Today we’d like to introduce you to Gary Black.
Gary, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
After honing my skills with a national sunglass retailer for 11 years, I decided it was time to branch out on my own. I learned a lot from my previous employer, though I knew the optical industry needed a shake-up. That’s essentially how Black Optical was founded. I opened our 1st location in 2007 in Tulsa, OK, Oklahoma City in 2011, both Dallas & Orange County in 2016.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
It’s definitely been a long and winding road, and a little bumpy as Black Optical started aggressively growing. In the beginning, it was really about educating our client about the emerging designers we curated from, along with a focus on why premium optics are important. We were one of the 1st optical retailers to shy away from logo-driven uber-popular designer eyewear, while focusing on well-crafted independent frame designers.
We were also one of the 1st retailers to sell 100% digitally surfaced RX lenses. Building relationships and earning the trust of our clients takes time, though it’s definitely worth it. After about 8 years in business, we got really ahead of ourselves, and decided to open 2 showrooms (Dallas, TX and Newport Beach, CA) within the same year. That’s when the real challenges presented themselves. It definitely felt like we were a scrappy start-up again. After a year in Dallas, we are really gaining momentum and our word of mouth awareness is starting to spread. I always knew we had a solid brand, but the traction we are gaining in Dallas definitely is giving us a boost of confidence.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Black Optical story. Tell us more about the business.
Our focus is on well curated frame styles from around the world. You will never find a conspicuous logo on our shelves, instead focusing on independent designers that don’t need flashy details to stand out. Each pair we curated had enough personality to turn heads, but classic enough to never be considered costume-y. A founding principle at Black Optical is “Great design never goes out of style.’
2 things I’m most proud of – that as a team, Black Optical has transformed how eyewear is perceived in our markets. We have been able to transform your clients’ assumption that eyewear is a medical device into a statement accessory that can transport their mood and style into something all their own. I’m also proud of opportunity to collaborate on limited edition frames with some of the most respected eyewear designers of our generation, something that not a lot of optical retailers get the opportunity to take part in. In the last few years we have collaborated with Garrett Leight California Optical, Ahlem Eyewear and Jacques Marie Mage.
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
That’s a tough one to answer. I was raised believing that success takes hard work and grit, success will never be given easily and it’s better to earn it. I do believe timing is everything – timing has worked in Black Optical’s favor and against us, for better and worse. That said, I have been really lucky in the respect that I’ve been able to surround myself with amazing mentors, colleagues and team members. Black Optical would not be where it today without the many people in my life that believed in me and Black Optical’s vision (pun may or may not be intended ;).
Contact Info:
- Address: 4525 Cole Ave #150 Dallas, TX 75205
- Website: blackoptical.com
- Phone: 469-899-7559
- Email: dallas@blackoptical.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/blackoptical
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BlackOptical/
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/black-optical-dallas?osq=black+optical
Image Credit:
Black Optical
Getting in touch: VoyageDallas is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
