Community Corner
New Business Q&A: Design Vision Optical
New Wauwatosa business is family owned and owner, Cindy Seemann, says their parent division has been in Cudahy and Franklin for nearly seven decades.
Design Vision Optical has just opened its third location at 8720 West North Avenue in Wauwatosa. There are already stores in Cudahy and Franklin. Patch chatted with owner Cindy Tomasik Seemann to find out more about the shop.
Q. What is your business and what makes it special or unique?
A. Sometimes it's hard for petite women and men requiring larger sized frames to find a selection of eye wear to choose from. We pride ourselves in offering a large, varied selection for all sizes of people. We match our great selection with personal fitting, measurements and close customer service.
We offer the newest technology in lenses. There have been, and continue to be, many advances in lenses including making them thinner and flatter. Offering crisp vision through "HD" (high definition - think the newest TV's). Also for those people requiring lenses for both far and near, progressive lenses or bifocals, they can now be personalized to fit the frame, your prescription, your physical measurements. For example, one eye may be a few millimeters higher or closer to your nose than the other.
We specialized in baby, toddlers and children with our Kids' Division. Many local pediatric ophthalmologists trust us in fitting their patients with glasses. We offer a safe, fun, kid friendly area in our office that is separate from the adults to keep everyone happy! We also set appointments for children to be measured for their glasses - This is especially helpful for first time wearers and children with special needs. We are able to give them our undivided attention and pre-select frames prior to their appointment to make the process easy
Q. What's a fact about your business that most customers probably don't know?
A. First we are a family owned company and our parent division has been in business in Cudahy and Franklin for almost 70 years.
Q. What's your most popular product or service?
A. Kids Miraflex frames for babies and toddlers. Miraflex frames are great for young children because they are durable and pretty accident resistant.
Ray-Bans' - eye wear and sunglasses - prescription and non prescription for all ages are a popular and hot item.
Contact lenses for hard to fit patients or previous contact lens drop outs.
Sunglasses - prescription and non prescription in a variety of price ranges. We even has sunglasses for babies and "fitovers" for seniors.
Q. How does your business connect with the community?
A. We are opening our space to local books clubs. If a book club is looking for a different place to hold their discussion - they can consider our space. We will offer a special discount on our reading glasses and/or sunglasses purchased on this day - this is similar to a private shopping party.
We have been a long time supporter of Children's Hospital. We are very supportive of children with special needs; we have supported Dylan's Walk for autism, the Down Syndrome of Wisconsin Walk, and I was the first optical retailer in Wisconsin to offer Specs4Us, frames designed for children with Down Syndrome.
Cindy is a past board member of Prevent Blindness of Wisconsin and a volunteer vision screener.
We also strongly support Center for Blind and Visually Impaired, the Betty Brinn Children's Museum, and several local Wauwatosa schools with auction items and gift certificates.
For more about Design Vision Optical, call (414) 774-0200.
Editor's Note: If you know of a new business we should feature, contact Community Editor Sarah Worthman.
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