We Asked ECPs What They Anticipate Being Their Biggest Challenge in Q4

Tariffs, staffing, inflation …. and just getting people in the door were a common refrain.

Published

3 months ago

October 28, 2025

INVISION Staff Invision October 2025 Issue

Economic downturn on a national/global level. Lots of warning signs are moving from “orange” to “red.” I’m being offered discounts from frame manufacturers that beat what we got when opening a brand new location, deals I have never seen in 15 years. By the time I’m approached with that type of offer, unsolicited, the writing is on the wall: the bigwigs think things are headed south. Hold on tight, folks! — Jen H., Sandpoint, ID
Staffing! We lost two employees at the same time, and it is so hard finding applicants. It’s hard to focus on sales goals when many days there just aren’t enough staff to make those sales. — Amber S., Chester, VA
Tariffs, disgruntled staff and patients, weather. — BJ C., McQueeney, TX
Due to inflation and no increases in payer fees, I feel like Q4 will be tough. — Beth P., Slidell, LA
Shifting my focus and rewiring how I can help and support current and new clients. — Karen M., Wyoming, MN
Getting people in the door. With tariffs and economic insecurity, people are forgoing annual eyecare visits. We need more people in the chair and in the dispensary. — Whitney H., Missoula, MT
Consolidating our more than 20-year-old practice to our second, newer location while opening a brand-new aesthetics practice. — Candace I., Ortonville, MI
Flex spending and having enough product for the end of the year. — Danielle D., Detroit, MI
Tariffs. Economic slowdown. — Jordan F., Baltimore, MD
Selling eyewear in this crazy economy with all the tariffs being implemented. — Tina G., Minneapolis, MN
Personnel/HR continues to be a great challenge. — Scott M., Christiansburg, VA
Economy, tariffs, immigration policy. — Bob H., New York City and Burlington, MA
The biggest business challenge during the fourth quarter is surviving the end-of-year madness as customers race to use their vision benefits. — Deb J., Bismarck, ND
Continue to bring in new patients. — Will T., Wesley Chapel, FL
Sales. — Sandy S., Cudahy, WI
I believe the biggest business challenge is going to be trying to navigate these new tariffs and price hikes with the low reimbursements from insurance companies. — Tammy W., Luzerne, PA
Keeping the workflow steady with part-time employees returning to college. — Terri B., Alva, OK
Trying to anticipate the changing climate as well as construction in front of our practice. Trying to innovate. We have made some changes, and we’ll see if they pay off in Q4. — Susan E., Austin, TX
Tariffs! — Deborah T., Austin, TX
People are spending less due to the economy. I believe this will still ring true in Q4. — Eryn S., Ortonville, MI
Keeping up with a short staff. — Elena J., Nashua, NH

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Related Topics:Buzz Session Featured Inflation people sales tariffs

INVISION Staff

Since launching in 2014, INVISION has won 35 international journalism awards for its publication and website, including the prestigious Neal Award for Best Single Issue in 2019. Contact INVISION's editors at [email protected].