Each quarter we interview one of our clients to get an insight into their business. This issue we spoke to Henry and Miriam Heron and Hugh Bradshaw of Heron Eyecare, which celebrated its 25th anniversary on 4th November, 2014.

When did your business commence?
Heron Optometrists opened in 1989 in Ruthven Street, Toowoomba. After six years we bought and moved the business to a property on Russell Street. Hugh Bradshaw joined Heron Optometrists in 2009 and is now a partner in the practice. He has the same core values as Henry and Miriam. We changed the business name to Heron Eyecare in 2010 to better reflect our mission of primary eye care providers and to differentiate our business from corporate optometrists that focus on retail rather than health.

What does your business do?
We provide optometry and professional primary eyecare with an emphasis on caring for eye health. This includes seeing patients of all ages, highly specialised contact lens work and foreign body removal. All three optometrists are trained and qualified in ocular therapeutics. We also dispense quality frames and lenses. We have a glazing lab onsite for making up some prescriptions on the spot. Heron Eyecare has friendly caring optical staff to assist with pretesting and dispensing.

What makes your business successful?
We attribute our success to the fact that we strive to provide the best eye examinations with the best equipment, and we genuinely care for the visual outcomes and the eye health of all our patients. We have continued to invest in equipment from the day we began. Part of our success comes from being a local family business with family values.

What has been your biggest achievement to date?
Providing state-of-the-art world-class eyecare to Toowoomba.

What is one piece of advice you would give to someone starting up a business?
Believe in yourself and do not compromise on your own values. Watch for opportunities and find your own niche for which you can grow a passion. Do not be a follower.

How do you relax from the pressures of being in business?
Most people who have met Henry know that he loves his fishing - among other passions. Miriam enjoys family time, golf and yoga. Hugh loves rugby and golf and is very busy at home with three small children.