect on your business, where you’ve been, how far you’ve come and what your next steps might look like. In celebration of Small Business Month, the
U.S. Chamber of Commerce put together a list of 11 critical areas for business development, including a number of action items to help business owners get started.
By Staff
Thursday, May 16, 2024 8:15 AM
Campaign Builder from
Constant Contact offers a new way for small businesses (SMBs) and nonprofits to automate their marketing. Campaign Builder leverages artificial intelligence (AI) and other technologies, like the company’s customer data platform (CDP), to automatically generate turnkey, multi-channel marketing campaigns for SMBs in minutes, according to the company’s announcement. Campaign Builder leverages Constant Contact's AI platform, along with best practices from its decades of experience as a digital marketing pioneer, to automate the areas where SMBs are most likely to get stuck—creating content and choosing the right channels to reach their audience.
By Gwendolyn Plummer
Thursday, May 2, 2024 8:30 AM
FOLSOM, Calif.—Small business owners hear it all the time: social media is a nonnegotiable item if you want to grow. But the prospect of getting started can be daunting. What platforms should you be on, and what should you be posting once you’re on there? How do you gain followers and find a community? And what value is all of this offering both to you and your patients? For Jennifer Wademan, OD, jumping into social media was a slow but steady process—and one that has ultimately grown into a career-changing and life-altering move.
By Staff
Thursday, May 2, 2024 8:25 AM
The team at
The Vision Gallery in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, celebrated Employee Appreciation Day.
By Staff
Thursday, May 2, 2024 8:20 AM
NEW YORK—May is Healthy Vision Month. This year, because it overlaps with Mental Health Awareness Month, the
National Eye Institute (NEI) has dedicated Healthy Vision Month to “shining a light on vision loss and mental health—and sharing steps people with a visual impairment can take to thrive in their daily lives.” The NEI noted, “The United States is facing an
epidemic of loneliness and isolation with half of adults saying they feel lonely. That’s why Healthy Vision Month 2024 is focused on helping people with a visual impairment know how to access vision rehabilitation services, mental health support and social connection.”