EIS still to clinch deal for Eye Week sponsor

Although discussions are at an advanced stage with two large players in the optical industry, a spokesman for the service has told optician that unless confirmation is gained between now and late June from either company, or other potential sponsors were to come forward, this year's event would have to be scaled down. The Eye Week is scheduled for September 25-October 2 this year, and the plan is to widen the scope of publicity nationwide. Last year's extensive poster campaign on VDU awareness in London's Underground and on buses was considered a success by the EIS. However, the promotion drew some criticism from the profession which said its concentration on the capital neglected coverage in the rest of the country. This year EIS has booked 1,400 poster sites nationwide at a cost of &\#163;175,000, a budget which is more than three times that of last year's campaign. 'We're looking at three themes which can be utilised via the poster campaign,' said the spokesman. 'Children's eye care, drivers' vision and optics for people aged over 40. Each of these can lend themselves to Eye Week, and we could design the posters in conjunction with the committed sponsor.' EIS hopes to have a major sponsor for the campaign from the optical profession as opposed to last year's sponsor, which came from the IT industry.