Tim LeBlanc is celebrating his fourth year as the owner of Trendy Eyewear located in Amherst. It’s been quite a journey for the 49 year-old, whose been working in the optical field since he was 20 years old.

Although he didn’t realize it at the time, when Tim was living in Calgary during the 80s, he read an ad in the paper which said something like “Do you want to learn something new?” He responded. The upshot was that Tim learned the ropes about being a lab tech for a lens manufacturer. He then worked for the company doing everything from retail sales to managing the lab. 

At some point, Tim also worked directly for optometrists then went back to doing outside sales for the manufacturers. Eventually, growing weary of being on the road and waking up in a different room every morning, in 2009 he and his wife, Nancy, decided to head back to Amherst. “You can take the boy out of the Maritimes, but you can’t take the Maritimes out of the boy,” he says with a grin.

Four years ago, Tim’s health took a turn. Facing the big question, “What do I want to do the rest of my life?” he came up with the answer, “Be my own boss.”  Nancy concurred; it was time.

From the get-go, the biggest challenge they faced was getting established. “Many people don’t know exactly what an optician is. I tell them I’m what you would call the pharmacist for your eyes.”

To get attention, the couple adopted the tag line, “Distinctively Different.”  He says, “Now people realize the customer service and the products we sell are different than anyone else. We source products that no one else has, and I rarely bring in more than one colour per frame so the looks are not repeated all over Amherst.”

Although the optician uses his Facebook page and Kijiji to promote his business (“They are free!”), satisfied customers are the best means of advertising. “We rely a lot on word of mouth. People tell others about us—and it’s not biased.”

When Tim first did his business plan, he wondered: “If the community supports me, how can I support the community?” So he looked for those who needed it the most—people on social assistance, and seniors. Currently he gives a senior’s discount, donates food to the Food Bank and provides other ways and means of assistance.

Looking back, Tim says that he would not be where he is today without the help and guidance he received from CBDC Amherst. “They gave Nancy and me the opportunity to open our business at a time when banks wouldn’t even look at us. CBDC also offered training in various areas to help us get started, such as making business forecasts and how to determine the price of goods and services. They help you find out what you need to know.”

Lessons learned? “You have to be it for the long haul. But if you are willing to work long hours for little pay, there are many rewards—like being your own boss.” However, Tim cautions: “Keep in mind that the money you take in is not your money. It belongs to your business. You and your company are two separate entities. It’s important to take care of your business first. As time goes on, then your business will take care of you.”

After pausing for a moment, the successful entrepreneur tucks in, “I wish I had done this ten years ago!