Poor weather conditions have had a dampening effect on retail sales this summer with practices in worst hit areas of flooding suffering the most. Figures from the British Retail Consortium revealed that like-for-like sales on the retail market as a whole rose just 1.2 per cent in July compared with 4.6 per cent in June. This represented the weakest monthly performance in the retail sector since last November.
In a news poll of practices, Optician found that most practice sales have been hit to some extent, although special offers on sunglasses and frames have helped some to maintain sales levels.
Practice manager Mike Thompson from Dickson Bennett Opticians in Cheltenham said sales were down 30-40 per cent due to poor weather conditions. 'Sunglass sales have been down slightly and we haven't been able to use the water due to the flooding for the past few weeks. Our practice has been quieter than usual with fewer patients and of course, we haven't been selling contact lenses at all.'
Tim Fanton, practice manager at Colin Lee Opticians in Lichfield said: 'We've definitely sold fewer sunglasses this summer. Normally we would be topping up our supplies but due to the poor weather we haven't needed to.'
Lindsay Gavin, branch manager at Scrivens Opticians in Tewkesbury, predicted a sales downturn in the aftermath of the flooding due to customers needing to spend their money on damage to their homes.
'Thankfully our practice was not flooded but the route into the town was cut off and we had to close for four days. People have really pulled together and we took our appointments book home ahead of the storms so that we were able to notify our patients. We now have water again and our appointments book is full at least for the next few weeks.'
Meanwhile, Canterbury-based Boots Opticians team manager Sue Pike said there was a surge in sunglass sales in April when weather was unexpectedly good. 'We've also had a special offer on our sunglasses which has proved popular and sales have been fair for the rest of the summer.'
Alistair Paterson, store director at Specsavers on Union Street in Bristol also reported steady sales. 'We have had a two for one promotion in store but aside from that the poor weather hasn't really affected us.'
