The document discusses various materials used in eyewear frames and factors to consider for inventory management. It describes popular frame materials like plastic, metal, titanium and their properties. It emphasizes the importance of computerized inventory control and limiting vendors. It provides benchmarks for cost of goods, profit percentages and optimal inventory levels based on prescriptions per month. Proper inventory management is key to stabilizing costs and profits.

1. Eyewear Frames:
It's a Material World
DR.T.NIRMAL FREDRICK,
ASST. PROF. OF OPHTHALMOLOGY,
REGIONAL INSTITUTE OF OPHTHALMOLOGY, CHENNAI.

2. What do the patient want in their frames….
 Survey …….
 What are you looking
for in eyeglass
frames?
 A wide range of
available colors? 256
col?
 Durability? –last
forever….

3. What do the patient want in their frames….
 Bright and Light on the face?
..Gold favourite
 Hypoallergenic materials?
 A good price? Uniqueness?
 What their favourite star
dons in the serial or
movies…..

4. Eyewear materials
 Shell
 Titanium
 Polycarbonate
 Gold
 Polyamide
 Alloys
 Carbon
 Wood
 Metal
 leather

5. Plastic
eye wear frames
 cellulose acetate or Zyl -
cost-effective & extremely
lightweight.
 popular - laminated zyl frames
that have layered colors.
 propionate — a nylon-based
plastic that is hypoallergenic..

6. Metal eye wear frames…..
 Stainless steel –
alternative to titanium
.
 light weight, low
toxicity and strength
 nickel-free and thus
hypoallergenic.

7. Metal eye wear frames…..
 Ticral is an alloy of
titanium, copper and
chrome.
 nickel-free and
hypoallergenic.
 lightweight and
durable and
available in a variety
of colors.

8. Titanium – exquisite / lasting
 silver-gray metal -
lightweight, durable, strong
and corrosion-resistant.
 Titanium eyewear - variety
of colors for a clean,
modern look
 titanium combo with nickel
and copper.

9. Aluminum frames
 lightweight and highly corrosion-resistant.
 Aluminum - primarily by high-end eyewear designers
because of the unique look it creates.
 Aluminum - most widely used, nonferrous material.
 commercial aluminum with small amounts of silicon and
iron is hard and strong.

10. curious Frame Materials
 Solid silver or sterling silver - often used
as a jewelry-like accent on plastic
frames.
 gold eyewear, typically gold plating
rather than solid gold.
 Semi-precious or precious stones -
Popular choices are onyx and turquoise,
but even diamonds can be used
 Rhinestones - less expensive, used to
create a flashy or retro look, especially
in upturned cateye frames

11. curious Frame Materials
 Wood and bone frames
- handmade, one-of-a-
kind pieces that satisfy a
specialty niche.
 unique look and beauty.
 leather – not as durable
or practical as other
materials ...used for
accenting,

12. Inventory
management &
marketing..
The real bugbear
& rec.. headache…

13. Inventory management
 Keep your optical
shop’s bottom line
from looking like a
rollercoaster.
 system should be in
place to restock the
shelves with similarly
priced products
 COMPUTERIZATION

14. Computerized control
 inventory management software
NECESSARY -It doesn’t have to be
elaborate
 Modules that go along with your
practice management system can
cost up to Rs.20,000
 If your practice has several locations,
manage under one program.

15. Frameboard and vendors
management
 Limit your vendors to 5 to 10
 smaller number of vendors - build a
stronger relationship
 Negotiate good terms and pricing
 Can get fast moving frames easily

16. How to get the best deal…
 Buying groups.
 buying a large quantity from one supplier – good
deal – consider group buying
 best price while buying directly from the
manufacturer.
 Shop,compare, ask for discounts for bulk
purchase.
 Bulk purchase more than 150 frames in one type
you can get your logo and brand name

17. Inventory management
 Inventory investment must remain
stable.
 easily accomplished with a frame
-for-frame reordering system.
 Implementing a reorder system
 will stabilize the initial investment,
 eliminate stock overages, and
 provide an accurate cost-of-goods
percentage.

18. Inventory management
two additional factors –
space allocation and patient demographics –
 Do not inventory “back stock” or
overstock.
 Overstock is wasted capital.
 inventory should have supply for display only….
 Practice-specific demographic ranges
 age appropriate frame styles

19. Benchmarking..
 Identify minimum number of jobs to be sold
 BENCHMARK: Recommended old frames and
refixing = 2 to 3 times (25%)
 BENCHMARK: Complete Jobs ( Orders
including both frame and lenses) = 75%
 Inventory levels - based on the recommended
turn ratio of annual frame units sold.

20. Magic number
 to project an appropriate inventory level
 determine necessary staff requirements
- estimate associated operating expenses &
 estimate projected annual revenue.
No of eye glass prescriptions per month – „magic number”
60 to 75% capture rate

21. Business standards…

22. Benchmark for profit in optical dispensing
Cost of goods = frames + lenses +
fitting + staff remuneration
1. BENCHMARK: No On-site Lab
= 38-40% COG
2. BENCHMARK: On-site
Finishing = 28-30% COG
3. BENCHMARK: On-site
Finishing & Surfacing = 23-25%
COG