Favorite frame lines

[DrNeyecare]

I'm looking to restock my frame boards.

I have found my favorite frames for women's. Really easy. At each price range and each purpose, ie SV, BF, Prog, Sun.

However, men's frames are alittle harder. Just wanted to get your input on what your favorite frame lines are for the categories below. This will help me significantly save time from seeing frame reps.

12-18 year old male students
18-35 year old male students/young professionals
40+ year old men fashion (wholesale $XX+) progressives (like Carerra)
40+ year old men fashion (wholesale $XX+) SV/BIF (like BCBG)
40+ year old men sturdy strong "practical" frames for men wholesale ($XX-XX) (like Sferoflex)

[Mr_Mitchell]

I don't think we can or should post wholesale prices here.
I do think you're looking at it backwards, though. Forget wholesale and everything else--first figure out what your male customers want, then fill that need.
I might live near Harvard or Yale and I'd say students want 200+ dollar retail frames. Or I might live near Compton Community College and give you a totally different answer.
Also, fashion and progressive-friendly are not mutually exclusive. With 14mm seg lenses like the wonderful Compact Ultra, there's no reason a frame can't fulfill both requirements.
As a generality, though, I'll try to be helpful and say that men in general buy materials--titanium being number one. I can sell titanium all day to any man over 30. Flex is easy, too.

[Joann Raytar]

We do well with Cottet Oga and Lightec.
http://www.morel-cottet.com/content.html

[MarcE]

We do well with Cottet Oga and Lightec.
http://www.morel-cottet.com/content.html

Ditto
We have done well with Oga and Lightec, even though I didn't thnks they would take in rural Kansas. I have two myself.

[Ory]

I third Oga. Basically a men's version of Koali...stylish without being too over the top.

[DrNeyecare]

We do well with Cottet Oga and Lightec.
http://www.morel-cottet.com/content.html

I just checked out their website. There's only 3-4 frames for each collection. Is that all there is???

[Snitgirl]

Hi Doc... One really important thing to remember is that you need to also consider what your Opticians want to sell. They need to be enthusiastic over the product otherwise it will just sit and collect dust.

The person selling the eyewear is the one who will make or break the product line that you bring in.

[Joann Raytar]

I just checked out their website. There's only 3-4 frames for each collection. Is that all there is???

No, there are more.

[Fezz]

Hi Doc... One really important thing to remember is that you need to also consider what your Opticians want to sell. They need to be enthusiastic over the product otherwise it will just sit and collect dust.

The person selling the eyewear is the one who will make or break the product line that you bring in.

This is soooooooooooo true! I try to drive this home to my partner who works with me 2 or 3 days a week. I am constantly telling her when we are frame buying that if you like it...you will sell it. It has proved true 100% of the time. I just emphasis that you must LIKE it. It will gather dust otherwise.


:cheers::cheers::cheers::cheers::cheers::cheers::cheers::che ers:

[drk]

Cottet has some cool chit! A must-see.

Tura (YEA, TURA) is a hidden gem in the industry.

Flexon 600/800 series will sell all day and all night, and will rub your sore neck.

[chip anderson]

Snitgirl is correct. I sold 500 or so of the Charmant 8300 series. However the patients loved them so much they won't part with them. I have some out 15 years old, some I have welded back together repeatedly, some I have made new parts for them. And still the patients won't have anything else. This is not ecconomics they would buy new ones at almost any price if they were still made. Too bad Charmant doesn't care.

Chip

[drk]

Doesn't the finish come off many Charmant frames? Thx.

[chip anderson]

Haven't paid much attention but I think Charmant finishes are first rate. Of course it do come off when I welds them back together and the patients still love them.

Chip

[Snitgirl]

Hi Doc...:)

Out of the frame lines that you currently have, which ones bring in referrals?

I'm looking to restock my frame boards.

I have found my favorite frames for women's. Really easy. At each price range and each purpose, ie SV, BF, Prog, Sun.

However, men's frames are alittle harder. Just wanted to get your input on what your favorite frame lines are for the categories below. This will help me significantly save time from seeing frame reps.

12-18 year old male students
18-35 year old male students/young professionals
40+ year old men fashion (wholesale $XX+) progressives (like Carerra)
40+ year old men fashion (wholesale $XX+) SV/BIF (like BCBG)
40+ year old men sturdy strong "practical" frames for men wholesale ($XX-XX) (like Sferoflex)

[Mr_Mitchell]

Out of the frame lines that you currently have, which ones bring in referrals?

Let me guess...the ones his customers like?
This feels like the Twilight Zone sometimes, do you not understand that what sells or "brings referrals" is giving the customer what they want? What the customer wants depends on who your customers are!
Jesus, I feel bad sometimes for making more money than more qualified opticians, then I see stuff like this and I realize why this is.
Here's a hint--you don't need to worry about referrals if you're selling 600-dollar pairs of glasses. Let the doctor worry about referrals, they're making the same off every customer.
"Referral" is a medical word, it's what doctors worry about. "Money" is my word, it's what people selling worry about.
I understand asking what sells for different people, but the original poster already had in mind how much he/she would pay wholesale apparently with no thought for what the customer wanted.
Snitgirl, I don't expect my customers to advertise for me. They do, but I don't expect that. Empty their wallets. Make that money. Give every customer the best pair of glasses they ever had. If they come back, great--if not, they'll head to America's Best.
What frames or even lenses to sell is about who's buying, period. Make as much as you can regardless or stay someone's employee forever.

[Johns]

Hi Doc...:)

Out of the frame lines that you currently have, which ones bring in referrals?

Snitgirl,

Great question.

One of our best referal lines is Nike, for the (perceived) durability that pts. love to tell their friends about.

The others are any off the wall design that they don't have to talk about, but everyone will ask them where they got it.

[Snitgirl]

At the moment I don't have time to post a reply to this except to your 600 dollar comment.. Dude, 600???? Thats chump change...

P.S. Its obvious to me that you've only been around 1/2 the block in the optical field when it comes to sales... Please, post when you've done many, many miles...Oh wait, I am in Canada.. kilometers...lol...

LOl, don't get me started...:p your post is hilarious!!! thanks for the chuckle..

Let me guess...the ones his customers like?
This feels like the Twilight Zone sometimes, do you not understand that what sells or "brings referrals" is giving the customer what they want? What the customer wants depends on who your customers are!
Jesus, I feel bad sometimes for making more money than more qualified opticians, then I see stuff like this and I realize why this is.
Here's a hint--you don't need to worry about referrals if you're selling 600-dollar pairs of glasses. Let the doctor worry about referrals, they're making the same off every customer.
"Referral" is a medical word, it's what doctors worry about. "Money" is my word, it's what people selling worry about.
I understand asking what sells for different people, but the original poster already had in mind how much he/she would pay wholesale apparently with no thought for what the customer wanted.
Snitgirl, I don't expect my customers to advertise for me. They do, but I don't expect that. Empty their wallets. Make that money. Give every customer the best pair of glasses they ever had. If they come back, great--if not, they'll head to America's Best.
What frames or even lenses to sell is about who's buying, period. Make as much as you can regardless or stay someone's employee forever.

[Johns]

At the moment I don't have time to post a reply to this except to your 600 dollar comment.. Dude, 600???? Thats chump change...

Oh honey...he must have been talking about the frames only !

[Snitgirl]

Double post

[Snitgirl]

Oh honey...he must have been talking about the frames only !

Phew...Ok, good.

Johns,

Was there a poll somewhere or a thread showing what qualified Opticians are making vs non qualified? Did I miss something?

[DrNeyecare]

Hi Doc...:)

Out of the frame lines that you currently have, which ones bring in referrals?

Hi Snitgirl,
For women, my best seller is the BCBG line of frames. For Men, they love the Carerra Flexolites. I would love to get some Nike's, but the Marchon reps are total jerks in my area, so I won't support their stuff.
I don't have a frame that brings in "referrals." I wish I did.

Just to clarify for the other participants of this discussion, I am asking this question as a way to figure out what frame reps I should see and what frames I should pay special attention to. The wholesale price tag of a frame is not what this topic is about. We all have different price ranges for our frames--low, medium, high. My intent with posting the ranges was to determine what frame lines I should consider for each price range to give my patients the best possible options. So Mr_Mitchell, you are in totally error for obviously misunderstanding my question. I am asking this question in hopes of finding an answer to provide my patients with the best options.

I am new to private optometry. I have only owned this office for 4 months. I hope to learn from everyone on this board. Almost everyone has been very helpful and wise.... of course, there are some rude people too...

[DrNeyecare]

Snitgirl, check out my avatar. :)

[Fezz]

I will add that there are plenty of "no-name" frame lines that may work in your area and become your favorites.

You also do not need to see sales reps. Many times you can find fantastic frame lines that do not have reps. That way, you may have the upper hand on your competition that sees the same reps (and same merchandise).

Good luck on your search. Just remember, what works in my metropolis may totally flop in your town.

[mike.elmes]

At the moment I don't have time to post a reply to this except to your 600 dollar comment.. Dude, 600???? Thats chump change...

P.S. Its obvious to me that you've only been around 1/2 the block in the optical field when it comes to sales... Please, post when you've done many, many miles...Oh wait, I am in Canada.. kilometers...lol...

LOl, don't get me started...:p your post is hilarious!!! thanks for the chuckle..

PLEASE....if you can't be civil in your responses, don't post. It angers me to see one so called professional, verbally abusive to another.This website does not need this type of aggression.

[Snitgirl]

Super cute Doc.. How old is your little one?

Snitgirl, check out my avatar. :)