Buzz Session

If Your Business was Dependent on Just One Brand, What Would It Be?

You can only pick one.

Published

6 years ago

May 30, 2018

INVISION Staff Invision June 2018 Issue Online Extra

Minima: 4 bridge sizes, 2 endpiece lengths, temples to 160mm, 15 colors, unlimited lens sizes and shapes and the heaviest frame in the line weighs 7 grams. What more can you ask for? – Dave Goodrich, Goodrich Optical, Lansing, MI
Silhouette… but a re-envisioned Silhouette with more creative temples, materials, colors, edge effects. It is super comfortable and the most reliable rimless frame on the market. – Viki Christopoulos, MD Eyepolis, Pittsburgh, PA
Barton Perreira. Their styles, colors, and overall feel is probably one of the most comfortable collections available. – Rita Ellent, OD, The Gardens Eye Care, Forest Hills, NY
L.A. Eyeworks! – Stacey Nutting, The Eye Doctors at CNY Eye Care, East Syracuse, NY
Match Eyewear. An excellent variety for many age groups and price points. – Mickey Bradley, Patrick Optical, Fort Worth, TX
Hands down, STATE. We love the brand’s story, and the fact that they’re made in America is a huge selling point. – Katie Gillenwalters, Clifton Park Eye Care Associates, Clifton Park, NY
Kirk and Kirk. I have had a man crush on this line forever. – Jim Williams, Eye to Eye, Mexico, MO
Altair on consignment; sell it, pay for it and they manage board frames with realignment. – Dr. Jill Sweig, OD, Oyster Bay Optics, Oyster Bay, NY
Tom Ford, sassy, classy and a little bit nasty. That was a little out there; how about: if it’s good enough for James Bond, it’s good enough for us! – Mark Perry, OD, Vision Health Institute, Orlando, FL
ECO. Lightweight and comfortable, and comes at the perfect price point. There’s a great story behind the brand and a tree is planted for each frame sold. What’s not to love? – Larah Alami, OD, Hudson River Eye Care, Tarrytown, NY
Etnia Barcelona because it is a private brand, super cute, different from what everyone else is wearing and a top seller for us. – Nytarsha Thomas, OD, Visionelle Eyecare, Zionsville, IN
Eyes of Faith because gives a lot of $$$/complete eyeglasses to missions. – Billy Isgett, Eyecare of Florence, Florence, SC
During a recent visit to Asia, the brand 999.9 struck me as having a unique story and great branding. Their marketing “The name of our brand, 999.9, originated from the quality indication of pure gold. The 999.9 engraved on an ingot of pure gold means supreme purity in quality.” I loved this idea and concept. – Keshav Bhat, OD, Austin Village Eyecare, Matthews, NC
It would have to be Safilo. Their brands cover from high end to affordable. – Kathy Maren, Comb EyeCare & Eyewear, Western Springs, IL
Our own. – Steve Nelson, Eye Candy Optical, Westlake, OH
MODO. I haven’t seen a frame I didn’t like from them. Their customer service is great as well. – Amina Ebrahim, OD, D Vision Eyecare, Allen, TX
Vari for comfort. – Kimberly Riggs OD, Ligonier, PA
SALT. It’s simple and stunning at same time. Colors are gorgeous. It’s well made. Decent price and you’ll want more than one. – Lisa Trippi, Eyesight Solutions, Mt. View, CA
Marchon, helped business grow and has lots of products. – Cedric Mitsui, OD, Big Island Vision Center, Hilo, HI
Anne et Valentin. No one wants to look like everyone else! The designs are so unique and they make everyone happy. – Leah Johnson, Central Texas Eye Center, San Marcos, TX
Prodesign. I think that it is the most versatile line I know of. – Theodore Sees, OD, Rockford Family Eyecare, Rockford, MI
Ray-Ban because they have something for kids, tweens, adults, and sunwear as well. – Chris Cordes, Fischer Laser Eye Center, Marshall, MN
Gucci, patient population demands it. – Steve Whitaker, Whitaker Eye Works, Wayne, PA
A line we don’t carry: Face á Face, because it is totally fun. – Betty Aretz, The Eyecare Boutique, Wexford, PA
Would prefer a brand that is unique to private practice and not soliciting patients online, but that has unique, comfortable options for everyone, like Classique or Morel. I also like Ziggy, but is a women’s line only. – Pam Peters, Midwest Eye, Downers Grove, IL
Safilo or Marcolin. They are deep with lines addressing all demos. – Robert H. McBeath, Edina Eye Physicians and Surgeons
Europa! They have a great selection of sizes and styles. – Doreen Erbe, Snyder Eye Group, Ship Bottom, NJ
Jones New York ladies and men. – Will Taylor, Eye 2 Eye Contact, Northville, MI
We love independent frame companies like Europa. As a company, it has a wide variety of styles, price points and good quality. I love the STATE line and so do our patients. Best of all they don’t sell their products online, the other distributers could take a note on that one. – Michael Martorana, OD, Falls City Eye Care, Louisville, KY
Maui Jim because of the quality. – Angel Miller, Cynthiana Vision Center, Cynthiana, KY
SALT Optics. Great quality; shapes and colors are trendy but well accepted. There’s a P3 in tortoise for every personality and an Aviator sunglass for every face! – Dave Schultz, OD, Urban Optics, San Luis Obispo, CA
I would build my retail business around my own private label collection because it’s been a goal of mine to develop one for many years. – Mitchell Kaufman, Marine Park Family Vision, Brooklyn, NY
CK, I love the Marchon brand, it is timeless but also trendy. – Amy Pelak, Proview Eyecare Optometry, Corona, CA
Silhouette, they are sturdy and we do not have many complaints about these frames holding up. – Sally Greeley, Poulin & Associates Eye Center, Waterville, ME
Europa, which is really a company, they have a full spectrum of styles which fit our clientele’s needs. – Jennifer Leuzzi, Mill Creek Optical, Dansville, NY
Altair has lots of diversity. – Richard Kemerling, Margolis Vision, Castle Rock, CO
Altair: frames are on my frame boards at no cost. Great guarantees on frames and extra. Bonuses as a Premiere Doctor with VSP. – Texas L. Smith, OD, Dr. Texas L. Smith & Associates, Citrus Heights, CA
Tom Ford. He is the epitome of style and has won so many awards for his brilliant fashion designs! I also love his marketing and how he is so apologetically Tom Ford. – Josh Bladh, Dr. Bladh OD, Diamond Bar, CA
Anything from Design Eyewear Group. Great products, great service, patients love Prodesign and WOOW. – Sarah Jerome, OD, Look+See Eye Care, Minneapolis, MN
Ray-Ban. Classic, all around great fit and style for everyone! – Brad J. Dobson, OD, Bee Cave Vision Center, Bee Cave, TX
Etnia Barcelona because they sell themselves, have a huge collection and consistent quality. – Nikki Griffin, EyeStyles Optical and Boutique, Oakdale, MN
Silhouette, quality. – Tabitha Fuller, Thomas Eye, Palmetto, GA
Silhouette; variety of shapes and people like not feeling them on face. – Brian Parker, OD, Temecula Eye Center, Temecula, CA
I love Silhouette. The brand has transformed itself to be relevant to a younger demographic and still manages to stay true to original design. The eyewear is well made and light weight. I think I would choose Silhouette because it is unique in a market where I see so much of the same thing. And I believe that the brand works for most every patient. – Michelle Wright, DePoe Eye Center, Sharpsburg, GA
MODO, the styles are amazing and they give a pair to a child in need for everyone sold. – Dawn Limauro, Lens Doctors, Dover, NH
Silhouette. They have it all: Style, quality, great reps and brand recognition. – Bethany Cassar, Complete Eye Health, Holland, MI
MODO, something for everyone, good rep, easy company to do business with, not easily found online – Jill Schnurer, OD, Village Eyecare, Clarkston, MI
I suppose Safilo since they have a wide selection. – Scott Keating, OD, Vision Trends, Dover, OH
This is so difficult because one brand that supports men, women, and kids is hard to find. If I’m being honest? Ray-Ban covers everyone, though not that exciting. FYSH and KLIIK would be the image I would prefer to put out there. Gorgeous color and unique styles without being over the top. – Cynthia Sayers, OD, EyeShop Optical Center, Lewis Center, OH
La Vida Eyewear. Designed for the diverse and bold. They are wider frames and not as deep to fit facial features for our mostly Hispanic and African American demographic. – Diana Sims, Buena Vista Optical, Chicago, IL

What’s the Brain Squad?

If you’re the owner or top manager of a U.S. eyecare business serving the public, you’re invited to join the INVISION Brain Squad. By taking one five-minute quiz a month, you can get a free t-shirt, be featured prominently in this magazine, and make your voice heard on key issues affecting eyecare professionals. Good deal, right? Sign up here.

Related Topics:Buzz Session Online Extra

INVISION Staff

Since launching in 2014, INVISION has won 23 international journalism awards for its publication and website. Contact INVISION's editors at editor@invisionmag.com.

click to Comment(Comment)

Up Next

You’d Be Donald Trump, Mother Theresa or Elvis Presley for a Day If You Could

Don't Miss

Abracadabra! What You Would Magically Make Kids Stop Doing in Your Business

The Best Overall Progressive Lens, Now Powered by AI

Engineered with Behavioral Artificial Intelligence and utilizing new XR-motion™ technology, Varilux XR series goes beyond prescription and eye physiology to consider the patient’s visual behavior and design a progressive lens that respects how
their eyes naturally move.

Varilux XR series comes in two versions, Varilux® XR design and Varilux® XR track. The Varilux XR track lens provides an additional level of personalization by incorporating the exclusive Near Vision Behavior Measurement, providing up to 25% more near vision width³ according to the patient’s need, so patients get the highest level of customization.

Discover Varilux XR series and enjoy instantly sharp vision in motion⁴ and seamless transitions from near to far.

For more information, visit here.