Does your Customer Service establish a good relationship? In its simplest form, Customer Relations is about gaining and retaining customers. But let's be honest, the last thing we really want is SIMPLE. This is especially true when we are talking about a partner lab, frame company, or vision service provider. As an Eye Care Professional, I have a daily working relationship … [Read more...]
It’s Just Too BIG!
Does size really matter? So, imagine you have someone perusing your sunwear frames and they seem to have found something that they like. One of the higher end, larger, high wrap frames. They’re pretty popular now, so it’s no surprise that they’ve picked it. You make your way over to see if you can help them with anything, and hopefully to close the sale. That’s when you get a … [Read more...]
Human Interaction
Technology is everywhere, and you aren’t going to be able to just ignore it. As you see it starting to impact your business, you take steps to account for it. Ideally, of course, you can see it coming and take the steps before your business is impacted, but that’s often like saying that if you had known what the lottery numbers were going to be beforehand that you’d have chosen … [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...]
Patient Loyalty
As I’ve mentioned before, my daughter has recently joined the ‘glasses club’, as she calls it. As we’re out and about, this can sometimes start conversations with other people. Usually, they’ll say that she looks cute in her glasses, and the conversation about eyewear moves on from there. As a side note - people never tell me that I look cute in my glasses - what’s with that? … [Read more...]
Give your Eye Care Practice
The Benefits of Social Media for your Eye Care Practice Technology & social media have transformed the way the eye care industry markets itself and the way practitioners are able to communicate with their patients and work colleagues alike. But, with so many available to choose from, which social media platforms are best for you? What are they good for and why should you … [Read more...]
See the Truth with Polarized Lenses
I’ve heard that, often times, people assume that winter isn’t a “good time” to sell sunwear. I can only assume that these people have never experienced what winter is like, as I find myself using sunwear more and more in the winter months than I do in summer. While summer is, of course, the ‘traditional’ sunwear season, it doesn’t mean that it’s the only place that you’re going … [Read more...]
Practical Social Media
Why Do I Need Social Media? There are two big mistakes medical practices make in regards to social media. The first one is that they believe they are not a ‘business’ and therefore do not need one. Or, they realize they are a business, but flat out just don’t believe they need one. It’s one in the same, really, but don’t be mistaken: practices are business, and you do need … [Read more...]
The Haunted Practice
How the Internet Brought Down a Private ECP An optometrist’s office sits empty in the Midwest despite the early afternoon hour. If one listens closely voices can be heard whispering though no one has entered. A stack of brochures scatters along the counter as if a breeze had passed through, though there are no open windows or doors. What was once a thriving business has … [Read more...]
Contact Lens Do’s and Don’ts
Contact Lenses... Opticians are generally professionally diligent when it comes to instructing patients on the proper cleaning and wearing schedule of contact lenses. Unfortunately, I believe much more of the information that patients need to safely and effectively wear contact lenses is withheld by opticians, who for whatever reason, assume the information is known or … [Read more...]