Border Texture

Back to School Insanity - Here's How to Stay Sane

Back to School Insanity - Here's How to Stay Sane
You've been there, whether as the child or the parent. You remember these lists, and they only get more complicated when more than one age group is involved.

School Supply List - Here's the Mindset

  • 5 Blue Pens - Easy! Right next to the pencils which are next on my list.
  • 10 Pencils - Sharpened!? Can't they see I have enough to do?
  • Colored Pencils & Crayons - Maybe I'll try one of those adult coloring books... They're supposed to help me relax. Wait, no. Focus, we're not here for me today.
  • Looseleaf Paper - College Ruled or Otherwise?
  • 5 Notebooks - You know the drill. ^^^
  • Ruler - Metal? Plastic? 12"? 6"?
  • Erasers - For the end of the pencil or that big pink one?
  • Glue Stick - Goes on purple, dries clear. What!? That's amazing.
  • Protractor - Is that the half-moon or the pointy thing?
  • Compass - Not the kind that points north. Oh wait, this is the pointy thing!
  • 3 Ring Binders - 1 1/2 inch - Not 1" or 2". Great, those are sold out.
  • 2 Pocket Folder - Thank goodness, this one is easy and cheap!
  • TI-85 Calculator - You want how much for that!?
  • New Backpack - For every kid!? Now I'm broke.
For when you're losing your mind - here's a cute and relatable video!

Advice for Eye Care Professionals

As an Eye Care Professional, it can be difficult to attract your patients during an already hectic season. You're going to need to think outside of the box and promote a range of items beyond kids frames. Think about it - it's the parent that does the shopping, and you're not going to want to leave them out! Combining a BOGO for kids and parents could work for your office. Additionally, building partnerships with local shops that are offering school supplies or apparel will help you spread the word about your fantastic deals. Remember, it's a two-way street so make it a mutually beneficial proposal! Advertising on social media, by word of mouth and direct mail, are your best bets. We have compiled a list of promotions and activities you can do on-site. Please keep in mind, these are only suggestions; we encourage you to mold these ideas to suit your office's needs and personality.
  • Raffle off a free backpack stuffed with the school supplies as mentioned above. Include a runner-up prize and offer a lunch bag full of snacks like dried apples, Veggie Straws, Alpha-bits cereal or Fruit by the Foot.
  • Have an area, frame boards included, with bright colors, kid-friendly brands, and themes. Make their space evident from the moment they walk in. Add optical illusion books, and bring in someone to do face painting or caricatures! Fill opaque containers with anything you can think of, make them stick their hands in and guess what the contents are. Tie this back to the idea of teaching them what a gift sight is. It's also not a bad idea to have juice boxes and goldfish crackers available because it's always easier to wait when you have a snack to enjoy.
  • Make up a few different coupons; our suggestions would be discounts on Blutech, EyeZen+ lenses or Prevencia, and a free branded frame. Mix them all up and at the beginning of the appointment and have the patient draw a slip from a jar. That way, if they won the free frame upgrade, they can happily shop the branded frames right away. Effectively saving the parents from the “No, it’s too expensive” talk before it’s necessary.
  • For teens who wear contacts, try offering a free pair of sunglasses with a year's supply of contact lenses. Of course, you'll want to select a limited stock of frames for them to choose from, but maybe they'll win the free branded pair and have a chance to upgrade!
  • Stuff a jar full of erasers for adults to guess the right count and give them a discount on their next frame. This activity gives you the opportunity to spoil the parents and their wallet.
  • Offer children a Free Eye Exam. Use this to reinforce the fact that vision screening in school can miss up to 60% of problems that can be caught by a comprehensive eye exam. Bring it full circle by offering a discount for pre-booking exams for the following BTS season.
  • Lastly, don’t miss this opportunity to talk to parents about Sports Frames either. Just like gym clothes are required for sports, these activities also require a more advanced type of eye protection. August is Children's Eye Health and Safety Month, use this to your advantage in your bundles and advertisements.
Call our Customer Service team today to learn more about our Kids, Modern and C2 Sports packages. (800) 469-4211. Need a new copy of the price lists? Email us today: customerservice@cherryopticalinc.com or Contact Us Here. Happy back to school season!
Resources for your office:

Categories

Recent Posts