The past two years have been a reset for most markets, including vision care. The pandemic has caused most of us to examine our priorities. We have certainly done that here at PentaVision.

All of our products are now digital-related, except our printed magazines, but since the pandemic, you’ve told us you even want those in digital form, as the preferred method to digest info. Why? It’s more flexible, you can read on your phone, email the article, etc.

We’ve successfully done the transformation because we researched and listened. In a recent survey, 88% of our readers say they prefer digital consumption of industry content, and 45% of that 88% consume content via their smartphones!

In that survey, ECPs tell us that they will scale back the number of vendors they do business with across all areas. Quality of what you carry in your practice over quantity is vital. This gives you the opportunity to challenge the vendors who supply products and services to bring their “A” game.

We see many vendors inviting ECPs to their facility to witness the quality and care that goes into their commitments to this market. Coopervision Specialty EyeCare, as an example, invited me to their manufacturing facility in Gilbert, AZ, a few weeks back, and if I were an ECP, I would highly consider working with this team.

Advanced ortho-k lens production, material fabrication, R&D, marketing services, customer service, and expert consulting are provided as a customer of Coopervision Specialty EyeCare. That’s the way to convince ECPs to partner with a company that cares. The same goes for all categories in vision care. Seek out the leaders and partner with the best, as your patients and you will thrive.

A few years back, I visited Shamir. The research and quality I witnessed was spectacular. Every category has leadership in quality and service that ECPs should research so your practice is at the top of the game. Challenge the ones you are evaluating and make the choice to choose the very best in each area. It will be a win-win for your patients and your practice.

Social media is a huge advantage if you do it right. Stay close to your patients, educate them constantly, and you’ll have customers for life.

In a recent survey of contact lens practices, 43% of their patients buy their contact lenses and solutions from their practice. That means 57% walk out the door! Opportunity is there to capture and retain those patients/consumers if you provide the evidence in quality products that you carry and education that the vendors provide.

Today, it’s quality over quantity.

Here’s to a great balance of the year to all of you.

Sincerely,
Mark

Mark Durrick
Executive Vice President/Group Publisher-Optometry Network
Chief Revenue Officer-PentaVision Social Media