​Indie4Indie headed up North to Ontario to speak with Dr. Jenna Bright, owner and operator of Waterloo Vision Care Clinic. Her practice embodies the deep dedication our independent partners have to providing their patients with the best care, best products and best experience. Her passion for eyewear and eye care are inspiring, and the future is exciting for OGI Eyewear and Waterloo Vision Care Clinic.   

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Q: Can you share the story behind your venture into the indie eyecare industry? What was your vision when you started? 

 

I wanted to be an optometrist since grade two. My earliest influence was my grandfather who opened his independent private practice in 1948. I am a third-generation optometrist in my family, all of us working in independent practice. Waterloo Vision Care Clinic opened in 1981 and has remained as a sole-owner, independent optometry practice. I purchased the practice in 2020 with the intention of continuing as an independent practice. My focus is helping people look, see, and feel their best through personalized care. As an independent practice, we have the autonomy to prioritize patients' needs and provide them with the highest level of eyecare. On that end, we have the ability to choose suppliers and products that align with our personal and practice values and ultimately satisfy our patient needs. This is what differentiates us from our competitors.   

 

Q: What does being an integral part of the indie eyecare community mean to you on a personal and professional level? 

 

As a female business owner, the flexibility of independent practice means a lot. This flexibility extends to patient care allowing us to adapt our products and services to our changing patients’ needs. I love having the freedom to bring in new exciting products that help represent who we are as a practice.   

 

Q: How have interactions with OGI Eyewear’s sales representatives enhanced your experience with our brand and products? 

 

Our Rep, Denise, gets us excited about new releases and understands that inventory is something we take pride in. As our practice has grown, Denise has remained flexible in her support. Most notably, she makes us feel appreciated.   

 

Q: What aspects of your partnership with OGI Eyewear do you find most valuable, and how do they contribute to your success? 

 

At Vision Expo East, a couple of years ago, we met David Duralde, the Designer of OGI. Chatting with him gave us great appreciation for the thought and detail that goes into the creation of each frame design. Having this personalized experience resonated with my team and made us really value the OGI collection.   

 

Q: How have OGI Eyewear's innovative tools for remote buying, like the buyer's portal, VTO App, and brandfolder, impacted your sales strategy and customer interactions? 

 

We certainly use the online portal which is always up to date and easy to navigate. We love being able to show our patients the variety of colour options for each frame We also appreciate sneak peeks of upcoming new releases!    

 

Q: How important is maintaining a human connection in today’s increasingly digital world to your business, and how has OGI Eyewear supported this aspect? 

 

We pride ourselves in strong communication and lasting relationships. The digital world has become more competitive, large corporations often mass produce inferior products and also undercut prices. Our focus on patient education ensures patients understand and appreciate the value in our products and services. OGI helps us maintain our status as true independents by selling exclusively to independent practices.  

 

Q: How do you utilize the power of social media for connecting with your customers and receiving news from suppliers like OGI Eyewear?  

 

We use social media to stay up to date on new eyewear fashion trends and new releases. We also use social media to highlight our practice story.  We run a social media campaign called "Eyes On Local” where we feature other independent businesses in our community. It brings our local focus to the digital world.  

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Thanks for chatting with us Dr. Jenna Bright! We can't wait to see our partnership with the entire team at Waterloo Vision Care Clinic continue to flourish.

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If you’re an independent practice based in Southwest Ontario and you want to partner with OGI Eyewear, reach out to Denise Milner—she’s a pro at understanding the DNA of your business and offering powerful solutions that support your success. If you’re outside of those areas, send us an email at info@ogieyewear.com and let’s chat soon!