Ambitious web firm offers 'up to 120k'

An ambitious online prescription eyewear group, which has promised to give the multiples 'a run for their money', claims it can offer professionals the chance to earn up to £120,000 per year.

The company, specslab.com, is currently experimenting with employing optometrists in a number of high street promotional teams to carry out free eye checks. It also proposes 'low-cost' home visit eye tests for elderly, disabled and infirm people who reside within each promotional team's designated operating area.

Without the costs of running a high street store, Specslab.com's business development director, David Newman, claims the company provides value for money for consumers 'because our operating costs are realistic'.

'We offer hard working individuals the training and opportunity to build their own promotional business. Incomes from this activity range from £25,000 to £120,000 per annum.'

The company, a subsidiary of Dubai-based International Telecommunications Consultancy, established its first UK base in the summer. In July it gained an agreement with Tesco that allowed its sales teams onto the supermarket's premises to promote its business. Now its promotional methods, which include Mercedes vehicles and advertisement trailers, have moved to Britain's town centres.

As part of the high street publicity drive the business has carried out a price comparison against rival online retailers, and claims it undercuts a basket of online competitors <2212> including Specsavers Opticians' offer <2212> 'using the industry standard own brand, metal, full-rim frame fitted with a 1.56 (1.6) index lens, providing anti-reflection and ultraviolet protection with a hard coating'.

The results were as follows:
Specslab.com - £29.95 Myoptics.co.uk - £45-75 PerfectSpecs.co.uk - £75-85 SpecsOnTheNet.com - £79 Budget Specs.com - £80-£100
Glassesonspec.co.uk - £85
GlassesDirect.co.uk - £85
BargainSpecs.com - £90
Spex4Less.com - £100 Specsavers.co.uk - £141

'Showing the significant savings that can be made by prudent online consumers, the surcharge for semi-rimless and rimless frames was found to vary from £25-£45 at the lower end of the scale, including specslab.com, and £99-£169 at the highest,' Newman said.

'We intend to give popular retail outlets such as Specsavers, Boots and Dollond & Aitchison a run for their money by taking our product to traditional high street customers.'

Specslab.com is seeking partners in six other European countries, and the aim in the UK is to have 30 representatives by the end of next year.