ForumsStarting a Business

Congratulations. You have great credentials being an Ophthalmologist and Laser Surgeon.
Having never been to India, the plan to start with one shop successfully and open more outlets sounds great.
Develope a BUSINESS and MARKETING PLAN?? Do you have the FUNDS??
Will you have an Accountant?? A Lawyer?? on your team.
Best of luck, LUCKIEST

O K, MARKETING IDEAS
Conduct a Marketing Analysis, discuss the services offered. Identify customer demand for your services.
Identify your market, its size and location. Explain the pricing strategy.
Will you be opening a retail store??, Where?? What part of town??
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Good luck, LUCKIEST

Welcome to the community! I'm not familar with the healthcare system in India - so I apologize if this is a basic question. Is your optical shop set up to receive insurance? Or is it set up as cash-only? In the U.S. optical shops receive both types of payments. Often optical shops will advertise that they accept certain insurance companies and also get on the insurance companies website for promotion.

There is an optical company that is participating on this site. This is there success story on their optical store (Roman Eyes located in the U.S.), check it out:
http://smallbusinessonlinecommunity.bankofamerica.com/docs/DOC-1494?start=6.

Also, click on the user's profile to see if the business owner wants to get contacted - if so they will of published their website & contact info. Although this one is in the U.S., I bet there are some good learnings you can exchange with each other.

I have an idea! Similar to the story posted by the U.S. based optical shop - have you thought about going to your customers and delivering this service & eyeglasses to them? This model may be effective, given the fact that eyecare awareness is very low in India and transportation options for some maybe challenging.

Also, I understand that wealth in India is changing very rapidly. So maybe for some customers - you can charge them your asking price for services and glasses. But, for the groups of people that can not afford eyecare, would you consider giving them a discount? If not, I am wondering if you can get grants or funding from world health organizations to provide this service to people who need eyecare but can not afford it. Have you looked into this possibility?

I think it's a great service you are doing.

Any more suggestions?? Please????

Any New Ideas??????

Haai Mozart ,

Those were wonderful ideas...but the point is... I dont have that much funding to run a Mobile Shop on a trailer.

Also if you want people to get on to the bus which would come to my shop.

1) We should have marketed ourselves well before we can do that.
2) People would rather prefer to go to Big establishments , rather than a small shop.

Here are my ideas and I am gonna implement these.

1) Eye Testing + Frames+ Lenses for 10 $ ( Possible in India)
2) Contact Lenses for 20 $
3) Sun Glasses for 10 $

This low cost is gonna be the driver for people to reach our shop and its services

Let me know ure ideas on this