Seimens Hearing Instruments partnered with the Bay to unveil its latest hearing aids at a fashion show and luncheon for 70 guests at the Spoke Club Friday. "It's great from the standpoint of fashion to pair them up," said Karen Tuinstra, director of marketing for Siemens. Tuinstra worked with Susan Willemsen of the Siren Group to create the concept for the event.
The company invited 70 guests, including media representatives and clients who were in town for a training workshop, to the afternoon event. "We work with audiologists and hearing practitioners across Canada. We provide seminars to them to improve their skills as business people," said Tuinstra, who reported that Siemens coordinated the media luncheon with a separate training session for clients on effective communication skills. About 25 people participated in the workshop, and took a break to attend the fashion show.
Tuinstra said the company decided to pair its "stylish hearing instruments with outfits" from the Bay in an effort to illustrate advances in technology and to showcase the company's fashion-oriented designs—many hearing instruments are available in a range of colours and patterns, including an animal print. "You can coordinate it with your outfit...you shouldn't be ashamed of a hearing aid, and if someone catches a glimpse of it, it looks amazing," she said.
Audiologist Dr. Tom Powers was also on hand to conduct demonstrations for small groups of guests in the Spoke Club's screening room. He demonstrated how Bluetooth-enabled hearing aids can be turned into stereo headsets and told guests that users can talk on their cell phones through their hearing aids. "Hearing aids are no longer like the big beige banana your grandparents wore," Tuinstra said.
