Inspecs has won a Queen’s Award for international business in recognition of growth in this area of 500 per cent in the past three years.
The award will be presented to founders Robin Totterman and Chris Smith at Buckingham Palace in
July. Inspecs was recently ranked 39th in the top 500 European Hot Growth Companies by
‘The Queen’s Award was achieved by a highly talented and focused team carving out a niche, applying new perspectives with a modern twist in what is a fundamentally traditional industry,’ said Totterman.
Inspecs saw growth in emerging markets, with new offices in China, India, Russia and Ukraine. It aims to continue to build a global business over the next three years, with a focus on world brands.
As well as brands including Vision by Conran, French Connection and Nicole Fahri, a large proportion of its sales are through private-label product.
This year Inspecs is joining forces with the newly revived London fashion label Biba on its first eyewear line since the original brand launch in the 1960s. It has also signed a 10-year licence with India’s haute couture designer Manish Arora, the first Indian designer to sign an international eyewear deal.
Totterman said the firm’s approach to creating a global business was based on finding exceptionally talented local entrepreneurs and working with them in close partnership.
Dunfermline firm Optos also won its first Queen’s Award for international business. It increased exports by 137 per cent in three years, to some £36m in 2006. Over 2,500 devices have been installed in its overseas markets, currently its core US market, and Canada and Germany. Subsidiary offices have been set up in the US and Germany, supported from the UK, and it is assessing further expansion in Europe and Asia.
