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 2009
VISIONWEB ANNOUNCES 2009 LAB OF THE YEAR HONOREES Omega Optical, Perferx Optical, and Personal Eyes Optical Recognized as Top Performing Laboratories on VisionWeb Supplier Network Austin, TX – September 15, 2009 - VisionWeb, the premier provider of technology services to the optical industry, announced today the honorees for the 2009 Lab of the Year program. The VisionWeb Lab of the Year program, now in its fourth year, rewards spectacle lens laboratories that have shown exemplary results growing and maintaining customer loyalty using VisionWeb. To determine the honorees, VisionWeb measured the ability of the lab to retain and grow VisionWeb usage among their customers. In addition, the votes each lab received from VisionWeb members were incorporated into the final calculations. The voting process took place from June through August 2009, with nearly 3,000 votes collected from VisionWeb members. VisionWeb ensures a level playing field for labs of all sizes, with calculations taking in to account overall lab volume versus lab size. VisionWeb Lab of the Year honorees are featured in a special section of the VisionWeb site, and will receive an award commemorating their recognition. Past honorees include Aearo Technologies, Balester Optical, Cherry Optical, Crown Optical, CustomEyes, Duffens/Langley, Enterprise Optical, Hi-Tech Optics, National Nova Optical, OptiCraft, Southern Optical, and Twin City Optical. “We are pleased to recognize the dedication these labs have demonstrated by encouraging their customers to utilize our services for efficient order processing”, commented Juanita Burke, Director of Customer Relations and Sales at VisionWeb. “VisionWeb ordering is a piece of the larger puzzle that once complete, will drive down costs associated with doing business in our industry – for eyecare providers and suppliers alike. We are extremely grateful to these partners and our entire supplier network for their continued support.” Labs on the VisionWeb network interested in learning more about the Lab of the Year program or VisionWeb services should contact their VisionWeb Sales and Marketing Manager, Bill Verde at (303) 674-4589, or Mike Herbers at (503) 522-1701. Labs interested in joining the VisionWeb network should contact VisionWeb’s Business Development team at bd@visionweb.com. ABOUT VISIONWEB
AOA STATE AFFILIATES RECEIVE ROYALTIES FOR ORDERS PLACED ON VISIONWEB Annual Royalty Payout Reaches Over $45,000 for Participating State Affiliates Austin, TX – June 15, 2009 – VisionWeb, the premier provider of technology services to streamline the eyecare practice, announced today that 41 AOA State Affiliates will receive royalty payments totaling $45,194 from eyecare product orders placed by their members on VisionWeb over the last twelve months. The number of participating state affiliates is up 25%, and royalties were within $2,000 of where they were last year, despite the softening of the market during the period of June 2008 – June 2009. In addition, the number of qualifying accounts increased by 6% this year, demonstrating how usage of VisionWeb’s online ordering service continues to grow year over year. Under the terms of the program, AOA members automatically earn royalties for their State Affiliates by using VisionWeb to place their eyecare product orders. Once the account reaches a minimum of 1,200 orders placed over VisionWeb’s ordering service annually, their orders contribute towards the total payment made to their State Affiliate. The payment amount is calculated as a percentage of the transaction fee associated with each order (the fee paid to VisionWeb by the supplier who receives the order). The royalty earned by all qualifying accounts is totaled by state to determine the royalty payment made to the participating AOA State Affiliate. “Adoption of VisionWeb’s ordering service by independent eye care providers continues to grow, making it possible for us to provide this level of support to the AOA state affiliates despite recent market conditions,” said Ken Engelhart, president and CEO of VisionWeb. “This program demonstrates our commitment to the continued success of independent optometry, and is consistent with VisionWeb’s mission and service offering to eye care providers.” AOA State Affiliates participating in this program receive royalties from VisionWeb, exclusive of any agreements that they may have with buying groups. VisionWeb remains independent, and ordering on VisionWeb does not interfere with buying group discounts or pricing relationships that ordering accounts may have with suppliers. AOA members should contact their Executive Director or President to find out if their State Affiliate participates in the program. Attendees of Optometry’s Meeting can visit booth #913, during exhibit hall hours to learn more. More information on the program is listed under the “Eyecare Providers” section at www.visionweb.com. ABOUT VISIONWEB
VISIONWEB AND GROW CMS ANNOUNCE ORDERING INTEGRATION WITH PRACTICE MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE Grow CMS Customers Can Now Seamlessly Order Spectacle Lenses from VisionWeb-Connected Laboratories Austin, TX – March 23, 2009 - VisionWeb, the premier provider of technology services to streamline the eyecare practice, and Grow CMS announced today the launch of the integration that will enable Grow CMS customers to order spectacle lenses from all VisionWeb-connected laboratories from within the Grow CMS software environment. The integration will reduce duplicate data entry and streamline the ordering process for Grow CMS customers. Eyecare providers using the integration will benefit from accurate, convenient online spectacle lens ordering, with the ability to track the status of orders at any time, from within the environment of their practice management system. In addition, orders placed through the VisionWeb are received by the lab sooner and are automatically put into process, providing the customer with heightened efficiency and improved turnaround time. “VisionWeb and Grow CMS share the same vision of creating technology to benefit the eyecare practice, making business processes more efficient”, says Tom Loveless, CFO and Vice President of Business Development for VisionWeb. “We are pleased to announce this integration and add Grow CMS to our expanding network of technology partners in the Industry.” Grow CMS, in addition to all practice management systems integrated with VisionWeb, is listed on the VisionWeb site, located at www.visionweb.com, under the Technology Partners heading. Learn more about the features and benefits of ordering through the VisionWeb integration and download a brochure. Grow CMS customers are encouraged to contact Grow CMS at (877) 500-4015 to request the VisionWeb ordering integration. ABOUT VISIONWEB ABOUT GROW CMS
VISIONWEB INTRODUCES MONEY MADNESS SWEEPSTAKES VisionWeb Members are Eligible to Win Thousands of Dollars in Cash Prizes for Ordering Online during April and May 2009 Austin, TX – March 18, 2009 – VisionWeb, the premier provider of technology services to the optical industry, announced today the launch of its latest promotion for eyecare providers, VisionWeb’s Money Madness Sweepstakes. The Sweepstakes rewards practices for ordering through VisionWeb (via the VisionWeb site or an integrated practice management system), and encourages practices to take advantage of one-stop shopping to over 400 suppliers on the VisionWeb network. The VisionWeb Money Madness Sweepstakes runs during the months of April and May 2009, and is open to all eyecare providers who are VisionWeb members. Each VisionWeb account will earn entries in weekly and grand prize drawings for meeting their weekly order goal. Additional entries will be earned by ordering to multiple supplier types (spectacle lenses, contact lenses, and frames). Weekly goals are assigned every Sunday during the Sweepstakes beginning on April 5, 2009. Drawing entries are cumulative throughout the program, meaning the more entries the account receives, the more chances they have to win. Prizes will be awarded in eight weekly drawings throughout the Sweepstakes period, and two grand prize drawings at the Sweepstakes conclusion on May 30, 2009. Weekly prizes include $250 cash and credit with the VisionWeb supplier of the winner’s choice (a $500 value). The grand prize includes $1,250 cash and supplier credit (a $2,500 value), and the first runner-up prize includes $500 cash and supplier credit (a $1,000 value). The cash portion of the prizes will serve as an individual reward for the practice to spend at their will. The supplier credit portion of the prize will serve as an investment in their future business with VisionWeb and their supplier(s). Eyecare providers interested in participating in the VisionWeb Money Madness Sweepstakes are encouraged to visit the VisionWeb site at www.visionweb.com to learn more and enroll their practice in the Sweepstakes today. Click on the “Money Madness” icon to access the Official Rules and instructions for How to Play. Eyecare providers who are not yet VisionWeb members can contact VisionWeb Customer Service at (800) 874-6601 to register their practice and start ordering online today. As always, ordering online through VisionWeb is free for eyecare providers and does not interfere with any pricing relationships or buying group discounts that eyecare providers may have with their suppliers. ABOUT VISIONWEB
VISIONWEB APPOINTS PROFESSIONAL RELATIONS ADVISOR Dr. Tommy Crooks Joins VisionWeb Team as Liaison to Eyecare Providers and Industry Organizations Austin, TX – March 18, 2009 – VisionWeb, the premier provider of technology services to the optical industry, announced today the appointment of C. Thomas Crooks III, O.D. as Professional Relations Advisor. In his new role at VisionWeb, Dr. Crooks will serve as the primary liaison to eyecare professionals and professional organizations, providing strategic advice to the VisionWeb team on behalf eyecare professionals. Dr. Crooks brings over 30 years of private practice experience to the VisionWeb team, in addition to his business acumen as a founder and serving as CEO of one of the largest private independent practices in the country, EyeCare Associates, with 19 locations and 33 providers. EyeCare Associates has been a long-time customer of VisionWeb, embracing online ordering, insurance processing, and practice management integration technology. In addition to his impressive background in private practice, Dr. Crooks has held several leadership positions within the professional optometric community at the state, regional, and national level, as president of the Alabama Optometric Association, president of the Southern Council of Optometrists (SECO), and president of the American Optometric Association (AOA). During his tenure at the AOA, Dr. Crooks had the opportunity to serve along side representatives from the five other equity affiliates that comprise the VisionWeb Board of Directors. “VisionWeb is dedicated to providing technology that helps eyecare providers to become more efficient and successful,” says Ken Engelhart, VisionWeb’s President and CEO. “Dr. Crooks is a respected eye care provider and business leader. We are extremely grateful to have his input and endorsement as we chart the course for the next generation of practice automation.” “I am very pleased to be a part of the VisionWeb family,” says Dr. Crooks. “Having served on the VisionWeb board, and having incorporated VisionWeb into our practice and our lab as an integral part of our business model, I look forward to working with other practitioners to help them streamline their practices.” ABOUT VISIONWEB
VISIONWEB LAUNCHES NEW & IMPROVED CONTACT LENS ORDERING SERVICE Refreshed User Interface and New Functionality Offer More Convenience to VisionWeb Members Austin, TX – February 2, 2009 – VisionWeb, the premier provider of technology services to the optical industry, announced today the launch of a new and improved contact lens ordering service for VisionWeb members. New features and functionality improve performance and ease of use. Similar to VisionWeb’s spectacle lens and frame engines, the contact lens engine displays unique product catalogs for each contact lens supplier. Only products carried by the supplier will be displayed, making it easier to locate and order the desired product. A new advanced searching feature allows users to search for contact lenses based on several categories including lens type, manufacturer, color, series, wear schedule, pack, and UPC. When the product is found, users have the choice to order lenses one product at a time, or to order multiple products using the new Grid View feature. In addition, the new contact lens engine offers a Fast Order feature, which allows users to scan the UPC barcode of a contact lens product and automatically add the product to their Item List. This timesaving feature will make it easy for users to order products to fill their in-house stock. “We are very excited to launch our new contact lens ordering service to our customers,” said Ken Engelhart, President, and CEO for VisionWeb. “The new features and functionality will improve the user experience, and make ordering contact lenses on VisionWeb even better than before. This is the first among many exciting upgrades for our customers in 2009.” Adds Eric Muzy, CIO for VisionWeb, “The enhancements launched in the new contact lens engine are the result of market research and customer feedback coupled with the latest VisionWeb ordering technology. With this launch comes a view of the future of VisionWeb ordering.” Contact lens suppliers on the VisionWeb network currently include ABB CONCISE, Diversified Ophthalmics, ODG, OOGP, New Era Optical, and Vistakon. VisionWeb members will now be able to use the new and improved ordering service to order from these suppliers and more, as they become available. VisionWeb plans to connect more contact lens manufacturers and distributors in 2009 and beyond. ABOUT VISIONWEB |
