Optics must face up to economic challenges

A fresh approach to sales and marketing is required to tackle the 'worst economic slump' in the history of the industry, according to European optical leaders attending the 2009 Eurom 1 convention in Athens.

This was the key message to European optical professionals from delegates at the event, including the UK's Federation of Manufacturing Opticians.

'We are facing a new world scenario where effort, talent, and reaction capacity must play an even more crucial role than ever before: the economic map has been redrawn,' explained Antonio Olivella, chairman of Eurom 1, the collective European body. 'New pricing policies, new approaches to advertising, new ways of brand development and ways of regaining profitability are required.'