Echoes of the past: Advertising issues that may strike a chord with practices today

This week’s Echoes of the past retrospective looks at a special ‘Sun Spec and Absorption Lens’ supplement published just over 75 years ago with the April 14 issue of Optician from 1939 – timed to coincide with the arrival of summer and offering useful sunglass dispensing information for practitioners.

The article, ‘Three Ways in Which Opticians Can Supply Better Sun–Specs’ provided useful suggestions on improving sunglass sales – both clinically and commercially. Somewhat forthrightly, the article suggested that patients looking elsewhere for their sunglasses was a reflection on the practitioner’s skills in the consulting room, in so much that the patient requirements were not being taken into account during consultations.