Optics - not so booming

As baby boomers reach the age of 60 market research company Plimsoll has published a report on their involvement in the optical industry.

The UK's top 1,000 optics companies are led by 1,915 directors, aged from 23 to the oldest aged 99, said Plimsoll. A third of optical directors will be 60 within the next five years and their average salary is £33,757; this is about half the national average for directors, according to the study.

Although 130 companies run by directors over 60 increased sales and profits last year, the report also showed that there was little to entice directors to stay in optics. It stated that 35 per cent of companies are in financial difficulties and 27 per cent failed to make a profit last year.

Plimsoll compared optics with the record industry where the average director salary is £272,000. 

* For a copy of the report email m.aston@plimsoll.co.uk