Profitable Practice Post Pandemic

Now that the business bubble created by pent-up demand post pandemic seems to have finally burst, what's next for independent practices?

What is the best strategy to continue business growth and, more importantly, profitable growth?

This year’s Independents Day will focus on the strategies that help create the solid financial base a business needs to help make it more robust in challenging times. Key themes will include:

• Going private: Is it the answer?

• Professional fee strategies

• Making enhanced services profitable

• Exploiting market growth opportunities

Ticket prices from £99* when booked before 31st March 2023

Go Eyewear will showcase its full portfolio, including the new spring/summer collections from Ana Hickmann, Bulget, Jo & Margot and T-Charge. Taking just one of the collections: Bulget is inspired by the city offering minimalist Italian design with fashion appeal. The new collection explores the beauty of classical eyewear, with delicate modern touches for a contemporary edge. With frames for men, women, teens and kids, the extensive choice offered by Bulget Occhiali relies on fine quality beta titanium, stainless steel and acetate materials. For sunglasses, Bulget offers exclusive polarised lenses for uncompromising performance and protection.

Discover more about Hoya’s MiyoSmart spectacle lens, winner of Optician’s Lens Award 2022. Celebrating the second anniversary of the lens’s launch in the UK, along with the results of its sixyear study, Hoya will be bringing lots of excitement around the myopia management category to the show this year. The company will also be demonstrating its seamless centration device, the visuReal Master, designed to help practitioners take more accurate measurements for premium individualised lenses. Visit the Hoya team on Stand W160 to find out more about its multi awardwinning lenses, and its partnership programme, Visionary Alliance, designed to make practitioners’ businesses flourish, and its “outstanding service offering”.

Millmead will be returning to Stand W100 to showcase the latest products and services from its three optical companies: Continental Eyewear frames, Jai Kudo lenses and Optoplast cases and accessories. More than 500 different product lines will be on show with an eclectic mix of eye-opening design, industry-leading technology and the very latest in sustainably-sourced materials in collections such as Cameo Sustain made from 100 per cent recycled materials. Puriti, a new hand-crafted Japanese titanium range, will be unveiled alongside a new XP Pro gaming lens from Jai Kudo, and the Optoplast Sustain Cases Collection. Finally, witness the London unveiling of Heavy-Light, Millmead’s new sculpture made in collaboration with Yair Neuman, created from recycled demo lenses and lens swarf from its factory in Liverpool.

Catch up with the Optinet team at Stand M210 to discuss the latest updates to Optinet FLEX – the practice management system (PMS) designed to meet the needs of optical business of all sizes. “From first contact to final collection, FLEX will make your patient journey easier to manage – whether you have one or multiple stores,” said Chris Smith, Optinet business development manager. “With over 35 years’ experience writing PMS, you can be confident that FLEX will deliver the functionality you need. Pop by our stand for a friendly chat and let us show you what FLEX can do, and to hear why practitioners trust Optinet FLEX to manage their business.”

Fully authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, Performance Finance is the UK’s leading optical finance specialist and provides tailor made loans and finance to independent opticians. “We are highly competitive with a friendly and helpful approach and provide equipment finance, business loans, and personal loans,” said a spokesperson. “We understand our clients require a high level of personal service delivered efficiently from a finance provider that has detailed knowledge of their profession. We have a reputation for completing arrangements with speed, efficiency and flexibility and we are proud of our Excellent Trust Pilot rating.”

On Stand B100, Positive Impact (PI) will emphasise the benefits of NaturalVue

1-Day Enhanced Multifocal with TripleTear Lubrication technology, and SynergEyes iD, a breakthrough in hybrid contact lens technology for astigmats and astigmatic presbyopes. CE mark-approved for presbyopia and myopia control, NaturalVue boasts three comfort agents, including hyaluronic acid, which work together to provide hydration throughout the day.

SynergEyes iD lenses are individually designed utilising K-readings, horizontal visible iris diameter and refraction. The multifocal option is powered by the Brien Holden Vision Institute EDOF design. PI’s Dry Eye Zone will feature the optocosmetics Eyes Are The Story with

Head over to Stand D33 and talk to the Practice Building (PB) team about the launch of Net Zero Opticians – “a concise system that makes caring for your bit of the planet not just profoundly easy, but astonishingly affordable”. With PB’s friendly guidance, you’ll get the essentials of carbon accounting

free samples, together with Purifeyes spray: the “missing link in periocular cleansing”.

and footprint analysis. The team promises that “with remarkably little effort, you’ll be on track to the elusive Net Zero badge – not by 2050, not by 2030, but within a month or two of starting the programme”. Key to the concept is understanding that it’s ‘not all about plastic’: there are further ways to be more sustainable.

On Stand W157, Seiko will showcase a number of new initiatives as part of the Seiko Vision Specialist programme, including Seiko Social Media Manager and its one-stop-shop customer portal, Seiko Pro. In addition, view the SVX Column digital measurement device, “which helps the ECP to bring measurements to a whole new level and provide the patient with the most precise vision no matter where they look through their lenses. Being a Seiko Vision Specialist means the ability to offer a bespoke service that will differentiate the ECP’s practice and help them to perform with precision in their business”.

With its BIG Vision concept, Rodenstock believes it has successfully initiated the paradigm shift in individual lenses by taking into account the biometrics of the whole eye. This includes its length and several thousand data points in the eye – far beyond industry standards. All relevant biometric data measured by the DNEye Scanner flows directly into the lens production process. While the precision of BIG Exact lenses “are still unparalleled”, Rodenstock says it can further achieve its goals with BIG Norm: biometric progressive lenses supported by artificial intelligence. With these, Rodenstock has initiated a “biometric revolution creating BIG Vision for all”. Find out how Rodenstock’s new technology can offer even more precision in the field of progressive lenses, on Stand W120.

Visit Spec-Care on Stand E20, and celebrate the launch of Exeter Eyewear, a legacy project to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the NHS. Spec-Care founder and director, Rob Barrow, has been recognised by the Parliamentary Trust to represent optical providers at the NHS 75th birthday celebrations this year. “Our service department is housed within Spec-Care, where no better team exists for delivering perfect fitting eyewear,” said Rob. “Exeter Eyewear is a business built upon industry collaborations and partnerships, bringing more efficient supply chains to the sector. We have selected our partners carefully after discussing their own innovations and commitments to excellence within the optical supply network. We now look forward to helping our partners bring Exeter Eyewear and their own innovations to the profession.”

View Exeter Eyewear frames

Other preferred suppliers at the show include Associated Optical. Bondeye, Hilco, InSpecs, Thea Pharmaceuticals. Visit www.100percentoptical.com to register. ■