If we look back 20-30 years ago, the nicknames “Glasses” or “Four Eyes” were probably names we gave to a friend who was serious about studying, working, or just addicted to computer games. In fact, characters who wore glasses were sometimes considered “nerds” because if they used their eyes a lot to wear glasses, they must have read a lot of books.
But that’s wrong. This is an era where the average reading rate of Thai people has only exceeded 8 lines in 2018. Plus, we have “four eyes” all over the country. When glasses have become a top need that people want to be a part of their daily lives, it wouldn’t be strange if someone wanted to open an eyeglasses shop.
In this first episode, I will take everyone to experience the feeling of an eyeglasses shop that does not treat you like a close relative or parent, but rather treats you as if you were themselves. I am referring to DD Eyes Optic, a progressive lens center owned by Mr. Nitikorn Boonpang.
The beginning of an eyeglasses shop
Mr. Nitikorn said that he has been involved with the eyeglasses shop since he was in university. Mr. Nitikorn graduated from the university with a degree in political science and administration. However, while he was studying, he saw that he had free time, so he started looking for part-time work. He was lucky to come across a sign announcing a job opening for an eyeglasses shop employee, and the shop hired Mr. Nitikorn as a full-time employee, allowing him to go to school or take exams.
“Work changes our lives and our thinking.”
Nitikorn said that he decided to study political science because he liked justice. However, his life and the social class system made him feel that society lacked justice, which was unavoidable because of politics and government. After graduating, Nitikorn chose to work in eyeglasses for another 4-5 years before becoming saturated with the heaviness called “stability.”
“Focus on the purpose of life. If we have children growing up, how will we make the family more stable?”
Every life that is being built needs stability. Mr. Nitikorn therefore tried to start his own business but it turned out to be unsuccessful. This made him start looking for something that he was truly good at. When he found it, he had to ask himself whether he was good at it and whether he loved it or not. Because in order for a business or career to create stability for us, we ourselves must be able to be confident in doing it continuously as well.
“The eyeglasses business is a career that fits my personality.”
Eyeglass business is a job that requires high responsibility, requires precision, honesty and straightforwardness. The service provider must be able to provide 100% service to every customer. They cannot do it halfway. If they plan to do it, they must do their best to provide assistance. Mr. Nitikon himself has a high level of precision and responsibility, and doing eyeglass business makes him an even more detailed person. The shop must be able to provide everything that the customer needs completely.
“Starting with a small shop first allows us to learn from nothing.”
Many people may misunderstand that when doing any business, they should do it big because it means that they are doing their best. But Mr. Nitikon is not like that. He started from a small shop and gradually grew. When doing business, he sets a limited budget when he allows himself to learn from a point where he has nothing. This will allow us to see the changes in the business most clearly. When it moves to another point, we will know best. On the day that we have customers, tools ready, and a variety of customers, we will know best how much stronger we have become.
The set goals
Mr. Nitikorn explained that the eyeglasses business is a business that has already grown on its own due to the current behavior of people’s eyes glued to the screen, whether for entertainment, communication or work. Everyone has to stare at the square screen for a long time. And in the future, it looks like it will be used more. Therefore, this business will probably be around for a long time.
“The eyeglasses industry is not just about nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism.”
Many people may not know that optical shops are not only for making glasses for nearsighted, farsighted or astigmatism people. Nowadays, optical shops are like eye health clinics that, in addition to measuring eyesight, also provide eye health checks such as cataracts, measuring intraocular pressure to see if there is a risk of glaucoma, checking the thickness of the lenses, whether LASIK can be done or if there is eye strain, etc. These are things that optical shops can help with and if there is anything unusual, customers can immediately seek treatment from an ophthalmologist at a hospital or clinic.
Methods of personnel selection
From being a university student working full-time at an eyeglasses shop to owning his own eyeglasses shop, Kuninit said that studying political science helped him to monitor the staff and team in the shop and also played a part in deciding who to work with.
“People who are grateful have a foundation of sacrifice.”
In addition to the eyeglasses shop needing highly skilled personnel who are responsible and can solve customers’ problems completely, another way for you, the legal expert, to select employees is to look for people who are grateful because you, the legal expert, believe that people who are grateful have a foundation of sacrifice. When they are with the public, they will know how to help, sympathize with others, and make the work system in the shop run with love and harmony. In addition, the most important thing for working in the shop is that whatever the subordinates do, the owner must do the same.
Impression
Mr. Nitikorn said that the eyeglasses business is a business that he likes because it can make customers who come in relieve their discomfort and go home with a smile. The service provider himself feels comfortable that he has solved the problem completely for them, without any lingering grudges or doubts. Some people may say that when giving glasses to customers, they should think of it as giving glasses to their parents, which is true, but Mr. Nitikorn adheres to the principle that giving glasses to everyone is like giving glasses to yourself.
“If we do our best for him, even if the result is not good, let it go and start over the next day.”
What Khun Nitikon always tells every team in the shop is not to leave anything unresolved in each case. Even though we try to provide the best service and solve problems for customers, if there are still mistakes or customers are not 100% satisfied with our work, take it back to improve and don’t keep it in your heart and make yourself feel bad. Consider that we have done our best. Focus on the work. We come to work to get paid. We don’t have to accept anyone’s emotions or even our own emotions. The next day, we have to let go and start over. Don’t keep it as suffering.
Why choose Essilor?
Mr. Nitikorn explained that in doing business, it is necessary to have products that can meet the needs of customers in a timely manner. Essilor supports in solving problems for eyeglass shops immediately. For example, if there is a problem with the lens, they will be responsible for claiming the lens for free. In addition, there is a good transportation system and back-office system. Therefore, the shop does not have to worry about these matters. They can move forward with confidence because in growing a business, we cannot grow alone. We have to grow with people who are ready. And Essilor is ready for everything. It can completely meet the needs of customers and increase the opportunity to sell.
Message to the New Generation Salaryman Page
In every job, there are always obstacles to test us, whether we work full-time or have our own business. On the day we meet bad people, think that we might have been bad people in someone else’s story as well. We cannot change other people’s opinions, but what we can do is learn and accept that each person’s karma is different according to their actions. If we understand this, we will become people who do not judge others, which will make us feel more comfortable working with anyone. When we do not focus on others, we will turn back to focus on our work. In the end, work is money, the result that we all work to get.
“Yesterday’s story is yesterday’s story. When you wake up today, it’s a new beginning. Good things will come to you.”
DD Eyes Optic Eyeglasses Shop, a specialist progressive lens center
Address: No. 52/39 Village No. 5, Lat Sawai Central Market (Lam Luk Ka, Khlong 4), Lat Sawai Subdistrict, Lam Luk Ka District, Pathum Thani Province
Call: 092 6840550
A clear life of a former technical student to an eyeglasses business owner l Vision Missionission
