Four of its outlets will become franchises from April, with another two in the pipeline. David Moulsdale, chief executive of the Scottish-based business and a former franchisee himself, said it was his intention to allow an increasing number of store locations to become joint venture partnerships and offer professionals wider decision-making roles.
He called it an 'exciting opportunity' for individuals, some who might wish to go into business for themselves for the first time.
Moulsdale told optician that he and his team had studied rival franchising systems to cherry-pick their elements for Optical Express' scheme.
'We've looked closely at D&A, Vision Express and Specsavers in this area and we believe we've constructed a joint venture partnership model which has taken the best of all three,' he claimed.
He said Optical Express' partnership scheme was distinct to that of the others in that 'our product range is significantly wider', and that prospective franchisees will have a more flexible choice of locations.
'We believe we can offer accessibility to locations which are already occupied and not available through other franchising routes,' he said.
Moulsdale, who opened a Specsavers franchise in Livingston in 1990 before launching Optical Express a year later, said the key ingredients for joint venture partnership success were 'having owners and managers in place at a local level driving the sales performance of a store'. He said franchisees tended to be 'more commercially focused' with a keen interest in building long-term relationships with patients.
'We've been speaking to a lot of people who are interested in this,' Moulsdale said, 'and are in dialogue with a significant number of potential joint venture partners.
'We have in-depth knowledge of those four people we're starting with as individuals and it is paramount that our first joint venture partnerships get off running successfully to set a platform for the long-term.'
Optical Express has 164 outlets and in a high-profile purchase bought the Health Clinic for £7.5m 18 months ago.
david.challinorrbi.co.ukOptical Express, the acquisitive multiple, is to launch a joint venture partnership programme.
Four of its outlets will become franchises from April, with another two in the pipeline. David Moulsdale, chief executive of the Scottish-based business and a former franchisee himself, said it was his intention to allow an increasing number of store locations to become joint venture partnerships and offer professionals wider decision-making roles.
He called it an 'exciting opportunity' for individuals, some who might wish to go into business for themselves for the first time.
Moulsdale told optician that he and his team had studied rival franchising systems to cherry-pick their elements for Optical Express' scheme.
'We've looked closely at D&A, Vision Express and Specsavers in this area and we believe we've constructed a joint venture partnership model which has taken the best of all three,' he claimed.
He said Optical Express' partnership scheme was distinct to that of the others in that 'our product range is significantly wider', and that prospective franchisees will have a more flexible choice of locations.
'We believe we can offer accessibility to locations which are already occupied and not available through other franchising routes,' he said.
Moulsdale, who opened a Specsavers franchise in Livingston in 1990 before launching Optical Express a year later, said the key ingredients for joint venture partnership success were 'having owners and managers in place at a local level driving the sales performance of a store'. He said franchisees tended to be 'more commercially focused' with a keen interest in building long-term relationships with patients.
'We've been speaking to a lot of people who are interested in this,' Moulsdale said, 'and are in dialogue with a significant number of potential joint venture partners.
'We have in-depth knowledge of those four people we're starting with as individuals and it is paramount that our first joint venture partnerships get off running successfully to set a platform for the long-term.'
Optical Express has 164 outlets and in a high-profile purchase bought the Health Clinic for £7.5m 18 months ago.
david.challinorrbi.co.ukOptical Express, the acquisitive multiple, is to launch a joint venture partnership programme.
Four of its outlets will become franchises from April, with another two in the pipeline. David Moulsdale, chief executive of the Scottish-based business and a former franchisee himself, said it was his intention to allow an increasing number of store locations to become joint venture partnerships and offer professionals wider decision-making roles.
He called it an 'exciting opportunity' for individuals, some who might wish to go into business for themselves for the first time.
Moulsdale told optician that he and his team had studied rival franchising systems to cherry-pick their elements for Optical Express' scheme.
'We've looked closely at D&A, Vision Express and Specsavers in this area and we believe we've constructed a joint venture partnership model which has taken the best of all three,' he claimed.
He said Optical Express' partnership scheme was distinct to that of the others in that 'our product range is significantly wider', and that prospective franchisees will have a more flexible choice of locations.
'We believe we can offer accessibility to locations which are already occupied and not available through other franchising routes,' he said.
Moulsdale, who opened a Specsavers franchise in Livingston in 1990 before launching Optical Express a year later, said the key ingredients for joint venture partnership success were 'having owners and managers in place at a local level driving the sales performance of a store'. He said franchisees tended to be 'more commercially focused' with a keen interest in building long-term relationships with patients.
'We've been speaking to a lot of people who are interested in this,' Moulsdale said, 'and are in dialogue with a significant number of potential joint venture partners.
'We have in-depth knowledge of those four people we're starting with as individuals and it is paramount that our first joint venture partnerships get off running successfully to set a platform for the long-term.'
Optical Express has 164 outlets and in a high-profile purchase bought the Health Clinic for £7.5m 18 months ago.
david.challinorrbi.co.uk
Optical Express, the acquisitive multiple, is to launch a joint venture partnership programme.