We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Bruce Bennett a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Bruce, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to hear the story behind how you got your first job in field that you currently practice in.

I started in the optical industry in November of 1987 at the age of 20. I had recently dropped out of college and was let go from a mall job that didn’t work out. A friend of mine at church asked if I was interested in an optical job. I knew nothing about the optical business, but I needed a job. I went for an interview and was hired on the spot. It was a lot to learn and the process of absorbing all this new information was somewhat overwhelming, but I really liked it. I had no idea at the time it would be a career instead of a paycheck. The learning process was something I excelled at. I was excited about all this new technical information, and I absorbed it like a sponge. I looked forward to the customer interactions and the lab work too. The company I worked for promoted me several times, trained me well, and set me up for a lifetime of success. At the time of my first optical job, I had no idea that it would become the preferred path to retirement.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

My name is Bruce and I’ve been in the optical industry since 1987. I have an extensive background in lab work and customer service. I was pediatric for almost 10 years. At the end of 2021 I purchased the old Windham Optical and opened my own optical shop. I chose the location because I had worked there in 2005 & 2006 before the previous owner died. I always loved the shop and the location. It took 5 banks and 11months to get to the finish line, but we got there. Owning my own optical shop was never a goal of mine, but when I was offered that opportunity, I refused to give up. (I make this analogy all the time; if you offer a dog a T-Bone steak that he never asked for don’t expect him to give it back.) I am in this industry to help as many as I can until I retire. Yes, I have to pay the bills and keep my lights on like everybody else, but the goal is service not chasing a financial pot of gold. I’m more interested in offering quality products made from better materials and industry standards. I don’t offer the big celebrity endorsed eyewear that other shops are filled with. More expensive does not mean better. I’m trying to partner with my customers and be a good steward of the money being spent so that we are not just burning twenty-dollar bills in the parking lot for grins and giggles.
I do have an exclusive on a new technology no-line bifocal. It was patented in 2021, so it is not a reinvention of the wheel like other progressive lenses based on the same patent from 1959. We market this lens as the Q-Lux no line bifocal. It has much wider intermediate areas that allow for easier interactions at arms- length. The upper distance portion gives an almost panoramic view with virtually no distortion. I wear this lens every day and I feel it is the closest to your natural vision. This lens does cost more than a conventional progressive lens because of the newer technology, however I do not mark this lens up the same as shops in major metropolitan markets and so it is quite a reasonable option for many. Many of my customers have told me they no longer have the painful neck burning sensation at the end of the day and are no longer going to see a chiropractor.
I am very conscientious of my customers. I will not send you out the door without personally customizing the fit of your eyeglasses. I want them to fit properly. I want your eyeglasses to be comfortable and to be an extension of you and your personality. If they are not working for you, they aren’t working for me either. I’m striving to provide a customized quality product that will serve my customer well. I have adopted a mission statement that I think resonates well with all those I’m trying to help. Our mission statement is “We fit eyeglasses to YOU, your LIFESTYLE, and your BUDGET. I follow that mindset every day. I ask a lot of questions in the process of matching my customers to the eyewear that best fits their doctor prescribed needs and their personal wants.
I love what I do, and I really don’t view what I do every day as work. I enjoy getting to interact with my customers on a daily basis. I look forward to helping as many as I can before I retire.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

In 2006 my wife was given a medical diagnosis that caused me to chase big box medical benefits. I kept my foot in the industry with part time, after hours work and consultations. I was pursued multiple times by doctors and those in the industry wanting me to come to work for them. It was an unsolicited endorsement of my skills and expertise in the industry that gave me the confidence I needed later to believe that I could make a difference as an optical shop owner. I did custom picture framing and worked on an automotive assembly line for several years. The time away from the optical industry stoked the desire I had to get back in and make a difference. I believe God wired me a certain way that has allowed me to excel in the optical industry. I’m blessed to have my shop and thankful for the opportunity to serve my community with a much-needed service.

Do you think you’d choose a different profession or specialty if you were starting now?

If I could go back and change my path in the industry, I would have completed my masters in opticianry. The State of Mississippi is not a licensed state. Many opticians in the state are certified, but the majority are not. Many employees at optical outlets are not properly fitting, adjusting, or filling prescription eyeglasses due to a lack of training. I see a huge need for an optical trainer to travel the state and focus on honing the skills of those in the optical industry. I would enjoy that and it would be very beneficial for all those that rely on the opticians in this state on a daily basis.

Contact Info:

• Website: eyegearoptical.com
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EyeGear2021