Stores focused on success
Durkin and Black celebrates 20 years of independence
HAVING come from a small store in a “tiny, blue and yellow, ugly shop” to now owning three branches of Durkin and Black Eyecare Plus across Toowoomba and Ipswich, owner Sara Black is looking forward to celebrating 20 years of business on Thursday.
Despite growing significantly over that time and joining the Eyecare Plus group, the business remains independently owned and operated by Ms Black and her husband Justin Durkin.
While there have been “ups and downs” over the two-decade journey, Ms Black said, “I feel like we’ve just really matured as a business and I’ve found my niche and what I enjoy doing”.
“I think it’s amazing to be here as we are in this sort of corporate world, and we’re holding our own - to be basically a little independent that has grown over the years from three staff to 18 now, and that’s just in Toowoomba, is great,” she said.
Thursday will be the day of celebration.
At their Grand Central store, that will mean 20% off all frames for the whole day, Maui Jim and Zeal sunglass giveaways and product previews, cupcakes for sale, nibbles and Hawaiian punch.
To top it all off, Ms Black said she was trying to organise a visit from some four-legged friends, with proceeds from the cupcake sales to be donated to Off The Chain K9 Rescue Queensland.
The celebrations are expected to run from noon to 2pm.
Reflecting on the past 20 years, Ms Black said style and technology were the two biggest changes to occur in the field of optometry.