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1. What kind of clientele does your store service?
We service all kinds of clientele, mid-range is our strongest
business, however we have been growing to high-end.
2. Why did you choose to open a business in
St. Catharines?
St. Catharines is where I have lived all my life. It has a great
mix of clients. Many people have come from Toronto to
retire here. The golf is great. I can be in the U.S. in 20
minutes. We have amazing vineyards, theatre and a big
waterfall nearby.
Going Above
and Beyond
By Denis Langlois
Rachel Hill, founder and owner of Personal Optical in St.
Catharines, believes every customer that leaves her office
with a pair of glasses is a walking billboard for the business.
“You are our models and we are proud that you are wearing
our eyeglasses,” says the website for the optical boutique.
Hill is a second-generation optician; her father was also in
the business. She graduated from Georgian College's opticianry program and also attended Niagara College
for business.
Hill has been an optician for 20 years and has owned Personal Optical for the past 11. The business began as a mobile
optical service in 2005 and, six years ago, opened in the
Tremont Plaza. Hill also takes her business to senior’s
homes to conduct exams and eyewear repairs. Hill has
been a director with the Ontario Opticians Association for
six years. She won the Transitions Eyecare Professional of
the Year award for 2012. Recently, she took some time
to talk about her business and the secrets of her success.
38 Optical Prism | May 2016
3. What are the primary brand names your store
features?
We love the Ziggy by Cendrine O. and the Jean Reno by
Cendrine O. eyewear lines. Outspoken Eyewear is a funky
line from the Netherlands that we love for its
multicoloured layer plastics.
4. What are your most popular styles?
Lerocher New York, Ziggy by Cendrine O. and Jean Reno
by Cendrine O.
5. What kind of marketing tools do you use?
We use Facebook a lot as well as Pinterest and Instagram.
Word of mouth is still most important to us. My car is
detailed with EYE GAL licence plates so we get noticed
around town a lot.
6. What are some of the benefits of operating
an independent outlet?
Choosing what I want with the patient compared to being
told what product I need to sell. I give the patient options
and educate them on what is availab