Optiboard's Re-Birth

[Quig]

Anyone deal with Randolph Engineering? I LOVE their product and wear it myself. Love to have something "Made in the USA" and sell it as such. Customers who like that style love the product but, damn, the company sucks. Errors on orders are the norm rather than the exception and they just canned their entire sales force...

[Hailey Benson]

I am not a fan of RayBan myself, our patients however, are and they sell like hotcakes around here.

We are particularly fond of Westgroupe and Global Optique.

Global Optique's Paolo Belle and Contessa lines are huge sellers in our area, price point is amazing, rep is amazing, and we are very pleased with the quality.

[grudyfan13]

It started when they re-located their warehouse.... just too many problems. Last year or so it's been back-orders and delays and recently they canned two of my favorite sales reps..

While I can't speak for your rep situation, I can second the frustration on back-orders for Safilo Elasta frames. Models that were always in stock suddenly taking 2-3 months to become available again, and when the ETA date hits for availability again...it's another 2-3 months. While a bit on the outlier side, I did have one frame I ordered for a patient back in March of 2019 at my old place of business (it was a Safilo Elasta model that's been around forever) and as of August (the last time I kept in contact with the optician there) the frame still hadn't arrived. But yeah, other than the back-orders, they make a good product.

Speaking of Kate Spade, our rep for the line just ghosted our entire city. Our old rep was amazing but he left to become a district manager for a competing company about 2-3 years ago. While I don't live in a metropolitan area, the city I'm in is only ~90 miles outside of Seattle (where most reps live) with a population of about 90k that's pretty heavily saturated with optical shops, but every optician I've spoken to in the area that had Kate Spade told me a similar story to what I'd experienced: the new rep made no attempt to visit any shop in our city, wouldn't return voicemails, emails, etc.; he/she/it/they just had no interest in maintaining accounts because reasons? Like most accounts in the city, I just sold through what Kate Spade frames I had and most patients thought we discontinued the line because of the designer's passing, even though that had nothing to do with it.

In regards to the other lines, Charmant has been a solid seller for us, even if I get bored just looking at the frames we have (but we have to have SOME frames that are...what's a good euphemism for 'boring'...classic?).

ClearVision is actually my clinic's best selling brand. BCBG, Steve Madden and Aspire all do really well here. The only concern I have is regarding the Aspire frames with nylon frame fronts - I've had a couple come in where the pattern in the frame front seems to wear off in just over a year. It hasn't happened enough to totally can the line, but I'm on alert for seeing how many of those come back with similar stories.

Silhouette is one of our best-selling collections as well, though we're limited on the frames we carry. We only have space for four different chassis, though we do have some space on our boards for the SPX full rim, SPX illusion, etc. Haven't had any issues with Silhouette at all.

Tura is solid, and I have to agree that TITANFLEX is one of our better men's lines. In the ~7 months I've been at this clinic, I don't think I've had to warranty a single one.

I brought in Modo a few months ago and it's off to a really good start. The frames are well-made, we have a fantastic rep and their selection is pretty varied.

Our OGI rep ghosted the clinic about two years ago (from what I was told by my predecessor), so my grade to them is an official incomplete.

Europa is one of my favorite brands. Though the Scott Harris line has both men's and women's frames, I love that Scott Harris has so many petite (47-50 eye), PAL-friendly women's designs. Our rep is fantastic, and they offer a good yearly buy-back. Micheal Ryen is a collection that's good for men with superior cranial capacity.

We don't have an account with Lux, and so many of my patients come in referencing the "60 Minutes" piece that aired a few years ago that I think our patients would prefer NOT to have them. Not to mention that the buy-in minimum for Ray-Ban is now 50 pieces.

Aspex has a pretty varied selction across their lines. The company just hired a new rep, so I'll see things how things go.

We also keep New York Eye's Enhance and Jubilee lines for budget frames. Patients like them, and they come out with new frames every few months.

And for something completely different, I did come across a line called Faniel Eywear at VEW. They're based out of Quebec, and the only word I can use to describe them is fabulous. Definitely not for the faint of heart, but I'm wearing one of their frames and they certainly draw a fair amount of attention.

[drk]

Just saw a Safilo rep.

She carries Polaroid, which is OK I guess for inexpensive plano polarized, but I'm a Dr's office and I Rx everything so... They are branching into ophthalmic at a cheap level, but you can do better for the money.
I have carried Adensco forever, and it's just pretty boring but whatever. It's probably overpriced by 20% for what you get, again.

The real gem, I think, is the Chesterfield XL. Yeah, the brand reminds you of lung cancer. Yeah, they charge premium. But it's really good styling for 56-60 eyesizes; no need to compromise if you have a mega gourd.

I have a piece or six of Tommy Hilfiger, and it's under-developed, IMHO. They could put a little more effort into it and make it a youngster winner, I think.

[AngeHamm]

She carries Polaroid, which is OK I guess for inexpensive plano polarized, but I'm a Dr's office and I Rx everything so... They are branching into ophthalmic at a cheap level, but you can do better for the money.

RX those Polaroid suns! We do! Even if you throw the polarized plano lenses away they're still an amazing bang-for-the-buck sunglass line. And the Polaroid ophthalmics are selling much better for us than I expected them to.

[CCGREEN]

Be careful of anything in XL. Very easy to get to many of them on the board regardless of who makes them. There are a few EXTRA LARGE cantaloupes out there but not that many. When I come across them I find the person wants something that feels substantial in their big beefy hands like Safilo, Marcolin, Marchon.
Now where I struggle finding anything for is a EXTRA LARGE cantaloupe on a lady. Sophia Lauren is the only thing that comes to mind for me. Now lets make it really tough. Extra large frame for a lady with a square face......ughhhhh, or maybe a large Asian or black person with a large head and not bridge for glasses to sit on.

[Robert_S]

RX those Polaroid suns! We do! Even if you throw the polarized plano lenses away they're still an amazing bang-for-the-buck sunglass line. And the Polaroid ophthalmics are selling much better for us than I expected them to.

Same

[Lori]

I love this thread. Not sure why I guess because I'm a self-professed frame guru. It's exciting.


Ray-ban's quality is sub-par but naive or sheep-people still want it, so I carry it and (mentally) roll my eyes when someone buys one. Whatever, it's a sell.


Safilo- What a mess. In my area, they keep changing the reps, and I have no idea who's selling what. I still love Kate Spade, and so do our patients. Easy to sell, fun styles, and decent quality even with the 'made in China' imprint. Safilo Made in Italy is a high-quality product without the designer tag. Jimmy Choo, Fendi, okay- but maybe played out. Dior is stale, but Safilo lost the license anyway.


Charmant sells excellent pure titanium frames, but my sales rep is loud, obnoxious, and calls me, 'girl' in every sentence she speaks. I can't tolerate her anymore, so I dropped Elle, and order the titanium's online in limited quantities.


Marchon - the beast tied to VSP, and they want to dominate my optical shop. I refuse to acquiesce. Just brought in Marni, though. It's a niche, but I think the frames are unique, and my area should support it.


Xavier Garcia frames for urban kool-kats. I love the new stuff and an independent line, which is the direction I'm heading.


Tom Davies- British handmade frames that can be customized for size and color. Pricey but nice menswear.


L' may Canali beautiful men's line for the conservative professional.


Let's talk about Tom Ford. I've got a love-hate relationship with it. I blow them out but am frustrated by their internet presence and low ball pricing online. Maddening.


My Silhouette rep, Gayle, is top-notch. Knowledgeable former optician and I love Silhouette products; however, I wish I could bring in styles without buying a kit. Ugh! I agree the SPX is incredible.


Tura- I use to sell a lot of the core product and the Elegance- then my rep moved, and it just hasn't been the same since. I don't think the quality is as good as it uses to be anyway.


I sell Lafont and do well with it. Unique frames made in France and still owned and operated by the Lafont family.

Baumvision Tom's (they are a nightmare to deal with- lousy customer service and horrible website) but the hippie-dippie surf crowd loves them.


I love working with family-owned US companies. Currently, I sell Erkers, NW77, Kasperek Optical, Randolph suns, and even though some are made in china my patients like it when I tell them the frames company is family-owned and US-based.

[finefocus]

Charmant sells excellent pure titanium frames, but my sales rep is loud, obnoxious, and calls me, 'girl' in every sentence she speaks. I can't tolerate her anymore, so I dropped Elle, and order the titanium's online in limited quantities

Our shop is attached to an old medical practice, and we have to do service stuff that retail-based businesses don't, to wit: I just ordered a half-pair of temples from Charmant and they have them !!
They will ship them !! So many vendors these days just won't do parts, so kudos to Charmant.

[AngeHamm]

Now where I struggle finding anything for is a EXTRA LARGE cantaloupe on a lady. Sophia Lauren is the only thing that comes to mind for me. Now lets make it really tough. Extra large frame for a lady with a square face......ughhhhh, or maybe a large Asian or black person with a large head and not bridge for glasses to sit on.

ClearVision "Global Fit" frames in multiple lines. L'Amy has them as well.

[ak47]

Could not agree more with Lori regarding RB, Mrchon, Charmant, and Safio. Perplexed how people still rave about Pro desgn.....quality has dropped like a rock in past couple of years.

[drk]

I have yet to notice re: PDD (I mean, Design Group).

I'm going to re-evaluate Charmant as a potential vendor.

Just got a notice from Silhouette:

"[G]reatly expanding our portfolio of full rim". About time!

"[W]e will increase our product prices February 1st..." I'm shocked!

[CME4SPECS]

I have yet to notice re: PDD (I mean, Design Group).

I'm going to re-evaluate Charmant as a potential vendor.

Just got a notice from Silhouette:

"[G]reatly expanding our portfolio of full rim". About time!

"[W]e will increase our product prices February 1st..." I'm shocked!

You won't be disappointed, good quality and a great warranty to back them up.

[Lori]

You won't be disappointed, good quality and a great warranty to back them up.

Charmant offers a great warranty, I think it's 2 years, is that right?

[Lori]

Just got a notice from Silhouette:

"[G]reatly expanding our portfolio of full rim". About time!

"[W]e will increase our product prices February 1st..." I'm shocked!

I just ordered the SPX Silhouettes and they are modern, light, and superb quality. Pricey, yes. Everything of quality in this day and age is, though.