When we have people with diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences, we will always have conflict. Healthy conflict over ideas and concepts can be a benefit to a thriving organization, helping the group reach the best ideas and conclusions.

Imagine, you just spent $1000 on a custom suit or your very first suit. You are excited to pick it up when you arrive, they aren't as excited as you are about your purchase. They bring it out from the back in a clear plastic crumpled garment bag.

Is your business model built on volume or quality? You would not expect to pay $2 for a latte at Starbucks or to pay $7 for a latte at Tims. Why not? Because they have done an excellent job staying true to their business model.

As a support to my clients, I am always looking for new, different, and creative ways to market their businesses. There are many ways to attract new patients / customers, and they don’t have to cost an excessive amount of money.

How can resolving customer complaints lead to loyalty? Research from People 1st International in 2023 reveals that 78% of customers are loyal to businesses that give them a good experience.

In my travels, I see many businesses that are struggling with team dynamics. The reality is, that this has more to do with the lack of direction or expectations of the team than the individuals themselves.

In the last couple of months, I have noticed inconsistencies in how ODs practice in the same clinic. This poses a concern for a few reasons: 1. Brand Integrity - The number one power of a brand is consistency; it is difficult to build your brand when the experience differs from OD to OD.

As staffing continues to be a challenge in 2024, we need to ensure that we continue to look at how we can do things better and differently. Recently, I have observed a trend in which potential employees really impress during an interview and get hired, only for the employer to find out after the fact that they had oversold their qualifications.

Choosing a frame causes a negative emotional response in most people. The more we can change this experience for patients, the better the outcome will be. Our group has been working with clients to move the frame selection to the beginning of the process before the patient is already overwhelmed - also known as pre-shopping with the patient.

If you’re looking for game-changing strategies as you enter this new year, I challenge you to improve your meeting game. You may feel that meetings are time wasters - but staff meetings are an essential part of any organization, as they provide a platform for communication, collaboration, feedback, and problem-solving.

To be successful in this eve changing optical business, we must always be looking ahead and planning. A well-designed budget can serve as a roadmap for your upcoming year and help minimize the stress of running your business.

As our year is quickly coming to a close, insurance benefits are a valuable resource for individuals seeking optometric care. However, many people often fail to utilize these benefits before they expire, resulting in missed opportunities for both patients and optometry businesses.

One thing we can always count on is change, as I am sure you are all experiencing with staff these days. It’s not a myth that 25% of workers switch jobs every year (The Work Institute). Knowing this truth, we must do some things differently than we did in the past.

A trend is a general development or change in a situation. When it comes to identifying trends in your business, there are several key points to consider.

Understanding your customers’ needs - and matching your products and services to those needs - builds sales and loyalty. Sell the problem you solve, not the product or service you sell. Patient loyalty is an essential component of success in optometry. When patients feel valued, heard and understand, they are more likely to return to your practice and recommend your service to others.

Retailing is defined as when a business sells a product or service to an individual consumer for his or her own use. I often hear “we are not a retailer” but, let’s agree, Optometry is in the retail business. Once the patient leaves the lane and are transitioned to the frame gallery, they become a customer. We need to run our business accordingly and think in terms of a retailer.

As back-to-school approaches, optical businesses need to plan now if they want to benefit from the additional traffic. This is a prime time for parents to get their children’s eyes checked, and they will be on the lookout for fashionable and durable eyewear.

Sunglasses are a huge opportunity and should be at least 20% of your sales. Are you making the most out of this opportunity?

It is our role to treat eye health, but also to educate. Most of the public really do not understand optometry’s scope.

Sustainability is defined as the ability to maintain or support a process over time. This could relate to preventing the depletion of natural resources to maintain an ecological balance, or it can relate to economics, such as a sustainable business model.