(Melville, NY) June 2013 – Sterling Optical has reached a milestone of 100 years in business. Originally a single store founded in the financial district of New York City in 1913, Sterling Optical is now one of the largest retail optical companies in the United States, and continues to expand. The company has grown to more than 125 locations in the Northeast, Midwest, Mid-Atlantic and West Coast, accomplished through franchising and acquisitions. A pioneer in the optical industry, Sterling Optical was one of the first to focus on developing proprietary private label brands and forming partnerships with frame vendors worldwide – a winning combination that directly benefits their customers.
Now, Sterling Optical, one of the retail arms of Emerging Vision, continues to break new ground as it launches Project Eyesight, a 501(c) 3 charitable organization that provides free on-site eye exams and glasses to low-income and special needs communities in the United States who might not otherwise have ready access to treatment. This initiative is especially meaningful to Emerging Vision’s Chief Executive Officer Glenn Spina, who has traveled the world providing vision care in impoverished areas.
The 100th anniversary was an ideal time to give back as the company continues to expand.
“We are encouraged by the continued success and growth of Sterling Optical. On this, our 100th anniversary, we are positively thriving with our family of franchisees who provide an exceptional level of quality care to Sterling Optical customers,” said Brian Alessi, chief financial officer. “We are pleased to announce that we are continuing to expand beyond the United States and opening additional units in the Caribbean; specifically Curacao, Aruba and St. Maarten. These retail locations will give us a wonderful opportunity to continue to expand worldwide.”
“Across the United States, vision is a luxury that many take for granted. Our 100th anniversary is the perfect opportunity to give back and engage with our customers and the communities we serve in ways we’ve never had the ability to before,” Mr. Spina added. “We are pleased to announce that we have formed a non-profit organization, Project Eyesight, which will enable us to be charitable right here at home and fulfill our vision of providing free eye care for the needy communities that are currently in underserved neighborhoods throughout the United States.”
Launched in the summer of 2013, Project Eyesight will provide both impoverished and special needs children and adults with the gift of improved vision through donated prescription eyeglasses, eye exams, education and other ancillary items. Outreach will occur both on the corporate and franchise level, based on the urgency of need in the local communities to be served.
For more information on Project Eyesight, please contact:
Sterling Optical
520 Eighth Avenue
23rd Floor
New York, NY 10018
646-737-1500
About Emerging Vision
Emerging Vision, Inc. is a leading provider of eye care products and services, and operates one of the largest franchised optical chains in the United States. The Site for Sore Eyes brand has 40 locations across California and the Sterling Optical brand has more than 125 franchised and company-owned stores located across 13 states, the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Most stores offer prescription and non-prescription eyeglasses, eyeglass frames, ophthalmic lenses, contact lenses, sunglasses, and a range of ancillary items. The company also operates VisionCare of California (d/b/a Sterling VisionCare), a specialized healthcare maintenance organization that employs licensed optometrists to provide services for stores in California. The company also operates Combine Buying Group and the Optical Group, two leading optical group-purchasing businesses that provide their member retailers with vendor discounts on optical products in the United States and Canada, respectively.
For more information, visit www.sterlingoptical.com.
