Insight Q&A: Alisdair Buchanan of Buchanan Optometrists

Do you think that there is enough variety in what opticians offer in the UK?

Alisdair Buchanan: No, I think optometry in the UK is behind the rest of Europe in styling and while we can sit there and say ‘my patients don’t like that sort of frame’, we need to show them and convince them of the need to change and update. There are the multiples who fight over the same business; they all stock similar types of frames. Then there are the independents who are trying to fight the multiples and stock similar frames. The independents actually should be doing things a bit different; stocking those cool, exquisite jewelry frames that you can’t get everywhere.