I am an Australian Optometrist who started my own eyeglasses online business www.onlyspecs.com.au as I too believe that future of Optometry is evolving. In doing so I am sure I have upset much of my profession. If you believe in something I think you should go for it.
On Oct 20, 9:36 am, onlineIDoc <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > I'm thinking of doing this and I wonder ( marketing survey :) ) what > your reaction is . Any comments pro or con or other suggestions are > welcome and I have thick skin if needed. > > I have been an optometrist for some 35 years, the past 12 I subleased > a location(s) at a big box merchandiser . I have cut my hours down to > 3 days a week, I'm only 51 but have other interests etc. I plan on > working 3 days a week until the good lord says no more. Dont want to > bust my hump and then drop dead before full retirement, and that > sounds boring anyway. > > Although it is tolerated , my big box chain really aint thrilled about > this deal and I know I can be out on a dime, or return to our prior > deal. > > Anyway, better to leave before being kicked out, I am thinking of > opening a low overhead good exposure location to just provide optical > services and let the internet take it from there. I know I'm early, > but I pondered it when contacts starting popping on the net, > people had reservations at first but now thats where most are sold. > > I know its a consumer led recession here, but all the better cause > when folks get desperate to spend their monies, they are becoming > panicked. I "felt" the slowing in the aur since January, but ever > since that LEH news it's like people changed. More willing to try > alternatives, desperate??lets say controlled desperation. > > I have always given great value to my patients, open door policies, > flat cheap rates and big store volume was the answer. It still works > but even our eyeglass prices are a lot of money, too much. The model > may be failing, ie a retail store where folks pay high overhead and > pay commissions , the model dragged thru the past several decades as a > sort of deal was struck. > > Suppliers and to sell to everyone, and not piss anyone off, so they > approach small shops and big chains differently, the net result being > that markups are obnoxiously high,so the small guy can see 3-4 people > a day and make it. And the big boys paying much less to suppliers love > the markup so status quo, the consumer gets the shaft and "bails out > the system". > > But if internet eyeglass sales become a true competitor to B/M sales, > the model will break.Thats how contacts became a no profit item. > > So my idea, rent with the option to buy a properly zoned house, RE is > down here too, set up the office I described above. Idealy, sponsors > would sell consignment sets and keep them up do date, and let you work > off its cost in sales. Well, even without that, the patient will be > directed to this site, so they will not fall in bad hands. There are > some messed up online retailers, not on our list. > We'd give a thorough exam, put them on terminals or give them the > address to shop at home.If we had samples we could grid them so we can > just keeping exams going, give advise adjust the glasses etc.We could > charge maybe 20.00 over the exam price to cover the investment in IT > and maybe consignment. Product comees to your place or ours, and I can > leave one assistant there to set appointments, adjust frames, etc. > > This really amounts to a new model of business whose time might be > here. What do you think? How can I make it better, is it a bad idea? > > Boy I'm glad Ira filters the messages, I may just pissed off almost > every optician and optometrist in the world on the WWW. > > With best wishes for all those hurting from this recession, I stand to > help. Peace. > > Mike Katz optometrist --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ Check us out at the oft-updated http://www.glassyeyes.com! You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "GlassyEyes" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/glassyeyes?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
