Own business: making glasses. How to choose a machine for processing eyeglass lenses and other equipment

Currently, the problem with vision is more than relevant, so making glasses is a very profitable business. There is serious competition in this business area, but this does not make it less attractive. According to statistics, 25% of the population have vision problems and almost 100% wear sunglasses.

Market Review

Modern optics salons work in two directions, among which are the sale of corrective products or eye diagnostics and the subsequent individual production of glasses.

Optics stores are divided into three types:

1. Stalls with cheap finished products (in most cases, Chinese). Among the advantages of such points are the cheapness and availability of goods. The average cost of points in them is 300-500 rubles. The share of small outlets is 60% of the total sales of corrective optics, which indicates their popularity. Revenues vary in the range of 2-3 thousand dollars a month. Recently, the consumer has become more demanding on quality, and therefore the popularity of natural points is becoming less.
2. Optics stores. These points of sale can be located as separate pavilions, but often they are tied to pharmacies or shopping centers. They are distinguished by a high level of service, since the sale of products is carried out by personnel with a medical education. The staff of such stores usually has an eye specialist who will help you choose the right glasses. The assortment of goods is wide, focused on the purchasing opportunities of all classes: from cheap Korean models to elite Italian ones. In some stores, glasses are made in their own workshops. Large optical salons often open several points with diagnostic rooms, in which they consult and take orders from customers. The very production of glasses is carried to the outskirts of the city or beyond, which allows you to save on renting a room. The monthly profit of such optics stores is 4-6 thousand dollars.
3. Brand salons characterized by expensive high-quality goods. The cost of production can reach $ 1,500. Most branded stores have their own chain of stores. The delivery of goods is organized directly from abroad or through official representatives of foreign companies.
   Large networks of optics bring the owner 10-15 thousand dollars a month. VIP class stores follow the latest "fashion trends." In their assortment you can find products from manufacturers with a worldwide reputation. Such models are made using the latest production technologies and high quality material. A small number of people can afford such a product, therefore, many retail chains are focused on buyers of the "middle class".

Legal part

Theoretically, an optics store can be opened without registering an IP. Practice shows that it is better to start by pre-registering a legal entity, as in the future this will simplify the obtaining of a license.

And why do you need a license? If you plan to sell finished glasses and lenses, then it is not required. But it should be understood that this will significantly limit the circle of potential customers, thereby giving up most of the profits. Ultimately, such a "business" can be equated to trading in stalls on the market.

For example, to provide the buyer with corrective glasses that meet the doctor’s prescription, an office should be arranged in which lens manufacturing and the production of frames for them will be organized. And this is the manufacture of medical equipment, which is subject to mandatory licensing.

Room

The dimensions of the premises are selected depending on the range of services provided. Even in a small area, you can provide the buyer with a wide selection of products.

You can open a serious optics salon in which the buyer can not only purchase the product of interest, but also consult a doctor, choose contact lenses or order prescription glasses. To do this, you need a room with an area of ​​40-50 m² and about 20 m² to the diagnostic room.

The location of the salon plays a big role in business success. The place where the production of glasses, lenses and their further implementation will be carried out should be crowded, equipped with access roads and parking.

Diagnostic room

According to the law on medical institutions, the area of ​​the medical office must be at least 18 m². The interior decoration and the provision of the necessary microclimate in the room must comply with established sanitary standards. The office should provide natural light. In addition, it is necessary to purchase equipment for the manufacture of glasses. It should be allocated 15-20 thousand dollars.

The necessary set of diagnostic equipment includes:

• auto keratorefractometer - cost from $ 7,000;
• diopter - from 2000 dollars;
• ophthalmoscope - from $ 2,000;
• slit lamp - from 3000 dollars;
• pupillometer - from $ 250;
• a set of lenses - from 600 dollars.

It is also necessary to purchase furniture for the office and equip the workplace of an ophthalmologist.

Glass Workshop

In addition to sales, optics salons provide additional services:

• making glasses with a selected frame;
• lens manufacturing and tinting;
• frame repair, ultrasonic cleaning of parts for glasses.

To be able to provide these services, certain equipment is required:

• A diopter designed for marking the diopter in the center of the lens and restore the center distance in the glasses. The cost of the device is from 500 dollars.
• A machine for processing spectacle lenses designed to measure the parameters of the frame, polishing the end of the lens and giving it the desired shape. Cost - from $ 2,000.
• Manual machine for the subsequent processing of lenses, allowing you to grind the finished lens under the frame. Price - from 200 dollars.
• A heating hairdryer, with which the plastic frame for installing the finished lens is softened. Price - from 130 dollars.
• The device for ultrasonic cleaning of parts of frames or hard-to-reach points of glasses. Cost - from 1300 dollars.
• Manual forester. Price - from 230 dollars.
• A drilling machine used to create holes in lenses during the manufacture of glasses with screw mounts. Cost - from 210 dollars.
• A welding machine used to repair and solder frames. Price - from $ 10,000.

The presence of this equipment will allow the optician to complete the tasks in no more than 1-2 hours. This is a good indicator for an optics salon. It should be remembered that a cheap machine for the manufacture of glasses will initially save some of the money, but the quality of the products will be appropriate, and you may have to buy it again after a certain time, since a cheap product is not very reliable.

Assortment formation

The range of the optics store depends on the selected format. If the point is oriented to the middle class, then it is advisable to present a wider selection of models of different price categories. In addition to frames and lenses, sunglasses, exercise equipment for the development of vision, and various accessories should be on sale.

Staff

The selection of qualified personnel is one of the most difficult tasks. In particular, this applies to optical masters. There has long been a shortage of representatives of this profession on the labor market. Each salon solves this problem in its own way: it attracts specialists from competitors, recruits university graduates and schools.

You can also independently train medical optics. Its preparation and further employment will cost about $ 300. The staff should include an optical consultant, ophthalmologist, manager, administrator.

Possible risks

Any entrepreneurial activity, especially at the initial stage, is associated with risks. When organizing a business for the production of glasses, these are:

1. The risk of failure to comply with the production plan. It is necessary to calculate the minimum sales volume based on the number of customers.
2. The risk of increasing the cost of components. It is decided by the conclusion of lengthy contracts for the supply of materials of fixed cost or a one-time purchase of large quantities of components.
3. The risk of competition. Creating new development strategies and constantly attracting new customers is the key to the salon's competitiveness.
4. The complexity of the organization. It is necessary to choose a reliable supplier, hire a qualified foreman with work experience, provide for his further training and attendance of courses for advanced training.

Forecasts

Forecasts for the development of the optical business are more than optimistic. Its profitability stably fluctuates in the range of 15-20%. A glut in the market is not expected in the near future, since, according to statistics, almost every person who has reached the age of 40 begins with vision problems. Over time, this bar drops lower.