Now it's Contacts Direct

Just one week after OPTICIAN revealed Tesco's plans to sell contact lenses from its pharmacies and online, James Murray Wells has launched Contacts Direct, a sister site to his Glasses Direct operation.

With his new site, www.contactsdirect.co.uk, Murray Wells has promised 'leading brand contact lenses at least half the price of the high street'.

Asked whether the timing of his launch was linked to Tesco's plans and deregulation, Murray Wells told optician: 'I've wanted to get the contact lenses going as soon as possible after I'd launched Glasses Direct because I always thought the two would work hand in hand.

'The contact lens website was launched on June 1 because it was as soon as we could do it. It had no bearing on what Tesco was doing.

'Not only are we hoping to be half the price of the high street but we're also hoping to be the cheapest UK-based contact lens supplier.'

Compared with the results of optician's second annual survey of CL prices on the web (May 6), however, Contacts Direct's prices are more expensive than average.

Murray Wells also told optician that he had employed a registered dispensing optician to oversee all contact lens orders at the office.

Earlier this week, Murray Wells won the Shell LiveWire Young Entrepreneur of the Year for the south west. He will be entered into a national final in London on June 22.

rob.moss@rbi.co.uk