Draconia Eyewear, LLC. | Application Preview
Draconia Eyewear, LLC is seeking government funding to establish and grow a community-focused optical retail business. Led by Spadge Draconia, a nationally certified optician with a background in neuro-optics and a strong commitment to supporting individuals with disabilities and vision-related challenges, the business aims to fill a unique niche in the eyewear market.
Requested funding will be allocated as follows: 25% for initial inventory (frames, lenses), 50% for transforming a raw retail space into a fully operational optical shop (including remodeling and fixtures), and 25% for essential lab equipment to handle in-house services.
The five-year growth plan starts with opening a solo-operated retail store focused on personalized service and specialty eyewear. In Year 2, in-house one-hour lens cutting and contact lens offerings will be introduced, alongside the launch of a customer-friendly e-commerce platform. By Year 3, the business plans to expand staff with an additional optician and possibly a lab tech, while solidifying online options and becoming a full-service contact lens distributor. Years 4 and 5 look toward continued growth, including potentially bringing an optometrist on board for on-site eye exams.
Draconia Eyewear stands out in a competitive market through its highly personalized service, specialty expertise in complex prescriptions, and community outreach initiatives, such as monthly visits to retirement homes and local events for free eyewear maintenance and repair. This human-first, service-driven approach differentiates it from big-box retailers, online eyewear companies, and existing local optical shops.
With a mission rooted in empathy, expertise, and accessibility, Draconia Eyewear, LLC aims to offer both standard and specialty eyewear solutions—serving not just customers, but the broader community.
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General Information
Business Registration Number: 39-3627977
Location: Gorham, ME, United States
Length of Operation: 1-5
Number of Employees: 1-10 Employees
Annual Gross Income: $500k to $1M
Annual Gross Expense: $250k to $500k
Open to Loans: YES
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Funding Usage
The funding requested above will be utilized in the following ways: 25% for initial inventory purchases (frames, shelf stock, and uncut lenses from lab) 50% for initial property build-out (remodel from shell to optical shop including flooring, walls, roofing and lights. This would also encompass fixtures and displays for eyewear and merchandise. 25% for lab equipment and tools to do basics of job.
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Business Plan
Within the next 5 years I plan to expand the business in the following ways: Year 1 - Open physical retail store with in-person ordering of prescription eyewear and accessories. There will be only myself as owner working there and this time will be spent creating a solid foundation for the business in the community. Year 2 - The business would expand to offer in-house lens cuts (1-hr cuts) and specialty jobs in house, offering the convenience of time to customers. This includes a fully built-out lab at the location. It would include adding contact lenses as an option for customers, as well as the foundations for an e-commerce solution. Year 3 - As the business grows there will be constant consideration for adding new employees. At this time I believe an additional optician would be helpful to the company. Depending on the demand on the lab, a lab technician as well. This year would also solidify the business as a contact lens distributor and the website would be fully fitted out for customers to order online with their prescription and not come into the retail location. Year 4 and 5 - Continued growth of the Year 3 company and consideration of adding an Optometrist to the practice to offer in-house eye exams and treatment as well. Spadge Draconia, owner of Draconia Eyewear, LLC. is an avid supporter of peoples with disabilities and unfortunate circumstances. They have worked with patients from all over the country to help treat acquired brain injuries, post-stroke, and post-concussion symptoms since 2016. During this time they studied neuropsychology and the effects that brain injury had on the vision system. Spadge moved on to work as a neuro-optician at a local doctor's office focusing on the eye care and treatment of individuals with brain injuries and post concussion symptoms. There they helped develop a system of specialty tinted lenses that would alleviate symptoms while the patient worked holistically with vision therapists on their treatment. More recently Spadge has done work for a retailer and pursued formal education in opticianry; achieving national certification status in just under one year. Spadge's educational and professional history have lead to the development of Draconia Eyewear, LLC. The foundations of the company are based off assessing needs and creating solutions for patients/customers who have difficult prescriptions, require additional one-on-one work, or specialty services (like tints and prism) that other optical retailers don't offer. Draconia Eyewear, LLC will offer not only specialty prescription eyewear but over-the-counter vision aids for people who are low vision and have special needs. The business will optimally run with 60% customers just needing regular eyewear, 30% special needs eyewear, and 10% community outreach and community service to the local aging demographic, factory workers, and potentially schools.
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Self Identified Competition
The top competitors the business will face are as follows: 1.) Sam's Club/Costco/BJ's (wholesale stores with optical departments). These big chains drive a hard bargain with their eyeglass prices, cutting costs of eyewear and accessories by up to 50% compared to local small businesses. Due to large volume contracts the companies have with vendors and brands, they don't generally mark things up as much as a small business. 2.) Online retailers (Zenni, Warby Parker, etc.). Online retailers are a recent competitor in the eyeglass industry and allows patients to order glasses online and have them shipped to their home. This lack of overhead allows them to lower their prices and offer incentives for people to shop on their website. 3.) Local shops nearby. These are the local competitors that all businesses have. Local eyewear shops are typically ones that have been there for a while that have a rapport with the community already established, or chains (e.g., Maine Optometry) where they have many locations throughout the state as franchises. What sets Draconia Eyewear, LLC apart from the competition is the drive to make every customer interaction a meaningful personal connection. I plan on listening to the customer's needs and wants, determining the best solution for them and their budget, and working with them to meet their eyewear needs. The wholesale club departments are often impersonal and come with a very small selection of solutions to offer customers. They are run namely on metrics, KPI's and BOGO sales. In many cases, they are not able or allowed to offer a unique solution for a patient/customer. Draconia Eyewear, LLC will work with several independent labs and suppliers to make sure that every possible need is met for the clientele, regardless of their unique situation. The online retailers, while affordable, are often inaccurate due to the customer having to take their own measurements and make judgement calls regarding materials they're not familiar with. Spadge is a licensed optician with years of experience who will manually take all measurements and double-check all received orders against ANSI tolerance standards before the customer is allowed to pick up their glasses. They will be offering expert advice on information they know and have the resources to find answers to questions they don't have the answers to. The local businesses are good competition who offer reasonable prices, selection, and deals. What sets Draconia Eyewear, LLC apart from them is the unique approach that is being taken to accomplish a similar task. Many local places have a 6-month or 1-year warranty, the business will have a 2 year warranty and support for the life of the glasses. Also, the business intends to have tables at events (conventions, fairs, etc.) to clean/repair glasses for attendees and also sell venue appropriate merchandise. Monthly they intend to collaborate with local retirement homes to set up a table or traveling cart to clean/repair glasses for people with limited mobility or are on assisted living. The major difference between any competition and Draconia Eyewear, LLC is the heart that goes into every action from business plan to execution.
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Contact Applicant
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