This is the latest in a regular series of Business Q&A features published weekly. This week, we spoke to Garrey Haase, owner of Knaresborough opticians Yorkshire Eyewear. 

Tell us in fewer than 30 words what your firm does.

We do everything eye-related, including eye examinations, glasses, contact lenses and emergency appointments.

We also screen for dry eye and use coloured filters for visual stress and dyslexia.

What does it take to be successful in business?

Hard work and determination, and offering a niche product or service helps too.

Looking after your customers by offering exceptional service is important, and at the moment you also need a lot of luck!

What drives you to do what you do every day?

I absolutely love helping people to get the most out of their eyes and see as well as possible. I get great satisfaction out of helping people to look after after their sight, and see better. Sight is so important.

What’s been the toughest issue your business has had to deal with over the last 12 months?

In comparison with previous years, we haven't really had any issues over the past 12 months. If I had to pick one thing it would probably be cashflow, but really we've had a fantastic 12 months.

Which other local firms do you most admire and why?

I admire any independent business that's surviving, because it's getting tougher and tougher out there. We're at the bottom end of the High Street and there are five or six empty units around us.

Who are the most inspiring local leaders?

Knaresborough's very lucky in that it has a number of very passionate people who really care about the town, both from a business point of view and a development point of view.

I also really admire Kate Rogata and Julia Lightfoot of Supporting Older People. It's a Harrogate and Knaresborough charity that does a fantastic job on a very small budget.

What could be done locally to boost business?

The first thing we need to do is encourage people to use the independent and town-centre businesses we have in Knaresborough.

Knaresborough people and businesses need to work together as one to boost the town and help it develop.

We also need to smarten up the buildings, including the empty ones, as it would encourage more people to come to the town.

Another issue is that a lot of people come to the town centre, but not Waterside, and a lot of others come to Waterside but not the town centre. Getting that connectivity right would improve the town.

Best and worst things about running a business from Knaresborough?

It's a beautiful town and the people are generally very friendly.

I'm not sure there are many bad things about Knaresborough. The parking, probably...

What are your business plans for the future?

One of the things I'm looking at is how to make our business busier and how to offer our customers more services.

So we're now looking at offering specialist clinics – for conditions such as macular degeneration – in addition to the run-of-the-mill eye exams and glasses.

There's a pilot scheme studying glaucoma currently underway in North Yorkshire, so I've also taken a course in glaucoma so that if it come to Harrogate and Knaresborough, I can take part in it.

What do you like to do in your time off?

I like to play golf, walk the dogs with my wife Karen and my family, and I like reading, especially crime fiction!

Best places to eat and drink locally? 

Knaresborough has a plethora of pubs, but one of my favourites is So! Bar, because the food is good, the staff are very personable and the atmosphere is nice.

If I want a quiet meal and drink, I like to go to the Knaresborough Inn. The quality of the food is really good, and the refit has been amazing – it looks really nice.

If you know someone in business in the Harrogate district and you'd like to suggest them for this feature, drop us a line at contact@thestrayferret.co.uk.