The View from the High Street

There is always a base level of business in practice that keeps us busy. After all, people will always need sight correction, changes in vision requiring new lenses cannot be put off and customers break glasses. We are also fortunate that the number of people who need glasses increases with demographic trends, resulting in more presbyopes. So there is a constant stream of business that keeps the practice ticking over.

However, like other retailers we are affected by consumer confidence. Reading the newspapers and listening to the media, I hear about the economic consequence of sub-prime mortgage lending and a fall in house prices. Even if this does not directly affect us as individuals, I am sure many of us and our customers as a result will be more cautious with our spending. Reports from other retailers in the high street appear to confirm this is happening and I get the impression from the media that general retail consumer confidence is low.