VisionPlus India

All brands distributed by us are really important and catapulted Sterling to the current level. VP: 40 years of Sterling is a huge landmark! How do you plan to celebrate it and what’s your vision for the next 40 years going forward? KP: So definitely, we don't want to let the cat out of the bag, but Sterling will celebrate 40 years in its normal flamboyant style. It will be a grand celebration before the end of this year. I won't say 40 years but definitely in the next 20 years, Sterling's vision is very clear it will continue to dominate the eyewear space, and be an important partner to all our customers. We have always been a loyal partner to the opticians, never focused on selling our products directly to consumers. We will continue to give them exemplary service together with the best brands at the most competitive prices as the Indian economy continues to expand rapidly. Sterling's 40-year journey celebrates vision, flamboyance, and iconic brand collaborations. With a clear vision for the future and a steadfast commitment to excellence, Sterling continues to shape the optical industry landscape. Maybe it will take 5 or 10 years, but eyewear online retail sales are a complementary channel to traditional in-store business rather than a threat especially since ours is a product which is ‘touch and feel’. My suggestion is to leverage the unique benefits of physical stores, while strategically embracing online sales. This means providing personalised, expert-driven service in-store, coupled with an online presence that offers convenience and accessibility. Embracing change and innovating in how we engage with customers across all channels will be key to thriving in the rapidly evolving retail landscape. VP: Among all the brands you’ve built excluding your organic brands, what’s the one brand that’s memorable to you? KP: It's hard to pick just one memorable brand, but among the top few international brands that are close to my heart are: Luxottica, Vogue, Giorgio Armani, Calvin Klein, Tommy Hilfiger, French Connection and Tom Ford. (LEFT TO RIGHT) AMIT PARIKH, KETAN PARIKH AND ANAND PARIKH 31 VISION PLUS INDIA EDITION