Page 8 - Envision November-December 2020
P. 8
Cover Story facebook.com/OJobs
C ONSUMER NEEDS
Paul Boyko, optician and owner of Visions
of Canada in Windsor ON, had his best
summer on record, despite the fact that
a significant portion of his clientele was
absent. “My American customers, who
typically make up one-third of my
clientele, could not get across the border.
They love how we engineer their eyeglasses
and the care we give them. We miss them
but business is still up 15 per cent over
2019.”
ECPs can be important supports for clients BACK-TO-WORK IS
/ Paul Boyko / Boyko believes that the inability to travel struggling with new visual demands, says
internationally for pleasure, or to cross- Osborne. “And lens fogging has become
border shop in the U.S., along with the a big problem for eyeglass wearers who
temporary inability to spend money on are going out to work and need to wear UNDERWAY!
various forms of entertainment in the city, masks, so anti-fog lenses or solutions, and
left consumers with more money to spend frames and lenses that are designed for air
on eyewear. “There is certainly a demand circulation will be a big help for clients.”
“ offer were appreciated for high-quality product, with people anti-fog lenses and solutions. She is also Indeed, after several weeks of lockdown where many eye care professionals were forced
The service and value I
spending more and buying multiple pairs.” Randhawa notes that she is selling more
even more. I expected a Sue Randhawa, optician and owner of The selling eyewear to shoppers who purchase to suspend their activities, we now see that the reopening of optical clinics and offices
Optical Boutique in Vancouver, was caught glasses with plano lenses to help protect
big drop but because in a double bind when the shutdowns their eyes from the COVID-19 virus. is already underway.
of March 2020 happened. She learned Another area where sales have increased
we are in a niche market, that Vision Expo East in New York City is on task-specific computer lenses. With IN THIS CONTEXT, DO YOU NEED TO RECRUIT STAFF TO
had been cancelled due to the pandemic, more people working from home and
the situation has turned just days before she shut down her store. more meetings conducted through video STRENGTHEN YOUR TEAMS?
“ large part of my buying at VEE in March industry, is pleased to offer you a special back-to-work offer to help you find
out well for us. “There was so much uncertainty and conferencing, clients want eyewear that is If so, the OJobs.ca team, the only bilingual job site specific to the Canadian optical
apprehension in those few days. I do a bigger, bolder and more colourful.
and then again at the Silmo trade show in The need for control of the retail store
Paris in the fall. I simply could not buy new entrance area due to pandemic-related
product and that turned out to be a good hygiene and distancing requirements can THE right candidate!
thing as I didn’t know what my clients both meet and hinder consumer needs.
/ Sue Randhawa / were going to want and need when we Osborne points out that shopping for POSTING OF A POSTING A
re-opened. Would they even have money frames is very personal and that most
to spend? If anything stands out for me ECPs strive to create a warm, friendly and REGULAR JOB OFFER FEATURED JOB OFFER
about the last nine months, it is this: the fashion-oriented environment that is AT AT
service and value I offer were appreciated clearly at odds with the wearing of masks
even more. I expected a big drop but and gloves and the use of plexiglass $124.50 $149.50
because we are in a niche market, the barriers. “There is such a disconnect here.
situation has turned out well for us.” The ECP really needs to be an educator, a
fashion advisor, and a hazmat suit wearer. INSTEAD OF INSTEAD OF
But just because consumers have money to She needs to project some authority in
spend does not mean they have the same terms of helping deal with vision needs $249 $299
needs as they did pre-pandemic. Margaret and the new hygiene reality. There are
Osborne, optician and professor of all these touch points that seem at odds.
marketing at Toronto’s Seneca College, Being creative within this context to give
says, “I think it is critical to talk about the client an experience of retail pleasure USE THIS PROMO CODE TO BENEFIT FROM THE REBATE: BACK
the change in our work/home life during will go a long way.”
isolation. Extensive screen time, for
example, is a problem. Zoom meetings Register on OJobs.ca and access a Contact us at 450 629-6005,
demand much longer “stare” time without large resume database of optical 3Posted on generalist job ext. 361 or at info@ojobs.ca for
breaks than our previous office work. The sites such as Jobs.ca, Retail.ca,
effects can be brutal—including headaches job seekers, post your job offers Salesrep.ca, Healthcare.ca and more information or technical
and shoulder and back pain—for anyone and take advantage of the entire CareerAIM assistance. We will be happy
who lacks good correction for computer OJobs.ca network to ensure wide to serve you and help you find
distance. Most people who wear progressive distribution. In fact, beyond 3Relayed on our partner sites the right candidates as soon as
lenses are not aware of task-specific the posting of your job offer on possible!
computer lenses. I think this is a big OJobs.ca, it is also: 3 Shared on all our social
untapped market.” networks
8 / NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 2020 / www.ENVISIONMAGAZINE.ca / MAXIMUM VISIBILITY, MINIMUM EFFORT… FIND YOUR NEXT EMPLOYEE TODAY!