Specsavers

Specsavers was founded in 1984 by Doug and Mary Perkins, who started the business in their spare bedroom on a table-tennis table. The couple had moved to Guernsey after selling a small chain of West Country opticians. In the early 1980s the UK Government deregulated professionals, including opticians, allowing them to advertise their products and services for the first time. They seized the opportunity and opened their first Specsavers, value-for-money, quality eyecare opticians in Guernsey and Bristol, followed shortly by stores in Plymouth, Swansea and Bath. They aimed to offer a wide range of stylish, fashionable glasses at affordable prices for everyone. They wanted the company to be seen as trustworthy an optician as a local independent but with the huge buying power of a national company that meant savings could be passed on to the customer.

The company has grown rapidly since, thriving with its joint venture partnership approach to eyecare. It hit the milestone of 100 stores in July 1988, 200 in 1993, 300 in 1995, 400 in 2000, 500 in 2003, 600 in 2004 and 700 in 2005. The first Netherlands store opened in 1997, the first Swedish in 2004, and 2005 saw the first in Denmark and Norway. In 2006 the first store was opened in Spain, and in 2007 the company began supplying in Australia whilst opening the first store in Finland. In January 2008 Dame Mary Perkins opened the 1000th store in Roosendaal, Holland, followed by the launch on the first three Specsavers stores in Australia in March. By July 2009 there were 173 in Australia plus 24 in New Zealand.

Community

Specsavers is still very much a family run business with family values to match, and over the past few years, the company has donated more than £1 million to various charities. Recipients include Guide Dogs, Deafness Research UK, and Fight for Sight.

Vision Aid Overseas, for whom stores collect and recycle unwanted glasses to send to the developing world was given an additional boost last October. 450 Specsavers stores across the country collectively raised more than a quarter of a million pounds for the charity. It will go towards building the first VAO training facility and a brand new eye clinic in Zambia.

Every two years the company also nominates a national eyecare charity to support - their current relationship is with Diabetes UK for whom they have raised nearly £300,000 to fund vital research and raise awareness of diabetic retinopathy.

Founders Doug and Mary Perkins have always acknowledged that Specsavers Optical Group thrives on being based in Guernsey and how much their local workforce has given them, and the company is renowned for its support of the island community.

Specsavers' founder Mary Perkins, who was awarded the Rotary International Community and Vocational Service Award for her outstanding service to the local community, said: "We recognise that without the support of islanders, Specsavers wouldn't be the success it is today. We understand the value of corporate social responsibility, which is why we work hard to give something back. Many of the people we work with directly in the community are or become employees of the company." Over the past 10 years alone, Specsavers has contributed more than £1m to charitable causes.

After many years helping to raise thousands of pounds for Children on Need, Specsavers Optical group formed its own local charity - Specsavers Children's Charitable Foundation - to ensure that money raised for needy and disadvantaged children could remain within the Bailiwick. Every year we raise more than £20,000 for local causes, many of which are small, confidential donations to help support the children of single parents and those in financial distress.

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