It’s been less than a year since Maressa Dixon and Neil Moser opened Together Again Eyewear — but the store has already been declared a winner.
The independent eyewear store has won a GuelphToday Reader Favourite award in the Opticians and Optometrists category, and they have their loyal clients to thank.
“We were pleasantly surprised— we did not expect to win. But we’re alone in our lane of handcrafted independent eyewear, so it helps that we’re bringing something new,” says Maressa.
The two owners say that Guelph seems excited to have an independent eyewear shop. Neil remarks that they’ve heard from many of their clients that they’re happy to not have to drive out of town to find unique, independent eyewear.
Both Neil and Maressa have years of experience managing larger optometry practices, but they wanted their business to have a friendly, personal approach. “Our goal was to build relationships, as opposed to just selling eyewear to customers,” says Maressa.
Their location has brought in a lot of foot traffic, with curious locals dropping in to check out the products and learn about the store. Neil and Maressa, who are both from Kitchener originally and know Guelph well, have found the community to be welcoming and passionate about supporting local businesses. The city’s friendly demeanour is a perfect fit for Together Again Eyewear, as they want to make shopping for glasses a more fun experience for everyone.
“We enjoy when people linger and bring in a friend or a partner and a coffee and hang out for a bit and make it an experience,” says Neil.
One of Neil’s favourite parts of the job is when a client visits who needs new glasses, but thinks they look bad in them— and he’s able to find them find a pair that they get truly excited about. “They’re not just looking good, but feeling good,” says Neil.
A recent customer testimonial came to them from a client named Beth, who had been wanting to replace her glasses for a long time but couldn’t find a new pair that she loved.
“[They] helped me select the perfect frames and coached me through the transition to my first pair of progressive lenses. I couldn't be happier with my new glasses and will definitely be shopping here again when I need another pair - although I anticipate these lasting quite a while as the quality is top-notch. If you're looking for high-quality, fashion- forward glasses and amazing customer service, this is the place!”
Neil and Maressa look forward to celebrating their first anniversary in February, with likely many more glowing reviews in their future. They say they are “beyond grateful” to have had the opportunity to open a business in Guelph.
"Even when Together Again Eyewear was merely a fantasy, we knew we wanted to plant roots in Guelph. The people that make up this community have welcomed us so warmly and made the first year of business an absolute dream. We thank every person who has purchased eyewear from us this year, everyone who has stopped by to welcome us, visited our website, left us a review, or followed our journey on social media. A special thank you to those who voted for us to win this award.”
Mention this Reader Favourite article until December, 31 2024 to receive $100 off any prescription eyewear purchase at Together Again Eyewear, or $50 off any non-prescription sunglasses.
For more information on Together Again Eyewear, visit: www.shoptogetheragain.com
Follow Together Again Eyewear on Instagram at @shoptogetheragain.com
This article was sponsored by Together Again Eyewear, a 2024 GuelphToday Reader Favourite.