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‘ In it for the long haul ’
By Denis Langlois
Sharyn Webber says she simply loves glasses . It ’ s a passion that was sparked in her teenage years after she started choosing her own frames . By happenstance in the 1970s , she got into the optical industry and says she knew right away that she had found her vocation . “ With its ties to the health and technology world , opticianry would always be on the cutting edge of change and benefits to the consumer are subsequently both immediate and rewarding . Its strong alignment to the fashion world keeps optical retail vibrant , stimulating , fastpaced and fun . Mentoring from some amazing people , along with optical courses , honed my technical skills , but , frames were what intrigued me . Frames as art and design became the passion that fuels me . Here I am , four-plus decades later , and my interest has never waned ,” she says . Recently , the owner of Highland Optical in north Vancouver chatted with Optical Prism about her business and the future .
Q . Why did you choose to open an optical shop in north Vancouver ? A . Highland Optical opened in this exact location in 1964 by Mr . Edward Spray . He and his son , Grant , ran it , and I joined them in 1988 . Ed retired shortly after my arrival , then in the late ' 90s Grant left the store , remaining on as my business partner . I was joined then , by my current , fabulous and highly skilled staff : my Francophone lab technician / optician , Thérèse ; ophthalmologist / technical assistant Joan , and optician Sharene . Together , we became " The Optigals .” Our store sits in the centre of a small , beloved , very eclectic business district , right in the heart of a residential community near the base of Grouse Mountain .
Q . What do you like about being an independent optical shop ? A . Being completely autonomous allows me to select only the products I deem appropriate for my clients — and for me , that is paramount ! Independently produced , handmade / or hand-finished , beautifullycrafted frames gives us a competitive edge . With our lenses , we can choose from any of the leading lens manufacturers and are not tied to any one lab . This way , we can cherry pick what we think is best for our clients ' specific needs .
When we redesigned the store , we took into consideration my personal interests in music , fashion , movies , design and vintage and incorporated them into the look .
Q . What kind of marketing tools do you use ? A . We promote our identity through print advertising in community newspapers and glossy lifestyle magazines . Additionally , we have a blog on our website ( highlandoptical . ca ) and a Facebook page .
Q . Are there any changes or plans for the future for the store ? A . We love being " Your community optical store " and nothing would make us happier than to continue to wear this mantle indefinitely . We strive to provide great products / great vision / great outcomes / great experiences . After 53 years , we can honestly say , " We are in for the long haul !"
48 Optical Prism | January 2017