Sporting opportunity

I cannot agree more with Optician Magazine editor Chris "Ironman" Bennett about the opportunity presented to retail optics regarding the sports niche in his Big Optometry Blog.

In his blog he wonders why opticians cannot connect with the fanatical sportsman - there are many out there who love to spend on kit so why aren't they offered it by an optician?

The view should not be that this is expensive product that won't sell through as much as other investment in stock but rather as a vehicle to connect with a new community of patients / customers who purchase product becasue they desire it - not simply because they need it.

For me it is a simple market force:

Desire = value

Merger of Boots and D&A

I can't help thinking that this is good news for independent opticians - there'll be more distance between them and where the new organisation will operate because they intend to move closer to Boots' position in the market.

It seems that independent opticians will seem further removed from the retail-focussed, sales environment of the chains - and that will reinforce the positive perceptions value-discerning patients have of independent opticians.

I wonder how the franchisees will respond?

For more info check what the Optician Magazine has to say.