Frames, Miles & Mojo: 15 Years on the Road with Mattew 

Friday, November 13 2026 | 09 h 00 min | Optik Magazine, Practice Management

By Suzanne Sendel

His excitement and enthusiasm were evident in the interview, and I can see why this Rockstar Road Warrior is so successful. His passion, commitment and company loyalty speak volumes. As we close out the year, we chose to feature a 15-year veteran of the optical industry. 

Mattew Vaillancourt is an anomaly. 

He began his optical career working for an independent optical in Quebec City 15 years ago, when he was only 25. He immediately fell in love with the industry, and with the style and fashion that accompanied working directly with customers and helping them find their perfect eyewear. In school, Matt had studied marketing, and he was always driven by fashion, style and practicality. He had no idea, as a young man, that he would find a lifetime career in the optical world, and in reflection, he has only praise to share for those he has worked with from the very beginning of his career. 

When André Bélanger came calling to sell his collection to Matt’s boss, Mattew was immediately drawn to André, who had come from Tom Ford and Marcolin fame and was now setting out to build his own distribution company. The men chatted, and André suggested that Mattew come and work with him in further developing his newly launched company, Mood Eyewear. 

Mattew suggested that once Mood was up and running and growing exponentially, he would consider a conversation. That day came soon after, and Matt decided to join the company and moved to Montreal. His former boss was sad to lose him, but happy to see him continue to grow his passion and value within the industry. And, all these years later, that former boss still buys from him today. 

Fast forward many years, and Mattew is still gainfully employed with Mood Eyewear, and is happiest when he is on the road, working with his customers and helping build the portfolio of the various collections that Mood represents. His passion for fashion, versatility and design have always inspired him, and his greatest strength is his relationships. 

Mattew has covered Ontario for several years, and then decided to focus solely on Quebec, as there are so many new accounts to call on and so much territory to cover. 

But being a road warrior is about much more than simply getting behind the wheel and visiting accounts. Mattew is in a constant search for ways to do things more efficiently, while always asking himself how he can best support his customers.

He travels with thousands of dollars worth of frames, sometimes knowing that the order he may close could be for only a marginal amount of frames. It can be a tenuous business, carrying an entire portfolio from account to account, but the reality is that most customers still want to touch the frames, feel the quality, try them on and experience the collections before making their selections.

And that is where Mattew shines.

It is always a privilege for him to visit his customers, but he also understands what it takes to do this work with ease and finesse. When you represent a company with so many great collections, you want to make sure that each brand receives the proper amount of time, attention and respect that it deserves. It takes organization, preparation, product knowledge and a genuine appreciation for the brands you represent. 

Mattew understands all of this instinctively.

He also travels to our two feature trade fairs annually, both MIDO and SILMO Paris. Mattew attends various regional shows on behalf of the company and is always enthused to be present during these events, as they give him the opportunity to further connect with his customers, both new and seasoned. 

Mattew has a five-year-old daughter, whom he shares with his partner of 12 years. In his spare time, he skis, snowboards, is teaching his daughter the joy of the slopes, golfs and enjoys quality family time. 

In high school, Matt played competitive basketball and always enjoyed the joys of sport. His affinity for the people he meets in his day-to-day life is among the most rewarding aspects of what he does. You can sell great collections, but it is always about the people, and Mattew is deeply committed to serving his customers with integrity, service and a likeability that is rich and authentic. 

What fires him up most is how much freedom he has been given by his company. There is no pressure, no micromanaging and no sales quotas that need to be met. Ultimately, his relationship with Mood Eyewear is based on trust and understanding, and Mattew sees himself remaining within our industry for many years to come. 

And perhaps that is what makes his story so compelling. After 15 years in optical, the enthusiasm is still there. The curiosity is still there. The relationships still matter. The fashion still excites him. And the road still calls.

Optical is in his DNA.

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