Eye Society in Costa Mesa Earns Certified Locally Owned Status.

Online, June 19, 2013 (Newswire.com) - -----Eye Society has become the most recent business in Orange County to earn its certification as a Certified Locally Owned company. This optical store separates itself from the pack of typical eyewear retailers based on its independence and support of local eyewear brands. Eye Society prides itself on being a Luxottica-free shop. For those not in the eyewear business, Luxottica is the world's largest eyewear company located in Italy which dominates the manufacture, distribution and sales in the sun and prescription eyewear industry. Eye Society is not only a locally based business in Costa Mesa but they reflect a highly localized focus as half of the products they carry are from independent and handcrafted suppliers which is highly unique among most eyewear retailers.

Heidi Butzine, the founder of ShopLocal.us and Certified Locally Owned states: "Eye Society reminds us as consumers that we can choose to shop local rather than buying from major conglomerates, even when it comes to buying necessities like eye glasses."

Eye Society opened its original location at the LAB Anti-Mall in Costa Mesa in 2008 with another branch in Montecito, California. Store Manager Jeanne Le states: "The LAB (an acronym for Little American Business) is a completely different environment. We are not like a typical shopping mall. Our customers are different and very open minded. We love being a part of an alternative and independent movement."

"It's incredibly inspiring to find businesses that make local suppliers part of their mission in how they choose to operate their business which also helps support the local economy," states Butzine. "The LAB not only reflects a tradition of independent spirit but is a great way for people to shop local in Orange County."

About Heidi Butzine
Heidi Butzine is a best-selling author, entrepreneur, wine aficionado and shop local expert. Her most recent book, Shop Local: A Practical Pain-Free Guide to Shopping with Purpose, is the result of extensive, hands-on research and part of her personal mission to get more people to support local businesses everywhere and strengthen the communities where they work and live.

A successful business woman with a knack for finding business solutions, Heidi created a successful consulting agency that was coveted and purchased by a Fortune 500 company. She runs several of her own businesses and works with organizations based around her passion for writing and travel, her love of wine and her desire to help small businesses and entrepreneurs succeed. She is the founder of ShopLocal.us and Certified Locally Owned™ and creator of Wineopolis® Citizen's Guide wine travel book series.

About Certified Locally Owned
Certified Locally Owned makes it easier for people to find and shop at local businesses based on a proud distinction and certification of locally owned and independent businesses across the U.S.

The Certified Locally Owned™ program was created to help local shoppers easily recognize locally owned or independent businesses based on our certification. The certification carries marketing benefits including being featured and marketed on the top-ranked ShopLocal.us web site as well as a unique business QR code, which marketing experts can attest is an excellent way to measure effectiveness of business advertising.

For more information, contact: Mike Mena at 310-316-0612 or [email protected].

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