In just shy of a decade of working on Optician, it’s hard to recall a year quite so full of news as 2019. From retailer takeovers to retail-led optometry apprentices, from inclusive emojis to exclusive content, Optician delivered the news to the sector first.
Forgive me if this seems a little self-indulgent, but I would quickly like to touch upon my favourite news story of the year – the farcical Channel 4 Supershoppers piece on how to save money buying glasses.
I remember watching the video on 4 Catch Up somewhere in the region of 20 times, just to process everything that was being said by presenters and industry experts and because I wanted to this story to be watertight. Dirty retail tricks and poor advice about splitting up the frame and lens part of the purchase, including children’s glasses, were just some of the irresponsible clangers that irked the entire profession.
Phone calls and emails went straight to the production
company and their strategy consultant, who opined on air that opticians were contrived clinical settings where customers were softened up in white coat quasi-medical environments. Suffice to say, he didn’t comment.
The production company did comment, and I was almost impressed by how stoic they were. A complete reluctance to admit their consumer advice show could have had any flaws was easy to counter in a trade publication, because the knowledgeable audience could easy cut through the nonsense. In fairness, a College of Optometrists complaint to Ofcom was probably keeping them busier than I was, but the thrill of the chase in holding people to account was immensely enjoyable.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of Optician’s readers for their continued loyalty during 2019 and into 2020 – what is sure to be a landmark year for the industry.
The team on Optician wishes you all a merry Christmas and a prosperous news year.