Should have gone to Specsavers? Now the 23,000-plus people of Evesham have seen a new branch open at 24 Bridge Street with a little help from Redditch property agents John Truslove.
The opticians have taken a 2,280 sq ft unit on a ten year lease, relocating from across the street at No 25.
In the pedestrianised section of Bridge Street, it is in a prime location opposite Boots, with other nearby occupiers including Santander and HSBC.
Ben Truslove, a director of John Truslove, said: “Hopefully this will give Evesham town centre a boost.
“Specsavers is a very well-respected quality national operation whose quirky advertising has been particularly effective in growing the brand.
“This was a complex deal in what is still a tough retail market. It came together thanks to a strong working relationship between ourselves and Specsavers’ surveyor Matthew Morgan, partner at commercial property consultants EJ Hales.”
Operational since just before Christmas, the store allows for six test rooms – it previously operated three – and an extended waiting area providing a more comfortable experience for customers.
Specsavers in Evesham first launched in 1995 with a team of just five staff; today this number has quadrupled.
Now the latest expansion has resulted in two new members of staff and the business is currently in the process of taking on two further employees.
Store director Amy Liau said: “Business has been better than ever so we decided to expand not just in building size, but in terms of the team too. With the increased space, we have the ability to see more customers so waiting times will be reduced and more appointments will be available.”
The move coincided with the Evesham Bridge being back in working order, encouraging more people to shop in the town..
Specsavers is a partnership of locally-run businesses, providing both optical and hearing care.
Stores are part-owned and managed by directors, but backed by key specialists in support offices, who provide a range of services, such as marketing, accounting, IT and wholesaling, among others.
There are more than 1,700 partners in the UK and Republic of Ireland. Specsavers is the largest employer of registered optometrists and dispensing opticians in the UK – around 3,500.
It was founded by Doug and Dame Mary Perkins 30 years ago. They pioneered the optical joint venture partnership model and also revolutionised the industry with their innovative concept of affordable, fashionable eyecare for everyone, at a time when high prices for optical care and limited choice were the norm.