Tech Boom

Four generations. Six locations. Family owned. And independent with a capital “I.”

San Antonio-based Dietz McLean Optical (DMO) is steeped in tradition—with roots back to 1938. The partnership between Dietz and McLean was actually formalized in 1945, and, for many decades, the business was in both wholesale distribution and retail.

That makes for a great as-American-as-apple-pie story. So does the fact that it is managed by three family members—president Drake McLean, vice president Cliff McLean, and general manager Zach McLean.

Don’t think tradition is driving the business, however. The company has, in fact, made a big investment in tomorrow by building a just-opened full digital surfacing lab. The lab is one of the Dietz McLean facilities located in the elbow of a San Antonio shopping center. Adjoining it are the company’s administrative offices, a retail location, and doctor’s office.

Here, GM Zach McLean shares some perspective.

WHOLESALE ➤ RETAIL

In the early ’80s, DMO shifted focus away from wholesale and continued surfacing until 2008. Then came the Covid-19 pandemic.

“In July 2020, we began taking over finishing again,” says McLean. “In fall 2020, we added a full digital lab.”

Fast forward to this year.

Equipment (mostly Satisloh) was delivered in March and installation in the 1,000-square-foot facility began in late April. Equipment includes an ART blocker/deblocker, VFT-macro generator, Toro-Flex polisher, and a hard coater, along with some AR capabilities. DMO was in continuous-production mode by June.

During Covid, recalls McLean, “we stayed open and pretty much kept our team.”

Since the lab is new, they’re still determining ideal staffing, but cross-training is critical. And, for some, that translates to experience in retail as well as lab operations. “That allows us to be nimble,” he explains.

Lab staff consists of three full-time employees working 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. “We’re working toward running 12 hours a day,” says McLean, “and getting most work out the same day it comes in.”

NEW + NEXT

“We have great people,” says McLean, “and we saw the lab as the best way to continue providing great product and service into the future. It’s an opportunity to regain control, deliver better products at competitive, fair-value pricing, and significantly increase turnaround.

“At the retail level, it’s allowing us to explore amazing products that, when purchasing at wholesale, can be cost-prohibitive.”

Does DMO’s decision to open a lab represent an anomaly or is it the beginning of a trend?

“I don’t think we’re unique in this space,” concludes McLean. “We’re going to start seeing a resurgence of small independents getting back into full service.”