Optician Awards: Building for the future

Independent practice Barnham Opticians won in the newly established 2022 Optician Award category, Build Back Better. With extensive business disruptions from pandemic impacts, supply chain bottlenecks, and inflated costs, businesses were challenged to be innovative and bold in their short and long-term business strategies.  

Judges found that many finalists had decided to ‘build back better’ by expanding services, relocating to larger premises, and moving to planned payments. However, Barnham Opticians had the edge when it came to excelling in customer focus and growth, and went the extra mile by providing pre-appointment questionnaires and home deliveries. 

One of the key changes implemented to boost growth and ensure business resilience during the peak of the pandemic was to introduce a customer finance plan in various areas. Tony Corbett, finance and marketing manager at Barnham Opticians, said: ‘Financial pressure was a concern as the pandemic hit. We introduced an interest-free direct debit scheme for patients purchasing spectacles as we realised that many were interested in spreading the cost over 12 months. We quickly noticed sales increased and patients bought better quality or multiple pairs of spectacles.