Online Optical: Bitter is not Better

After receiving a third request today for a pupillary distance measurement, I feel the need to get a few things off my chest. But first, the most important fact that opticians need to face is this: online sales of eyeglasses are NOT going away.
As a licensed optician, the choice is mine. I can either take the emotional approach that 75% of my peers take:
Never give out PD measurements, period. Educate on the evils of buying online:
Unwanted prism, child labor, cheap materials, permanent eye damage, loss of employment for yourself and even unpatriotic support of communist countries! After the tirade, a cheerful "have a nice day."
Or, I can take a more cerebral/business building approach:
Yes, I will take your measurements because I want you to see well. Taking measurements yourself by looking in a mirror is horribly inaccurate. I ask questions, "Where are you puchasing your glasses?" "What type of frame did you see on their site that you liked?" "What is the total cost of the glasses?" " What kind of lenses are included for that price?" and "Lets pull up the website and take a look."
Then I tell them I will give them their pd only if they let me price an equivilant frame and lens package. I write the price on my business card, along with their PD. I'll also invite them to return with the glasses so I can inspect them to make sure they were made correctly.
Believe it or not, I've converted 10% of these requests into real sales. In fact, I had two customers return with the Warby Parker frames they purchased online to buy lenses at more than twice price from me! Why? Simple: Show respect for your customers, don't lecture, be knowledgeable about the different online offerings/shortcomings and most importantly, demonstrate your extraordinary customer service and passion for eyewear. It works for me.

Village Optique Rocks! Casually, that Is......

This is my first post in a series about shops that I really love. When you work 40+ hours in a retail store like I do, the last thing you want to do on a day off is shop. Unless the shop is like Village Optique. More than cool eyewear - VO is the most comfy, chill, laid back place to try on some of the coolest eyewear in the Triangle. No stuffiness. No looking at you up and down to see if you're "worthy". A mix of exclusive eyewear and modern art. Plus, the best chairs & sofa in retail, period. The shop's owner, Marla, will greet you like she's known you for years.

But let's talk frames: They have the area's only collection of Theo Eyewear. These frames are like wearable works of modern jazz- flat, titanium frame fronts in vintage inspired shapes, but totally modern at the same time. Outrageous. Accessible. Contradictory. Cool.
Mad in Italy is a wicked new line they have and features some really great twists on vintage shapes- cork, burlap or carbon fiber covered temples mounted on edgy, colorful frame fronts.
Other hard to find brands include Zero Gravity, Etnia, Italee, Kala (made in USA!) and a full line of one of my faves, Anglo American. Timeless cool. They also have other upscale brands that I'm not personally into, but if you're looking for a David Yurman or Tom Ford this is the place to go.
Their prices aren't bad, either. Long Live Village Optique!

Dread Matte(y) Dread

I don't know how long this will last, but I've gone matte crazy. I've taken 3 of my frames and destroyed the shiny finish. I want it matte. No shine, no bling, nothing to hide behind. Just the raw colors and textures of 100% unnatural, unorganic acetate. I think by the time I post this I'll be out of this phase, as it takes hours to sand off that top coat. I'm still trying to find a way to add texture to the finish. Here's the 3:




The top picture shows a shiny black and clear inexpensive reproduction frame that I purchased for $30. I "matted" it and then using a combination of different dyeing techniques, got the clear portion a yellow-amber to give it more age. The next frame was another cheap repro that was completely clear. Same techniques used to give it a brown/amber color. The last is a brand new Ray Ban frame that, I think, looks much better with a matte finish.

One Mans Trash, Another Mans Lucky Day!

My latest score at my local Goodwill. A 1980's Brooks Brothers tan poplin suit, made in the USA.  Hardly worn. Cost  $12. Shirt, also Brooks Bros. $3, 1940's silk tie $1.39. Drivers cap Target $9. Ugly face $0. RayBan 5154's.  $79.  I''m selling the suit  because the jacket's too small. If you're interested, comment here.

My Frames Have the Blues.

Ok. I did it. I desecrated the holy grail of vintage safety eyeglass frames, the mid 60's AO translucent grey one. It's one of my favorite vintage frames, in fact it's the first one I purchased. But, I got bored with it. Not the frame, the color. As I continue to get grayer, the color of this frame sucked the life out of my face. Time for a re-style. I've been experimenting with different methods of tinting plastic frames for almost a year now, and I think I've cracked the code. Here it is in a deep navy blue, but still translucent. The color was chosen for it's ability to cover the faded grey of the old and I love blue. My next project is going to be a clear Tart Arnel repro I've ordered and I'm going to try to to get a rich honey color of a Oliver Peoples Riley frame that I used to have.
If anyone has a frame they'd like to experiment with, comment on this post and I'll respond.

They say everything old becomes new again, it's true!

Frame Designers Gettin' Catty, circa 1950's

The frame design department at the 1950's American Optical headquarters had a serious sense of style. By the look of the frames and coats they're wearing, I would guess late 1950's or very early 60's. Looks like they were on the verge of coming up with the next, great space-age cateye frame. Man, I love this stuff! Special thanks to Dick Whitney at the American Optical Heritage Museum. Check out their site http://www.opticalheritagemuseum.org, it's outstanding!

My Retirement Plan

Here it is, my retirement plan. No complicated 401k's for me. Pop art from 1968. My parents attended the 1968 Grammy Awards in NYC and brought this home from a gallery. This awesome piece found its home among olive green shag carpeting, royal blue velvet chairs and lots of gold leaf furniture. I figured by the time I turned 50, museums would be begging to buy this. Only problem with my plan: no artist signature, it's an unknown piece and to top it off, it's missing a glass eye. Oh well, it's still pretty cool.

I added the 1960's USS frames myself. Not a bad store display item!