Optical Prism December 2014 | Page 5

THE INDEPENDENT WAY By Sarah McGoldrick MOST PRACTICE OWNERS NOTE A COMMITMENT TO PROVIDING PATIENTS WITH EXCELLENT CARE AS THEIR REASON FOR STAYING INDEPENDENT. WITH THE EXPANSION CHAINS AND COMPANY MERGERS CONSTANTLY DRIVING THE INDUSTRY, INDEPENDENT OWNERS ARE NOW A BEACON TO PATIENTS WHO DON'T WANT THE CORPORATE APPROACH TO DELIVERING CARE. “ THEY IF WANT TO BE THEIR OWN BOSS, THEY HAVE TO BE PREPARED TO PUT IN A LOT OF HOURS ” Gough Optical in Toronto has been operating since 1976 as a family owned and operated practice offering eyewear, contact lenses, safety glasses, goggles and sunglasses. Registered optician Chris Gough said his family has always enjoyed offering the personal service a large chain cannot provide. “We have been in the business for 42 years. It's almost like the patients are family,” he said. “They know we have so many good opticians and they are going to get the proper eyecare.” Located in the Highway 400 and Finch area of city, Gough noted they get a large cross section of patients with different backgrounds and ranging in ages from 'six to 96'. He said he has watched many family grow up over the years because people come to an independent operated based on care rather than price. He added the offer a wide assortment of frames for every face type and tend to fall within the middle to high price range. Quality is important to the staff at Gough Optical and they maintain this in every aspect of the business. “If we don't have something on the shelf we will search to get it in for them,” he said. Optical Prism X