Looking at labs: Brand building at JS Optical

JS Optical director and owner Jamie Sawyer was destined to work in the ophthalmic lens sector. His father, John Sawyer, had spent over 20 years as managing director of ophthalmic lens equipment manufacturer Coburn Technologies along with helping to establish Hoya’s production facility in Wrexham.

Having spent so much time around lens manufacturing, it made sense that Sawyer started his career in optics at just 16 years of age. Starting at a Kidderminster-based lab learning the ropes, he then moved to a sales role at Hoya five years later. A move to Dollond & Aitchison followed, where Sawyer built up the multiple’s in-store lab network and recruited lab technicians. When D&A began to close its labs down, the chance to go it alone in 1998 was too good to miss.