The Next Phase of Growth with Vision Source

For the past 20 years, Vision Source has been working with vendors to provide its members the lowest cost of goods. It’s been a tremendously successful endeavor and one we will continue to pursue. But the second phase of growth with Vision Source office is to work with vendors to drive your top-line sales, particularly through co-op marketing campaigns. Several vendors have made significant commitments to helping us—and we believe the cycle will perpetuate itself as more offices align their brand with the Vision Source brand. We believe that the next great opportunity for Vision Source is to partner with vendors on a national scale. You can drive that by aligning yourself proudly with the Vision Source brand.

Dr. John McCall Senior Vice President, Vendor Relations	Dr. Derrick Artis Vice President, Vendor Relations and Member Services

Tag Team: Transitions Optical and Vision Source   

In 2013, Transitions Optical will be marketing its new Transitions® Vantage™ polarized photochromic lenses in a national advertising campaign with a twist: the final tagline of the commercials announces, “Transitions lenses are available at all 2,500 Vision Source locations nationwide.” This partnership ( see video from North American Meeting announcement ) represents the first time that Vision Source as a network of offices will have national exposure on such a scale—and the first time Transitions has tagged national TV spots with the brand name of an independent optometric network or doctor alliance. The announcement received a rousing ovation at the NAM. Transitions has committed to continuing the advertising through 2013 if Vision Source offices increase their Transitions lens sales on average by Just One More pair of lenses per day in 2012.

The Sunwear Initiative

Summer’s here, so take advantage of our sunwear promotions. Oakley has come on board as a new endorsed vendor partner.  Viva is offering a promotion to all Vision Source members who are new to Viva. Both optical and sun branded products are included. This offer has been extended through June 29. Consider PivLock V2 Max interchangeable sunglass lenses and the ODS2-Rx Adaptor ocular docking system from Smith Optics. This combination provides the best performance piece on the market with the easiest, most transferrable sunglass solution available.

Bushnell is excited to present the ‘Buy 8, Get 1 Free’ Vision Source promotion, by highlighting their very popular Serengeti Sunwear line. Frames such as the ‘Agata’ feature the new Drivers Gold lens, which is cosmetically appealing and provides additional anti-glare benefits. This product is available in polarized lightweight glass and Polar PhD (Trivex material). For more details on these sunwear initiative programs, visit visionsource.com.

Great Products and Programs

 

CooperVision announces the return of the Vision Source private-label AquaClear100 Toric (Avaira® Toric), which received FDA clearance in April. Vision Source-CooperVision Practice Builder Rebate program—Vision Source practices collectively earned more than $962,000 in rebates during Q1 of 2012. Make sure you’re taking advantage of this exclusive opportunity. Alcon has updated its rewards program to include all products, Vision Source members are rewarded on both base volume and growth levels.  By fitting just one lens a day, you can potentially reach a higher reward level. Don’t forget to recommend a complete solution to your patients by prescribing contact lenses and recommending OPTI-FREE® PureMoist® MPDS. Essilor, in a ReMarkable partnership, has rebranded its Vision Source-exclusive brands to coincide with the Vision Source branding theme.

Vision Source members can increase profitability on stock lenses through the Nassau Vision Group's Stock Lens Program on “A” quality stock lenses. Online ordering, free shipping on online orders of $100+ and same-day shipping on orders received by 5 p.m. are some of the benefits in addition to Vision Source-exclusive pricing.

Increase profitability even more with in-office finishing by choosing a Santinelli edger. Santinelli conducted a survey of Vision Source members, and 94 percent said they are very satisfied or satisfied with their in-office finishing profit, which averages $57,000. Dr. Jennifer Planitz of Rio Rancho, N.M., says, "Every time I pass by and hear the edger running, I say to myself, ‘That's the sound of money!’" Having the Santinelli system has helped the practice be more committed to customer service by being able to offer faster turnaround time, which allows us to compete with internet and chain retailers. “I’m sure we lost a lot of business without having an edger. I wish we had bought our Santinelli edger sooner,” she says.

Definity: VSP Rules Clarified; Consider the Value

The majority of Vision Source practices can use the lab of their choice for VSP patients. Only those patients covered by the California and Ohio Choice Plans are required to have their lenses ordered from a VSP-owned lab.

In almost all instances, Definity™ lenses offer a higher rebate than competing products. Based on product longevity, practitioners would agree that the quality and optics of Definity exceeds that of other products in this category. Always consider the best quality product for the patient.

Emerging Technologies

Your Vision Source management team always has an eye on emerging trends in technology. We want our members to know about the next big product and service that could help your practice become even more successful. Vice President, Vendor Relations and Member Services Dr. Derrick Artis shared this information with attendees at this year’s NAM.

The TearLab® Osmolarity System has received new approvals and a CLIA waiver. Your practice will become an accredited dry eye center when you incorporate this system, and you will see more than 50 percent profit per patient through medical billing (CMS pays $46.80 per patient, $26.80 is profit). There is a six-month, no-risk return policy.

New Endorsed Partner, Menicon, which offers a novel GP Lens Care System, has revealed its GP Lens Core System Web store business. This service is only available at private practitioners’ offices, and you will receive 15 percent of any purchases your patients make through the site.

New Vendor Partnerships

Endorsed Partners

focalCenter (Practice Support)

focalCenter is an eye care feedback company, concentrating on the feedback needs of your eye care business. Develop deeper, longer-lasting relationships by incorporating patient feedback into all aspects of your eye care business.

Morel (Frames & Cases)

MOREL offers unique products with impeccable quality and superior bottom line results. Frame lines such as ÖGA, Koali, Lightec, Marius Morel and others feature distinctive designs, premium materials and technologically advanced enhancements.

New Vendor Suppliers

Scent Solutions (Practice Support)

Smilen Eyewear (Frames & Cases)

Tuscany Eyewear (Frames & Cases)

Philanthropic Lift

The Vision Source Foundation and Optometry Giving Sight, the selected charity for Vision Source, both benefitted by the generosity of vendors at the NAM. Here are a few of the vendors who support our causes. Optos donated one of the SLO OCT units to the foundation. (Winner Dr. Landon Hagberg, an associate for Dr. Brian McGourty at Eye Care Associates of Nampa in Nampa, Idaho, pictured at right with local Optos representative Bill Lynch.) WestGroupe, formerly known as Wescan and Western Optical, donated $5,000 to the Vision Source Foundation. CooperVision has committed $500,000 to Optometry Giving Sight between its 2011-2013 contributions. In addition, CooperVision will donate $1, $5, $10 or the entire value of the patient rebate to Optometry Giving Sight if the Vision Source patient elects this option.

The Chicago Experience

What happened in Chicago could start happening nationally. CooperVision, Essilor and the Chicago-area Vision Source practices undertook a co-op marketing campaign that brought an average of 39 new patients to each Vision Source practice and resulted in significant increased revenues per patient as each program participant purchased either two pairs of eyewear or an annual supply of contact lenses. Imagine what we could do on a national level. We encourage you to get on board.