Mar. 1-7
ASSOCIATIONS Recommend all staff, both opticians and paras, join the American Optometric Association, if they haven’t already. It’s easy to register, free to most if your doctor is a member, and comes with a bunch of benefits including free credits for certification renewal, access to programs and services, education and training. Next, sign them up for your state association.
STAFF It’s time for your twice-yearly employee reviews. Trainer Kate Peterson urges you to set up a professional development plan for each employee — and for yourself. “Ask what they feel they need to learn or even what they would just like to learn, then challenge them to come up with a plan to get it done,” she says. Give them a week to get it done and then work out the logistics.
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Mar. 8-14
TRADE SHOWS If you’re headed to Vision Expo East this year (starts Mar. 26), make networking your big goal, not just to solidify and build on existing relationships but to meet new people (from all sides of the industry). Scout new lines, attend lessons, but leave lots of “white time” for those serendipitous encounters that are the real catalysts of business success.
MARKETING Create a signup area on your website for visitors to provide their email addresses to receive promotions and store information via email.
Mar. 15-21
MARKETING Start plotting a trunk show for summer along with the accompanying social media and marketing promotions.
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BRANDING Add a line at the bottom of all store correspondence that says: “Shop and support local! By shopping locally, you save on emissions and help the local economy.”
MANAGEMENT Work on a “save the day” protocol for when things don’t go the way they’re supposed to and orders are delayed or a patient is double booked or whatever. A gift card that entitles the bearer to a free coffee or movie will smooth ruffled feathers.
Mar. 22-28
MANAGEMENT Bring a chair to your next store meeting and tell staff it represents the missing element from your conversations: the customer. Amazon supremo Jeff Bezos swears that the “presence” of a customer gives Amazon the confidence to innovate in a more responsive way.
RESEARCH Give each member of staff a different afternoon to shop your rivals. It’ll let you know what the competition is up to, and make your staff feel involved.