Viewpoint: Diary of a spectacle designer

If you are reading this on October 19 or a date thereafter, then you most likely missed the greatest optical gathering in the history of the UK. If you are reading this magazine on its publication day, October 15, you’re in luck because on Monday there is going to be the greatest optical gathering in the history of the UK.

I finished writing last month’s column, which mentioned my intention to organise the Great British Eyewear Show, late one Sunday night. When I got to work on Monday morning, there were a lot of discussions in the office along the lines of ‘why are we doing this?’ and ‘don’t we have enough to do?’ I had also put a question out on some online forums asking opticians if they thought it was a good idea. ‘This is totally irresponsible in these times,’ and ‘I don’t think there should be tradeshows at the moment,’ were among the responses. There were a few positive comments but overall, by the end of the day, I was thinking that we shouldn’t do the show after all.