Upmarket frame sales hit by recession fear

Practices are having to work harder to sell luxury designer frames as a result of the threat of recession, an Optician news poll around the country has revealed.

Some practices report they have found sales have been significantly affected by the credit crunch, although others, often shielded by their affluent locations, are selling just as many designer frames as before.

Situated in Hampstead, Arthur Morrice Opticians has seen luxury frame sales halve as a consequence of the credit crunch. Dispensing optician Maria Torounidou told Optician: 'The last month has been dreadful, it's awfully quiet and people seem reluctant to be spending any money. This time last year we were making three or four thousand pounds a day. This year we're only making half of that. People are really asking about how much frames cost, they're quite reluctant to spend.'