Australian optical’s top independent practice, supplier and salesperson, plus more, have been recognised as part of the Optical Distributors and Manufacturers Association (ODMA)’s new-look awards program.
Revealed on the first evening of ODMAFair25 on Friday 27 June at International Convention & Exhibition Centre Sydney (ICC Sydney) by ODMA CEO Ms Amanda Trotman, the evening celebrated excellence in the national optical industry across seven categories.
Trotman said more than 2,100 votes had been cast. She was thrilled with how engaged the industry has been both with publicising their own nominations and voting for nominees.
“This truly is a program offered by the industry, for the industry and with massive industry involvement choosing who should be honoured in 2025,” she said.
HOYA and Eyes Right Optical stole the show claiming top spot in two categories each.
HOYA won Supplier of the Year and Top Customer Service Team.
Meanwhile, Eyes Right Optical dominated the Versatile Frame of the Year category, with all three finalists in this category featuring Face à Face and ProDesign eyewear within its portfolio. The company’s Face à Face Didot 1 took out the prize.
ODMA received an overwhelming number of nominations, spearheaded by the Independent Practice of the Year and Sales Representative of the Year categories.
Northam Optical, a Western Australian practice operated by dispenser-owner Ms Allyson Caffell, took out Independent Practice of the Year.
The industry voted Eyes Right Optical’s Ms Kristy Gierisch and EssilorLuxottica New Zealand’s Mr Vineet Chauhan as the joint Sales Representative of the Year.
Technology wise, the CR Surfacing VR Heat Unit – used for dispensing – and the Visioffice 3 digital measuring system from EssilorLuxottica were announced as finaliasts, but it was the iCare Tonometer from Designs For Vision-ParagonCare that was crowned Top Instrument of the Year.
The awards also celebrated Basecurve Optical, in Sandringham, Victoria, and Kenmore Plaza Optometrist in Queensland who both won the Window Dressing category.
Awards winners
Independent Practice of the Year
Finalists
- Eyewear on Pako, Geelong, Victoria
- Northam Optical, Northam, Western Australia
- Tracton Optometrist, Bondi Junction, Sydney NSW
Winner: Northam Optical, Western Australia
Instrument of the Year
Finalists
- CR Surfacing – VR Head Unit
- Designs For Vision – iCare Tonometer
- EssilorLuxottica Visioffice 3
Winner: iCare Tonometer, Designs For Vision | ParagonCare
Sales Representative of the Year
Finalists
- Belinda Bishop, Eyes Right Optical, AU
- Vineet Chauhan, Essilor Luxottica, NZ
- Katie Cran, Rodenstock, AU
- Kristy Gierisch, Eyes Right Optical, AU
- Roy Parker, Optiqueline, AU
Joint winners: Kristy Gierisch, Eyes Right Optical, and Mr Vineet Chauhan, EssilorLuxottica
Supplier of the Year
Finalists
- CR Surfacing
- EssilorLuxottica
- Eyes Right Optical
- HOYA
- Rodenstock
Winner: HOYA
Top Customer Service Teams
Finalists
- CR Surfacing
- EssilorLuxottica
- HOYA
- Rodenstock
- Zeiss
Winner: HOYA
Versatile Frame of the Year
Finalists
- Face a Face – Didot 1
- Face a Face – Offset 1
- Prodesign Denmark Glow 5
Winner: Face à Face Didot 1
Window Dressing
Finalists
- Basecurve Optical, Sandringham, Vic
- Eyecare Plus Karalee, Ipswich QLD
- Kenmore Plaza Optometrist, QLD
- Swan Hill Eyecare, Swan Hill, Vic
- The Eye Scene, Double Bay NSW
Joint winners: Basecurve Optical and Kenmore Plaza Optometrist
