Given the way the optical market is now ...

**GOS_Queen** · 06-23-2005, 08:35 PM

... do you think it would be wise to open an optical ? A friend and I have been putting together a market analysis/business plan. The thing that holds me back is I am wondering if there is a place for an independent optician anymore.

Just wondering what you all think about it ...

TIA ~

Karen

**drillmountmaster** · 06-23-2005, 08:37 PM

Do you think it would be wise???.......That is the question.

Originally Posted by GOS_Queen

... do you think it would be wise to open an optical ? A friend and I have been putting together a market analysis/business plan. The thing that holds me back is I am wondering if there is a place for an independent optician anymore.

Just wondering what you all think about it ...

TIA ~

Karen

**For-Life** · 06-23-2005, 08:41 PM

There is a place for the independent.

The place for the independent is differentiation.

Meaning, be more educated, have better customer service, be competitvely priced (not a price leader), and have better products.

Also, figure out who your customer is and skew your plan towards them.

**Jedi** · 06-23-2005, 09:51 PM

Originally Posted by drillmountmaster

Do you think it would be wise???.......That is the question.

Dmm,
You bring up a really good question. No sense in opening a shop if your not totally committed to it.

Karen, to answer your second question, YES, there will always be room for independant opticians. Just make sure you enjoy doing it.

**Chris Ryser** · 06-24-2005, 01:36 AM

Originally Posted by GOS_Queen

... do you think it would be wise to open an optical ? A friend and I have been putting together a market analysis/business plan. The thing that holds me back is I am wondering if there is a place for an independent optician anymore.

There will always be a palce for independent opticians .................provided your mentioned market analysis and business plan makes sense.

Jare, If you gear that plan very carefully to counteract all the non independent corporate owned ideas and tactics, there is a good possibility to survuve as an independent. If I remember right you are now working for one of the chains. This is the best way of learning how and what not to do.

Independent means not only your not owned by one of the corporations it also means you can think indepently and act accordingly. That means you exist without any brainwash forced on you.

No business usually is an instant success, it always takes a few years of belt tightening. If you plan to survive the first hard period you will have learned to survice as an independent. All my life I always rather would live a little restricted for a while and be my own boss anstead of having to answer to one.

**Mikef** · 06-24-2005, 04:30 AM

YES!

If you follow the 4 P's of marketing!

Place-Product-Price-Promotion

Place or Location is by far the most important part. High volume area good parking.

Product- Carry products that people want

Price - Not high or Low but what that location can support

Promotion - You must

**PAkev** · 06-24-2005, 04:43 AM

3 years used to be a milestone in new business development. After which period you begin to recognize profitability. NOW...the industry standard is more like 5 years.

Therefore, if you can get through at least 5 years of life without the business supporting your personal economic demands it can be a rewarding opportunity. However, in reality folks have families to feed, mortgages to pay, car payments, health insurances, etc. which makes it difficult for most to take the plunge.

I started two optical businesses, one 13 years ago and one 5 years ago. Both are profitable today but I wouldn't have been able to start either if my wife wasn't working full time to meet most of our families financial needs.

:cheers:

**Dannyboy** · 06-24-2005, 05:01 AM

Location is crucial. Amount of traffic...large amounts of people... think..think... If your loction is great you will make it with or without a prescriber. Price as low as the location permits... do a great service.

Dannyboy:bbg:

**DPalmer** · 06-24-2005, 03:55 PM

Karen,
If you feel that the marketplace is viable where you are then by all means get out of LC and open your own place . I myself am getting out of there and opening my own wholesale lab. You will find out life on the outside of LC is a much different world and I can't wait to control my own destiny and not be controled by the constraints that LC has in it .If you do open I want to be the first to wish you GOOD LUCK and I hope you make it big!!

Dan

**harry a saake** · 06-24-2005, 08:18 PM

You also must remember the rule of the three P,s, never give credit to painters, plumbers and preachers

**slaboff** · 06-24-2005, 08:48 PM

I would not open a location now unless i had a 3000 patient base... and enough capital to survive for 3 years without making a penny... mho

**drk** · 06-25-2005, 04:55 AM

There's a super-sucessful super-high-end botique in the centrally located, trendiest part of our (15th largest in US) city. Only does the signature, unusual, you'll-never-see-it-anywhere-else frames. Mucho dinero. Markets to the whole city. That's differentiation. I think she brings in a doc a few days as a service. Amazing.

I have an "out-of-the-box" suggestion: anyone ever considered a business that develops and manages opticals within Dr.'s offices? Lot's of docs would consider "outsourcing" this function.

**Jacqui** · 06-25-2005, 04:59 AM

drk, I heard of someone, I think in San Francisco, who was trying to do that. Don't know how successful, I'll check.

**shanbaum** · 06-25-2005, 04:59 AM

Originally Posted by drk

I have an "out-of-the-box" suggestion: anyone ever considered a business that develops and manages opticals within Dr.'s offices? Lot's of docs would consider "outsourcing" this function.

Benson's did this a number of years ago, on their way out of business.

**shellrob** · 06-25-2005, 08:36 AM

DRK's right. There are a few "exclusive" boutiques in our our city. Although I don't know which one he's referring to(i'm trying to figure it out). They carry one of a kinds and the service is impeccable and because of that, their name and reputation spread like wildfire and brings people in from allover. It's fascinating to me and something I would love to myself.

**slaboff** · 06-25-2005, 09:27 AM

:D I would like to open an office owned by several doctors that send their patients my way and then make the profits on the people not sent by the docs.