Value eyewear leader, Modern Optical International, marks its 40th Anniversary this year and reflects on four decades in the eyewear industry.

Modern Optical fondly recalls its humble beginnings in 1974 that started in a modest square office space furnished with two desks, two phones, metal shelving for inventory, a six foot table to process orders, and a Rolodex of business cards. Its eyewear collection consisted of 20 styles displayed on an 11×14 flyer. All frames except two were metal; most had a double bridge. Customer orders were hand delivered on Fridays when Yale Weissman, the company’s co-founder and only sales rep, returned to the home office after a week in the field. He phoned in orders deemed urgent. This is how it all started. Over time, Modern broadened its frame selection, hired more sales reps, increased office staff, installed fax machines and bought a few computers.  With immeasurable tenacity and sweat equity, the company grew each and every year, one optical office at a time.

Today Modern Optical is an international company offering over 800 styles and a host of eyewear-related products as featured in this year’s 110-page catalog. Designs have come and gone thru the years only to return with a slightly new twist. Some have remarkable staying power, like the “Cosmo”, which has been around for over 30 years!  Modern has expanded office space four times to better accommodate everyone and everything.  Customers can now place their own orders via our website, fax or phone. Reps primarily use their iPads. There are seemingly endless ways to communicate with customers including phone, fax, email, Facebook, Twitter, Linked In and Pinterest.

Ken Weissman, President, expresses his sentiments, “Things are so different today, yet some things endure. While we’ve learned so much over the years, and made plenty of mistakes along the way, the one thing we know for sure is that the customer always comes first, period. That has been our focus from the beginning and remains true today.”

Ken adds, “We extend heartfelt gratitude for the trust and faith the independent eyecare professionals have shown in us through the years to provide quality products, at affordable prices with what we believe is the absolute best customer service in the business.  As the optical industry continues to adapt to this fast-paced, ever changing world, rest assured that as a 40-year, family-owned business, Modern Optical values and understands the importance of each and every relationship that has gotten us to this point.”

Modern is celebrating its anniversary with special promotions and giveaways throughout the year. Visit their website at www.modernoptical.com for more information.