A Time for Reflection: Looking Back on 2024

As 2024 comes to a close and we prepare to welcome 2025, I wanted to take a moment to reflect on this past year and remember what we’ve experienced. Although I say this every year, it truly feels like this year has flown by.

January marked our eighth birthday! Time has gone by so quickly; I can’t believe it’s been eight years since we first opened the doors of Respectacle Company here in Manor Walk, Market Harborough. At this rate, I should start planning how to celebrate our tenth birthday!

We went to 100% Optical, the largest optical event in the UK

Earlier this year, we travelled to London to attend the industry trade show, 100% Optical. During this event, we discovered Faniel Eyewear, a small Canadian collection that creates beautiful, colourful, and quirky frames from recycled materials. Their innovative approach to sustainable eyewear really resonated with us, and we knew we had to carry their products!

Also, at the 100% Optical show in March, FEB31st – a brand we have stocked for several years – revealed their new rimless collection and bagged themselves the Best Innovation Award at the 2024 Love Eyewear Awards, which took place over the weekend.

Tim celebrated 40 years as an Optometrist

One of the highlights of the year was celebrating Tim, our resident Optometrist, who reached the remarkable milestone of forty years of service. Tim qualified as a fully-fledged Optometrist back in February 1984, which is an achievement that deserved recognition. To mark this occasion, we organised a buffet lunch with family and friends. We also surprised Tim with an experience day, where he was able to spend time on the footplate of a steam train. Anyone who knows Tim will be aware of his passion for trains, and he thoroughly enjoyed this special gift! We wrote a blog about Tim and his incredible achievement, which you can read here.

We are fortunate to have many wonderful customers who actively participate in community projects, and we try to support these initiatives whenever we can. This year, we donated to the Great Tommy Sleep Out, a cause dedicated to helping veterans facing homelessness. We also provided raffle prizes for local school events, showcased artwork from local creatives during Harborough Art Trail month, and sponsored a tractor and trailer at the Lubenham Scarecrow Festival weekend. We also participated in a Best Spring Window competition, which resulted in a donation to the Trussell Trust, a charity focused on fighting poverty and supporting foodbank communities.

L.G.R Trunk Show and a Visit from Roisin Quinn

April was another very busy month for us. We held an L.G.R trunk show in store, where the beloved Italian brand brought in their whole collection for our customers to view. L.G.R is one of our most popular brands and the event proved to be a great success. Especially as this year Emily in Paris returned to our screens, and L.G.R supplied all the eyewear for the series, as they did for the brilliant Netflix series Ripley. Read more about the eyewear in Emily in Paris here.

With celebrities in mind, at the end of June we had the pleasure of a visit from Roisin Quinn, who won the 2024 series of Interior Design Masters. We were honoured that she designed her own FEB31st frame with us. We also collaborated with Moo Moda London, a company that specialises in Scandinavian-style sustainable clothing with a focus on comfort. We were delighted to provide them with a selection of L.G.R sunglasses for one of their photoshoots.

 

A New Website and New Eyewear Collections

In other news, we dedicated a significant amount of time behind the scenes this year to develop our new website. It took some time to get it right, but we finally launched the website in September. The wait was definitely worthwhile, as it showcases Respectacle beautifully. You can read more about the project here.

Throughout 2024, we’ve also welcomed several new eyewear collections from across Europe. And we’ve seen some exciting developments at Manor Walk, with the arrival of The Hearing Centre and Manor Walk Wellness. Manor Walk is fast becoming a destination for well-being, health and happiness.

 

Our Christmas-themed Window Collaboration with Tipperley Hill

In November, we had a visit from the super-talented Tipperly Hill. Roz and Abi transformed our shop window into a winter wonderland, painting adorable characters wearing spectacular eyewear. Our festive window has been a big hit with customers. Even Mary Portas – the shopping guru known for the TV show Mary Queen of Shops – was impressed with our Christmas window display. She shared a photo for her “Windows of Wonder” series with 152,000 Instagram followers. Mary has always championed the high street and small businesses. So, we were thrilled to get the recognition. If you love our Christmas-themed window as much as we do, there’s still time to vote for Respectacle to win the Best Christmas Window in Market Harborough. But be quick, because the closing date is the 23rd of December!

Harry Potter Studio Tour to Celebrate the Magic of Christmas

To wrap up our highlights for 2024, we ended the year with a team-bonding trip to Warner Bros. Studios in Watford, where we experienced the magic of Harry Potter. The tour was both fascinating and fun, providing a perfect way to thank the team for their hard work and dedication throughout the year. We celebrated with Butterbeer – which some say is an acquired taste! – and tucked into a delicious Christmas dinner, before heading back home. The Harry Potter Studio Tour is well worth a visit, even if you’re not a fan of the Potterverse.

Before I sign-off on my last blog of the year, I would also like to take a moment to thank you, our wonderful customers, for your support throughout 2024. Whether you are a long-standing customer or a new patient, it’s been a privilege to provide fabulous eyewear and eye care this past twelve months. From all of us to all of you, we wish you a Happy Christmas and a healthy, peaceful New Year!

P.S. Don’t forget that we are hosting a Wellness Day at the practice on Tuesday the 4th of February. Join us for a free Lifemeter scan of your carotenoid levels, which are important for long-term health and well-being. More information to follow. Keep an eye on our socials from early January.

Further reading:

Respectacle Company Optometrist Celebrates 40 Years in the Optical Industry

Interior Design Masters Winner Roisin Quinn Visits Respectacle in Market Harborough

Respectacle Company Launch Redesigned Website