Face to face with Gregory Hicks

Name of practices
Family Eye Care Centers

Locations
3 locations :
Sandusky Office, Sandusky, Ohio
Huron Office, Huron, Ohio
Clyde Office, Clyde, Ohio

Number of employees
18

Years in business
I have purchased several optometrists’ practices and merged them into these three locations. I have been in practice for 23 years but the origins of this business entity go back nearly 50 years.

Working with Luxottica
I have just recently stepped up a significant amount of my eyewear dispensary displays and brands with Luxottica.

What does “Working Together” with Luxottica mean to you
Luxottica has made an effort to understand my patient care needs and business needs. They are working with me to help my patients have a quality and more “memorable eyewear experience.” We have worked together on improving our selection, displays and merchandising. Our new Sun Centers have been designed and placed to be the focus of our eyewear dispensing areas.

What makes you different from your competitors
I want to make every visit to our office as fun as I can so that our patients look forward to coming back and tell their friends and family to come here too!

How is your business going to change in the near future
We hope to see our multiple eyewear sales go up with a stronger emphasis on sunwear.

One piece of advice for your peers
Ask questions of your frame company reps for ways to improve your frame displays and have the staff members who show your eyewear play a key part in selecting the frames that you display. Your staff needs to be excited about the eyewear they share with our patients.

One piece of great advice someone gave you
Partner with with ophthalmic manufacturers and their company reps. Find ways to help each other! Support the manufacturers who support my profession.

Something you are excited about for 2007
Sunwear…more sunwear in our office than ever before… we have increased our number of suns three fold.

Things you do to keep up to date in your work
Attend meetings, ask lots of questions, and stay involved with the American Optometric Association, Ohio Optometric Association and my local optometric zone. Having college of optometry students in my practice asking questions helps to keep my thinking current and sharp.

What do you think is the next big trend in eye wear
More and more multiple sales with lenses designed specifically for our different daily tasks performed at both work and play.

What do you like about rafting
Excitement, outdoors, nature, great friends and it’s a rush with a touch of risk!

Other activities, sports or hobbies you do on your free time
Golf, swim, travel, garden, gym, read, Ohio State football fan, watch my kids in their sporting events

Your dream vacation
Fun in the sun with my wife

What’s on your desk right now
I am looking at my frequent flier miles with three different airlines…so many places to travel with these miles???? Where to next?

Last book read
I read a book yesterday cover to cover. Beach Road by James Patterson. I was not expecting the ending.

Favorite movie
This is a tough one. I don’t really watch movies all that much. I would rather read a book.

Favorite food
A great steak with a fun beer!