Today we’d like to introduce you to Dr. Patricia Fox.
Dr. Patricia, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I’m an optometrist from the Boston area and had been practicing in and around Boston for several years, working for other doctors. I always wanted to have my own practice where I could put the emphasis on personalized service and individual attention, rather than high volume of eye exams and high-pressure sales.
In 2002 the Boston commercial real estate market was a bit depressed after the September 11 attacks, so there were more commercial spaces available. I found a lovely location overlooking Copley Square, and took a leap of faith. The business has grown steadily as we’ve become known as a friendly office where we provide excellent eye care and a huge range of eyeglasses to suit every budget. We have the most fashion-forward eyeglasses, as well as the very basic styles. Not everyone is interested in the fashion aspect of eye wear, but everyone wants to see well! Most people come in because a friend or colleague recommended us, or because our optical store is beautiful and inviting. Most people stay with us because we are very much a family-owned business with our emphasis on quality in caring for vision and in the products we offer. We love what we do, and we love helping people see better and look better.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has not always been smooth sailing. When the economy takes a downturn, people will make do with what they have, and they will put off getting new eyeglasses as long as they can. It is also a very competitive business, although most of our competitors try to offer cheaper products, not better products. We have learned that being consistently service-oriented is what sets us apart.
We want repeat customers, whether they buy new glasses every year, or every 5 years. We’re here to provide a service just as much as we’re here to sell eyeglasses. Online shopping is the exact opposite of our business model. We want to help people in an individualized way. We’re very “hands-on.”
Eyes Over Copley – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
I am most proud of the fact that almost every customer heard about us from a friend or colleague who has said, “You have to go to Eyes Over Copley!”
I know that we take the time with each customer to determine what they need and to provide excellence in eye care. People can easily stop in for any small or great needs: eyeglass adjusting and repairs, or questions about unusual vision changes.
We’re very available to our customers and that can be very comforting, especially in a world where day-to-day life can be busy and stressful. Something seemingly minor such as a ripped contact lens could totally ruin a person’s day if they didn’t have us to rely on. We are a small but mighty team here, and we work well together.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
The first time a patient said, “I love coming here. You make me feel so well cared for.”
Contact Info:
- Address: 10 Huntington Avenue, Boston 02116
- Website: eyesovercopley.com
- Phone: 617-859-0630
- Email: eyesovercopley@gmail.com
Image Credit:
Kit Pyne & Ken O’Donoghue
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