Glasses.com, a Division of 1-800 CONTACTS, Inc., Creates New Senior Management Position - Vice President of Merchandising - and Appoints Long Time Industry Executive, Joel Sodano, to Fill the Role. Sodano is Responsible for Developing the Merchandise Strategies for the Online Eyeglass and Sunglass Web Site.

SALT LAKE CITY, Sept. 20, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- 1-800 CONTACTS, the world's largest contact lens store™, announces today that Joel Sodano, formerly an executive with Luxottica Retail, will fill a new senior management position as Vice President of Merchandising in its Glasses.com division.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110920/LA71063)

In making the announcement John Graham, General Manager of Glasses.com said, "Joel will be a tremendous asset to our team.  His knowledge of the eyeglass and sunglass industry is based upon 20+ years of optical merchandising experience. That, coupled with a desire to enter a new channel of business, makes him ideal for this position."  

As Vice President of Merchandising, Sodano will lead the company's efforts to develop new eyeglass and sunglass assortments while targeting consumers wanting to shop online for all of their optical needs.  

"Joel will be instrumental in taking Glasses.com from its launch phase to the world's most sophisticated online destination for eyewear," Graham said.

Prior to joining Glasses.com Joel spent 18 years at Luxottica Retail, most recently as the Senior Vice President of Product Development, Planning and Selection.

Background on Glasses.com.

Glasses.com is a division of 1-800 CONTACTS founded in early 2011. Working directly with brand name frame manufacturers and world-renowned lens manufacturer Carl Zeiss Vision, Glasses.com brings together the highest quality optical products with industry-best customer service. Glasses.com offers competitive pricing, 24/7 customer service, and satisfaction guaranteed for each order.

Background on 1-800 CONTACTS

1-800 CONTACTS, based in Draper, Utah, is the world's largest contact lens store.  The phone and web retailer stocks more than 20 million contact lenses and delivers over 150,000 every day directly to customers. 1-800 CONTACTS has delivered over 16 million orders to more than two million customers since the company was created in 1995.  As a result of its extensive inventory, the Company is able to ship approximately 95 percent of its orders within one business day of receipt and verification of prescriptions. High volume, cost-efficient operations enable 1-800 CONTACTS to offer products at competitive prices while delivering a high level of customer service.

1-800 CONTACTS has received the prestigious Alfred P. Sloan Award for Workplace Excellence and Flexibility in 2007 and 2008 and won Utah's Work/Life Awards: Utah's Best Place to Work award for six consecutive years between 2003-2009.  Additionally the company has been recognized as "Best of State" in the state of Utah for call centers in 2007 and 2009 and won the American Heart Association's 2008 Fit Friendly Companies award.

SOURCE 1-800 CONTACTS