It is not every day you can scope out the latest fashion frame trends, road test alternative OCT machines and see the latest lens technologies being demonstrated. So spending some time going round the exhibition space at Optrafair can be an invigorating and efficient use of time.
Frames giant Luxottica will be among the companies exhibiting in Birmingham. The Italian company will be promoting a prescription lens programme for its iconic Ray-Ban brand. This initiative is said to offer a unique product for each patient through the digital surfacing ‘Truly Yours’ option and benefit practices through a simplified order system.
Several long standing UK frames companies will be at Optrafair. Brulimar Optical, Continental Eyewear, Dunelm Optical, International Eyewear and Ridgway Optical all offer decades of experience in developing brands and supporting practices. The more recently formed Eyespace, winner of the Optician Award 2016 for Frame of the Year, will be displaying its wares along with the internationally renowned Silhouette.
The chance to try out ophthalmic instruments and equipment has always been at the core of Optrafair’s appeal. The show allows attendees to compare like for like products from a full range of suppliers, an invaluable and necessary step before committing, for example, tens of the thousands of pounds on an OCT. Birmingham Optical Group, BiB, Haag Streit, Heidelberg, Grafton, Keeler, Mainline and Topcon will all be out in full force.
Cutting edge equipment is invariably expensive but the likes of Braemar Finance, Performance Finance and Snowbird Finance will be on hand to enable necessary investments.
On the lens front attendees at Optrafair can take the opportunity to see new products and innovations from leading lights Carl Zeiss, Essilor, Hoya, Shamir and Transitions. Practice owners and managers will also be interested to visit Caledonian Optical and TGF Optics to find out what these freeform enabled lens laboratories have to offer.
Bausch + Lomb will head up the contact lens presence at the NEC, with an invitation extended to attendees to experience a trial of the company’s Ultra and Ultra for Presbyopia range of contact lenses designed for the digital age. The BCLA will also be exhibiting, offering support to existing members and a point of contact with those less familiar with the organisation.
Many of the significant optical bodies, including ABDO, the College of Optometrists, FODO and the GOC, will be on hand in Birmingham while independent practice owners may want to find out more about the National Eyecare Group.
Anyone wanting to check out the latest practice management software need look no further than market leaders Ocuco and Optisoft, the latter of which will be promoting its recently launched Optisoft.NET product. Those with itchy feet in their current job can check out their options with recruiters like Prospect Health while several charities including Guide Dogs, Vision Aid Overseas and Vision Care for Homeless People offer a chance for altruism.
Full information on the companies exhibiting at Optrafair visit www.optrafair.co.uk/exhibitor-list
Show features
The exhibition will boast several features to enhance experiences and dispense information. With the FMO celebrating 100 years since its inception, there will be a Centenary Bar where people can meet for refreshment. The bar will also showcase the history of British optics over this time period.
New this year is also the Fashion Boutique brand discovery area, which has been devised to give new eyewear designers and entrepreneurs a chance to showcase their products. The hub will be located next to the Fashion Quarter.
Trend forecasting sessions will be held on the first two days of the show, at 12.00 and 15.15 respectively. The sessions will be led by accessories trend specialist Jacqui Ma and will aim to delve into the wider consumer trends affecting eyewear and explain developments in the changing retail environment.
Staying on the retail theme, highly experienced window dressers Liz Rivers and Nicola Lugard Davies will be presenting twice daily. Attendees will learn how to use window displays as a billboard promoting the key messages of a practice and also the use of special displays to tie in with major sporting events, special days or public health initiatives.
Conference
A long weekend at Optrafair is advantageous for those looking to accrue a haul of CET points in one go. The main CET theatre will host several not-to-be-missed events. Of particular interest will be a Question Time style debate on women in optics that will feature some of the leading female figures in the industry.
A separate dispensing optician oriented education strand will take place in the ABDO theatre with the renowned Mo Jalie’s lecture on prismatic effects a key attraction. This year sees the debut of a business theatre featuring presentations on maximising practice efficiency and revenue plus CET-accredited lectures on subjects like improving contact lens wearer compliance.
If that is not enough opportunity for learning several companies including Heidelberg, Scope, Carl Zeiss, Specsavers will be running CET on their respective stands.
Optrafair 2017
Hall 3 at the Birmingham NEC
Saturday, April 1: 10:00 - 18:00
Sunday, April 2: 10:00 - 18:00
Monday, April 3: 10:00 - 16:00