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Thread: optical lab ownership

  1. #1
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    optical lab ownership

    has anyone ever heard of an surface lab owned by several non-chain offices the 3 o's if so how succesful has it been and if it failed why?

  2. #2
    Underemployed Genius Jacqui's Avatar
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    Yes, in your area. POOR management.

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    Master OptiBoarder LENNY's Avatar
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    It does not have to fail!

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    Underemployed Genius Jacqui's Avatar
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    I agree, Lenny. Bur in this case management was hired that knew nothing about the business and pushed it in too many directions at once. Made lots of enemies in the industry too.

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    Master OptiBoarder ziggy's Avatar
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    I put a lab together(and ran it ) for a loose federation of OD's about 9 years ago, still running strong. It paid for it's self and the staff but was designed not to make a profit. the doc's just wanted to save money and have a better turn-around time. We done 75-100 jobs per day between 10 or 12 offices.
    Paul:cheers:

  6. #6
    Underemployed Genius Jacqui's Avatar
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    Ziggy, that is what I'm trying to do here but funding is rather slow.

    Slaboff, check out Siouxland Optical in , I believe, Sheldon Iowa.

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    ziggy, did the doctors all agree on one brand of progressive or do they stock all types, also with freeform technology coming do you think that labs like this will disapear in the future... do you think also that a large number of ods like over 100 could make something like this work?

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    Master OptiBoarder ziggy's Avatar
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    Slab, Most of the OD's took my sugestions on the progresive(at the time it was a natural) so we stocked them, but had accounts with other vendors to take care of any other needs. As for free form,, I dont think it will be an issue for at least 15 years, 3-axis generators have been out for 10+ years and there are still alot of folks 108ct's. The more OD's/MD's you have the more your expenses will go up(lab guys, utilities etc) this will affect the price that you have to charge the founding members. Be sure to invest in a back-side coating so you can do polycarb, great profit in poly!! Good luck keep us updated
    Jac, the origanal od's that we serviced paid for the equipment helped things get started much faster.
    Paul:cheers:

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    Bad address email on file kjw1231's Avatar
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    Can be done...

    I know of a lab that started out as one specifically for 3 MD offices. They started asking locally about surfacing/finishing for others..grew quite a bit in 7 years of operation.

    They have found it tough to go outside of their immediate area though.

    Might work if you could get a group of OD's together and see if you can reduce their costs. Good luck getting competitiors to speak.

  10. #10
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    I think it would be a grand thing for 100 s of docs and opticians to get a lab together, i really think it could be done... and why not?

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