OPTICAL PRISM | IN FOCUS
Specsavers enters Canadian market
BY DENIS LANGLOIS
- MIKE PROTOPSALTIS , Specsavers Partnerships Director
Specsavers , which recently entered the Canadian market , says British Columbia remains the group ’ s initial focus and there are no current plans to expand beyond the province in the short-term .
“ Having only recently partnered with Image Optometry , we are focused on the re-launch of their stores under the Specsavers brand and on establishing new locations , owned and operated by eye care professionals , across B . C . Once that process is underway in the coming months , we will then spend time
30 OPTICAL PRISM | September 2021 familiarising Vancouver and B . C . communities with our eye care and eyewear offer ,” Specsavers partnerships director Mike Protopsaltis told Optical Prism .
However , he confirmed that Canadian optometrists and opticians from other provinces have already been in contact about ownership opportunities and when those opportunities might arise .
41million
PATIENTS ACROSS THE WORLD ARE CARED FOR BY SPECSAVERS
“ They ’ re keen to understand our plans and how they can get involved as business partners with Specsavers and I am always happy to map out why Specsavers works so well for our partners .”
The British optometry franchise Specsavers , the world ’ s largest optometrist-owned eye care business ,
entered the Canadian market via its acquisition of Vancouver ’ s Image Optometry .
The group was founded in 1984 by optometrist husband-and-wife team Doug and Mary Perkins .
It offers a combination of affordable and accessible advanced eye care services and high-quality prescription eyewear .
Supporting almost 2,000 individual Specsavers eye care businesses under its franchise partnership model , the group has a global , integrated supply chain with facilities across Asia , UK , Australia , Eastern Europe and North America . Specsavers cares for 41 million patients across the world and supplies more than 15 million frames and 30 million ophthalmic lenses and 500 million contact lenses every year .
Operating in 10 other countries , Specsavers has developed country-specific ownership models that take account of local regulations and are clear market leaders in eight of those 10 markets . OP