may I pick your brains?

[opticianbart]

So what do you savy optical peoples think of the mobile opticians out there who insted of having a shop, bring the shop to you? Do we have any such people here on our board? The idea intrigues me.

[Chris Ryser]

So what do you savy optical peoples think of the mobile opticians out there who insted of having a shop, bring the shop to you? Do we have any such people here on our board? The idea intrigues me.

When I was a kid, my father who has a well to do optical store in Switzerland also served most of the catholic convents, men or women North Eastern Switzerland, by going there with a sample case and adjusting tools, first by train then by bike up the mountains to the closed convents where nuns and monks were under strict regulation.

Frame choice was very limited and easy to do through the gated window in the visitors room. As these convents were all very rich they bought only the best. Each visit ended with 10 to 15 pairs ordered or more, which were then processed in the store and a week later we went on another trip to deliver them.

We also did all the cataract patients once a week when they had to lay still in the bed for 7 days and made and delivered the first RX while they were in the hospital.

There was maybe more a need for this type of service because those people could not move out of their locations.

[rbaker]

Had four of these on the road.

[Jacqui]

I thought one of the semi-regulars on OB was doing this.

[Chris Ryser]

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[Chris Ryser]

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[Chris Ryser]

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[Chris Ryser]

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[cocoisland58]

My boss (a pilot) keeps saying "We should get our Alaska liscenses and have a mobile operation to remote areas". I say "What do you mean "we".

Seriously, who among us hasn't wanted to either be our own boss or take to the road? I'd love to have a mobile op (not in Alaska for God sake) but will it fly, will it be profitable?

[Jacqui]

but will it fly, will it be profitable?

It will work in the right places. You just need to check the local situation.

What's wrong with Alaska?? I think that's a good idea. :D

:cheers:

[cocoisland58]

What's wrong with Alaska?? I think that's a good idea.

Flying around in a little plane with my boss who say's he never lands to pee? Yikes. I'll need a raise.;)

[For-Life]

I think it is possible, depending on the market.

I believe the regular customer would not be willing. But I think that people in Long Term Homes, retirement communities, hospitals, jails and so forth would be interested. I would think that market research would be needed, to see how many people and where are interested. I also think it makes more sense in a larger market.

[Jacqui]

You would also probably get into a lot of repairs and refits.

[hcjilson]

Had four of these on the road.

Dick, what happened to them. Are they still in use? I noticed one looked like it was for industrial saftey work. Did they all do that or were some for dress eyewear?

[obxeyeguy]

It will work in the right places. You just need to check the local situation.

What's wrong with Alaska?? I think that's a good idea. :D

:cheers:

Someone already has Alaska covered. They have advertised here for Opticians to work in very adverse conditions, and I'm way to old for the cold. Something about having to arrive by snowmobile is a little un-settling to me at this point.:hammer: Let the young 'uns do it.

[Johns]

I have known 3 people that have tried it, and one in a big way. The longest to stay w/it was 2 years. I don't know why it didn't work, but the market that folks mention here: "Long Term Homes, retirement communities, hospitals, jails and so forth" seem to be the folks that don't usually have a lot of excess funds...

[rbaker]

Dick, what happened to them. Are they still in use? I noticed one looked like it was for industrial saftey work. Did they all do that or were some for dress eyewear?

They were all used for industrial safety accounts in the Northeast. We refrained from offering dress eyewear so as not to antagonize the local eye care providers. Each vision van was on the road five days a week and a typical week yielded 80 to 100 pair per van. As you know the profit margin for safety eyewear is pretty low but it was a value added service to accounts which also purchased other safety products.

The business and the vans were sold to Aearo in Southbridge when I retired and I believe one may still be on the road in Massachusetts.

[CME4SPECS]

Check your state laws, some (CA) require you to have a brick and mortar.

[Johns]

Check your state laws, some (CA) require you to have a brick and mortar.

...excepting the internet?

[For-Life]

I have known 3 people that have tried it, and one in a big way. The longest to stay w/it was 2 years. I don't know why it didn't work, but the market that folks mention here: "Long Term Homes, retirement communities, hospitals, jails and so forth" seem to be the folks that don't usually have a lot of excess funds...

yeah, I cannot see this as a designer market at all. People who want designer frames and top end lenses tend to want to shop for them. Or so I would think.

[Johns]

yeah, I cannot see this as a designer market at all. People who want designer frames and top end lenses tend to want to shop for them. Or so I would think.

It's a lot like the low vision market. Are there people that are immobile and would appreciate someone coming to them? Sure. Are there many that would be willing to pay much for it? Not likely.

[LENNY]

I think with the rents in our part of the woods we will ALL be driving those things! And just stoping on different corners to sell!
I can imagine the setup for 30 min service!
FreeForm Generator+an edger+Gucci frames from China = Easy retirement!:idea:

[harry a saake]

I did this for 2 years, for a company, now defunct in birmingham, Alabama, called safety supplies and medical south.

I had the whole southeast, virginia to florida and out to mississippi.

If you like long hours, truck stops, traffic and be gone for weeks at a time, maybe this is for you. We did only industrial plants, which meant you had to be there when the shift changes occured. some of these plants had as many as 5 changes. A shift might be 10 people only, and only one wanting any kind of service.

You will also have to put up with the local opticians and optometrists, who will and can be real buttholes about this situation, as they look at it like your stealing thier business.

You also must be prepared to work sometimes in a fast paced enviorment, i have sold as many as 180 pair of safety glasses in one day at a large plant. You then must be prepared to go back and dispense these glasses and hope there are no problems or you will be going back again on your dime.

In retrospect i would not do this again, but for a local who could keep it local perhaps. Also keep in mind the big guys like AO will commonly come in an undersell you.

[ALASKA]

Someone already has Alaska covered. They have advertised here for Opticians to work in very adverse conditions, and I'm way to old for the cold. Something about having to arrive by snowmobile is a little un-settling to me at this point.:hammer: Let the young 'uns do it.

A boat based shop might work here in Alaska too. We do not have a lot of roads.

There are some serious perks to living in Alaska.



It is absolutely beautiful here. You should see Fairbanks in the winter even without the aurora. If anyone is interested in becoming licensed as a dispensing optician in Alaska please see: http://www.commerce.state.ak.us/occ/pdop.htm

[Framebender]

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:cheers: