Kerr Optical Celebrates 50 Years In Saint John
SAINT JOHN–It’s a Golden Anniversary for Kerr Optical, which is celebrating fifty years of business this March.
Optician Kim Kerr-Hachey says her father, Douglas, opened Kerr Optical in Lancaster Mall in 1972.
“He worked in the field way back in the day and worked for other local opticians, and as he’s waiting on customers in the Uptown area, the West Siders kept saying ‘geez, I wish somebody would open on the West Side,’ and so he finally just took the leap and did it, never looked back,” says Kerr-Hachey.
The Kerrs have operated the family-owned business across three generations, with Kerr-Hachey’s daughter, Danielle, also working there as an optician.
“We fitted babies that are now bringing their babies in, and their grandchildren in,” she said. “We’re quite proud of ourselves.”
As an independent optical business, in comparison to chain businesses, Kerr Optical can focus on keeping its customers happy and making changes or customizations instead of bumping against hard-set rules.
“Our customers become our friends,” she said. “We work hard at making them very happy with our service–once we get them in the door, they’re never leaving.”
The business also has safety glasses contracts with multiple local industries, including Moosehead Breweries and most of Irving group subsidiaries.
Covid-19 has made people more aware of supporting local and independent businesses, and the benefits of doing so.
“It all comes down to service and what we can provide for them,” explained Kerr-Hachey. She added Kerr uses state-of-the-art lenses and won’t buy frames from a company that doesn’t provide a two-year unconditional warranty.
“Our prices are very reasonable; you won’t be able to compare prices to any chain store.”
She even continued to work and serve her clientele throughout the Covid lockdown in 2020, going into work every single day, doing repairs and passing paper bags of glasses to clients out the back door.
“Even if you were someone that stayed at home, even with your day-to-day functions, you need your eyes,” she said. “I had to service them–your glasses broken, you’re near blind, what are you supposed to do, wait for the pandemic to lift?”
Kerr Optical plans to continue to grow, especially once Covid restrictions lift and traffic picks up in the Lancaster Mall.
“He’s proud of us, it’s his legend, he’s proud of it,” said Kerr-Hachey.
Elizabeth MacLeod is a Saint John reporter with Huddle and Acadia Broadcasting radio stations. Send her your feedback and story ideas: [email protected].