10 Best Ways to Increase Optical Sales for Sustained Business Growth

Optical sales business growth relies on quality customer services. Eyewear is a notable aspect of an individual’s life. Eyewear enhances eyesight and is a style statement for many. The business is transforming at a quick pace. Opticians need to build confidence to cash on these customer trends to increase sales.

Customer retention depends on optical stock management. A centralized delivery system improves communication. Optical retail shops create an unforgettable customer experience. They also want the customers to come back again and again. Moreover, businesses need to build a brand to improve their clientele. This way, they can win over the competition to drive sales. Brand loyalty is the central aspect of improving optical sales.

According to Statista, the global eyewear market was estimated to be worth around 140 billion U.S. dollars in 2020. It is forecasted to reach 197.2 billion U.S. dollars by 2027. The competitive edge is enhanced by demonstrating the services. Business management solutions integrate with ERP applications. An integrated solution can manage optical sales. Optical owners also track updates about business growth. Additionally, such solutions possess an optical dashboard. It prepares optical reports and manages inventory. The reports allow us to strategize the sales expansion. Optical sales also depend on demographics. The market landscape also relies upon demand analysis.

1) Smart Glasses with Virtual Technology:

AR-enabled smart glasses allow us to use smartphones efficiently. Some of the best A.R. smart glasses are from Thirdeye and Lenovo. They also encompass the latest developments in smart wearable technology.

Tech giants like Samsung, Facebook, and Apple are working on smart glasses. They are trying to connect the physical and virtual worlds. They work using digital graphics. The glasses integrate 3D images with real-world scenarios. Elevate the user’s vision. The smart glasses market is expanding rapidly. They are also widely used in gaming, tourism, and the military.

The optical pos industry is becoming more diverse. Moreover, customer demands play a significant role here. These glasses also improve optical sales. These glasses enhance everyday life. Smart glasses provide a tech experience. Furthermore, monotonous tasks are simplified using these glasses.

2) Augmented Eyecare Services will Increase Optical Sales:

According to the American Optometric Association, optometrists perform an estimated 88 million of the total 104 million refractive eye exams. Moreover, the tests are performed annually by all eye care professionals. Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) is imaging technology. Virtual visits and remote eye exams are needed to augment eyecare services. The virtual visits are also scheduled through video conferencing.

Virtual reality headsets are used for ophthalmic analysis. It includes visual

field testing and visual acuity testing. The software provides optometrists to appraise patients. Opticians can serve their patients remotely. They also carry out virtual follow-ups. Providing better eyecare at the doorstep is the growing need of the optical sales business. Optometry practices are continuously growing to meet this need.

E.g: The optometrist industry is steadily growing due to the increasing population of individuals requiring eyecare. In the U.S. industry trend, 65% of the U.S. population needs vision-correction products. The eyecare solutions comprise contact lenses and vision therapy. Pandemic has made us realize that online eyecare is a future need.

3) A Personalized Experience for Patients will Help to Increase Optical Sales:

The optical software or eye care industry is flourishing both in terms of price and quality. Patients choose based on the services opticians offer. They also compare the prices of different vendors. Moreover, customers select convenience over other aspects. Optical sales rely on the patient’s journey. In addition, offering a personalized experience can set you apart from competitors. Retailers can leverage specialized care. Generate a business model for a well-defined target market. Contact notable vision therapists for billing and claims submission. It also makes the sales more profitable.

Provide a vision therapy room for therapy sessions. Independently serve the patients. Optical retailers should offer a personalized eyewear purchasing experience. Staff must work on innovative ideas. Make the shopping experience interactive. Offer virtual tours and try-on facets. Provide high-quality vision testing services. Use advanced vision accuracy for needy patients. Optical store retailers can thus enhance their sales using personalized offerings to their customers.

Use Cases: Midwest Eye Associates use cutting-edge technology for personal care. The staff also serves the patients with warm greetings. The optical staff discusses their medical history. Ask about their visual projections.

4) Tracking Patient Return Visits:

The optician must follow up on the patient’s visit. They must also keep track of their return lookups to check the treatment routine. Tracking and following up will ensure the best care. Moreover, an optician can schedule/reschedule the visit or provide timely reminders for the appointment Retailers can inform through alerts, emails, or SMS. They are also using video conferences for follow-up.

It does not involve additional staff. Patients can also remain informed

about their appointments. Besides, they are being taken care of in a better way. It also increases profitability and ROI. The process ultimately improves optical sales. Additionally, they can use navigators to enhance patient adherence for follow-up improving customer relationships.

E-consultation was trending for eye care during the lockdown. Post lockdown, optician services started reopening. Patients started scheduling return visits offline to track their overall eye health. Furthermore, post-pandemic patients are returning to opticians. The number of appointments is also increasing after covid-19. Moreover, they are opting for virtual vision tests. Developing remote technology can ease remote visits.

Read more scalability? Functionalities in pharmacy and optical business are almost the same. Read our blog on 5 Ways to Create a Profitable Business with pharmacy pos.

5) Staff Training to Minimize Downtime:

The staff with updated skills will reduce optical store downtime. Moreover, training enhances store efficiency and minimizes long-term expenses. Having a multi-tasking staff will improve optical sales opportunities. Besides, teamwork can improve patient interaction. Optical sale practices also require qualified eye care staff. Retailers should deploy the right staff for the required job by recognizing individual strengths and weaknesses. Therefore optical technicians design and verify eye care products like frames and contact lenses.

Staff training comprises communication skills for telesales & face-to-face interactions. Hence a trained staff builds rapport. They boost optical sales performance and support in achieving sales targets. Trained staff can also provide excellent customer service using appropriate visual aids. Their job also includes fitting contact lenses and eyeglasses. They follow the prescriptions from optometrists while selling relevant optical products.

6) Offering Promotions:

Optical retailers offer different types of specialized promotions for optical products. BOGO (Buy one, get one) never gets old. BOGO is a great way to clear out past inventory while pushing optical sales in the short term. Special offers on sunglasses, designed frames, or colored contact lenses create buzz among the customers.

Retailers can also arrange free eye-checkup camps. Spread awareness about eye care and dispense gifts in camps. Provide promo coupons on

customers’ subsequent purchases. Moreover, online retailers can better engage customers through such offers. Staff can educate patients about promotions. Ask staff to talk about the current offers with customers. Personally reach the customers over call or SMS.

Use Case: Tuscaloosa offers promotions on frames and lenses. They also offer liberty sports eyewear and lens cleaner.

7) Enhancing Omnichannel Marketing Efforts will Increase your Optical Sales:

According to MarketsandMarkets, the global vision care market is expected to reach USD 64 Billion by 2023. It is increasing at a CAGR of 4.2% from 2018 to 2023.

Marketing is directly proportional to customers’ needs. Hence Targeted marketing initiatives can increase optical sales and store revenue. Blogging and newsletter are other ways of promoting the product. Marketing campaigns are also built using ads. Linking with online stores also makes the product reach easily. Furthermore, segregate customers based on their age, gender, and choices. Use social media to interact with customers. Also, identify their requirements and pitch in unique product offerings.

Use signboards at the store entrance. It catches the attention of the passing visitors. Organize seminars to showcase your product. List your optical store on Google maps. Create a business website, Upload various optical product pictures, videos, and customer testimonials. You can also offer referral discounts to enhance customer lifetime value.

8) Promotional Campaigns on Social Media will Increase Optical Sales:

Generate consistent promotional campaigns. Build a promotional strategy to stay on the top of the patient’s mind. Expand your store visibility. Social media is a powerful tool for optical sales promotion. Optimize social media profiles. Regularly update your social media pages. Launch new eyewear products first in the market. Use analytics tools to track patient engagement. Offer services such as frame replacement and free contact lenses. Establish an online store for users situated across the globe. Use digital marketing for website traffic and lead conversion. Provide exclusive deals.

Share honest reviews and customer experiences on social media. Make area-based groups on different social media platforms. Create infographics to raise awareness around eye care. Add patient FAQs on pages. Have real-time interaction and live sessions on trending issues. Moreover, you must post engaging content about the product on social media. Prompt the customers with a specific call to action. It will eventually attract more customers and enhance optical sales.

9) Optical Retail POS Software for Optimizing Operations:

Optical retail POS software manages frame and contact lens inventory. Furthermore, it unifies optical store operation by bringing in various aspects of business processes together. The software comprises certain marketing features. Furthermore, the ARI POS solution leads to profitability and an increased bottom line. The software is also needed to track records of transactions. It stores customers’ data, such as frame and lens specifications.

Use Case: ARI optometry software consists of the ‘search’ option. It also enables you to choose shape, color, and size. ‘Browse’ feature provides a complete list of all the frames. Moreover, customers can select the product of their choice. The software involves minimal human resources. ARI optical POS also provides self-service options for customers. ‘Quick button’ allows customers to add items to the cart. Get 30 Days Free Trial of ARI POS.

Such optometry software eases the retail optical business. Therefore Multi-store management is simplified with cost-effective and hassle-free solutions. The software is also used for business reporting and marketing. Additionally, an optician can optimize inventory, understand sales trends and plan personalized promotions. ARI helps to automate tedious tasks around optical store management and build brand loyalty of the store.

10) Educating the Patients on Optical Products:

Educating customers on optical products like providing eye care information is a great way to build trust. An optician can run educational videos for eye exams and different eye problems. You can also share the story behind the launch of every optical product across digital platforms.

An optician can also use digital displays to educate store visitors. Additionally, an optician must take the initiative to check eye-related problems while scheduling counseling to address their concerns.

Educating customers about the varied collection of lenses and frames can help their buying decision.

An optician can educate customers about various frame-related issues. Store managers can also educate about stylish and lightweight optical products. Share tips for choosing the right spectacles with empathy towards customer needs.

Conclusion:

Amidst Covid-19, the optical industry faces various operational challenges. The optical store may have disruptions in store openings owing to the lockdown. The optical store also faces issues related to safety and staffing. Retailers need their teams to be agile and flexible in terms of serving customers. Their primary goal must be to serve the patients in a safe environment. Optical businesses may have to plan offerings like free shipping. Moreover, a Tele-optometry solution involving optometrists can boost the relations between patients and opticians. Educating people on eye care also improves optical sales. Overall, optical stores must focus on customer-centric solutions to enhance overall store visibility and optical sales.

ARI provides state-of-the-art Optical POS solutions to manage all of your optical store needs like Inventory Management Software, POS System, and customer reward program.