College of Opticians of Ontario/ Huffingtonpost

[norman kane]

https://www.huffingtonpost.ca/marvin-ross/health-professional-supervision_b_4716750.html

[Chris Ryser]

This has been posted on the thread:

In 2010, Quebec's optometrist association took a B.C.-based retailer to court .......

last week and is up for discussion.

[idispense]

Have any Toronto opticians been in to visit the new Clearly Contacts store?

http://styledemocracy.com/shop-spotlight-clearly-contacts-new-toronto-store/

Do they fit and adjust glasses there ?

[Doug]

Have any Toronto opticians been in to visit the new Clearly Contacts store?

http://styledemocracy.com/shop-spotlight-clearly-contacts-new-toronto-store/

Do they fit and adjust glasses there ?

They fit, adjust and make lens recommendations. Also do eye exams on site. They also have two opticians on staff and an on site optometrist. What's your concern idispense?

[LandLord]

This is the dumbest thing Hardy has ever done to his brand.

The opening line of the article: "

Far from threaten traditional optician / optometry locations, this venture undermines the online model. At the very least, it will kill profits and/or raise Clearly Contacts prices because of the cash-guzzling brick and mortar overhead.

If you're a Clearly Contacts hater, you should only hope they open hundreds of these stores across the country.

[HindSight2020]

This is the dumbest thing Hardy has ever done to his brand.

The opening line of the article: "

Far from threaten traditional optician / optometry locations, this venture undermines the online model. At the very least, it will kill profits and/or raise Clearly Contacts prices because of the cash-guzzling brick and mortar overhead.

If you're a Clearly Contacts hater, you should only hope they open hundreds of these stores across the country.

+1 finally a post I can agree with.

[optimensch]

I guess they see WP opening retail locations and want to keep pace....

It seems the more money they lose by selling glasses online the better the stock price performs....So logically, opening up retail stores which will cause even greater losses should really get the stock price flying...

They may lose money on every transaction, but they make up for it in volume....

[idispense]

There are similarities to Colleges here:
both have high square foot costs
Neither makes a profit
Both are still here after 14 years of losing
membership/shareholders absorb their inefficiencies and losses
both owe their existence to the mercy of their membership/shareholders

[idispense]

There are differences between the two as well:
one has grown ; the other has stagnated
one is responsive to its stakeholders; the other isn't
one files financial statements on a 1/4 ly basis to keep its stakeholders informed; the other doesn't
one keeps the optical consumer engaged,informed and up to date ; the same consumers don't even know they have a mandated protector, let alone what they are being protected from
one provides solid touch & see value to the consumer; the other only claims to protect
one has a recognizable brand backed with advertising; the other has a mandate but no advertising & no recognition
one has satisfied user base; who knows about the other
one makes money for shareholders of the stock as it rises; the other is a yearly loss, no stock, no gain
one delivers their product according to schedule and on time, the other takes years
one has the prospect of higher future gains , the other may not have a future
one rewrites the book, the other is still stuck on the first edition
one selects its Board of Directors on skills; the other elects on whoever chooses to run

one has a satisfaction guarantee and money refund, the other has neither