Community Highlights: Meet Julianne Koch of Novel Eye Care

Today we’d like to introduce you to Julianne Koch

Hi Julianne, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I started out as a glasses wearing book nerd growing up in Arkansas. Then, I studied Biology in college. I followed it up with Optometry school in Tennessee. I graduated at the age of twenty five and I’ve been practicing for eleven years. I always loved reading and writing as a hobby. I also had a dream of having my own optometry practice. So I combined my two loves into Novel Eye Care. That’s why there is a hidden bookcase that goes into our pre- testing room and built in bookshelves with some of my favorite books on the shelves. I wanted it to have a mid-century bookstore vibe.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The building that I have opened the practice in was an abandoned medical building for more than two years. It is in the middle of a bunch of construction in Nashville. The area around it is still growing and up and coming. As a cold start, figuring out the best way to get patients in the door has been the greatest obstacle. Also, figuring out what our patients base wants when it come to eye care. In the beginning, getting free parking for patients in midtown was difficult. But, we have worked it out to where our patients park for free and in front of our office.

Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Our staff is small and friendly, giving it a small book store vibe. Novel Eye Care’s business model is “Curated Eyewear, Personalized Eyecare.” We offer a customized in office experience for every patient. Going to the eye doctor can be stressful, so we try to make it as calm as possible in the office . We offer full eye health exams contact lens evaluations, dry eye evaluations, diabetic eye exams along with a cozy upscale optical. In the future,I will be starting to focus more on dry eye and improving the appearance of patients eyelids and lashesz.
With a lot of corporate optometry places and online glasses sales as competitors, I tried to channel “The Shop Around the Corner” from the movie You’ve Got Mail. I’m proud of the office being a small, female, and locally owned business.

Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
There are a few people who deserve credit. My husband for being my biggest cheerleader. He has also been a partner at home and doing his share of cooking and taking care of the kids. My mentors and advisors are second. Dr. Annedrea Morreale in Franklin advised me as well. She helped me find the right advisors and staff. My staff is definitely someone who deserves credit too. You can’t have a good business with out a great support staff.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.noveleyecare.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/noveleyecare/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61564674903667