Double vision
| Published: 28th August 2007 10:50 |
The boss of a Kings Heath opticians is seeing double.
After just under three years at the helm of the High Street Specsavers, local man Mark Walker has ambitious plans to see the store double in size. He hopes to get planning permission within weeks and customers could even be trying on specs in new, roomy surroundings by the New Year.
Back home: Mark Walker
Mark, who was born round the corner in Grange Road, is no eye specialist. His background is in retail and he worked for Tesco for 20 years before returning to his native Kings Heath.
"I ended up a regional specialist for Tesco covering stores from South Wales to the South Midlands. Then when I took redundancy I saw the opportunity back in Kings Heath," he said.
When he took over the local Specsavers in December 2004, there was just one eye clinic a day and a handful of staff. His priority was to provide a much higher level of service. There are now three clinics a day, evening and Bank Holiday opening and more than 30 staff employed. There are almost 40,000 customers on the register.
"What we will do with the expansion plans is split the store in two," he says. "Our business is 50 per cent retail and 50 per cent medical and that will be reflected in the layout."
Since Mark started wearing glasses himself at the age of 18 he says specs have become much more of a fashion accessory. Now the entire ground floor of his shop will be devoted to the wide range of different styles, including designer names.
The store will expand at the
back to double in size
At the moment, a trip up the narrow staircase takes you past the grandly named ‘Specsavers call centre' - it is in fact a single computer desk and chair at the top of the landing. All that will be swept away to be replaced with consulting rooms and five eye test areas. This is also where contact lens wearers will come for screening and customer service.
From an upstairs window Mark can also see his old ‘school'. "It's the McDonald's building now," he says.
Are you one of the original Specsavers customers? Mark would like to hear from any of the store's first customers who may like to be involved in the re-launch celebration. Email here and we'll pass your details on.
