Charlene Nichols

CEO
Optical Near ME

As a B2B Commerce expert with over 26 years in developing sales, marketing and logistic solutions for businesses, I am really excited with the new tools modern day technology has provided.

Over 10 years ago, I began developing plans for online ordering portals that were used by leading optical chains, including Vision Monday’s #1 Chain in the US- Vision Source. When we built the Vision Source Store, it was to fill a great need, and it was way ahead of its time. In just under 3 years Vision Source Store became a premier destination for its members, and it went viral within their community. The solution is still live and sustainable to this day.

In 2017 I began my journey as an entrepreneur and resigned from my position of 20 years so that I could focus on solving the growing problems facing independently owned optical shops and optometry practices.

My diverse perspective on the industry allowed me to create solutions such as SellSMART Not Hard- a marketplace of hyper-local digital marketing solutions and Optical Near ME, a platform designed to give modern opticians, more innovative tools such as virtual try-on and virtual measuring apps.

In 2020 I was awarded Most Influential Women in Optical in the innovators’ category for bringing the first ever Virtual Tradeshow and Interactive Community Hub- My Vision Show to the optical industry.