9. Emerging Vision
U.S. Optical Sales: $92M
U.S. Optical Units: 154
Trade Names: Sterling Vision, Site For Sore Eyes, Singer Specs

With 10 company-owned stores and 144 franchised locations in 23 states as of the end of 2006, Emerging Vision-parent of the 93-year-old Sterling Optical chain-retains its ninth-place spot on the VM Top 50 Optical Retailers list this year, with retail revenues in calendar 2006 of $92 million.

Emerging Vision got an overall revenue boost in August 2006 through its $2.4 million acquisition of the 909-member, Florida-based Combine Optical Management buying group; Combine generated one-third of its new owner's total revenues during the last five months of 2006. Emerging Vision also operates VisionCare of California, a state-licensed health-care maintenance organization there; in other states, the company uses its Insight Managed Vision Care operation, which offers managed-vision plans, to help funnel customers into its Sterling Optical stores.

Under chief executive officer Christopher Payan-who took over in June 2004-and his management team, Emerging Vision began modifying the product mix in its Sterling Optical stores during 2006, then launched a new advertising campaign to support the revamped product mix.

Top 50 Retailers Edge Closer to $7 Billion in Sales
An exclusive look at how the largest U.S. optical chains performed in 2006