In Focus: Nurturing energy

Refocusing efforts, trusting the process and emerging stronger were among the themes highlighted at a day conference and awards evening held by Black & Lizars on January 8.

Practice teams from the Scottish optical group convened at Crieff Hydro Hotel in Perth and Kinross for the first time since 2018.

‘In five years, a lot has changed,’ John Hare highlighted during the owner’s opening address to delegates. ‘For example, who knew what the term furlough meant before Covid-19? What would’ve been strange to us then is now accepted as normal.’

Hare said Black & Lizars was a smaller business than it was in 2018, but this helped the optical group navigate changes.

He told the 60-strong team in attendance that the business was financially better placed to deal with pandemic-related challenges, such as patient’s searching for quick, easy options online and cheaper products because of the cost-of-living crisis.

However, Hare noted that the longevity of Black & Lizars was something staff and patients could have confidence in.