100% Optical recently spoke with Optometrist Bethany Fothergill to learn more about the successful eyewear brand Ollie Quinn and the day to day running of their stylish boutiques.

1. What is the name of your practice, where is it based and what type of customer base do you have?

Our business is named Ollie Quinn. We are a global, independent eyewear brand based in the UK, Canada and the USA. We have 10 boutiques throughout the UK, including shops in London, Bristol, Cardiff, Leeds, Brighton. We have 15 stores in Canada and one on the US’ West Coast – Seattle.

Our customer base is varied, but at its core, includes any person who values style and independent design at an affordable price. We really cater to everyone.

2. What is your favourite piece of equipment in your practice and how does it benefit your patients?

From an optometry perspective, I really value our Essilor digital phoropters – they make refraction quick and easy and help us deliver the very best visual correction to all our patients. They also demonstrate the difference between prescriptions really well for our patients.

It’s always amazing to see the impact high-quality equipment has on the patient experience, and I always appreciate when I’m able to utilise top-of-the-line equipment to deliver the best eye care possible.

3. What types of eyewear do you stock?

Our frames are all designed in-house; we use only quality materials (acetate and stainless steel) and our lenses are made by Kodak. This is how we keep our style and price consistent.

Our Head of Product works closely with talented freelance designers from all over the world to create a curated collection of classics as well as statement pieces. Customer feedback is a huge part of that process, as we listen to our community’s reactions to frame styles and use this feedback to inform our design process.

4. What factors do you consider when purchasing eyewear and equipment for your practice?

Our primary goal is to deliver the best-possible experience to each one of our patients. We value equipment that aids with the detection and management of ocular disease, as well as products that help us produce the most accurate pair of lenses for each of our customers.

Ultimately, we want to provide top-quality eye exams while remaining mindful of the costs we incur as a business, so we really appreciate value for money. It’s always great to see new products emerge that are both innovative and affordable.

5. You recently visited the 100% Optical 2019 show. What were your main objectives for visiting and did you achieve them?

I was mostly interested in further education and CET, which I definitely achieved. It was also very useful to browse new equipment and innovations that might soon be available to our company.

It’s always such a pleasure to attend events like the 100% Optical 2019 show to meet other industry professionals and learn about how the sector is advancing as a whole. I was both inspired and excited by the future of the optical industry after leaving the 100% Optical 2019 show.

6. Tell us more about any purchases you made at 100% Optical or anything that caught your attention.

I was very interested in the Birmingham Optical stand. I particularly enjoyed their new OCT demonstration and learned a lot from it. I did not make any purchases on behalf of Ollie Quinn, but rather, took the information back to my team for continued consideration as we plan for the next months and years of our business’ development. I can’t stress enough what an informative and educational experience this was and look forward to attending next year’s show.

7. What challenges do you face when running an optical practice and what are your tips to overcome these?

Within the retail environment, we face continually evolving consumer expectations. Whenever a new player enters our industry, this can change the standards we’re held to as an optical practice (for better or worse). New technologies and overall improvements to customer experiences in all industries also force us to update and refine our processes on a regular basis. We rely on our trained boutique teams to manage consumers’ expectations and create the best-possible in-store experiences for our customers.

Q & A With Ollie Quinn - Global Independent Boutiques