There are many things to consider when investing in a franchise, and no one knows that better than Zain Attawala and Sagar Panjwani. The two millennials and their fathers, Shiraz Attawala and Mehboob Panjwani, opened their first My Eyelab when they were only in their 20s. After just 5 years, they now own 25 My Eyelab stores and have more in development.
Taking Entrepreneurship to the Next Level
The dynamic duo and their families were no strangers to entrepreneurship. Sagar’s father had owned several quick-service restaurants and car repair franchises. Meanwhile, Sagar had a B2B Energy Efficient Lighting Solutions business in South Carolina.
They’d always been interested in the optical space and had learned about My Eyelab in an advertisement when it had just started franchising. The brand’s proven business model, strong support system and innovative technology stood out to them and in 2017, they opened their first location.
“Franchising gave us a success formula to replicate,” Zain explained. “It’s a resilient concept and we didn’t have to reinvent the wheel.”
They’ve both been very involved in their businesses and have put their faith in the My Eyelab team to guide them along the way.
“Being involved is key to success,” said Zain. “A great store can recoup your investment in as little as two years, and there’s no telling the amount of success you can achieve.”
Expanding Across State Lines
The pair’s quick Return on Investment allowed them to sign agreements for more locations, and by the time Sagar graduated college, they’d already opened their seventh store.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, as other businesses were closing their doors, My Eyelab’s telehealth technology allowed them to keep their stores open. This offered customers the contactless experience and convenience they were looking for. With the success they were already seeing, they set their eyes on expansion.
After rapidly expanding in Georgia, Zain and Sagar were the first franchisees to bring My Eyelab to Alabama. The two had a reliable support team in the state to help them figure out everything from construction to marketing and hiring, and they’re still just getting started.
Their Future with the My Eyelab Franchise
By the end of this year, this ambitious father-son team hopes to have 30 stores open and surpass 40 by the end of 2023. They’re even planning to cross state lines once again, expanding access to convenient, quality eye care in Tennessee.
Looking for a strong investment opportunity in the optical retail space? Contact us today to learn more about growing your franchising portfolio with My Eyelab!
