Specsavers dispenses 10 million glasses in 2009

Sunday 27 December 2009

GUERNSEY’S largest private employer has dispensed almost 10 million glasses to the UK, Ireland, Europe and Australasia this year.

A total of 9,700,000 frames in more than 2,000 different styles were exported from the Specsavers’ headquarters at La Villiaze, and transported to stores during 2009. This equates to 186,538 glasses leaving the Guernsey warehouse every week.

‘The warehouse has seen a lot of activity in the last 12 months,’ said wholesale manager Dennis Midgley. ‘Our team of 40 staff have exported almost 10 million frames to the UK, ROI, Denmark, Netherlands, Spain, Scandinavia and Australasia.
This is an encouraging statistic and I would like to congratulate the wholesale team for their continued efforts.’

While Specsavers’ computerised wholesale department is responsible for the sorting, storage, selection, packing and export of the frames, a diverse buying department helps to source the frames.

The product range is unique – all frame styles are manufactured exclusively for the group, in high-quality plastics and metals, available in classic and contemporary styles from the UK, Far East and Europe.

‘We have seen some great new styles designed and endorsed by Gok Wan this year and also saw the launch of a new range for Specsavers – Animal. The brand is aimed at young adults and offers a fashionable and colourful frame range, and has been a great success,’ said director of buying and merchandising Kevin Andrews.

Mr Andrews adds: ‘We’re also particularly proud of our own brand of designer Osiris frames, which have seen massive growth. It continues to out-sell other leading optical designer brands in the UK and is the most fashionable and innovative range on the UK high street.’