Q&A: Sophie Johnson, dispensing optician at Eyesight, Beverley

What are your responsibilities and what engages you most in your role at Eyesite?

Sophie Johnson Training of staff really engages me. It’s humbling and exciting watching new team members develop from trainees to more senior positions in the practice. I really enjoy visual merchandising, which is a big part of what I do. One of my other key responsibilities is buying for the branch. To do this successfully I have to predict eyewear trend patterns each season. I also head the sales team.

How did you get to your current role in practice?

SJ We are a family business so I started doing office work at age 15 on a Saturday morning. I then became a lab assistant and worked on the shop floor through college and university. Upon graduating I took a full-time position and went back to university to do the dispensing course on day release. I then worked up to a managerial role, which I have been doing for five years.