The green shoots of recovery are appearing for UK Independent’s
Lynx IDG have announced an unprecedented increase in the levels of business secured over the last 2 quarters of 2010 and moving forward into 2011 and also the results of its own recent internal customer survey.
The company believes the results of both reflect a clear indication of a much more positive mood within the profession following the slow trading patterns seen throughout the industry during the previous 12 months.
A spokesperson for the company says ‘the positive signs and future indications are all good and it should act as a welcome boost to the UK optical profession that things are moving back towards some kind of normality’
Lynx say they have seen a massive increase in traffic to their updated website and in actual business placed since the beginning of Summer 2010 and believe this respresents a significant shift in customer confidence.
The trend towards practices moving to (much) bigger premises is growing, as businesses are taking advantage of reduced lease costs and larger rent free periods – with landlords keen to fill space – converting to greater overall contract values to the optical interior specialists.
It is also very apparent that after a sustained period of ‘sitting back and seeing what happens’ most forward thinking opticians have decided to invest in their premises and be pro-active in attracting new patients in and maximising their available revenue streams.
Also apparent is the growing feeling that failure to present the right image to the ever more savvy buying public, will be detrimental in the extreme and that patients need to be attracted by an inviting, contemporary environment. Driving these developments are several factors according to Lynx’s research.
The obvious issue of maintaining pace with competition on the high street (which is viewed as being more important than at any time during the last decade) coupled with very advantageous interest rates for equipment/shopfit leasing (the lowest in living memory) and the tax advantages such investments bring, are seen as the major catalysts in the drive to improve and come through recession successfully by the independent opticians questioned..
Finally, it seems the need to move forward has been realised and the inward investment within independent practice interiors can only signal better times ahead.
Lynx IDG embarked upon a sustained marketing initiative in late 2009 with the emphasis on the quality and unique R & D lead design philosophy of the company, whilst at the same time highlighting the exceptional value for money that new manufacturing techniques and efficiency measures implemented by the company have resulted in.
This message has had a significant impact and has dispelled the myth that Lynx IDG’s premium levels of quality and service have to come at a cost.
The spokesperson went on to say ‘Sometimes it is difficult to shift misinformed perceptions and it was a challenge we had to rise to. The response has been exceptional and we feel that the message has been heeded – Lynx IDG’s quality and service is sitting more than comfortably within acceptable spend levels (often no more than the so called budget companies/less respected outfits out there).Basically, there is no need to compromise anymore’
Recovery has been a long time coming and many may have been deterred from investing in their practices by the consistent negativity, so readily rolled out by the media – However, Lynx can report that all of the practices it has refitted during the downturn have seen significant increases in sales revenue and bottom line profit without fail. This is in line with the usual uplift expected following a practice upgrade (circa 30%) during normal trading conditions and is very good news for all concerned - not least those opticians who can now invest with confidence.
It seems that this trend will now continue as more and more business owners are seeing the benefits of upgrading their practices and developing their offer on the route to a far more prosperous and rewarding future.
For more information on Lynx IDG ‘s unique products and services, contact 0800 387287 or visit www.lynxidg.com Also found on Facebook and Twitter
The company believes the results of both reflect a clear indication of a much more positive mood within the profession following the slow trading patterns seen throughout the industry during the previous 12 months.
A spokesperson for the company says ‘the positive signs and future indications are all good and it should act as a welcome boost to the UK optical profession that things are moving back towards some kind of normality’
Lynx say they have seen a massive increase in traffic to their updated website and in actual business placed since the beginning of Summer 2010 and believe this respresents a significant shift in customer confidence.
The trend towards practices moving to (much) bigger premises is growing, as businesses are taking advantage of reduced lease costs and larger rent free periods – with landlords keen to fill space – converting to greater overall contract values to the optical interior specialists.
It is also very apparent that after a sustained period of ‘sitting back and seeing what happens’ most forward thinking opticians have decided to invest in their premises and be pro-active in attracting new patients in and maximising their available revenue streams.
Also apparent is the growing feeling that failure to present the right image to the ever more savvy buying public, will be detrimental in the extreme and that patients need to be attracted by an inviting, contemporary environment. Driving these developments are several factors according to Lynx’s research.
The obvious issue of maintaining pace with competition on the high street (which is viewed as being more important than at any time during the last decade) coupled with very advantageous interest rates for equipment/shopfit leasing (the lowest in living memory) and the tax advantages such investments bring, are seen as the major catalysts in the drive to improve and come through recession successfully by the independent opticians questioned..
Finally, it seems the need to move forward has been realised and the inward investment within independent practice interiors can only signal better times ahead.
Lynx IDG embarked upon a sustained marketing initiative in late 2009 with the emphasis on the quality and unique R & D lead design philosophy of the company, whilst at the same time highlighting the exceptional value for money that new manufacturing techniques and efficiency measures implemented by the company have resulted in.
This message has had a significant impact and has dispelled the myth that Lynx IDG’s premium levels of quality and service have to come at a cost.
The spokesperson went on to say ‘Sometimes it is difficult to shift misinformed perceptions and it was a challenge we had to rise to. The response has been exceptional and we feel that the message has been heeded – Lynx IDG’s quality and service is sitting more than comfortably within acceptable spend levels (often no more than the so called budget companies/less respected outfits out there).Basically, there is no need to compromise anymore’
Recovery has been a long time coming and many may have been deterred from investing in their practices by the consistent negativity, so readily rolled out by the media – However, Lynx can report that all of the practices it has refitted during the downturn have seen significant increases in sales revenue and bottom line profit without fail. This is in line with the usual uplift expected following a practice upgrade (circa 30%) during normal trading conditions and is very good news for all concerned - not least those opticians who can now invest with confidence.
It seems that this trend will now continue as more and more business owners are seeing the benefits of upgrading their practices and developing their offer on the route to a far more prosperous and rewarding future.
For more information on Lynx IDG ‘s unique products and services, contact 0800 387287 or visit www.lynxidg.com Also found on Facebook and Twitter
