By MARY KANE: EXECUTIVE EDITOR
These days, it seems like everyone has an opinion and I’m not just talking about the VM editors whose faces and words appear on this page every month. We here at Vision Monday like to keep our finger on the pulse of what’s happening with you—our readers—and the quickest way for us to stay in touch with our audience is electronically, which is why we’re known to get a little survey happy at times.
This past Fall as we were all preparing to head West for Vision Expo, VM and 20/20 Magazine teamed up to develop EyeVote, a special survey aimed at asking optical retailers and ECPs to identify the leading products of 2009 in six distinct categories ranging from spectacle lenses to diagnostic instruments. As surveys go, the response was impressive as nearly 2,400 optical professionals chimed in and selected their favorite companies and brands. (For a list of Readers’ Choice selections go to Page 10).
Serge Wright, OD, the winner of the incentive we offered for participating in the survey summed it up nicely when he said, “I figured it was a good opportunity to recognize the vendors who’ve helped make my office a success.” For all the chatter and endless analysis about the downturn in the economy, it was nice to know our readers are still excited about their profession and the products they use and sell on a daily basis. That’s good news for our industry and an even better bellweather for things to come as we ring out 2009, a year that no one will soon forget.
And speaking of the economy, don’t miss VM’s 6th How’s Business? Survey for 2009 (see page 33) where you can read about the latest trends in what’s selling as we chart the ups and downs that characterized 2009.
But whatever you do, don’t wait for another one of our surveys to let us know what’s on your mind—email us anytime here at VM. You’ll see our contact information listed at the end of each bylined story. So keep in touch and let us know what’s working for you and your business model. ■
—mkane@jobson.com