Firm recruits agents to bypass optical practices

A new internet spectacle and sunglass retailer is attempting to access the UK market by promoting its products through franchises and partnerships and has already begun selling frames through the Daily Mail newspaper.

SpecsPost is using a different business model to other internet optical businesses such as Glasses Direct and contactlenses.co.uk. It aims to sell 'territories' to franchisees for a minimum investment of £2,000.

In return for their investment, SpecsPost provides training, a SpecsPost operations manual, and 'unlimited support' from its head office including marketing, aftercare, frame stands and stock.

Claiming that its 'glasses and sunspecs sell themselves by virtue of their design', SpecsPost informs prospective franchisees that their task will 'simply be to get them in front of people by following a proven and fully transferable process'.