Since announcing its arrival in Canada in August 2021, Specsavers has been garnering interest and curiosity from optometrists and opticians alike.
Specsavers was founded nearly 40 years ago by optometrist husband and wife team, Doug and Mary Perkins. The pair opened the very first Specsavers store on Bristol’s Bond Street on February 14, 1984.
That store has since been joined by more than 2,300 Specsavers businesses in the UK, the Republic of Ireland, the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, Spain, Australia, and New Zealand – and now Canada. From just two eye care professionals with a powerful vision, there are now over 35,250 colleagues working within the Specsavers partnership, looking after the eye health of more than 41 million people. All Specsavers stores remain owner-operated under their supportive franchise partnership model.
Back in 1984, Doug and Mary could see that while many ambitious eye care professionals wanted to start their own businesses, they were looking for levels of support not readily available in the industry. Optometrists and opticians wanted to be part of something bigger to benefit from economies of scale, but they also wanted to avoid many of the administrative, marketing and compliance headaches associated with running a small business.
Building on this knowledge, the renowned Specsavers business ownership model took shape. The company specifically designed it to help business owners with product supply, marketing, back-office systems, finance, accounting, and payroll. Almost four decades of continuous improvement have followed.
Today the Specsavers partnership is the world’s largest optometrist-led business and the clear market leader in eight of the 10 countries. Now in Canada, Specsavers is continuing to build on their history and develop a local Specsavers brand with a Canadian accent – one that delivers accessible and affordable eye care in local communities right across the nation.
