WE ASKED READERS to name the little-known toolbox timesavers they reach for time and again. Christine Howard of Eyes on Plainville in Plainville, MA, likes to use thin plastic shipping straps for restrings on semi-rimless frames, which work better than ribbons the company sends. Dr. Dierdre Fogle of Eyetopia Eyecare in Littleton, CO, has had success with Starloop, a software program that drives positive Google reviews by sending email or text invitations to patients to leave a review. For every good review they receive, Starloop plants a tree in Madagascar, Nepal or Ethiopia. The tools run the gamut of practical household items from Q-tips to creative marketing strategies many of you can’t live without.
Hootsuite
Hootsuite manages social media content all in one place. You put in a topic and a “mood” and it will help you create captions for posts.
hootsuite.com
Unilever
Q-tips and alcohol can remove markings from lenses and keep alcohol away from the frame.
unilever.com | (800) 298-5018
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Staples
The push pin, for too many reasons to name.
staples.com
The Gorilla Glue Company
Gorilla Glue with its water activated polyurethane formula can bond to virtually anything and help with repairs.
gorillatough.com
Hilco
Tap’n’Lok Screws for nose pad screws and hinge/eyewire screws.
(800) 955-6544 | hilcovision.com
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Starloop
Pay a monthly subscription fee to get reviews and help reforest the Earth.
starloop.com
Maui Jim
Display that illustrates vision through polarized lenses.
(888) 666-5905 | mauijim.com
Smart Ways to Use Toolbox Timesavers
David GreeningAstorino & Associates Eye Center, Newport Beach, CA
My go-to lifesavers are push pins. I use them on rimless frames to remove stubborn rimless plugs. There have been times where I haven’t been able to find the right tools for mounting/dismantling rimless frames. After clipping the rimless bushings down to the right size, I use a push pin to open and widen the aperture. This makes it so much easier to mount the rimless pieces back together. Push pins are also helpful in removing polycarbonate swarf. I edge lenses here in my store. When I edge a polycarbonate lens for a grooved rimless frame I am usually left with some swarf which fills the groove. A push pin is the perfect size to fit in the groove and help remove the swarf. Lastly, they’re great for removing obnoxious screws. Every now and then, I need a second tool to help push out a screw from the back and push pins are a handy dandy savior.
Susan Kantor
Central Phoenix Eyecare, Phoenix, AZ
We used to do our own payroll and since one of the doctors was a business major before OD school he would work out all the taxes. When benefits time rolled around, insurance companies came in to sit with our employees. We kept track of everyone’s PTO/sick time on a piece of paper, along with when they got to work and when they left. We didn’t have time for all this paperwork, so we hired a payroll company, CBR, and it has been a huge timesaver. Now we use a web clock – staff clock in, clock out, request time off – and it’s all recorded by CBR. They handle payroll by direct deposit and look after staff onboarding. They also manage our health insurance and 401(k). I’ve downloaded their app on each of my devices so I can check each employee’s hours before payroll day. It’s been a game changer for us.
