Awards Categories
Fashion Frames Practice of the Year sponsored by Vogue
Few fashion items can say more about their wearer than spectacles and sunglasses. Optician is looking to make this award to a practice that can demonstrate its ability to offer fashionable eyewear to clients and demonstrate how happy its customers are with the results. The winning practice will understand fashion, luxury eyewear and be ahead of the curve with fashionable brands and retailing trends. The panel will be interested in hearing, from those shortlisted, about additional activities that have generated new customer activity and how that has be converted into sales. The judges will want to understand the fashion ethos of the practice and how the practice enthuses customers about fashion eyewear. This may be through the promotion of fashion eyewear itself or more mainstream fashion projects.
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Technology Practice of the Year sponsored by Grafton Optical and its Technology Partners
This award will seek to reward the practice that can demonstrate an ability to use technology effectively. This might be for the direct clinical needs of the patient or the efficient operation of the practice for the patients’ benefit. Particular emphasis on the detection of ocular conditions and provision of strong eye care should form a major theme in any entry. The judges will be looking for evidence of a range of technologies such as tonometry, perimetry, pachymetry, retinal and anterior digital imaging and corneal topography plus links with your local hospital and ophthalmologists. This award seeks to reward a practice that has applied technology for the benefit of the patient and the promotion of the practice.
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Premium Lens Practice of the Year sponsored by Transitions
The choice of premium lenses available to patients has never been greater and this category is dedicated to those practices that strive to offer their patients the very best optical performance. The winning practice will actively market, promote and discuss the latest lens products and proactively sell customers into the best choice eyewear using modern and appropriate techniques and technology. The panel will be looking at the entrants’ approach to this and their ability to educate clients about the new technologies on offer and the reasons why they should wear them. The winning entry will demonstrate a commitment to dispensing top end products and show how the practice encourages patients to try them out. This may be by offering enhancements to the traditional clear lens such as photochromics, progressives and coatings or by providing relevant second pairs to complete the visual solution for patients. Entries should demonstrate the practice’s strategy for retailing and dispensing and provide evidence of a successful track record in making those policies work. The panel will be interested to see a breakdown of the different types of lenses dispensed within the practice.
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Multiple Practice of the Year sponsored by Macuvision
Multiple optical outlets can be found on most high streets but what makes the ideal multiple practice? The panel of judges will want to see evidence of why customers choose the entrant’s practice over others and how their expectations are met once they have booked an eye exam. Entries are welcome from outlets that have taken ‘big is beautiful’ as their motto and others opting for a more traditional feel. The panel will want to understand the character of the practice and the processes employed for serving customers. The judges will also want to see evidence of the clinical, commercial and community success of the branch. The category is open to multiple practices of all sizes in high and low profile locations. The judges will be looking for evidence of eyecare par excellence and how being part of a chain makes a difference.
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Independent Practice of the Year sponsored by Hoya
The emergence of the homogenised high street has provided a fillip for independent shopping and in no sector is this more so than in optics. As well as real product choice independence also allows practitioners to stamp their personality on the practice and determine how they interact with patients. Whether your twist on independence highlights the commercial, clinical or fashion enter this category to argue your case to the judges and gain recognition for your practice. The judges in this category will be looking for the provision of individualised eyecare and a practice that adds something a little different to its competitors. The panel of judges will want to see the quality and diversity of optical products offered and see positive feedback of that from the practices clients.
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Vision for Life Award sponsored by Johnson & Johnson
This award will be won by a practice or individual demonstrating a commitment to patients’ vision throughout their lives. The judges will want to see evidence of commitment to eye care among all ages of patient and evidence of innovative and thorough dispensing of a comprehensive range of eyecare options. Entrants may also want to share evidence of their enhanced skills with the young and old, educational work to boost those skills or involvement in wider eyecare schemes. The panel will welcome evidence of your practice’s history in providing lasting care and evidence of the loyalty of patients. Information on how your practice reaches out to the community and how do you seek to educate people within your practice area will be appreciated. The judges will also be looking for positive feedback from patients, young and old.
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Optical Supplier of the Year
Optician is on the hunt for suppliers to the retail optical business who can demonstrate excellence in service, quality and relationships. We are looking for prescription labs, distributors and service providers who are truly valued by their optical practice customers. There’s much talk of exceeding client expectations and customer satisfaction but who really cuts the mustard in the optical business when it comes to service? Entries are welcome from labs, frame suppliers, lens distributors, contact lens manufacturers, training companies or any service or product supplier that can demonstrate the highest levels service and care. If you are a practice why not nominate those suppliers you hold in high regard to see them rewarded for the work they do.
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Lens Product of the Year
Most optical visits conclude with the dispensing of an optical product. The array of lenses, frames and contact lenses is wider than ever before. Entries in this category are open to lenses, coatings, tints and treatments that have made an impact during the last 12 months. On our shortlist will be lens products that our judges feel have given patients and practitioners added value. Other factors taken into consideration will be the product’s significance to practice and patients and those products that deliver the wow factor. Emphasis will also be placed on the level of innovation the product employs and the way in which it has been presented to the market. The judges will be looking for comparisons with competing or earlier generations of product and testimonials from customers and wearers.
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Frame of the Year
Most optical visits conclude with the dispensing of an optical product. The array of lenses, frames and contact lenses is wider than ever before. Entries in this category are open to frames, frame technologies and accessories that have made an impact during the last 12 months. On our shortlist will be frame products that our judges feel have given patients and practitioners added value. Other factors taken into consideration will be the product’s significance to practice or patients and those products that deliver the wow factor. Emphasis will also be placed on the level of innovation the product employs and the way in which it has been presented to the market. The judges will be looking for comparisons with competing or earlier generations of product and testimonials from customers and wearers.
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Sunglass of the Year
What will be remembered as the sunglass of 2011? Entries in this brand new category are open to a sunglass model or range that has made an impact during the last 12 months. This may be through its styling, its technical performance, customer attraction or marketing and profile. Factors taken into consideration will be the product’s significance to practice and those products that deliver the wow factor. Emphasis will be placed on the styling, level of innovation, the personality and the profile of the product and the way in which it has been presented to the market. This is a new category so include any information you think may be relevant. This might include technical comparisons with earlier products, its ability to find new customers, media coverage or its impact on practice profits.
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Contact lens Product of the Year
Most optical visits conclude with the dispensing of an optical product. The array of lenses, frames and contact lenses is wider than ever before. Entries in this category are open to contact lenses, solutions, lens therapies and accessories that have made an impact during the last 12 months. On our shortlist will be lens products that our judges feel have given patients and practitioners added value. Other factors taken into consideration will be the product’s significance to practice or patients and those products that deliver the wow factor. Emphasis will also be placed on the level of innovation the product employs and the way in which it has been presented to the market. The judges will be looking for comparisons with competing or earlier generations of product and testimonials from customers and wearers.
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Optical Assistant Team of the Year
This trophy is designed to reward a support team of optical staff who can demonstrate excellence in customer and patient service. The judges will be looking for reception, dispensing and other non-professional staff who have made a tangible difference to the experience of clients. Our panel will be looking for a team that makes customers look forward to their visit to the optician so much so they encourage their friends to use the practice too. The judges will want to hear how the team interacts with patients and the approach to training and gathering feedback. This is a team award so close working within a group should also be highlighted. The judges will be interested in any activities outside the practice that encourage customers in and raise the profile of the practice in the local area.
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Contact Lens Practitioner of the Year sponsored by Ciba Vision
This award will be presented to an individual who is passionate about contact lenses and can harness that passion to put their patients in the best contact lenses for their needs. The panel of judges will be looking for evidence of clear communication of contact lenses as an option for customers. Entrants should explain their approach to patients and provide evidence of how that has been effective in growing the business. The judges will want to hear about the selection criteria for different contact lens modalities and the factors taken into consideration such as comfort, convenience, budget or lifestyle. The panel will also be interested to hear how the penetration of contact lenses within the practice has grown as a result of the individual’s efforts and the feedback from patients. Practitioners may want to say which patients are offered contact lenses and why, how often a change in lens type or modality is considered and how feedback on comfort and compliance is sought. Patient stories of contact lenses prescribed for lifestyle needs would also be welcomed.
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Dispensing Optician of the Year sponsored by Luxottica
The winner of this award will be an excellent dispensing optician with good people skills and the ability to communicate with patients of all types. The judges will be looking for examples of dispensing that show off the entrant’s skills with lens choice and frame styling. Entries are welcome from DOs working in practices of all types and sizes and evidence of patient satisfaction should be demonstrated. The panel will want to understand the process the DO undergoes to ensure an excellent fit and lens choice is made. The judges may also want to see evidence of the DO’s expertise in eyewear styling and achieving cosmetically pleasing results under difficult circumstances. Emphasis will be placed on everyday eyecare solutions, patient communication as well as clinical excellence and all round practice skills. Whether your specialism as a DO is clinical or fashion this is the category for you.
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Optometrist of the Year sponsored by BBGR
This category is designed to reward an optometrist who uses their optometric skills to enhance the lives of patients, colleagues and the community. The judges will be looking for evidence of excellence in a range of areas. These should include clinical techniques, interaction with other practice staff and, most importantly, patients. The judges will be looking for true commitment to patient care and examples of how the optometrist’s actions have benefited patients and the practice. The judges will also want to see how the optometrist has made an effort to further the eye care of their patients and enhance their practice’s reputation. This category is for the optometrist who goes the extra mile for patients and the profession. It may also be an optometrist who works as hard outside the practice to improve the eye care of patients as they do inside, perhaps something else the judges may want to see evidence of.
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The Education Award sponsored by the Vision Care Institute
This award will seek to reward an individual or group that has used education to optimum effect. The judges will be looking for evidence of education that has fulfilled the clinical needs of the practitioner and filtered down to provide real benefits in practice. This may be though pure clinical learning such as Continuing Education and Training or education to move a practitioner into an extended field of practice. Alternatively it might be through education into new product types, materials or modalities which have benefitted the practice’s patients. The panel may also want to hear about improvements and advances achieved following study into business or people skills? Perhaps you have undertaken training in an allied discipline or shadowed professionals in other fields to learn new skills for the benefit of patients or your business. Evidence of the strategic approach to courses, study and education would also be welcomed as would feedback from colleagues, patients and customers.
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