Beware talk of green shoots warns Surridge

Independent optical businesses are being warned against complacency as reports of economic recovery start to appear in the national press.

According to Paul Surridge, chief executive of the Sight Care Group, the economy is entering a 'very interesting' period and therefore it is hard to predict how long it will take for 'demonstrable and sustainable' signs of economic recovery to take hold.

'This recession is very different from the past. Recessions come and go, it's a natural and often predictable part of the economic cycle. But this time we've had a massive international banking crisis layered on top that has starved businesses of cash at a time of great need,' he explained.