BLACKFIN – FIRST SINGLE-BRAND SHOWROOM IN MEXICO
Agordo/Mexico City, 7 July 2017 - Blackfin has opened its first single-brand showroom in Mexico City. The project is the result of the internationalisation process which the brand has successfully embarked upon. It was conceived out of the partnership between Nicola Del Din and the Mexico sales partner Moda y Vision Italiana, led by two young Italian entrepreneurs, Giancarlo Quacquarelli and Federico Pasquetto. The premises are located in the Colonia Roma area, the cultural heart of the capital given a new lease of life following the tragic earthquake in 1985. Today, it is the neighbourhood of artists, thinkers and professionals of every kind who add a bohemian, anti-conformist touch to traditional Mexican folklore.
“This multipurpose venue is a showroom where Mexico’s opticians will be able to find the entire Blackfin range,” states Nicola Del Din, CEO of Blackfin. “But it also aims to provide a place for showcasing our eyewear for end consumers, and telling them the story of our brand”.
“Besides managing distribution in the Mexican market,” explains Giancarlo Quacquarelli, the company’s CEO, “we firmly believe in the potential of this brand. As a result, we have decided to develop a fully-fledged Blackfin retail channel to ensure the brand’s positioning in Mexico will be achieved quickly and precisely”.
The showroom also includes the sales offices and a warehouse which enables more efficient product distribution throughout the Mexican area.
The commitment and vision of the Italo-Mexican team have also allowed us to include Blackfin in three major optician chains in Mexico, all with an end to increasing the brand’s presence in areas with a strong tourist vocation. With this goal in mind, a Blackfin mini-store has been opened inside Doce-18, an exclusive concept-house in San Miguel de Allende, the colonial city declared UNESCO heritage site which is a magnet for tourists who come to visit it from all over the world. In addition, the coming months are set to see Blackfin’s introduction in a top-flight Mexican optician chain with stores in the country’s main airports, as well as the direct opening of further shop-in-shops inside renowned Boutique Hotels.
Blackfin / Looking Beyond. Always.
www.blackfin.eu
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www.instagram.com/blackfineyewear/
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NEUBAU EYEWEAR TEAMS UP WITH THE HONEYBEE CONSERVANCY TO “SEE & DO GOOD”
New York, June 15, 2017 — neubau eyewear, the contemporary premium eyewear brand inspired by the creativity, innovation and spirit of a new generation, joins forces with The Honeybee Conservancy to encourage city dwellers to “bee” urban gardeners through their newly launched See & Do Good initiative. This sweet partnership will help bring honeybee hives to two thriving urban farms in New York City while celebrating neubau eyewear’s commitment to using sustainable materials in its products and packaging.
The Honeybee Conservancy will donate two hives on behalf of neubau eyewear – one to the Smiling Hogshead Ranch in Long Island, an all-volunteer urban farm situated on an abandoned railroad in Queens, and the other to the Spitzer School of Architecture in Manhattan, an innovative mid-city farm that seeks to educate college and high school students about local crop production. Both hives will play an important role in their respective new homes, from helping to increase food production and garden yield to increasing awareness about the plight of honeybees and ways the public can help.
Meanwhile, neubau eyewear consumers will be invited to directly support their local environment and honor the larger eco-system by planting seed paper designed to blossom especially for these new-to- New York bees, while sending a broader messages about the importance of protecting pollinators everywhere.
This program reflects neubau eyewear’s aim to create and support concepts that show consideration to the environment, as well as its desire to partner with like-minded organizations to encourage an eco-friendly lifestyle. The Honeybee partnership is the first of many ways neubau eyewear seeks to incorporate eco-consciousness into its eyewear universe, in keeping with its innovative aesthetic and mindset. Other upcoming eco-minded partnerships include a tree-planting program in Vienna and a collaboration with gabarage, an upcycling firm where new and useful products are created from used materials.
This focus on conscious consumption and forward-looking production starts with the use of a new sustainable material – naturalPX – for all neubau eyewear frames beginning in April 2017, and extends to the material used in its accessories, from cases to cleaning cloths to other sales and marketing tools. naturalPX is a highly developed eco-friendly polymer derived from organically sourced and renewable primary products. Sixty-five percent of the material is produced from an oil extracted from the seeds of castor oil plants, also known as “the miracle tree” – a plant that relies on pollination to survive and thrive.
To kick off the partnership, neubau eyewear and The Honeybee Conservancy celebrated, along with customers, press and influencers, with a cocktail event at Distilled NY in the Tribeca neighborhood of New York City. It was here that the informational video debuted as well as the introduction of the jars of neubau-sponsored honey – an attendee favorite!
More information about neubau eyewear’s sustainability initiatives is available at neubau-eyewear.com.
ABOUT NEUBAU EYEWEAR
neubau eyewear is a contemporary premium eyewear brand with an homage to creativity, innovation and the spirit of a new generation. Born from a leading, genuine and independent Austrian company, this brand provides the highest quality product mixed with a modern, urban influence.
ABOUT THE HONEYBEE CONSERVANCY
The Honeybee Conservancy empowers communities with the tools, education and bees needed to sustain local agriculture. It is a project of Social & Environmental Entrepreneurs. For more information, visit The Honeybee Conservancy website: thehoneybeeconservancy.org.
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Costa Launches “Don’t Fear the Fin. Fear a World Without Them.” Consumer Cause Marketing Campaign
New campaign features shark-attack survivors, encourages awareness of sharks’ importance in our ecosystem
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – June 20, 2017 – On World Oceans Day (June 8), Costa announced the launch of its new cause marketing campaign, “Don’t Fear the Fin. Fear a World Without Them.” to increase consumer awareness of shark conservation and their important role in our ocean’s ecosystem. Costa developed this multi-tiered campaign in partnership with ten-year partner OCEARCH, a group of explorers and scientists who are dedicated to generating previously unattainable data on the movement, biology and health of sharks.
The campaign highlights the stories of three shark-attack survivors turned conservation advocates for the oceans’ apex predators and balance keepers. The “Don’t Fear the Fin. Fear a World Without Them.” ambassadors include Mike Coots, Lisa Mondy and Paul de Gelder.
“We are thrilled to partner with these remarkable individuals who, despite being attacked by sharks, are now fighting for sharks and their survival to help protect our oceans,” said Todd Barker, Coastal Community Manager, Costa. “We want more people to understand that the scariest thing about sharks is that they are disappearing due to activities like illegal fishing and shark finning. Being ‘Born on the Water,’ we at Costa understand this isn’t cause that just one person or company can Shark-attack survivors turned conservation advocates for sharks and Costa /OCEARCH campaign ambassadors: Lisa Mondy, Mike Coots, Paul de Gelder get behind in order for it to succeed. This is why our vision for this campaign is to inspire more people to join the cause and help preserve the sharks who keep our oceans in balance.”
Further expanding the conversation around shark conservation and OCEARCH, consumers will hear and see campaign messages from Costa in the following ways:
A digital experience found on Costa’s website features a film of the three shark-attack survivors and provides education on sharks and OCEARCH.
Content posted on Costa’s social media accounts will be directing followers to learn more and join the cause.
Through a sweepstakes at WinaShark.com, consumers can enter to win a chance to tag and name a shark aboard the M/V OCEARCH research vessel and help Costa and OCEARCH with their mission to protect what’s out there.
A road crew will be conquering the East Coast conservation events held at retail locations and on the OCEARCH ship.
New merchandising executions will be on display at select Costa accounts and dealers, and digital assets are available for Costa retail partners to use.
Chris Fischer, the founder of OCEARCH, will also participate in media interviews talking about the cause and campaign around Shark Week 2017
To help spread the word about shark awareness and the campaign, eyecare professionals can share Costa’s social media content and use the hashtag #DontFeartheFin.
OCEARCH Limited Edition Sunglasses Collection
This year, in addition to the cause marketing campaign, Costa linked the sale of their Limited Edition sunglasses to benefit shark conservation with a portion of their new OCEARCH Limited Edition collection’s proceeds being donated to the OCEARCH Foundation.
Mimicking the colors and textures of the habitats and biology of sharks, the OCEARCH Limited Edition sunglasses feature three new styles, the Half Moon, Remora and Rincon, as well as three new colors replicating the rich colors of sharks, including Sea Glass, Smoke Crystal and Tiger Shark (a unique take on the classic Tortoise style). All sunglasses are available in plano and Rx. The collection also features 15 SKUs, a new lens development combining Costas 580P grey base lens with a silver mirror and eight best-selling Costa styles with a new look that mirrors the hues and patterns found on sharks. The Costa OCEARCH Limited Edition collection styles range in retail from $149 to $249. The styles are available in May at www.costadelmar.com and at authorized participating Costa retail partners.
About Costa™
As the leading manufacturer of the world’s clearest polarized performance sunglasses, Costa offers superior sunglass lens technology and unparalleled frame fit and durability. Still handcrafted today in Florida, Costa has created the highest quality, best performing sunglasses and prescription sunglasses (Rx) for outdoor water enthusiasts since 1983. Born on the water, Costa works hard to protect the oceans it calls home. Through programs like its Kick Plastic campaign, where the brand seeks to raise awareness about the growing plastic pollution problem threatening oceans worldwide, to serving as a long-term partner to shark research organizations like OCEARCH, Costa encourages people to help protect the Earth’s aquatic resources in any way they can. For more information, contact 1-800- 447-3700 or visit the company’s web site at www.costadelmar.com. Join the conversation on Facebook at www.facebook.com/costasunglasses, on Instagram @CostaSunglasses, or on Twitter @CostaSunglasses.
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Costa Offers Eyecare Professionals New Ways to Join its #KickPlastic Movement
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – July 10, 2017 – Humans dump the equivalent of a garbage truck of plastic into the ocean every minute, and one in four fish tested have plastic in them. Being “Born on the Water” and recognizing this growing plastic pollution problem threatening our oceans, Costa launched a #KickPlastic campaign in 2015 to help reduce the amount of plastic it uses as a company and to mobilize a movement that encourages others to do the same. This summer, Costa has expanded its #KickPlastic campaign to include more ways for eyecare professionals to join the movement and connect with patients who love the water and care about protecting the ocean.
Authorized Costa Optical dealers can now contact their Costa representative for more information about hosting a #KickPlastic Trunk Show, which would include promotional materials that can be shared with patients such as tote bags, water bottles and flyers.
Additionally, eyecare professionals and consumers can join the fight to #KickPlastic by following and using the hashtag #KickPlastic on social media to spread the word and create positive change. Eyecare professionals can also encourage patients to #KickPlastic by:
Using a reusable water bottle
Saying YES to reusable grocery bags
Skipping the plastic straw and utensils
Participating in their local beach or river cleanup
Authorized Costa Optical dealers can also remind patients that all of Costa’s plastic or nylon sunglasses and optical frames use a bio-based, eco-friendly resin derived from castor oil.
“Kick Plastic is an initiative everyone at Costa has heart for and we are really looking forward to helping more people embrace the movement in their everyday lives,” said Todd Barker, Coastal Community Manager, Costa. “Whether it be reducing the amount of plastic we use in our daily operations to helping others discuss small ways that they can make a big impact, it’s been amazing to grow this program and know that we are helping the ocean we love.”
For additional questions, including how to schedule a #KickPlastic trunk show, contact a Costa sales representative at 1-800- 447-3700.
About Costa™
As the leading manufacturer of the world’s clearest polarized performance sunglasses, Costa offers superior sunglass lens technology and unparalleled frame fit and durability. Still handcrafted today in Florida, Costa has created the highest quality, best performing sunglasses and prescription sunglasses (Rx) for outdoor water enthusiasts since 1983. Born on the water, Costa works hard to protect the oceans it calls home. Through programs like its Kick Plastic campaign, where the brand seeks to raise awareness about the growing plastic pollution problem threatening oceans worldwide, to serving as a long-term partner to shark research organizations like OCEARCH, Costa encourages people to help protect the Earth’s aquatic resources in any way they can. For more information, contact 1-800- 447-3700 or visit the company’s web site at www.costadelmar.com. Join the conversation on Facebook at www.facebook.com/costasunglasses, on Instagram @CostaSunglasses, or on Twitter @CostaSunglasses.