Hunt bows out at Club awards

Outgoing Rodenstock managing director Chris Hunt commented on the tough future for independents during his farewell speech at the Rodenstock Club awards luncheon last week.

Discussing the 'shrinking share' of the market, he praised the Club concept, from 1989, for helping practices to survive in a tough commercial market.

'Since 1982, the independents' share of the optical market has halved,' he said.
He estimated that independents took about 32 per cent of the 2bn optical market, but asserted that this could be doubled if practices maximised their opportunities.


Club Award winners

Wimbledon Sunglasses Award:
Winner Burnett Hodd & Jenkins.

ColorMatic Lenses Award:
Winner Platinum/National - Coleman Opticians, Norwich; Gold - Paxon & Thomas, Burton-on-Trent; Silver - Eyecare Opticians, Ipswich.
Impression Lenses Award:
Winner Platinum/National - Martin Steels, Storrington; Gold - Memory Opticians, Salisbury.

Progressive Lenses Award: Winner Platinum/National - Peter Jackson Associates, Wigston; Gold - Prince & Bates, Burton-on-Trent; Silver - Eyecare Opticians, Ipswich.

Frame Stylist Award:
Winner Platinum/National - Burnett Hodd & Jenkins; Gold - Prince & Bates; Silver - KB&RL Gardner, Sunderland.

Centre of Excellence Award: Platinum - Burnett Hodd & Jenkins; Gold - Prince & Bates;
Silver (joint) - Johnson Opticians and KB&RL Gardner.