The fight for patient footfall

Practitioners with a specialism and those selling premium brands have fared best during the recession, according to marketing consultant Patrick Myers of optical and marketing consultancy firm Myers La Roche.

Myers informed attendees at Luxottica's Elite Client Conference in London that it was these practices rather than the largest or longest established or those offering the cheapest frames that were best. To demonstrate the fact, he contentiously claimed to the audience that he knew 'of a Specsavers franchise that can only survive these days because they get a handout from Specsavers head office of £50,000 a year to remain there'.