Chris Bennett: Independents vs the multiples

Polarised debates were in vogue last week but they didn’t all pan out as expected. While Nick Clegg and Nigel Farage’s TV spat failed to conjure up anything new, optics had its own stand off emerging. At the Optix user group in the Midlands Jonathan Lawson, chief executive of Vision Express, rose to his feet in front of 300 independents to address the question: Multiples vs Independents, Room for both, but not all of us will make it (pages 8 and News).

The result could have a been entrenched positions and a difference of opinion on how optics should be delivered. What emerged was an insightful look at how optics is perceived by the public, a glimpse of Vision Express’ future direction and what independents need to do to survive.