Eye tests, frame choice and lens fittings: plan the slots

Give each kind of visit its own bookable service, with slots at the length it really takes: an eye test, a frame choice and a contact lens fitting each need a different time, a different place in the shop and sometimes a different person. When customers book the right one, you know who is coming for what, the test room isn't double-used, and the person choosing frames gets your full attention instead of sharing it with the Saturday queue.

Lengths and prices are examples: set yours. On Book, each service has a name, an optional description shown on your page, and a price; the length comes from the slots you open for it. A customer who picks "First contact lens fitting" only sees the slots of that service.

If you offer eye tests, they depend on one room and one qualified person being free. Open eye test slots only when that person is in, one after the other, with no overlap. Book doesn't block slots of different services from overlapping, so plan it yourself: if the test room is used for contact lens fittings too, don't open both services at the same time.

Say clearly in the description who can book it and what it covers, and ask customers to bring their current glasses, lenses and any recent prescription. If some customers need to see a doctor rather than have a test in the shop, say so in plain words in the description.

Some customers want to test and choose in one trip. Rather than asking them to book two slots back to back, create a combined service with a longer slot. It keeps the timing honest, and you know from the booking that this customer will need the room and then the frame area.

Choosing frames goes better with time and quiet: trying shapes, talking about lens options, taking measurements. A booked slot lets you prepare. The note in the booking form helps: ask customers to write what they're looking for, such as "first progressives", "sports glasses" or "second pair for screen work". You receive an email for each new booking, with the note.

Open these slots in the quieter parts of the week, mornings or weekday afternoons, and keep some unbooked time on busy days for walk-ins. When a walk-in takes a bookable slot, book it yourself from your calendar so it's no longer offered online.

A first fitting has several steps: measurements, choosing the lens, putting it in, a handling lesson, taking lenses out again. It deserves a long slot and a clear description:

Book the follow-up yourself before the customer leaves: pick a slot of the follow-up service after the trial period and create the booking from your calendar. If you enter their email, they receive a confirmation with a calendar file. Book doesn't send reminders, so a date in their calendar is what brings them back.

A child's first glasses take patience. A separate children's service with after-school and Wednesday or Saturday morning slots makes it easy for parents. The booking form asks for one person's name, email and phone: ask parents in the description to book in their name and write the child's name and age in the note.

Book gives you a booking page with your services and free slots, a confirmation email for the customer, a new booking email for you, and a bookings list where you can reschedule or cancel. Customers can't move their own booking, and aren't emailed when you do, so tell them yourself. Calendar sync with Google, iPhone or Mac shows the day's appointments on your phone.

Prescriptions, quotes, stock and payments stay in your usual tools. Book costs €5/month, everything included, with unlimited bookings and services, no commission and no contract.