Seeing is believing … Jim Papas is enjoying the success after his business was acknowledged at the 2011 Australian Retailer of the Year awards. 66216 Picture: DAMJAN JANEVSKI
By Kara Irving
OPTOMETRIST Jim Papas is seeing life through rose coloured glasses after his Wyndham business Eyeclarity was acknowledged at the 2011 Australian Retailer of the Year awards.
Working in the industry for 27 years, it was Mr Papas’s interactive customer service kiosks that caught the eye of judges on the night, earning his company the Best Use of Technology Retail award.
Since they were introduced across Eyeclarity stores six months ago, the ‘myeye’ kiosks have aided customer service and sales procedures.
“We initially developed the software to solve a business problem at the time,” Mr Papas said.
“What we ended up doing was training people to sell a product with all the information readily available via these kiosks.”
Five years ago Mr Papas travelled around the world for inspiration for a technology that could ease the process of purchasing corrective eyewear. After witnessing different methods of sale, he invested his time into developing a touch screen kiosk which would store catalogues of information about corrective eyewear to assist sales assistant staff.
“Usually to receive a qualification (in optometry) you need to go to university for four years or study a two year TAFE course,” Papas added. “That’s not required now for our staff, thanks to the new kiosks”.
Beating businesses Appliances Online, Kogan and Shoes of Prey in the technology category on the night, Mr Papas was shocked his business made the grade.
Eyeclarity currently has five stores across the West including Hoppers Crossing, Taylors Lakes, Melton, Sunbury and Bacchus Marsh.
Held annually in Sydney, the BRW AMP Australian Retailer of the Year awards recognise the unique achievements of retail businesses across the country.
