STAYING AHEAD OF CHANGE

Yousuf Ali had a successful career in marketing until he failed to embrace new technologies. Now, as a My Eyelab franchisee, embracing forward-thinking capabilities is the key to his success.

- STEPHANIE SCHOMER

Every industry can be disrupted—and Yousuf Ali knows that well. He spent decades as an old-school marketer until he got outmoded by new digital tools. That’s why, as he sought a career in franchising, he decided to bet on a forward-thinking brand that embraced new technologies. My Eyelab fit the bill. It has 120 locations across the United States, sells eyeglasses, and uses telehealth technologies to give customers easy access to eye exams and prescriptions. Ali appreciated that My Eyelab was fusing tried-and-true retail with innovative technology, and now he’s going all-in: After opening his first location in 2019 in Irving, Texas, he recently opened two storefronts in nearby Dallas suburbs, with two more in the works for later this year.

You spent 20 years in marketing before becoming a franchisee. Why make the switch?