Looking to open new Optical Dispensary and/or Lab. Need some advice!

[novembeRain87]

Hey everyone,

I'm looking at starting my own dispensary and possibly my own lab as well. I have scoured the web to try and find start-up guides and such, but I haven't had any luck. Does anyone have any tips or know of anywhere that I can go to get some help? I have a lot of frame manufacturer information and have already been talking to a few reps, but I'm really hitting a wall when it comes to lenses and whether or not I should use an outside lab or start on myself. Any advice or help would be greatly appreciated by anyone.

Thanks.

[John@OWDC]

Email me through the board.

I have a complete lab inventory which might help you get an idea of what it takes and start anticipating costs.

I have done a bunch of store openings and an idependent start-up from empty building to successful practice.

[novembeRain87]

Thanks! I sent you the email.

[hook601]

Would depend on how busy you expect to be when you first open. If you are fighting against 1hour service, then a single vision lens stock and edging equipment. "Red Stick" is a pretty competitive market. Going the full lab route becomes a pretty expensive enterprise 80k-100k depending on what you want to do material wise.
A quality patternless edging system with touch screen technology is about $26,000.00 installed with training.
Would be happy to talk to you about your options. Let me know.

[Johns]

There's an optical closing down in our area that is selling the complete lane, including hand helds, auto keratometer, autorefractor, chair and stand,slit lamp, phoroptor, projector, charts, and even the desk and chair for $10k. (They said "everything in the doctor's office) I don't know if that's a good deal or not, but PM me and I can get you in contact with them.

[scriptfiller]

You may want to open near the college. This could turn into a boom for your business. I presume you have done your research and there is a market for another optical in your community. If you are planning on opening around the college, having a decent stock of FSV lenses is a must. Having an OD will also help in the Cl department. I would plan for a full service lab but initially start with an edger one that will drill and dye pot.

Welcome to Optiboard and have fun!

[Johns]

You may want to open near the college.

Or maybe not. I've worked near (practically on) two college campuses, and the kids will save their cash for beer, and wait until they get back home to have mom and dad spring for the contact and/or glasses. The profs will spend, and often do, but unless it's a huge university, with a large support staff, it can be a really tough go.

[scriptfiller]

Darby,

The "college" I referred to is,

Louisiana
State
University

The OP's profile indicates they live in Baton Rouge, home of the LSU Tigers. They are an SEC member university with a voluminous sports program and their academics aren't too bad either.

[Don Gilman]

We have lenses and equipment needed from pupilometers to lens surfacing. Visit our web site www.superoptical.com or call for more information 1-800-543-7376. We will also discount for combining orders.

[novembeRain87]

@Darby and @scriptfiller,

I've already been talking to a number of students and all of them would buy glasses from somewhere on/near campus if they could. Most of the kids down here live in or near BR as it is, so I wouldn't be losing much of a market share when kids went home. Two other things I've looked at to help business is to either work with the university health insurance for students and offering discounts to students that come in and bring their student ID. As far as worrying about having enough of a demographic, LSU is a school of almost 30,000 students and a faculty of over 5,000. I think I could bring in a few of them without much trouble. I am going to be competing with a few 1 hour places across town though, so having the ability to fill frames quick will be key.

[jeeperspeepers]

As a fellow entreprenurial minded optician in BR with 16 years optical experience and almost a decade of dedicated finishing lab experience, I might have some ideas for your venture. If you'd care to collaborate please just let me know how to get in touch with you.

[novembeRain87]

Thanks! I would really like some help or collaboration if you would like to as well. Send me a private message so that we can talk.

[Diopterman]

It is just a month now until the real November rains.

OP has not signed on since mid June. I wonder how things are going?

OP...are you out there? How is the start-up going?