The growth in revenues, distribution, staffing and profitability has not occurred by accident. Both Factory Optical and Optiks International do a number of things very well;
- By buying as what really amounts to an aggressive 80 store chain, we are afforded wholesale discounts of a magnitude that are very rare in this Country;
- By owning and operating our own lens surfacing laboratories, not only is quality control better managed, but so is cost control.
The result, a company-wide cost structure that allows us to dispense 2 Designer products at a price at or below the identical one pair cost of others, under what we consider to be the most expansive everyday 2 for 1 offer in Western Canada. While appearing to be a very simple merchandising model, it has proven to be one that is exceptionally difficult to replicate in practice. We will dispense single pairs and do lenses only, at discounted prices to reflect our superior efficiencies but our real strength is in our everyday 2 for 1 – Rx glasses (frames and lenses, including Essilor Progressive lenses and digital lenses), contact lenses, Rx sunglasses, CSA safety glasses, reading glasses,… you name it. They’re free as a second pair. Not only will we give you about 800 Designer frames in every store from which to select your free pair, we’ll let you share it with friends or family. The prescription on the second pair need not be the same as the first pair.
If that's not enough, we have ramped everything up with the roll out of our "super-opticals" today in Calgary,Edmonton, and Victoria - each the equivalent of 6 or 8 stores under one roof!
We really are doing things differently, everyday. It starts with listening to what the public wants. They want variety – we give them about 1,000 different frames in every store (upwards of 6,000 in our "superstores'). They want quality – we give them Essilor lenses and Designer frames. They want quicker turnaround – we outfit our stores with finishing laboratories. They want after sale service – we don’t charge for repairs or nose pads and we extend our product warranties. They want employee continuity – we work hard at remembering names and we very rarely lose our people. They want simplicity – everything is clearly priced and all coatings and lens treatments are bundled into relevant and simple packages. We listen and even if it makes for more work, we comply. Feel free to call us with your thoughts and suggestions.