Ever wonder how those frames you love actually come into being? Well, perhaps it is time to peek behind that curtain-just a little. The optical wholesalers are the keepers of the eyewear universe, the unsung heroes behind each trendy pair of specs perched on your nose.
Visualize a maze of lenses, frames, and most amazingly, contact lenses. Wholesalers of optics are a bridge over the stormy sea between manufacturing companies and stores, buying goods at good prices and bargaining for better ones, distributing those very necessary sight-enhancing tools to all the local optical shops in the world.
These are not people who throw sunglasses and specs around. Most optical wholesalers usually bask in the glory of variety, stocking frames ripe for each face and occasion. They cater to the cries of retailers for a cornucopia of choices, ranging from rimless concoctions to bold cat-eye spectacles. Amidst this merchandise medley, though, reigns quality. Wholesalers have to be eagle-eyed to catch those flaws that may be a minefield of monotony.
It’s almost a tightrope dance. Balancing supply with demand is only one dance they do in those dusty shoes. Many times, they have to handle finicky manufacturers one day and demanding retailers the next, while trends and consumer whimsy change with the seasons-a little like trying to catch a fluttering butterfly with a net that has a hole in it.
And now, to the dispensing of these optic wonders-the other twist in this intricate tango. In comes logistics. Next, efficient inventory management to prevent chaos from leading to chaos. Ever tried finding your socks after the wash? Same dilemma. Only here, they deal in thousands of pieces, fragile merchandise, no less!
Of course, not all is numbers and delivery trucks. It’s the human touch to each transaction that has the retailers feel as if they were one of the family, not customers. A spark of spontaneity or a flash of humor on that customer service call made the ho-hum into a great one. As one clerk related, sometimes their shipments take the scenic route. It didn’t hurry the shipment any but it did brighten up a gray day. So, the next time you go to choose a pair of peepers from your optometrist, remember the intricate ballet that went on for them to get there. Optical wholesalers really are, in reality, the stage crew-they make sure the show goes on and your view is sharper than ever.