Last month, the Respectacle team headed off to the Cotswolds to embark on some staff training and team building. After the last couple of years of being restricted with what we could and couldn’t do, we thought it would be a good idea to do some training away from the shop. With the addition of some new people joining the team, it felt like the best way to get to know each other better in a relaxed and informal environment. As they say, a change is as good as a rest!
If you keep a watchful eye on the news, there are calls for the return of COVID controls. The highly-contagious subvariant (Omicron BA.5) has seen a fresh wave of infections in the UK and across the globe. While we don’t want to keep banging on about Covid, given that the virus will be with us for quite some time to come, we must learn to live with it and continue our daily lives whilst being mindful of the precautions we need to continue to implement.
Sustainability, recycling, upcycle, and carbon-neutral. These are words that we know very well. Eco-friendly living is very much the topic of conversation these days. And so it should be when we look at the impact of climate change on our planet. It is so important that we are all aware and responsible for our actions. What we purchase, where it comes from, its manufacturing processes, and its sustainability.
There are many different styles of optical stores throughout the UK: from high street chains and franchises to partnerships and independents. And they all work in slightly different ways.
Many of these businesses are connected or tied to specific buying and procedural pathways to ensure the corporate identity of these organisations remains constant across all stores. Their employees must follow head office protocol and guidance to purchase specific products within their buying groups. Doing so limits the range of products and services they can offer their customers.
As we are a completely independent business, we have the flexibility of offering products and services from the entire optical industry. However, as small independent opticians, unfortunately, we do not have the buying power these large companies have. So, we are unable to compete on a financial basis. What we can provide – and we think we do it well – is a highly skilled and professional customer care package.
Read more
