10. Emerging Vision
U.S. Optical Sales: $90.1M
U.S. Optical Units: 158
Trade Names: Sterling Optical, Sterling Vision, Site For Sore Eyes, Singer Specs

With 12 company-owned stores and 146 franchised locations generating $90.1 million in retail sales during calendar 2007, Emerging Vision - parent of the Sterling Optical chain - made a second major buying-group acquisition last year.

In August 2007, Emerging Vision acquired Canada's The Optical Group,  a 525-member Canadian group, for $3.6 million.  That acquisition came on the heels of Emerging Vision's $2.4 million acquisition of the 909-member Combine Optical Management buying group a year earlier.  A new marketing campaign launched early in 2007 to attract potential also generated new franchised Sterling Optical stores in New York, Maryland and California during the course of last year.

In addition, the company saw a reworking of its top management team with the exit of Myles Lewis, chief operating officer, who resigned in July; at that time, chief marketing officer Sam Herskowitz took on additional responsibility as president of Emerging Vision's franchise division.  Christopher Payan remains as CEO.