60% of ECPs Think the Upcoming Presidential Election Will Affect Their Business, Regardless of Who Wins

question:

Do you or don’t you think the upcoming presidential election — be it the campaigning or outcome — will have a noticeable effect — either immediate or long-term — on your business?

Yes: 60%

• I anticipate the economy to turn around after a change in the current administration. We are checking our systems in place, focusing on training, and providing the best experience so we are primed for growth. — Tory Moore, OD, Dumas Vision Source, Dumas TX
• Keep strong with our patient education and we might drop our vision insurance participation. — Bethany Cassar, Complete Eye Health, Holland, MI
• Prices will go down, income will go up, and inflation will stop if Biden is no longer the president. — BJ Chambers, Carrera Optical, San Antonio, TX
• Any election year, people are glued to watching the news. Depending on the level of negativity that people buy into, I believe will affect consumer habits. — Ben Thayil, OD, Lifetime Vision and Eye Care, Miami, FL
• I think people start to think a little more about how they spend their money when they see that the economy may start to change. — Caitlin Neal, San Juan Eye Center, Montrose, CO
• Unfortunately, the color red is better for business. — Patti Richard, OD, Family Eye Care, North Andover, MA
• I honestly don’t feel able to answer this question right now. I do know that in IL the minimum wage amount going up has made it significantly more difficult to pay employees a fair wage for their position. Just because minimum wage is going up, doesn’t mean we’re making a ton more money to be able to pay people more as a small business. This is always a gradual thing over years of work…not an overnight change. — Morgan DiMaggio, Taylor Eye Care, Carmi, IL
• In my practice, patient spending decreases in the months leading up to an election. Immediately following the election, seemingly regardless of outcome, patient spending returns to normal. — Angie Patteson, OD, Sunset Eye Care, Johnson City, TN
• The results of the next election may affect the way people decide how to spend their money, so we are keeping our eyes open to see how people react to the political developments and react accordingly. — Pablo E. Mercado, Highland Eye Boutique, Atlanta GA
• People are already reacting, and the overall outcome is hard to project. Anyone who watches the news is bound to be nervous. — Cindy Henderson, Eyear Optical, Hixson, TN
• The effect I am anticipating is that Americans will have a renewed spirit of nationalism and patriotism for our great country. One where Americans will be secure in their jobs and continue supporting their local economy and independent eyecare professionals. I am prepared. I’ve been prepared. — Abe Zami, Viewtopia NYC, Brooklyn, NY
• In previous election years people change their spending habits, like it’s going to make a difference in the election. — Ron Catterson, Clear View Optix, The Villages, FL
• The economy will be even worse because of the unknown. I am looking at additional payment options and payment plans. — Lisa Smith, Precision Eye Care, Vancouver, WA
• I believe spending will be down. — Dorothy Reynolds, Eyes on Fairfield, Fairfield, CT
• Due to the candidates on both sides, what I see effecting my business is a further divide in the American people regardless of who is elected. There’s a trickle-down effect to all of us from what happens at the top. I’m encouraging those around me to not put our faith in someone we can’t control, but to focus on someone we can control: ourselves. Long term, the focus will be to intentionally make our business better regardless who’s president. — A Blake Hutto, OD, Family Vision Care, Alma, GA
• Yes, I do believe that the upcoming presidential election, both the lead-up campaigning and the outcome, can have an impact on our business indirectly, particularly concerning the laws and regulations that govern our profession as a small business. While the effects may not be immediately evident, it’s crucial for us as opticians to remain vigilant and aware of potential changes that could affect our industry. By staying informed and actively participating in advocacy efforts, we can help shape policies that support and strengthen our profession, ensuring its continued success and relevance in the ever-evolving healthcare landscape. — Heather Harrington, Optical Nomad, Denver, CO
• Patients will be uncertain about the economy and less likely to purchase new eyewear or even get exams. — Kimberly Riggs OD, Ligonier, PA
• Reluctance to spend money unless absolutely necessary. — Carolann Speranzo, Second Sight, Quincy, MA
• Absolutely, depending on who wins and where the economy goes afterward, our business will be affected. Sales may go up or down depending on the economic changes in 8-10 months. — Sydney Tramontano, Woolf Eye Lab, Pasadena, MD
• I think the closer to the election the more people will be apprehensive to spend until they know the outcome. — Ann-Marie Weaver, Optimal Eye Care, Lewis Center, OH
• I do think there will be a dip in the fall quarter sales. Depending on outcome, there may be a bigger dip based on how confident we are in our leader. Sales have been on downhill slide over the last few months. I think our country is a bit scared of what’s in our future. — Jennifer Leuzzi, Mill Creek Optical, Dansville, NY
• Short-term, I think people will spend less in almost a holding pattern type of thing. Obviously long-term, you have tax and regulation as well as other optometry legislation that will affect business ownership, personal taxes, and optometry. — Zachary Dirks, OD, St. Peter and Belle Plaine Eyecare Centers, Saint Peter, MN
• People are fed up with below the belt politics. Happy optimistic patients spend more. — Richard Frankel, OD, Atlantic Cape Eyecare, Wildwood, NJ
• There is always financial uncertainty surrounding presidential elections (especially right now with outrageous corporate greed), so I expect most businesses will see a small decline in sales temporarily. — Kelsey Bredice, A Proper View, Winston Salem, NC
• I’ve been in this business over 45 years and election years are unpredictable. In my experience though, people tend to be a little more conservative in their spending. — Robert Lootens, Physicians Optical Service, Jefferson City, MO

No: 40%

• Not much effect because historically we determine our own outcome for the most part. — Scott Mann, OD, INVISION, Christiansburg and Salem, VA
• It didn’t in the last election… I just have to tolerate all the t-shirts. — Tamara Walker, Lakeway Optical/Lakeway Eye Physicians, Austin, TX
• Our region already seems to be slowly slumping economically; election effects would be slow trickle-down of similar, at best. — Jen Heller, Pend Oreille Vision Care, Sandpoint, ID
• As a small business owner, it takes time for political changes to trickle down to us. I don’t think it will have a noticeable effect. — Cynthia Sayers, OD, EyeShop Optical Center, Lewis Center, OH
• Most presidential elections have little effect on the day-to-day operations of the practice. — Mark Perry, OD, Vision Health Institute, Orlando, FL
• I have heard from others that in the past it has seemed to effect purchasing. In the last election, I did notice at the end of October thru November it seemed to slow down… but I was working for someone else. Ask again in Jan 2025. — Jennifer Yerden, Sights and Shades, Canandaigua, NY
• My husband is concerned, but I’m not. I can’t worry about it; things happen, and we will pivot. — Kandi Moller, OD, Eye Candy Optical, Gig Harbor, WA