BUYER’S FORUM

On the Move: Inventory with Wheels

How one optician spreads eye health and community service with a mobile dispensary

we start the year with the story of a moving dispensary…literally. Rose Mary Torres, licensed optician and CEO at La Vista Mobile Optical based in Newport News, VA, uses her own SUV to travel back and forth to see patients at their homes or other locations. She also volunteers with the Lions Club, holding the Sight Chair position for the past two years, and was nominated Lion of the Year for 2013-14. Here she discusses how she makes optical on wheels work.

From the Heart

One community cause dear to Rose Mary Torres’ heart is distributing readers for occasional use.

“Yes, readers!” she says. “I have given free pairs of readers to people who didn’t know they needed them, and tears would well up in their eyes because they took for granted that things were ‘fading.’ This project started about three years ago during a community event. A lady came to me thinking she had a tumor in her eyes or something very wrong that wasn’t allowing her to see near any longer. When she said she was over 40, I knew what the problem might be and suggested she get an inexpensive pair of readers. Her answer was, ‘there are days if I had a dollar, I would have to decide if I wanted to eat or read.’ This moment revolutionized my career as an optician,” Torres says. Since then, she’s given away hundreds of readers.

To donate, call La Vista Optical, 757-816-0941

eb: How does a mobile dispensary differ from traditional?

rmt: When you go to a brick and mortar store, all the frames are displayed for you to look at and try on. Before any appointment, I ask a few key questions such as: how would you describe the shape of your face and what color are your current glasses? These questions help me narrow down the frame selection to bring to the appointment. I pre-choose what I think they’re looking for and then add what I think they may also like, and I only bring gender-specific frames. In five and a half years, I have not had a single person walk out, or should I say kick me out, because they couldn’t find what they were looking for.

eb: Do you have a brick and mortar location or are you strictly mobile?

rmt: We are strictly mobile. The thought has crossed my mind that maybe one day I would like to have a brick and mortar dispensary and about a second later reality hits me: I really enjoy the traveling part and the freedom that comes with it, wouldn’t change it for the world. At the present, we have over 500 frames in inventory, about 50% women’s, 35% men’s, and the rest are children’s.

eb: What do you enjoy the most about your mobile dispensary?

rmt: In no other place would you find someone being themselves more than when they are in their own environment. All pretenses come down because it’s such a one-on-one service, and there are no interruptions as in a brick and mortar store.

Being mobile also allows me the freedom to be involved in our community doing health fairs, military appreciation events, or even setting up camp to do free cleaning, adjustments, and repairs.

— Amy Spiezio, executive editor

Want to talk about what gives your frame buying flair? Please email executive editor Amy Spiezio, Amy.Spiezio@PentaVisionMedia.com