Celebrating Independent Optical Businesses
Celebrating Independent Optical Businesses
The independent optical scene is buzzing with energy and innovation. While these businesses have been around for a long time, there's a renewed excitement and focus on supporting and growing them. A new generation of opticians and business owners is embracing craftsmanship, community, and creative freedom in ways that set them apart.
This isn’t a knock on big chains—it’s a celebration of what smaller, independent practices uniquely offer: personalized service, curated frame collections, direct relationships with patients, and the freedom to build a brand that reflects their values. With patient expectations shifting toward experience-driven care, independents are well-positioned to lead.
Why Your Vendor List Should Match Your Values
For independent optical businesses, supporting other independent vendors (including frame lines, labs, and lens designers) is more than a business choice, it’s a philosophy. Choosing independent partners strengthens a shared ecosystem built on flexibility, innovation, and mutual respect.
It’s about walking the talk. If your brand champions “shop local” and personalized service, yet your frame board is dominated by mass-produced or conglomerate-owned brands, you risk sending a mixed message. Patients are increasingly conscious of where their money goes—and savvy enough to notice the disconnect.
Being Independent Means Buying Independent, Too
To maintain the integrity of being a truly independent optical business, it's essential to partner with companies that share your values. This means seeking out those who offer high-quality optical solutions within an independent model. Whether it’s a boutique frame line with limited distribution or a lab that takes the time to collaborate on edge work and lens choices, these relationships reinforce what makes independents special.
Plus, it’s not just about principle: it’s a strategic move. Independent vendors often provide more flexibility in pricing, less direct competition, and stronger support, allowing you to offer products that are both profitable and hard to find elsewhere.
Spotlight on Success: An Interview with Kevin Count of Corner Optical
To shed light on the success of independent optical businesses, we spoke with Kevin Count, owner of Corner Optical in Glenview, Illinois. Kevin exclusively supports independent optical companies and even crafts his own frames.
Q: How long have you owned your optical business?
A: We opened in late 2009, so that’s coming on 15 years now.
Q: What inspired you to custom make your own frames?
A: I had a repair on a temple that didn’t work. This sent me on a quest to build a temple. Add a little scope creep, and you’re building a frame. This eventually led to me traveling to Morez, France, to train with master artisans in frame making.
Q: Why did you choose to go with independent vendors? Who do you use for frames, lenses, and labs?
A: Either in-house designs or lines such as Structure, Roger, Michelle Atlan, OWP. For lenses, I go with IOT-designed PALs for the most part, and on occasion I dabble in Zeiss. As for labs? Laramy-K for the win.
Q: Do you promote the fact that you are truly an independent business owner to your patients?
A: Yes, but it’s not the leading part of the story. Frame-making is the main component.
Q: What advice would you give to an optician considering opening their own optical business?
A: I have struggled with this question for some time, so let me answer as if I were speaking to myself ten years ago:
"Dear Self,
First, congratulations! You finally took the lead and decided to go out alone. I remember this day. You’re excited, filled with ideas, but most of all, terrified. It’s OK. Keep your head down, stay the course, and you’ll come out on the other side. That being said, there are some things you’ll want to keep in mind.
- Cash is KING! Guard your money like it’s a child. Guard your money like a mamma bear defending her cub when the wolves come to call.
- You’re going to have some wild ideas along the way. Don’t stop thinking of new ideas. It’s the thing that will guide you—but don’t go chasing every concept. Let’s face it, they’re not all winners. Bounce them around in your head for a while. Every time you think of executing an idea, you get nervous; that’s a sign. Maybe you should rethink it. On the other hand, if you light up and get excited, try it out! What’s the worst that could happen? It can flop, sure, but if you follow rule one, you’ll survive it.
- This is a lot of hard work. There is no shortcut, no fast-forward. Remember that it was the turtle that won the race. You’re the turtle. Get used to it.
- Take time away from your business. It's hard at first, but when you do, your ideas get more precise, your focus sharper, and you can see what's essential and what's not.
- Look to industries outside your own that sell to the same market. Want to go luxury? How do other people sell to that market? Want to go to the mass market? How do you attract that audience?
- On that, pick an audience and keep chasing them and only them. You won’t sell to everyone, and that’s what you want.
- Have fun. The office is one part of your life; it shouldn’t be your entire life! Get out of it. Yes, it may cost you a sale if you have to close for a week, but you’ll come back more robust and focused."
Inspired by Independence
Independent practices aren’t just surviving. They’re thriving, and they’re innovating. By staying true to their values, they’re creating standout experiences for their patients and redefining what modern eyewear retail looks like.
A big thank you to Kevin Count for sharing his insights and inspiring both current and future independent optical business owners.
