Marketing offer - only five days left

Practitioners have just five days left to capitalise on the Norville/B&L promotional offer from the marketing support group, Independent Marketing Partnership (News, November 4).

Independents can obtain six months' free membership if they sign up by November 30, entitling them to public relations help and advice as part of a £100,000 marketing support initiative sponsored by Bausch & Lomb and the Norville Group.

Dispensing optician Simone Mason from the Eyesite Eyecare Centres in Coventry said the Independent Market Partnership has been a cost-effective method of marketing an independent practice and urged other practitioners to take up the offer.

'We have to strengthen the position of the independent market by communicating with our patients and doing something special. It is no longer enough just to send out reminder letters.'

As part of the service Mason receives a newsletter, In Focus, which she sends to patients alongside their recall letter.

'The newsletter covers everything from frame fashion and the importance of having an eye test to information about diabetes and contact lenses,' she said.

'The perks are great too including a current frame offer from Norville, 1,000 free newsletters and a benchmarking service so we can measure our practice performance against other practice members,' she said.