Optical Prism March 2016 | Page 46

framed Q. What kind of clientele does your store service? A. I service a very diverse clientele from eight months to 88 years. The commonality is they are looking for a dedicated one-on-one experience and a piece of eyewear that allows them to express their individuality. Q. Why Collingwood? A. Collingwood had been on my radar for some time. When I made the decision to venture out on my own, Collingwood did not have a small independent optical boutique. The people of Collingwood love to shop local and crave distinct handmade products. The sense of style in town is diverse and progressive. The pairing was so natural. I could not ask for a better community to do business. Q. What are the primary brand names your store features? BLINK E Y E WE A R Optician Jessie Strype says she loves helping customers find the perfect pair of glasses to express their individuality. The graduate of Georgian College's opticianry program, who has been in the optical industry for 15 years, opened her own optical boutique, blink eyewear, in Collingwood, Ont., in September 2014. Strype says operating blink has been a whirlwind of excitement since Day 1. The business is owned and operated by Strype, but she says it's not without