Barbara Wright DesignOptometric Office Design and Consulting |
|
 |
|
|
Barbara’s Favorite Quote "Design is a funny word. Some people think design means how it looks. But of course, if you dig deeper, it's really how it works." -Steve Jobs |
This Months NewsletterLatest Office Design Ideas Newsletter September 2008 CONTENTS 1. 20/20 Features Vision Source Texarkana! 1. 20/20 Features Vision Source Texarkana! When practice owner Todd Wylie, O.D. decided it was time to move to a larger office he wanted a one of a kind design that would combine his top two personal interests. Dr. Wylie enjoys the great natural beauty of the Northwest and wanted to bring it inside. He also wanted to build his new office as "green" and energy-efficient as possible while incorporating all the latest high tech equipment. In a retail setting like a mall or even a strip shopping center theft is a problem that goes with the territory. These days even practices in a more professional medical setting can experience theft of frames (politely referred to by accountants as "shrinkage") The busier you get, the easier it is for dishonest people to get away with it. One of my clients has his higher-end vendors help soften the blow from "lost" frames by getting the sales reps to give him a couple of no-charge personal frames every month or two. He says that he doesn't want to lock up his entire high-end inventory because he sells more if some frames are out and available for try-ons. That makes them more vulnerable to loss, but as long as the vendors help him out with personals he figures they both end up selling more frames in the long run. So what can you do about it? Read more... *************************************************************************************** Archives ***************************************************************************************
2. How to Build an Optical WITHOUT Expensive Display Fixtures Advanced Eyecare and Optical When practice owner Todd Wylie, O.D. decided it was time to move to a larger office he wanted a one of a kind design that would combine his top two personal interests. Dr. Wylie enjoys the great natural beauty of the Northwest and wanted to bring it inside. He also wanted to build his new office as "green" and energy-efficient as possible while incorporating all the latest high tech equipment. 2. How to Build an Optical WITHOUT Expensive Display Fixtures When you're opening a small office, especially if it's your first office and you are opening cold, you are probably looking for a way to get it designed and built economically. You can go to one of the fixture companies and they'll give you a free floor plan. But the optical will consist of a layout with the fixtures they expect to sell you. And those fixtures can cost $25,000 or more. Many of you don't want a "me, too" office that's just a box with fixtures stacked against the walls. So what else can you do? ***************************************************************************************
1. Tech. Stations Large and Small 2. Get a Tax Break for Energy-Efficient New Facility or Equipment
1. Tech. Stations Large and Small One of the factors that helps a growing practice increase efficiency is having one or more technicians to do pre-testing and assist the doctor in many ways. Some ECP's describe their lead technician as the "quarterback" of the office who manages the movement of patients to create a smooth patient flow for the doctor. Read More... 2. Get a Tax Break for Energy-Efficient New Facility or Equipment Here's a tax tip for you gleaned from DHL's monthly newsletter: Energy-related credits—Uncle Sam believes in energy efficiency and offers different types of tax credits to reward you. Whether you’re building a new facility or upgrading using energy-efficient components (e.g., Energy Star-rated appliances, solar panels, etc.), there are credits available to you. Look for these credits at the state level as well. You can find the full article here: http://www.dhlsmallbusiness.com/200805-1.html Be sure to ask your accountant about these credits if you are buying new equipment or building a new office this year. 3. Which brand would fill shoppers closets if money were no object? The following is an excerpt from the June 2008 issue of VMSD magazine: That's according to a survey by the Nielsen Co. more than 20,000 consumers in 48 countries voted the fashion leader, known for its desirable logo on handbags and accessories, as the most sought-after luxury brand Chanel and Calvin Klein tied for second. *************************************************************************************** CONTENTS This well-known optical chain has stores sprinkled throughout the city in nearly every upscale neighborhood so going into the Columbus Circle Center was a natural fit for them. The large photo graphics let shoppers know what the store is about from a distance before they can even read the name. The storefront is fairly conventional, reminiscent of a fine French boutique with tall double doors propped open in a welcoming stance. Read More... On a recent New York visit I carved out some time to see one of the newest upscale shopping centers at Columbus Circle (59th St.) The Columbus Circle Center is not as large as those you find in Los Angeles, but it boasts two optical shops. Solstice is strictly sunglasses with mid-range priced styles displayed on the wall and higher-priced styles in locked table top showcases. Brand names are displayed neatly above each row of frames. I was impressed that the check out counter was kept relatively free of clutter. Read More... *************************************************************************************** CONTENTS Q. - Do you recommend having the lab close to the front of the office or as a combination lab/staff lounge in the back to save space? I'm starting to hear the latter more and more. Also, do you think it's wise to equip the lab with an edger immediately or it better to wait if budget is tight? Read more... Q - Great Blog! I have read it and it is inspiring me to get ready to try to open up my own practice. I have been leasing space in a chain store for the last 5 years which is very successful. I have many patients who have asked me when I am going to start my own practice but I have been hesitant since I am close to one of our major employers and have a one year 3 mile non-compete clause. I have many "high tech" machines such as the Optos, digital retinal cameras, and other automated machines and would love to start a paperless optical with a cool dispensary. I recently saw a space for lease but I am afraid of the competition (a new Lenscrafters that will be opening across the street from the strip mall). Do you think I should hold off on pursuing this lease with a Lenscrafters across the street or do you think a well-designed dispensary in a small office of about 1100 sq ft (about 3.7 miles from my current office) could compete against them? I have just begun to search for locations to open but have no idea where to begin. Read more... *************************************************************************************** CONTENTS 1. New Name - Optometric Office Design Ideas 2. First Look - Mother Nature Meets High Tech 3. New book coming soon! Subscriber only discount! 1. New Name - Optometric Office Design Ideas We've got a new name for our newsletter that better describes what you will be receiving every month: Optometric Office Design Ideas. You will be the first to see a new office the moment we photograph it. I'll continue to give you my tips and opinions on all things related to office design. If you like this newsletter, please feel free to forward it to colleagues who are likely to be interested in office design. 2. First Look - Mother Nature Meets High Tech Here's a first peek at the office of Todd Wiley, O.D. in Spokane, WA, a 5,550 square foot 2-story building for a one-doctor vision therapy practice. That's not a misprint: one doctor, 5,550 square feet. This view shows the main area of the optical, which occupies most of the first floor. Read More... 3. New Book Coming Soon! Subscriber only Discount! My new book, Optometric Office Design Process and Pitfalls, will save you thousands of dollars and help you avoid the exasperating problems and runaway costs that other practitioners experience when they build a new office.Read More... *************************************************************************************** CONTENTS 1. Construction Costs - Reality vs. Wish 2. Bad News for Builders is Good News for You 1. Construction Costs - Reality vs. Wish When people call me to talk about building a new office, one of the questions I ask is, "How much per square foot have you budgeted for construction?" The answers mostly range from "I don't know" to $50 per square foot, which is way too low for an all-new interior build-out. Read more.... 2. Bad News for Builders is Good News for You The media is having a field day with the latest economic figures released by the government. All the business commentators are talking about the country going into an economic slow-down (no one wants to use that bad word "recession" just yet). Read more...... *************************************************************************************** CONTENTS 1. Top 10 Reasons and Ways to Go Green 2. Design Blunders: Display Background Color 1. Top 10 Reasons and Ways to Go Green By National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) Should you use green (environmentally friendly) building materials the next time you remodel or build a new office? The National Association of the Remodeling Industry shares reasons and ways togo green. Read more.... 2. Design Blunders: Display Background Color Optical design and theatrical design have much in common. Both have a stage (background) upon which the star (merchandise) is presented. Both rely on strong lighting to bring the audience's attention to the star. Read more...... *************************************************************************************** CONTENTS 2. Food for thought from a recent SCORE, "Counselors to America's Small Business" newsletter 3. Common Design Mistakes: Poor Sightlines The latest feature article by Barbara in the October edition of Eyecare Business magazine. Practitioners often struggle because the look of their office is at odds with the image they try to create with their marketing. The office environment becomes an obstacle to overcome instead of an asset that promotes the desired positioning. Read this article in its entirety... 2. Food for thought from a recent SCORE, "Counselors to America's Small Business" newsletter I found a fascinating interview with business writer and lecturer Dan Pink in a recent SCORE (Counselor's to America's Small Business) newsletter. He says, "you can't compete by process or economies of scale, but you can differentiate yourself through design, storytelling, the ability to see the big picture, and empathy. " 3. Common Design Mistakes: Poor Sightlines The line of vision between a person and an object is called a sightline. In optical design controlling the sightlines of what patients will see as they travel from one room to the next is a nuance that is left out of many office designs. When done correctly patients don't realize that their sightlines have been carefully planned and limited. What they perceive is a very neat, clean and professional office. *************************************************************************************** CONTENTS At GW Eye Associates in Carlsbad, CA this passage from clinic area to dispensary provides a convenient and quick stop for lens brochures, samples, products and accessories. Although my general rule for frame display is to have a white background, we can break the rule in secondary display areas like this. Someone asked me a question recently about customizing a cabinet design for storing stock lenses in the lab. It prompted me to think about how many different items need customized storage in a typical optometric office. How can you be sure that the things you want to store will fit in your new cabinets? Here's the original question and my answer. In designing our new lab we have the idea to utilize a cabinet as the stock lens drawer. We are wondering if there is already a concept design for this? We are thinking of have the shelves on an incline for easy viewing, and the shelves slide out. *************************************************************************************** CONTENTS 1. LED Lighting Revolution: How It Will Save You Money 1. LED Lighting Revolution: How It Will Save You Money OH, boy! I'm steamed! Months ago I specified new state of the art LED lighting fixtures for a green-conscious forward-thinking client. When it came time to ship the order, the manufacturer said, "Sorry, all of our inventory was sold to Gucci for their new store in New York." *************************************************************************************** CONTENTS 1. The Happy at Work Manifesto 3. Smallest space for a refracting land and exam room 1. The Happy at Work Manifesto By Alexander Kjerulf Much of what happens to us in life is beyond our control, but Kjerulf tells us that being happy at work is a choice. His message is simple, yet inspiring: When you decide to take steps toward being happy, you can be. Printemps, the elegant Paris department store, makes it's home in this massive architectural wonder. I always enjoy shopping the high end department stores in New York, like Bloomingdales, Barneys and Saks Fifth Avenue, but I'll never be able to look at them in quite the same way now that I've see Printemps. 3. What is the smallest space for a refracting lane and exam room? The smallest refracting lane/exam room I've ever done was 7'-6" x 10'. I spoke to this client recently and he says it's working very well for him. He has a small writing counter and sink to the right of the chair and the computer with digital eye chart monitor to the left. *************************************************************************************** CONTENTS 2. Fed Up With Spam? This can help! 3. World's Narrowest Optometry Office As I was going through all my retail display photos from Italy, this one stood out from the crowd. It definitely caught my eye as I was walking along the street. Is it a shopper-stopper? Yes. Is it innovative? Yes. Is it effective? Maybe. Does it help to sell frames? Maybe...read more. 2. Fed Up With Spam? This can help! Are you as frustrated as I am with Spam? This week I got an apologetic message from a client who was thoroughly embarrased by a spammer who stole his e-mail address. This creep sent everyone in this doc's e-mail address book a solicitation for porn, complete with a smutty photo! And somehow it was sent from the doctor's e-mail server so his address was in the "From" field. How horrible!...read more. 3. World's Narrowest Optometry Office Located in Florence, Italy, this little shop makes me shake my head in wonder. I though I had designed a few incredibly narrow spaces in my time, but this one has me beat. It couldn't be more than 8 to 10 feet wide!...read more. *************************************************************************************** CONTENTS 2. Productivity Zapper:E-Mail Overload You have probably read my views on the trouble with architects. (See Disasters article.) They tend to make their design more important than the merchandise. Now here's confirmation in print from an architect who agrees with me and has seen the light....read more. 2. Productivity Zapper: E-mail Overload Are you or your employees in the habit of constantly checking your e-mail?It's become the all-American pastime for many of us. But it's more harmful to our productivity than you might think. Download this excellent article and talk about it to your staff. I have instituted the solution the author suggests in my office and have noticed a significant gain in our productivity and ability to focus. The Low-Information Diet: How to Eliminate E-Mail Overload and Improve Productivity by Tim Ferriss It's Monday morning and your To-Do list for the day is lengthy. You turn on your computer, log into your inbox, and spend the next six hours starting, stopping and backtracking, your To-Do list untouched. Tim Ferriss offers immediate solutions to improve your productivity and quiet the constant information interference. http://changethis.com/34.04.LowInfo 3. Is Your Dispensary Suffering From Poster-itis? Talking about overload I recently paid a visit to three offices that I designed some years ago. The owners were all very happy with the design and the increased growth and profits they were experiencing. But two out of three dispensaries were suffering from "poster-itis"--too many posters standing all over the place. There were posters on the shelves, posters on the dispensing tables, on top of showcases and even on the floor! All these posters made the dispensary look cluttered and crowded. Clutter is the enemy in the dispensary and poster-it is is usually the main culprit.....read more. *************************************************************************************** CONTENTS 3. Effective Leadership = Higher Profits I'm back from my French and Italian retail tour. Some days it felt like I was in the Amazing Race for optical photos! That was the fastest three weeks of my life! Paris was great and I found the French people to be unfailing polite and friendly. The French really do have a flair for putting themselves together with style and good taste. However, French street style is conservative by American standards. See candid street fashion photos on my blog. I only found a few optical shops in Paris that were really well-designed. There is a lot of ho-hum optical design everywhere, even in Paris. Perhaps someday there should be a European division of Barbara Wright Design! I did stop dashing around the city long enough to have some very fine food and took breaks from my quest every day in the street cafes. The French take time to enjoy just sitting in the sun sipping their coffee. The waiters don't rush you either. They don't even bring the check until you ask for it. It's so unAmerican! The Paris Metro is a model of efficiency and all the stations are clean and neat. One station we went through had a most unusual and colorful tile design on all the walls and floors. People must have thought I was another nutty American tourist when I started snapping photos of the tile work! I'm finally getting back down to earth after that wonderful trip. I have tons more photos to share with you in future issues of this e-zine. Check out these photo articles on the blog: 3. Effective Leadership = Higher Profits I don't know about you, but I'm an avid reader. I especially love books on business and I'm always ready to learn something new I can use to improve my business. This month I'm recommending a book that has made a difference in how I think about my business and myself as the leader of that business: Get Everyone in Your Boat Rowing in the Same Direction by Bob Boylan. *************************************************************************************** CONTENTS 1. Barbara's European Retail Tour Gets Rolling 1. Barbara's European Retail Tour Gets Rolling When you receive this I will be madly packing, unpacking and repacking for my trip to Paris and Italy from April 4 to April 24. Your "undercover designer" will be snooping around the best French and Italian shopping meccas! I'll be cruising through some of the finest optical shops (like Alain Mikli in Paris) and the best boutiques and retail shops in Venice, Florence and the Amalfi Coast. To get as many photos as possible without getting thrown out by the shopkeepers as a design agent 007 I bought a new Fuji FinePix digital camera. It's rated as one of the best for shooting in low light conditions. It takes amazing indoor photos with no flash - essential for spying! Since we'll be traveling by rail, running through the station will be a lot easier if you just have one bag. Trying to pack everything you need into ONE carry-on suitcase is a real test of your organizational skills. It's nerve-wracking because there are so many restrictions on what you can take. Once we're off the ground I have promised myself that I'll just relax and enjoy the ride. I spent a year studying design in Finland after graduating from college. I really learned a lot living there and traveling around. The most important thing I learned about travel (especially international travel) is: You may set out thinking that you're taking the trip, but in reality the trip takes you. Next month you'll be the first to hear about my adventures and see some of the photos. The "new and improved" BWD website is up. We've added more articles and several free forms and checklists you can use to plan your new office. Check it out here: http://www.barbarawrightdesign.com/ Don't miss the Photo Gallery page. We've added more photos of Vision Source of Texarkana. This office is a great example of how to increase your sales of high end frames without losing your moderate price patients. The high end area is set off with custom showcases, columns and an uplit barrel vault. Economical built-in wall displays present the moderate frames in a more modest way. The difference is obvious and that makes it very comfortable and appealing for patients because they can tell that there's something for everyone at a single glance. *************************************************************************************** CONTENTS 1. Fabulous French-Italian Retail Tour April 4 - 23 2. Photos: Vision Source of Texarkana 3. Websites Need Remodeling Too 1. Fabulous European Retail Tour April 4 - 23 I'll be in Paris and Italy for three weeks in April to scout out the best in French and Italian retail design! I'll be cruising through some of the finest optical shops (like Alain Mikli in Paris) and the best boutiques and retail shops in Venice, Florence and Rome. Naturally, we'll do a bit of museum hopping too, but my main intent is to steep myself in world class merchandising, design and architecture for creative inspiration. In today's global economy people's tastes are getting to be more similar according to their income group than their geographic location. Many of my clients are opening new locations in high income areas or wanting to attract more high income patients. People who want high quality merchandise also expect high quality interior design whether they live in Paris, France, Toledo, Ohio or Palm Beach, Florida. On the other hand, stores like Target have shown us that great design isn't just for the rich. Target sells a whole line of Michael Graves kitchen wares and Isaac Mizrahi clothing and shoes. People with moderate incomes respond to great design, too. I expect to come back from my trip with a boatload of ideas for display and design that I can translate and adapt to any income level. Of course, I will bring back photos too and you'll be the first to see them because you're one of my subscribers. 2. Photos: Vision Source of Texarkana Just got in these photos of a 1500 square foot dispensary we designed for a new building in Texarkana, TX. I'm working on a case study of this practice for our website which will have the floor plan and many more photos, but this will give you a little preview of what is to come. 3. Websites Need Remodeling Too! How's your website? Have you added more content, made any improvements lately? It's easy to hire a company to set up a nice looking website. Sometimes the website is part of a package that you get when you buy practice software or marketing services. Most people are relieved when the website finally goes live. Then they get so busy with other things that new content is added on a very sporadic basis. The site may not have anything new for months at a time. Sound familiar? I'm guilty of this too. read more ************************************************************************************** CONTENTS 1. The New Demographics: You Are Where You Live 2. Design Disaster: This Beauty is a Beast 3. Top Three Office Design Trends of 2007 4. Got a Question?...Ask the Expert 5. Get A Free "Design Diagnostic" Consultation A new optometry office photo that I saw in Interior Design magazine really provoked my ire. Don't miss my rant on bad design this month: Design Disaster: This Beauty is a Beast. The new articles below are all on my "Growth & Profits By Design" blog. Follow the "read more" links or go directly to the blog at: http://optometricofficedesign.blogspot.com/ 1. The New Demographics: You Are Where You Live People sometimes wonder how I can successfully design offices all Now I'm revealing to you one of my "secret weapons" that I use to My secret weapon is ...read more 2. Design Disaster: This Beauty is a Beast Architects just don't get it. Look at this new office in Germany. It was featured in Interior 3. Top Three Office Design Trends of 2007 High-tech, hospitality and HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability & Here are Barbara's top three design trends for eye care interiors HAVE YOU SEEN THE OFFICE DESIGN GUIDE BOOK YET? Does it look like that longed-for new dream office could become a Find out all about it at http://www.barbarawrightdesign.com/book.html 4. Got a Question?...Ask the Expert! Ask me any question about office design. Just fill out the http://optometricofficedesign.blogspot.com/ 5. How to Get Your Free "Design Diagnostic" Consultation Are you going to relocate your office or build a new building in We will discuss your hopes and dreams for the new facility and I Just call me toll-free at 888-422-0361 *************************************************************************************** CONTENTS 1. It's 2007 - Do You Know Where Your Numbers Are? 2. Free Report: 7 Office Design Blunders 3. Mystery of the Missing Profits 4. Bargain Alert: Leather Side Chairs $106.99! 5. Got a Question?...Ask the Expert 6. How to Get Your Free "Design Diagnostic" Consultation The new articles below are all on my "Growth & Profits By Design" blog. Follow the "read more" links or go directly to the blog at: http://optometricofficedesign.blogspot.com/ 1. It's 2007 - Do You Know Where Your Numbers Are? You should be getting your year-end figures from your accountant The fact is that you can't improve what you don't measure ...read 2. Free Report: Are You Making These 7 Office Design Blunders? If you haven't received this valuable free report yet, just click http://www.barbarawrightdesign.com/7blunders.pdf 3. Mystery of the Missing Profits A while back I spoke to a client whose office I designed some This troubled me greatly as I am used to glowing reports from 4. Bargain Alert: Leather Side Chairs $106.99! Spotted during my last Costco run: Beautiful dark brown HAVE YOU SEEN THE OFFICE DESIGN GUIDE BOOK YET? Does it look like that longed-for new dream office could become a http://www.barbarawrightdesign.com/book.html 5. Got a Question?...Ask the Expert! Ask me any question about office design. Just fill out the http://optometricofficedesign.blogspot.com/ 6. How to Get Your Free "Design Diagnostic" Consultation Are you going to relocate your office or build a new building in We will discuss your hopes and dreams for the new facility and I Just call me toll-free at 888-422-0361 |
FREE REPORT: 7 Office Design Blunders Join Barbara’s mailing list and we’ll send your free report right away. You’ll also receive our Office Design Ideas newsletter monthly with tips and news you can use. See Latest Issue Call for a Free Consultation Business Hours: |
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
