With Transitions

Success was the theme of Transitions Academy – and it can be your theme for 2009 as well.

During Academy, Transitions Optical recognized the achievements of its partners in 2008 – including the Lab of the Year winner, Balester – and announced new initiatives to ensure your success in 2009.

Building on the 2008 advertising campaign, Transitions debuted two new commercials that will run throughout 2009, driving even more interest in Transitions® lenses. Transitions also announced that professional golfers Trevor Immelman and Kenny Perry will now serve as official spokespersons and healthy sight ambassadors.

To continue the awareness of healthy sight, a revamped Transitions Healthy Sight for Life Fund Web site was also launched in January.

Throughout Academy, Transitions emphasized the strength of the optical industry, and presented ways that Transitions can help you and your practice advance this year – even in a tough economy.

Read on to find out how you can take advantage of these programs and more.

If there is something you'd like to learn more about, e-mail us at healthyinsights@transitions.com.


Balester Named 2008 Transitions Lab of the Year

Lab Earns Prestigious Honor For Promotional, Educational Efforts

Transitions is honored to recognize Balester Optical as the 2008 U.S. Transitions Lab of the Year – celebrating the lab's year-long achievement of growing its business with Transitions® lenses. The prestigious award was presented at a recognition event during the 2009 Transitions Academy.

Headquartered in Wilkes-Barre, Pa., Balester is a long-time supporter of Transitions lenses – also earning the Lab of the Year distinction in 1998. Throughout 2008, Balester incorporated Transitions in every message it offered to its customers, including major promotional and educational initiatives. The lab’s hard work paid off, resulting in a 12 percent increase in sales of Transitions lenses over 2007.

Dale Parmenteri, vice president, Balester, accepted the award on behalf of the lab – dedicating it to Fritz Balester, former president and chairman of the lab, who passed away in January.

"For more than a decade, we've been striving to win the Transitions Lab of the Year award for a second time. We've always been huge supporters of Transitions lenses, but knew we needed to step up our game even more to win the title in 2008," said Parmenteri. "We've had a lot of success with Transitions lenses – in part because it's a great product, but also because it's an integral part of everything we do. Our growth is a result of all of our programs and a true team effort, and we thank everyone at Balester and Transitions for their continued support."

Finalists for the 2008 U.S. Transitions Lab of the Year award also included Optical Prescription Lab, Pelham, Ala., and Soderberg Ophthalmic Services, Minneapolis, Minn. Congratulations to Balester and all of the finalists!

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Transitions Debuts Two New Commercials

Commercials Link Healthy Sight to Living Your Vision

Attendees at Transitions Academy were the first to view two new commercials from Transitions. The ads will air in 2009, along with the 2008 commercial featuring a nature cinematographer – marking the first time the company will run multiple ads simultaneously.

Aimed at linking healthy sight to pursuing your passions, the new commercials are a part of Transitions Optical's extensive consumer advertising campaign for 2009. The campaign will also include print and online advertisements, making more than 4.4 billion consumer impressions.

One of the commercials, filmed at Innisbrook Resort and Golf Club, home of the Transitions Championship For Healthy Sight, will support Transitions Optical's official marketing partnership with the PGA TOUR. The other continues the theme of the 2008 campaign by featuring a wildlife photographer. This new photojournalist spot is set in the jungle and reinforces that wearing Transitions® lenses helps care for your sight so you can live your vision – just like the narrator is doing while capturing the beauty of nature.

You can leverage Transitions Optical's advertising in your practice through the Transitions Online Marketing tool, which offers customizable materials featuring images of the commercials, connecting your practice’s message with a recognizable national campaign. To get started, visit www.TransitionsTOM.com.

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Trevor Immelman and Kenny Perry Become Healthy Sight Ambassadors

Top PGA TOUR Professionals Sign on as Transitions Optical's Official Spokespersons

Two of the most successful professional golfers currently on the PGA TOUR, Trevor Immelman and Kenny Perry, will now serve as official spokespersons, joining Transitions to raise awareness for the importance of healthy sight and establish a clear link between healthy, quality sight and optimal athletic performance.

Both Immelman and Perry are currently ranked within the top 25 players in the world. During Transitions Academy, Immelman spoke about the impact that vision has on his game.

"Vision is vital to my success and gives me a competitive advantage," said Immelman. "With changing light conditions, Transitions® lenses reduce glare and improve contrast and help me see my best. This partnership with Transitions creates a unique and relevant platform to educate golfers of all levels and consumers in general about the importance of healthy sight and its tie to sports performance," he added.

For more information about Transitions' newest healthy sight ambassadors, visit www.Transitions.com.

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Fund Web Site Gets a New Look, New Features

Educating Consumers About the Impact of Vision

The Transitions® Healthy Sight for Life Fund Web site has a whole new look!

Still found at www.HealthySightforLife.org, the site will continue to educate consumers on the importance of protecting and preserving their eyesight, but will include a number of new interactive features. The site will also focus on overall wellness, further reinforcing the value of getting regular eye exams and wearing UV protection.

New to the site, a "Vision Loss Experience" will allow users to experience what it is like to lose healthy sight due to an eye disease, vision disorder or environmental factor, such as glare. The site will also include a testimonials section, which lists charities supported through grants and features eye-health related stories submitted directly by consumers.

New for eyecare professionals is a link to the recently launched Healthy Sight Institute Web site and a section on the Transitions Students of Vision Scholarship program, which features entries from previous winners. Additionally, you can link to the new Fund site from your practice Web site as an added resource for your patients.

For information about the Transitions Healthy Sight for Life Fund and resources you can leverage in practice, visit the new Web site or contact healthysightfund@transitions.com.

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Attendees "Explore Success" At Transitions Academy

Thirteenth Annual Event Draws Attendees from Around the World

More than 1,400 optical industry professionals from across the globe attended the 13th annual Transitions Academy, held Jan. 25-28 at Disney's Yacht & Beach Club Resort in Orlando.

Keynote speakers included National Geographic photographer Steve Winter, who was featured in this year's ad campaign, and artist Erik Wahl. The event culminated with a celebration announcing the Lab of the Year award winner, Balester.

New initiatives introduced at this year's event included the Live Your Vision platform, which builds on the foundation of healthy sight to establish an emotional connection with consumers. Attendees also learned more detailed information about new programs and tools – including an Academy for Eyecare Practices and a new loyalty program.

Talk to your Transitions STAR Lab about the newest initiatives announced during Academy.

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