Vision Express Ôhelped by reorganisationÕ

Vision Express increased its retail sales by 11 per cent, its director general of UK and Ireland, Simon Innes reported last week.
Mr Innes told optician that the French-owned business was improving its finances, with £136m sales for Vision Express in UK and Ireland, 7.5 per cent up, and Vision Express Joint Venture stores achieved £54m, up 21.2 per cent.
ÔOne of the reasons our sales have grown is that our conversion rate grew compared to 2000,Õ he said. ÔWeÕre now running at 17 per cent conversion rate which is 4 per cent more than 2000, which is due to our staff and how theyÕre handling patients and the products.Õ
He added that margins were also improved last year on 2000.
ÔWe did a lot less discounting last year,Õ Mr Innes said, Ôso at the beginning of 2001 our level of discount was running at 20 per cent and by its end that had fallen to 8 per cent.Õ
The business also improved its profitability after £4m had been saved by controlling its cost base.
ÔA reorganisation which took place in January 2001 helped,Õ he said. ÔThere were 30 redundancies of mainly senior staff, and the salary saving was £1.1m. WeÕre a much leaner, more reactive organisation now.Õ
Vision Express, which is part of the Grand Vision group, represents 42 per cent of the French business after the sale of the parentÕs photography side.