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Thread: Small Optical start up

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    Small Optical start up

    I want to start small Optical with my practice only about 130 frames to start out. What is most affordable way of doing it with out consignment. Please advise on frame brand and company I should look into. Thank you for your help!

  2. #2
    What's up? drk's Avatar
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    I would not go consignment. It's a quick-fix that doesn't get you anywhere, like financing something on a consumer credit card.

    You need to bite the bullet, choose ONE vendor that does soup-to-nuts (I'd look hard at SDEyes), avail yourself of the in-house phone rep, come up with a plan-o-gram, and purchase them outright.

    You'll be way farther ahead.

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    Thank you for advice I will contact them.

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    What's your target demographic? With 100 frames, there is no way you can offer an acceptable selection to everyone. If you want high rollers, you will need one or two high end lines. If you want kids with Medicaid, you will need one budget line. Unless you are the only game in town I doubt you will attract many customers with that limited of a selection.

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    Compulsive Truthteller OptiBoard Gold Supporter Uncle Fester's Avatar
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    Charmant. Listen to your rep's advice.

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    Master OptiBoarder OptiBoard Silver Supporter Jubilee's Avatar
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    My answer.. don't be afraid of overstocks. Can be bought at "value" line prices but with better quality.
    "Some believe in destiny, and some believe in fate. But I believe that happiness is something we create."-Something More by Sugarland

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    Master OptiBoarder AngeHamm's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Jubilee View Post
    My answer.. don't be afraid of overstocks. Can be bought at "value" line prices but with better quality.
    +1. Marchon overstocks from Nike, Nautica, Nine West, and Calvin Klein are our bread and butter. Clearvision also has a good closeout program, but you need to buy a minimum of 50 frames.
    I'm Andrew Hamm and I approve this message.

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    Thank you so much!

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    Compulsive Truthteller OptiBoard Gold Supporter Uncle Fester's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by AngeHamm View Post
    +1. Marchon overstocks from Nike, Nautica, Nine West, and Calvin Klein are our bread and butter. Clearvision also has a good closeout program, but you need to buy a minimum of 50 frames.
    This is a 2 edged sword for a start up as you will not be able to replace them easily when one inevitably breaks.

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    Master OptiBoarder AngeHamm's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Uncle Fester View Post
    This is a 2 edged sword for a start up as you will not be able to replace them easily when one inevitably breaks.
    As long as the patient understands that you can only replace it with another frame from the same collection, I've never had a problem. That is always a risk they're willing to take if it means getting a $380 frame for $150.
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    Thank you for advice!!

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    why didn't anyone suggest importing and private labelling a modest quantity? the margins will be higher

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    Quote Originally Posted by tf50fm View Post
    why didn't anyone suggest importing and private labelling a modest quantity? the margins will be higher
    Can you elaborate more on this? Do you have any sources to start this? Thanks

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    Master OptiBoarder OptiBoard Silver Supporter Jubilee's Avatar
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    Private label is a good option when you _know_ your market, and what will sell. Otherwise, there is some risk involved as you can't just exchange/return them. Depending upon the deal, it may be justified risk.

    The other concern with private label is, you can't have competing brands with the look otherwise people will gravitate towards the name brand recognition. Especially if they are at similar price points.
    "Some believe in destiny, and some believe in fate. But I believe that happiness is something we create."-Something More by Sugarland

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    I would agree with those recommending SD eyes or Charmant. SD eyes stays fairly inexpensive on cost and a decent variety of styles. Charmant will have a wider range of styles and higher end product available. I would try to start with just 1 manufacturer. As you get busier and need more inventory you can branch out. I deal with both of these manufacturers and they both have very low defective returns.

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    Master OptiBoarder AngeHamm's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by jasons View Post
    I would agree with those recommending SD eyes or Charmant. SD eyes stays fairly inexpensive on cost and a decent variety of styles. Charmant will have a wider range of styles and higher end product available. I would try to start with just 1 manufacturer. As you get busier and need more inventory you can branch out. I deal with both of these manufacturers and they both have very low defective returns.
    Charmant is actually a great option for a one-supplier office. A wide variety of price points and styles, and the fact that many of their core lines are unbranded means you can get folks in some really good materials without necessarily having the pricing premium of a brand name. Charmant Titanium, in particular, is a superlative line. Their discounts if you are part of a buying group are also very good.
    I'm Andrew Hamm and I approve this message.

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    I've used Charmant for years. They're a great company. You can usually purchase dc'd styles from your rep for $10 to $25.

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    Thank you so much for all your advice!! I am in touch with SD eye rep.

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    SD Eyes is great. Also try Hands of Time Eyewear. Decent quality Italian frames at a nice price.

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    OptiBoardaholic OptiBoard Bronze Supporter
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    Have you ever looked into pivotal buying group? They are a free, no-strings attached buying group, that offer discounts on Tura, I-deal Optics, Aspex and they also have vendors for stock lenses, contacts, and lab equipment. They have also recently released their own exclusive line of affordable frames.

    We purchase I-deal optics thru them to fill our budget friendly/insurance frames.

    We also use have sold SD Eyes for years.

  21. #21
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    Another line I'd recommend is New York Eye. They have a couple budget lines (namely, Enhance and Jubilee) that actually have a very good selection for men, women and kids styles. Even though they're a very low price point, they're not discontinued frames and defective replacements are usually received within 4-5 days. Our clinic carries a 70-space section of discount frames predominantly from those brands that patients seem to like.

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    Thank you all for awesome recommendation. Yes I have joined pivotal group and actually got frames from I-deal optics and I also plan to purchase from New York Eye. I have decided to hold of SD eyewear just because I am staying in budget zone. It is good to know I am making right decisions:) I did know about pivotal exclusive line. I will definitely look into that. Thank you so much!!

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    Quote Originally Posted by Fotis2019 View Post
    Thank you all for awesome recommendation. Yes I have joined pivotal group and actually got frames from I-deal optics and I also plan to purchase from New York Eye. I have decided to hold of SD eyewear just because I am staying in budget zone. It is good to know I am making right decisions:) I did know about pivotal exclusive line. I will definitely look into that. Thank you so much!!
    I had a lot of issues with I-Deals sun collection fwiw.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Uncle Fester View Post
    I had a lot of issues with I-Deals sun collection fwiw.
    What kind of issues?
    I dont purchase from their Sun collection because they have a terrible shipping policy that costs us $50+ in UPS shipping if we order more than one sun frame. We mainly use the casino line for budget and insurance patients, which they let us order multiples of and charge USPS 1st class rates.
    We were previously purchasing I-deal thru a local distributor who sort of had exclusive rights to distribute in Hawaii, the guys at pivotal were very helpful in helping us be able to purchase direct and cut our costs.

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    I have purchased their sunglasses and actually little bit of everything so please let me know what kind of issue you have?

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