AKDERE OPTİK
Respond to the Needs
“As a professional in the optical industry, I was very delighted to have the chance to shop in a very crowded and exciting atmosphere once more when I have participated Silmo Istanbul’s 2022 edition.”
Hello Mr. Davut. First of all, could you introduce yourself a little bit and tell us about how your path crossed with the optical sector?
Hello, I am Davut Akdere. I am the store owner and responsible manager of Akdere Optik, located in the Başakşehir district of Istanbul. I graduated from Aydın University Opticianry Department in 2015 and I have been in the sector since then. Since my family elders have been serving in the health sector for years, I made my choice in this direction with their guidance.
How did you decide to open your store? Could you tell us about your establishment phase?
We had the intention of opening an optical store and during this time, we discovered that there was no optical store in Kayaşehir that could meet the needs of the region. For this reason, we opened our store, which we had previously invested in after the pandemic, in order to serve the needs and demands of the region.
Could you tell us about the vision and goals you opened your store with?
Quality products, quality service, honesty and sincerity are what make us who we are. Our customers are our guests, so we show the same respect to the customers who come to our store as a guest should be treated. We see customer satisfaction as our biggest gain.
Do you carry products from every group in your store? How do you think having different product segments reflects on your sales?
We carry products from almost every style and every segment. We already have a very wide collection in order to satisfy everyone who visits our store. I can say with peace of mind that the more different and branded products we have, the higher the sales are. Every day we make an agreement with a new world brand.
What are the most sold optical and sunglasses brands in your store?
Mykita, Silhoutte, Chopard, Bvlgari, Vycoz, Furla, Lacoste and Salvore Ferragamo are among our most sold optical brands. As for sunglasses, we sell Serengeti, Mykita, Bvlgari, Chopard, Gucci, Balenciaga, Bottega Veneta, Tom Ford, Prada, Miu Miu, Versace, Salvatore Ferragamo, Lanvin and other world brands.
How do you choose the brands of optics and sunglasses you sell?
We try to make our choices in optics and sunglasses by considering the demands of our customers. Because although fashion and trends are important elements, what our customers need or demand comes first for us.
Designer brands are very popular in recent years. Do you also receive this kind of demand from your customers?
We have a great deal of foreign customers in our region and our foreign customers do not show much demand for designer brands. However I have customers who demand designer brands. That is why we closely follow the products of designer brands and try to keep them in our store, although not in large numbers.
What are your after sales services?
After-sales service is as important as sales for us. While selling, we inform every customer about after-sales, we care and help all problems from the smallest to the biggest.
How do you inform your customers about the changes and campaigns in your store?
We inform our customers about our campaigns through our social media accounts and the brochures, which we hang in the store. These methods are enough for our customers to be aware of the innovations and campaigns in our store.
What role do you think the showcase layout and interior design of an optical store plays in sales? What did you consider when preparing these elements?
The showcase is the summary of a store, it should give information about the interior. It should be revised according to the season, special occasions and at certain intervals. In this direction, we attach great importance to the decoration of our showcase.
As a retailer, what are your views on the price competition between you and your colleagues?
Almost all companies share the selling prices of the products with us. I think it is necessary to make sales by paying attention to this. As Akdere Optik, we approach this issue very sensitively. There is also such an issue that the prices we hear from customers and the prices we see on the internet unfortunately upset us. In order to prevent this, I wish companies to impose sanctions on this issue.
As someone who serves in the sector, what do you think about the rate and awareness of eyeglass use in our country? What can be done to increase the use of eyeglasses and who has a duty?
I observe that the awareness of glasses is increasing day by day. It is very promising to see that there are now conscious users who know what they want, while in the past only we used to tell them. As opticians, we need to explain the properties of glasses without getting bored and we should recommend glasses and glasses according to the purpose.
Do you follow international optical fairs and sectoral developments abroad?
Yes, we follow them closely and are interested in them. We see sectoral developments, technological innovations, trends, the latest collections of world brands and all innovations through these fairs and we get excited about our profession.
What are your opinions and evaluations about Silmo Istanbul Optical Fair, which took place between December 17-20, 2022?
As one of the optical industry professionals, I was very delighted to have the chance to shop in a very crowded and exciting atmosphere once more when I attended Silmo Istanbul’s 2022 edition. We are looking forward to the 2023 edition, which will celebrate the tenth anniversary of this wonderful event that brings retailers together with other professionals.
What are your views on 4 your eyes, which will be published digitally as of 2023?
I think it is a very good and logical decision to keep up with the times. Now every issue of 4 your eyes is just a click away. I realize that I read the magazine in much more detail after your transition to digital publication. Thank you for the interview and I wish you exponential success.
July 2023