Aulnay-sous-Bois is one of those Paris suburbs that has seen better days, but if you are ever near the French capital and in need of an optician it’s the place to go.
Why so? On a recent trip to Silmo in Paris I had the misfortune of staying in Aulnay, but despite my poor choice of venue I was astounded by the number of opticians this down-at-heel suburb boasted. Alongside the ubiquitous Krys and Optic 2000 outlets were a plethora of independent practices crammed to the gunwales with stock and each sporting a lonely staff member well into the night.
A quick Google highlights 18 opticians in the Aulnay-sous- Bois area, considering French opticians do not generally test it is easy to see how the country has between three and four times as many outlets as the UK.
At first glance these opticians appear great stores. Most have top, outre brands, sports eyewear and designer kids brands. They look to be doing the kind of business most UK independents would kill for.
But all is not rosy in the garden. Alongside shock at my choice of destination my French colleagues tell me that times are hard for French opticians. The weakness of the economy, the reduction of insurance replacement values and aggressive multiple pricing have hit spending hard. But they have a secret weapon, strength of independence. A French editor tells me this – what keeps these opticians in business is their ability to adapt because they have control of their own destiny.
Next week Optician previews iDay and the National Eyecare Group conference which aims to give the same strength to UK independents. Why not go along and strengthen your practice’s future independence.