The co-founder of international opticians Specsavers has paid a visit to Wales to open the company’s newest store at Talbot Green Retail Park.
Dame Mary Perkins started the business, which now operates in 10 countries, with her Welsh husband Doug in 1984 and she made a special visit to open the new store, the 34th to open in Wales.
The 1,250 sq ft store will offer a full range of optical care facilities and create around 10 local jobs.
Dame Mary said: ‘It was fantastic to be able to open our latest store in Wales and meet the new directors and staff in person. This is the second out-of-town Specsavers store to open in Wales and meets a real demand for easily accessible, high-quality eyecare.
‘Convenience is a major factor in encouraging people to have their eyes tested regularly and while it is always important to strike the right balance between out-of-town retailing and investment in the high street, an out-of-town location can mean longer opening hours and more opportunity for customers to book an appointment when it suits them.’
Dame Mary’s day-to-day role is focussed on building relationships between Specsavers and its charity partners. She also took the opportunity to meet with representatives from Specsavers charity partners in Wales, Velindre Cancer Care and the Wales Deaf Rugby Union.
Dame Mary said: ‘It was inspiring to meet with staff from Velindre Cancer Care; the charity does such an important job here in Wales. It is a sad fact that almost everyone is touched by cancer at some point in their lives and we are proud to be partners with such a worthwhile cause.
‘It was also fantastic to meet with the captain of the Wales Deaf Rugby Union and to see people who are achieving great things, despite having hearing difficulties.’
Dame Mary is originally from Bristol and trained as an optometrist in Cardiff University where she met her husband and Specsaver co-founder Doug Perkins in 1965.
From one Bristol store, they built up the largest chain in the South-West of England and Wales, which was sold in 1980. The couple spent some time touring the USA and studying how opticians operated there, before opening up the first Specsavers in 1984 in Bristol.
The company has 1,687 stores and operates throughout the UK and six European countries, as well as Australasia. It operates a joint venture partnership model meaning each store is owned and run by local directors who are responsible for the day-to-day running of the store and the services provided. Specsavers also now has over 400 hearing centres in the UK.
Photo by Gavin Dando