Board Management: How to Make Your Frame Boards Make You Money

Frame board management is one of the most effective ways for ECPs to increase profitability while still delivering exceptional patient care. A frame board isn’t just a display of eyewear; it’s a strategic sales tool. When managed well, it can improve cash flow, reduce overhead costs, boost capture rates, and enhance the patient experience.

Carrying too much inventory ties up valuable cash flow, even if the frames were purchased at a deal that seemed too good to pass up on. If the product doesn’t sell through, that deal becomes costly. The key is maintaining a mix of brands, styles, and price points that match patient demand while keeping financial efficiency in mind.

Board management also reduces the need for excessive understock. Think of every frame as a $100 bill, you don’t want those bills sitting in trays under your board, you want them in your pocket! Another way to visualize it: your frame board is an apartment building. Every frame is a tenant, and each one must "pay rent” by selling. Be sure to regularly track frame turn rates by brand, and leverage both your sales reps’ expertise and your opticians’ understanding of patient preferences to curate the ideal assortment for your practice. This strategy also minimizes costly returns, which come with hidden expenses like labor, shipping, and insurance.

A curated selection tailored to your patients’ style and budget makes it more likely they’ll purchase from your practice instead of elsewhere. A higher capture rate means more revenue per patient, without investing in extra marketing expenses. Satisfied patients are also more likely to stay loyal and recommend your practice; referrals cost you nothing but deliver tremendous value.

In summary, by viewing your frame boards as a retail tool rather than just a display, you can maximize capture rates, optimize inventory investments, and strengthen patient loyalty. In today’s climate of tightening reimbursements, the optical dispensary remains one of the most reliable opportunities for long-term revenue growth.

Article written by Lindsay Romah