Independents sector has a future says Rodenstock boss

Independent practices can thrive and survive but the people who are going to become the next generation of practitioners need to be identified, according to Niels Jensen, manmaging dirtector of Rodenstock UK.

Speaking in a wide-ranging interview with Optician  Jensen said independents were under huge p[ressure from the multiple sector but he believed there were still enough customer around who wanted top quality service, care and differentiated products. He said Rodenstock was working hard to support independents as much as it could but the future of the sector needed to be considered. ‘I can only surmise, but I think there are a number of independents who don’t have a 25-year horizon,’ said Jensen. ‘At some point they will need to move on and have a structure in place as to who will take over.’ He said a new generation would have to emerge. I haven’t had the opportunity to gauge what the taste among younger optometrists is for becoming their own masters. The independent market is dependent on people who want to take on their own practice or find a son, daughter or someone who wants to buy them out. I see no reason why the independent sector should shrink. There are enough people around who value service and want quality,’ he added.