combined experience

[Dave Nelson]

One of our sales reps asked what the combined experience we had. Our office has 3 opticians, including myself, with combined experience in the optical of 84 years. (ouch) When we're not hunting for our dentures, we do a pretty good job. Anyone want to do the count and see your total? Bet not many get as high as our count. (except Chip, who can match the total by himself.)

[HarryChiling]

Actually in our office we got you beat by a year (85). I have been in the field for 9 years, we have 3 ladies with 20 years a piece, and our store manager has 16 years. That's not including our doctor. We average out to 17 years a piece.

[RGC_man]

There were 5 technicians in our last lab, probably 90 years combined experience, with over 50 in the same company until they made us redundant. No bitterness, but it was nice to hear about the problems being encountered by our replacements; a Nidek robot and new staff with a few weeks "accelerated training". Who needs skills and experience when you can have push-button-glazers?

[cocoisland58]

Hmmm. Our lab optician the old curmudgeon grew up in the business so 55 years for him. Our senior OD practicing for 40 years, me slinging eyewear for 29 years. Our second OD comes in at 15 years, part-time dispensor at 18 years and our new little protege at 3 years. It's amazing we all work so well together too.

[CME4SPECS]

I got my dispensing training from 3 old geezers with more than 140 years between them.

[Cindy K]

One of our sales reps asked what the combined experience we had. Our office has 3 opticians, including myself, with combined experience in the optical of 84 years. (ouch) When we're not hunting for our dentures, we do a pretty good job. Anyone want to do the count and see your total? Bet not many get as high as our count. (except Chip, who can match the total by himself.)

Thanx Dave I'm starting to feel real old now. However, I take small comfort in the fact that you will always be older than me with an extra decade of optical experience. Ha!

Unfortunately this question won't provide comparable results. Maybe a better question would be what is the highest combined years of service between three staff members. An office with five or six staff with fewer years of experience each than we have will accrue a greater number.

[chip anderson]

Of course, experience only counts if you learn from it.

Chip:cheers:

[CME4SPECS]

Of course, experience only counts if you learn from it.

Chip:cheers:

Those Guild boys wouldn't have kept anyone around long if one didn't learn. I was fortunate enough to spend 13 years with them.

[hcjilson]

If Chip and I worked in the same shop, we'd have you all beat! I've got 48 since my apprenticeship began, not counting the 5 years I ran errands for my father. Chip, is the one who learned more from his experience but thats because he comes from a more temperate climate and I was too busy trying hard to keep warm!:D

[Dave Nelson]

So Harry, you mean thats not you in your avatar?:drop:

[hcjilson]

Unfortunately we're separated by 64 years! I considered using a photo of me but I didn't want to break the avator mechanism, so I used my granddaughter's picture instead!

[Golfnorth]

One of our sales reps asked what the combined experience we had. Our office has 3 opticians, including myself, with combined experience in the optical of 84 years. (ouch) When we're not hunting for our dentures, we do a pretty good job. Anyone want to do the count and see your total? Bet not many get as high as our count. (except Chip, who can match the total by himself.)

At my store we have 57 years experience between my optician and myself. We can usually solve any problem that a customer can throw at us.

Regards,
Golfnorth

[rep]

A measurement of how long one has been in business? That's a nice feel good, look at us type of measurement, but can you take that to the bank? You can't even get a loan based on "combined experience'

I would be willing to bet that the higher the combined number is the lower the individual sales are AND the less they know about womens fashion, designer brands, plano sunglasses and premium products.

What is really important is annual sales per employee. In the end it is the only thing that really matters.

Top employees today have 400, 500 and 600 thousand in individual sales.

If they were not qualified and didn't have satisfied customers they would not have repeat sales and without repeat sales you cannot achieve these sales numbers.

These sales numbers were all from an independent multiple store high end operation and the kicker is that the 400 was someone new to the industry without license or certification.

Rep

[HarryChiling]

What is really important is annual sales per employee. In the end it is the only thing that really matters.

Top employees today have 400, 500 and 600 thousand in individual sales.

If they were not qualified and didn't have satisfied customers they would not have repeat sales and without repeat sales you cannot achieve these sales numbers.

These sales numbers were all from an independent multiple store high end operation and the kicker is that the 400 was someone new to the industry without license or certification.

Rep

You can't take that to the bank eighther. What is the cost of goods on these figures? Where I work now the average sale per pair was higher and they were making almost nothing. With a little change in product offerings the average price per pair may be lower, but we sell more multiple pairs and more of the money goes to the bank and not to the "reps".

[hcjilson]

While I would agree that all business's are sales driven, I would take issue with the statement making sales the ONLY thing that is important. Experience gives you staying power, and that is what keeps a business going and growing. In rep's example, the new employee, with a paltry 400k in sales, is the low man on the totem....as he should be with little or no experience.If his lack of experience or what I like to refer to as "problem solving" ability costs the company in terms of lost sales, he is not only taking money away from the top performers, he is costing the company a lot in lost sales. Experience is has much more weight than Rep is willing to give it.

[HarryChiling]

Experience is has much more weight than Rep is willing to give it.

In my shop experience has cost a bunch of reps business, most the reps tend to stay away from me, because their companies are making frames for example that are half the quality for twice the price, passing off name brand as quality.

[EyeFitWell]

LOL, considering I am the only employee, and I'm still just a lowly apprentice, my number would be laughable (3:o ). I do miss working with the older and wiser opticians out there, though many of our customers say that we do a great job!

[Bill West]

.......the next extinct species of the optical business.

[Fezz]

.......the next extinct species of the optical business.

Hey Bill;

Is that before or after you?

:D :cheers: :D :cheers: :D

[Cindy K]

I would be willing to bet that the higher the combined number is the lower the individual sales are AND the less they know about womens fashion, designer brands, plano sunglasses and premium products.



What is really important is annual sales per employee. In the end it is the only thing that really matters.

Rep

Absolutely not, for all points you've listed. Experience as an optician is what provides knowledge in all these areas, out of necessity. Our clients tell us that they return to us, and provide direct referrals, BECAUSE we are all highly experienced opticians. Out of experience we know what works in our area, which designer brands are names backed up by quality product rather than just buying into a name, which plano sunglass lines provide quality, function and style, and lastly which premium products are indeed premium quality not just premium price. Without the years behind us we may not have the experience to discern these factors and be independant thinkers rather than be held captive by what the suppliers tell us.

Interesting, you neglected to list awareness of men's fashion.

Curious to know, Rep, have you ever been an optician? Also curious to know, are you a Luxottica rep?

[Bill West]

For the last 47 years I have seen many reps come and go and as well as many optical shops. Reps days are numbered. Independent Opticians will rebound as people get tired of the "chain run around". I have always said that you have to be dumber than a brick to not make it in retail optical. When I cut out reps 20 years ago I found that I had more free time and was able to find better deals by calling around. I have some really fantastic people selling to me. The deals are wow.
Stick around and see if this comes true in about 3-5 years.
I would quit but the pay is too good.
:cheers: Bill

Hey Bill;

Is that before or after you?

:D :cheers: :D :cheers: :D

[DragonLensmanWV]

Hmmm, let's see, we have three dispensers, me, two lab techs. That adds up to 114 years combined.

[Aarlan]

Go by the average per employee, not total...If you go by the aggregate, then Luxottica must have hundreds of thousands of hours of experience. :D

AA

[mlm]

We have 1 optician (25), 1 dispenser (27), 4 assistants (10, 8, 5, <1) and 3 OD's (13, 13, 4). So a combined experience of 75 years for staff, or 105 years altogether.

Cindy's right though. It's not comparable across the board because having more staff bulks up the numbers. And averaging out the years would ignore the big disparity between our optician and our junior assistant.

Still, it's a fun little exercise.:cheers:

[Dave Nelson]

I actually meant to compare averages, but since there is no prize involved, Its been interesting just to compare the number of staff and the time spent in the industry. It also bolsters my theory that the ones with the most time in the industry are the most eligable to be picked up by nice men in white coats and admitted to a home for the "confused."


mlm, whats the difference between an optician and a dispenser?