Today we’d like to introduce you to Darlene Tomasiello.
Darlene, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I have been a license optician in New Jersey for quite some time
I was a partner in a practice for roughly 20 years.
Due to my husband’s occupation we had to relocate to Virginia and Iowa. We spent 10 years in Iowa and when the time came to retired, we chose Florida.
I was always used to working in the optical industry, running opticals for optometrists.
So, when it came to retiring, I realized that wasn’t for me.
I enjoyed being an optician and helping people. Discussing the newest spectacle lens options, to finding the proper fitting frame.
Eyeglasses are a prosthetic device; they should be so comfortable that you forget you are wearing them.
We must also not forget eyeglass frames should complement the shape and color of the client’s facial features.
I always say eyeglasses are jewelry for our faces.
Florida does not have reciprocity with New Jersey, so I had to go back to school, take a series of tests given by the State Board of Florida.
Once I accomplished that, then it was where am I going to work. I always dreamed of opening my own optical boutique. the stars aligned, a store front became available in a strip mall on Midnight Pass Road, Siesta Key/Sarasota, Florida.
The building was a total renovation project. But it all fell together.
Next was selecting the vendors I wanted to work with. I looked for independent, artisan frame designers. I did not want frames that you could purchase everywhere else. I wanted my frame lines to be unique. I have vendors from the United States, France, Italy, Spain, Holland, England, Canada, just to name a few.
I hand pick each frame I carry in my optical. I look for quality, style and fitting value. Petite frames to extra large frames.
The frames and spectacle lenses all range in a variety of prices. I am here to educate the client on the differences and why they range in price. The bottom line is the client is happy with the look and the cost
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Wow, good question.
I am sure I had some obstacles, but it is all how you face them. I am more of “the glass is half full, instead of half empty”
When I first started in the optical industry it was an all-man’s club. Opticians in the industry were all men, The State Board in New Jersey were all men. So that might have been a little challenge.
I just kept my nose to the grindstone and kept my eye on the prize.
I remember taking my NJ state board test. It was 2 days of testing. First day, was a written test, second day was neutralizing glasses (reading the prescription of glasses using a manual lensometer) then we had to edge a pair of glasses (using unfamiliar equipment) lastly was adjusting 3 pair of glasses, that were badly bent out of alignment. on a state board member.
Alot of crying and migraine headaches when I got home after 2 days of testing
Then we waited to be notified by mail of the results. I remember the envelope arriving. I was petrified to open it. I kept feeling the thickness of the envelope, if it was thick it meant you failed,( a lot of papers in the envelope so you could reapply to take the test again). If it was thin, you passed. (only needed 1 sheet of paper to congratulate you)
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Tough question – I never worked for corporate, like Lens Crafter, etc…. I have always worked for a private optometrist. Who let me run the show in their optical.
Not so much now, but years ago we use to not only style the client with a new frame but also make the glasses. Edge the lenses, etc… If you like working with your hands, which I do, it was so much fun.
What kind of job pulls fashion, medical and technical all together. It is really an exciting field.
You look at someone’s face, the bridge of their nose, how far apart their eyes are, the shape of their face, and if you know your inventory you can go to your frame boards and pull-down frames that fit and look great.
That is why I have to select the frames I bring in. I cannot have a corporate office sending me frames
Example, I have a lot of petite women come into my boutique I need to have petite frames. You put a large frame on a small face, the prescription might become overly thick and heavy, the frames create the illusion their eyes are close together. People do not realize a lot goes into selecting the proper eye wear
Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
I have no advice I am sorry to say.
My first thought was to say find an old timer, that has been in the field a long time, he/she can teach you tricks to make your life easier. But then, I thought I have met some young people that are brilliant in this field. Maybe not so much with edging lenses, but the medical and technical part of the industry.
I was blessed to have a wonderful mentor. Again, back in New Jersey, way back when, we made glasses by hand. No automatic edger.
This man was amazing, he taught me tricks of the trade, that no text book could teach you.
When you make glasses and see the end results, you can better help your client when selecting frames and the effect it will have on the prescription.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.eyestyleopticalboutique.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/eyestyleopticalboutique
