“Adapting rapidly and effectively to the evolving optical world, Silmo Istanbul keeps its finger on the pulse of the Turkish and regional markets.”

Let’s begin by getting to know you. Could you tell us about yourself and share the story of how you entered the optical industry?
Fatih Aslan: Our journey, which first started in 1996 in a watch and optical store, brought us to today with the participation of my brother in 2010. Of course, whole process was not easy. Over time, we faced both industry-specific and economic challenges; however, we stayed true to our goals, made the right investments at the right time, and took steady steps forward. For many years, I worked in the workshop — the heart of the business — and later in sales and supply. By identifying and improving the industry’s shortcomings, I actually laid the groundwork for the corporate structure we have today. I trained my brother to take part in the infrastructure of the corporate retail sector in 2006, and after he completed his military service, I brought him into our business in 2010.

Yusuf Aslan: As my brother mentioned, under his guidance I gained four years of experience starting in 2006 before completing my military service. I began working with my brother, the Founder of Ceylan Optik in Söke, Aydın, in 2010. In our business, the division of work is split into two parts. I currently serve as the operator of our stores. I am responsible for product distribution to stores, post-sales communication, departments, and infrastructure.

Can we say that with your first store in Söke district in 2008, the foundations of Galaxy Optik were laid? How was the process of opening your first store?
Absolutely. Even when opening Ceylan Optik, I shared the same vision regarding the services we would provide. I have always been in favor of corporateness, because being corporate reflects the importance and respect we show to our customers. After all, we have been serving in this sector for many years now. For this reason, we have never adopted a working system that lacks planning, order, transparency, or trust. Conducting our work with seriousness and precision is a reflection of the respect we have for both ourselves and our customers.

How did your business structure evolve after Yusuf joined? What are the advantages and challenges of working as two brothers?
Naturally, we continued on our path with greater strength. While I followed industry fairs and our investments, my brother took charge of the interpersonal relationships and customer dialogue that are so crucial for us. We built our brand on solid foundations by taking every step through mutual trust and collective wisdom.

The journey began with the name Ceylan Optik, continued with the opening of Galaxy Optik in a shopping mall in 2024. Can you share the details?
From day one, we have moved forward with the right steps, maintaining our focus on high quality and reliability. November 2024 marks not only the date we opened our Galaxy Optik store in the shopping mall, but also the opening of the mall itself. Naturally, being among the first stores in a newly opened shopping center carried a certain risk. Therefore, we deeply analyzed the demographic profile of the local population, the mall’s customer potential, and the existing optical stores and brands in the region. We then reviewed the operations within Aydın and shaped our strategy according to the unmet needs of the target audience. With our experience and knowledge, we decided that this risk could be turned into an opportunity. Since that day, we have continued to grow stronger in our services.

Can you tell us about the target audience, concept, and interior design of your new mall store?
With Galaxy Optik, our goal was to create a boutique store in our precious city, Aydın that features the top segment of brands. We wanted high-end products and brands to meet our customers in a visually aesthetic environment. Through our boutique retail concept, we enable our target audience to access world-famous brands easily and trustfully. We designed the store with great care and an elegant aesthetic approach that would instantly capture our customers’ curiosity. We are happy to receive positive feedback and to offer our customers high-quality service.

Do you only feature high-end products in your stores? Which optical and sunglasses brands do you sell the most?
To be honest, yes, we mostly prefer to sell top-segment products. We are selective in terms of brands, and we continue our path by offering up-to-date and trendsetting models. Many premium brands are easily accessible in our stores. For us, it has always been a priority to maintain the right balance between health and fashion. We aim to offer our customers both sophistication and eye health together.

What are your priorities in terms of customer satisfaction? Could you tell us about your after-sales services?
We take the utmost care in providing every customer who visits our stores with a detailed presentation of the product and clear information about its use. It is very important to us that our customers make informed purchases when choosing their products. We operate under the principle that the options we present must be shaped solely according to their needs and preferences. To ensure sustainability in the after-sales process, we work with major companies. We never want our customers to experience any problems after their purchase, and if they do, we provide quick solutions. Because the principle that “the customer is our greatest asset” is our core value.

What do you consider to be your strongest qualities that set you apart from other optical stores?
As I mentioned earlier, we have prioritized corporateness since laying our foundations in 2008, and we have continued along this path ever since. Seeing that we now serve a broad customer base ranging from grandparents to grandchildren is a great source of pride for us. Knowing that we have earned the trust of customers of all ages through proper communication and the right products is what keeps us motivated despite all current challenges. Thanks to our sustainable business structure and customer satisfaction-oriented approach, we continue to grow as a brand that appeals to every generation, instills lasting confidence, and fosters customer loyalty.

What methods do you use to respond to changing customer expectations in recent years?
People no longer decide on the eyewear they will buy only by seeing them in optical stores. Especially among younger generations who use digital channels more actively, awareness and expectations about brands have evolved and become more informed. Meanwhile, social media has become a stronger promotional tool than ever before. Therefore, as Galaxy Optik, we identify our target audience primarily through social media and carry out our promotional and advertising activities accordingly. By speaking the same language as our customers, we take steps that align with their expectations and move forward together.

What are your thoughts on the contributions of Silmo Istanbul Optical Fair to the optical industry?
As someone who has attended leading international optical fairs and industry events for years, it is very important for me to learn about innovations and technological developments and to reflect them in our business through discussions with my colleagues. For this reason, visiting the Silmo İstanbul Optical Fair every year is always an exciting experience. Silmo Istanbul manages to surprise us in a good way each year with its innovations and fresh perspectives. Adapting rapidly and effectively to the evolving optical world, Silmo Istanbul keeps its finger on the pulse of the Turkish and regional markets. I believe Silmo Istanbul plays a crucial role in shaping the future of the optical industry.

Thank you for this valuable interview. Finally, could you share your thoughts about 4 your eyes Optical Magazine?
I can say that I haven’t missed a single issue of 4 your eyes for many years. With your carefully curated, rich content, you provide every kind of information, news, innovation, trend, and technology that optical professionals need. By presenting detailed information about brands, companies, and their innovative steps, you actually open a window of opportunity for all optical professionals. We wish continued success to your entire team.

November 2025