(Eggs-actly what you might need) It really seems that when you look around at different optical laboratories, they end up looking a lot like supermarkets - especially when you get to larger labs. Usually the problem with them is that they all tend to have similar products, carry most of the name brands, and there generally isn’t a whole lot that sets them apart from each … [Read more...]
MIB – Macrochosm In Business
Small Lab It’s in the small towns that you can really get that feel of what it means to be America. Not “American”, but the feel of the country itself. Each little town is decidedly unique, but they all have these tiny little threads of commonality that run through them. It ties everything together, and gives it form across the great expanse that is the country. When … [Read more...]
What is OPT?
The Philosophy of OPT I’ve contemplated what the point of OPT Magazine is more than once. It’s struck me that this is mostly a magazine about nothing, but I don’t know that we have enough Seinfeld for that to be completely true. Many of the things that we discuss are topics that can range from “that’s common sense” to “what the hell did I just read?”, and not … [Read more...]
Lens Designs
How Do You Find The One? When we, as eyecare professionals, want to fight the big machine, we first need to understand the world that we’re in. We aren’t in a world of level playing fields, where everything is just ‘perfect’ and fair. No. We’re in the harsh world where reality is what is created by everyone following the mold of Big Optical, and everyone falling into place … [Read more...]
FEA Industries – A True Independent
In general, labs can be strange. Traditionally, they’re sort of like supermarkets. They stock the shelves with brand name products, and you can go in and pick what you want. If you start asking for a recommendation, however, can you really know there’s no ‘influence’ behind their suggestion? The real question is - how independent is an independent? I mean, if you go into a … [Read more...]
Papers, Please
I saw one thing pop up in a discussion a little while ago regarding ‘certificates of authenticity’ for various optical products. Some could be for frames, lenses, coatings, photochromics, or whatever else. These things seem somewhat innocuous, but have you ever stopped to think what their real purpose is? Let’s run through a hypothetical scenario, and see who these certificates … [Read more...]
Philly Eyeworks
As many of you have seen, online sales are becoming more and more popular. I don’t need to tell you that. However, some of the online retailers are also doing a little bit more in terms of ‘direction competition’ against smaller, local optical shops. One such case happened in Philadelphia with Philly EyeWorks and Warby Parker (WP). You may have read about this, as it was in … [Read more...]
Survival Guide: Lenses
Let’s assume that you agree that you want to ditch the “Big Optical” lens brands and give something else a try. There’s a lot of things to consider since, at the end of the day, you don’t want to cause yourself more headaches than you solve. Your primary goal is to keep your business running smoothly, which means you need to be careful when it comes to switching … [Read more...]
Surviving the Opti-Pocalypse
War. War Never Changes. Seemingly stuck in an unending battle. People that were once friends have changed sides, and are now working for the ‘other side’. Brother against brother, with the larger side having an inescapable grasp around the throat of the opposition. You’re the opposition, by the way. At least, we hope you are. With all of the mergers going on, there’s a … [Read more...]
The E Files
“Backorder? What do you mean, ‘backorder’?”, Molder shouted into the phone, somewhat exasperated, “Fine, just switch it to that. I need this in my hands tomorrow.” He hung up the phone, missing the days when he could at least get the satisfaction of slamming down the receiver. “Problem?” Skulli asked, as she finished piling up job trays.“ “That was our lab. They said that … [Read more...]