VM REPORTS: D.A.R.E. The "We the People" Readers' Vote Award for Most Daring retailer - WINNER By Staff Monday, September 9, 2013 12:01 AM RELATED CONTENT Making a Mark The PDA (Public Display of Attention) Award D.A.R.E. Judges The Lead, Follow, or Get Out of the Web Award The Seeing Green Award The Resistance is Futile Award The Sphere of Influence Award The Shop It Like It's Hot Award SPECS AROUND TOWN BLOOMINGTON, ILL. WWW.SPECSAROUNDTOWN.COM OWNER: JULIE KUBSCH SUBMISSION ESSAY… “Our newest TV commercials are four- to 15-second spots that are rotated on local stations and cable. We have used clients in each of the spots and played off of Elton John, John Lennon, Buddy Holly, Audrey Hepburn, Barry White and a French/German theme. Our clients loved being ‘stars’ and we consistently hear people saying how much they enjoy the commercials. We frequently get shoppers who ask if we have glasses like [a certain celebrity] wears, or if we know what [another celebrity] was wearing in their last movie. We have paired up eyewear that is representative of the highlighted celebrities. In the Barry White segment, it is almost as if the frame is talking to the shopper. The John Lennon/Elton John/Buddy Holly segment features eyewear shapes that [those icons] wore and some vintage vinyl. We used a female voice with the Audrey Hepburn concept, and the French/German theme features French and German eyewear collections. Another star of our commercials is the interior of our 1901 historic building. When people shop here, they feel as if they are shopping in a big city, enjoying our comfortable, modern, funky atmosphere and our eclectic eyewear collections.” SELIMA OPTIQUE SOHO NEW YORK, N.Y. SELIMAOPTIQUE.COM OWNER: SELIMA SALAUN THE EYE GALLERY YPSILANTI, MICH. THEYEGALLERY.COM OWNER: ARNOLD BULOS, OD