|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 To
Place Advertising Call 419.330.9658 |
|
| Optical
Arts
Mary
Nyitray
By Gina Sares
|
"For
me to prove to myself and to the men that were working
here that I knew my stuff, I went and got certified.”
"I
have customers that go to Europe and get compliments,”
says Mary. “People want to know where they get
their eyewear.”
 Mary
Nyitray, owner of Optical Arts, easily admits, “I
was not meant to be an optician.” Yet she is.
In 1962, Mary’s father, Lester Diefenthaler,
opened Optical Arts in the Town West Building on Central
Avenue. Just a few years later, a group of University
of Toledo sororities purchased the building and Lester
moved across the street, securing the store’s
permanent location.
Although Mary never dreamed of becoming an optician
when she was little, she was always involved in the
business. As a kid, she scrubbed the store’s
floor and became his receptionist during high school.
Still, before following in her father’s footsteps,
Mary tested a variety of career paths.
In her first year of college at Ohio University, Mary
studied theatre. Although she enjoyed it, seeing professional
and talented actors struggle from paycheck to paycheck
gave her second thoughts. For her second year, she
moved back home to study computers at the University
of Toledo. Mary remembers, “My mentor at the
university was like, ‘Mary, you have so much
personality. You really should not be behind a desk
being a computer analyst.’”
During her college studies, Mary continued to help
at her father’s store, until getting her degree
and a job at MCO. However, she eventually came back
to Optical Arts. “My father needed some help,”
explains Mary.
From the beginning, Lester involved his daughter in
every aspect of the business, from manager to accountant
meetings. By 1975, Mary was working with her father
full time. Although she knew the ins and outs of the
business, proving her experience and knowledge to
an all-male team wasn’t easy. “When I
started with Optical Arts, women were receptionists.
They were starting to be the frame stylists, but the
men in the office here had to do the measurements,
the adjustments, the cutting down of the lenses,”
explains Mary.
In regards to training, Mary says, “There were
no schools, no apprenticeships. There was nothing
but certifications.” Although many of her male
counterparts lacked certification, Mary didn’t.
“For me to prove to myself and to the men that
were working here that I knew my stuff, I went and
got certified.”
But being a female optician still wasn’t easy.
Mary also had to win over the customers. “Even
after I knew my stuff, they would ask for one of the
men,” says Mary. “I didn’t take
offense to it; they liked them.” When the men
were out to lunch, however, Mary would suggest, “Why
don’t I get started?” and before the customer
knew it, the job was complete. “I did everything,”
she says. “I’d hand them their glasses
and say, ‘I ran it through the ultrasonic cleaner,
I checked out the screws and hinges. Let’s check
out that adjustment. How does that feel?’”
Her approach was vastly different from the male opticians,
who considered the job done once they handed over
the lenses.
Over the years, Mary continued to work beside her
father until he became very ill. “I just started
telling patients and the doctor’s office, ‘Lester’s
not here right now. He’s on vacation,’”
she explains. “It got to be the routine thing
for two years.” When Lester died in 1989, Mary
was unsure of how to present herself in front of customers.
She felt that if she cried, they’d think she
lost it; yet, if she didn’t show emotion, they
would think she was cold.
Eventually, Mary found a comfortable median. She displayed
her father’s awards and articles in the entranceway
to the office as a memorial. It showed the customers
that Mary not only loved and respected her father,
but that she would continue to run the business with
the same values that Lester had instilled.
Today, Mary continues working with a dedication to
making others see and look their best. Although the
Internet and chain stores have become her competition,
she knows the value and quality her customers receive.
Most lenses sold over the Internet are dispensed by
unlicensed providers, and even the lenses at chain
stores are of a lower quality. Although higher quality
may mean higher prices, Mary’s small store simply
doesn’t need the marked-up prices like large
chain stores.
With a large variety of colors, sizes, and designs,
Optical Arts has eyewear to fit anyone. She says,
“When a customer walks in and I do eyewear,
I want to do something that is going to make them
look good and make them stand out, whether it’s
for the business arena, a fun look, or an artsy look.”
Unlike many opticians, Mary’s eyewear fittings
extend beyond visual needs, taking into account face
shape and coloring.
Mary’s unique style and custom fitting draw
customers from all over the country, and her eyewear
is noticed even in other continents. “I have
customers that go to Europe and get compliments,”
says Mary. “People want to know where they get
their eyewear.”
Throughout the years, Mary has strived to gain the
respect of colleagues and the trust of customers.
Her drive for people, vision and fashion has allowed
her to successfully run her family business. It may
not have been her childhood dream, but, perhaps, it
was her calling. OPTICAL
ARTS
2934 W. Central Ave.
Toledo, Ohio
419-535-7837
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Toledo
Business Review highlights the best
commodity that Toledo has to offer: the small business
owner.
In each issue, TBR profiles the locally owned
businesses you visit frequently. We tell the inspiring
stories of business owners, how they overcame
both personal and business adversities, and what
keeps them moving forward. TBR believes that small
businesses are the backbone of our economy and
that local business owners deserve to be honored
and their value to our community needs to be recognized.
TBR is a free publication and available every
other month at over 300 high-traffic business
entry ways, including: Burger King, Panera, Café
Marie and many others. Our restaurant partners
are also featured in our restaurant guide, perfect
for making dining out decisions at a glance.
Our readership is growing... Advertising with Toledo
Business Review makes financial sense! |
If you would like more information
regarding advertising in Toledo Business Review, contact
us today!
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
To
Place Advertising Call 419.330.9658 |
|
TOLEDO BUSINESS REVIEW
IS A FREE, BI-MONTHLY PUBLICATION
|
Copyright © 2007-2008 • Toledo
Business Review • All Rights Reserved.
Unauthorized use of the materials
on this site and in the publication without the author's
expressed, written consent is strictly prohibited.
Website
design by: CyberPro911 Print
publication by: Dzyn
Lab
|
|
