Upon joining the VisionSpring family, I had the opportunity to look through photographs taken on recent trips to the field. These images – from communities all over the world – capture the striking impact made by the simple act of selling reading glasses. Journey with us as we visit our entrepreneurs and customers in villages across Ghana, India, Bangladesh and Nicaragua.

At the Talberg Forum last month, Jordan Kassalow gave a presentation on “What Works in Microfranchise” based on VisionSpring’s experience selling reading glasses to create jobs. The audience? A group of entrepreneurs organizing to sell low-cost solar-powered lights to the developing world (the event was put together by D.light Design). This kind of sharing is inspiring: the lessons of microfranchise can be applied among a wide range of ventures, and we’re seeing that practitioners across the board are eager to learn.

As it happens, John Keane of SolarAid recently visited VisionSpring India to see our Vision Entrepreneurs in action. Take a minute to read what parts of the VisionSpring approach he plans to carry forward.

I spent today in the district of Mahbubnagar visiting VisionSpring’s Vision Entrepreneurs as they tested the eyes of local villagers to see if they suffer from presbyopia (blurry close up vision that becomes more and more common after the age of 35), and offered glasses for sale to those who needed them. During my visit I met up with VisionSpring’s District Coordinator Sudhir Kumar and Vision Spring Entrepreneurs Mr. and Mrs. Neeli who explained that since joining vision spring, they had virtually tripled their previous income, selling over 150 glasses. Inspiring stuff!

Even from my short visit, it was clear that the people living in the village were not used to having a health service available ‘on their doorstep.’ I also saw many parallels between the work of Vision Spring and SolarAid. Like Vision Spring, SolarAid is working with entrepreneurs in rural areas. The difference, of course, is the product. SolarAid trains entrepreneurs to set up microsolar businesses which offer people viable, solar powered energy alternatives to kerosene, candles and disposable batteries.

While there are many challenges when trying to reach people living in often remote rural areas, I was impressed by the professional approach VisionSpring takes. All of its entrepreneurs are provided with the tools and resources they need, such as branded T shirts, receipt books and identity cards, in order to look credible, professional and give their customers the confidence that the warranty they offer on the glasses they sell will be honored. From our own work at SolarAid we have also seen the importance of providing entrepreneurs with these tools to give them a strong platform for making their business a success. After all, starting a new business in any context is never easy. But I feel that the microfranchise approach Vision Spring have adopted really is a strong one and I’ll be taking what I’ve learned back to SolarAid’s programmes in Africa.

I left Mahbubnagar wishing the entrepreneurs the very best of luck for the future and with the knowledge that VisionSpring will give them continued support and training to help them on their way. Of course I couldn’t leave without buying a pair of sunglasses – which I can honestly say look far better quality than the pair I bought in a market in Delhi just weeks before which have already broken! In fact, I’m wearing them right now!

Peter Eliassen, Vice President of Sales and Operations, recently went to Nicaragua to visit VisionSpring Franchise Partner Cause for Hope. Reporting back on conversations with Vision Entrepreneurs, Peter reminds us that the VisionSpring model is unique because not only are we a Social Enterprise, the businesses we create are too. While making money is a main driver for all of our Vision Entrepreneurs, many of them stay with the program because they also have the opportunity to help our communities.

“Yesterday and today I met with a bunch of Vision Entrepreneurs (VEs) here in Nicaragua, and I asked each one what motivates them. Although the women generally want to discuss their sales – how much money they make, and how they would change this or that style – when I ask them about what motivates them, it always brings a smile to their face. Each has told me mas o menos the same thing, that the best part of what they do is sharing the joyful moments when their customers can see clearly for the first time in many years (the “ah-ha!” moment). The VE’s are given titles by their customers like “Savior of Sight”, or “Angel of Vision” and that’s what really fuels them.

Today in Managua we brought three new potential VEs to a vision camp for them to see what it actually looks like. During our brief interviews in the morning, the focus was primarily on how much money the VE could earn by participating in the program. Then, when we got to the camp, the active VE explained to the three new potentials that the primary goal of the program is to expand the access to affordable glasses. When asked what motivates her, she told the new potential VEs that she is driven by the joy that she brings to her customers and that the money is like icing on the cake. She explained in detail the referral process, the screening process, and her favorite VisionSpring models.

I applauded afterwards. It is so great to see how the dedication and excitement about our work is adopted by the program coordinators, trainers, and the VEs.