Published: Friday, 23rd October, 2009 11:00am

David's glad he didn't go to Specsavers

by Alan Bunce

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DAVID Samuels is celebrating 25 years of his opticians' business, a gleaming new shop and increased sales - but he never intended to be there.

A year after the shop - Eyesite - opened in 1984, David was on his way to a job interview at Specsavers but went into Eyesite by mistake.

Eyesite wanted staff and took him on. Now he is managing director of the independent optician and business is thriving while national chains are having a harder time.

This year he moved from 132 Friar Street to 142, a new shop boasting high tech specialist equipment, leading the way over some better known competitors and helping David record increased sales.

He said: "Since we moved in May, our sales are up 10% on the equivalent period last year.

"The new showroom is a fantastic space and is attracting many more customers into the shop - and we've also benefited from an increase in customer referrals."

He said average transaction value is up 15%. Innovations include state-of-the-art Optomap eye health screening which can spot problems early on and a video-imaging system so customers can see themselves in spectacles from different angles.

High tech systems, he said, are often used more by independent opticians because of the niche nature of smaller practices. Eyesite now has branches in Oxford, Winchester and Brighton and customer service helped its success.

David said: "People don't mind spending money if they know what they are spending it on. I am a big believer in what business you do now is down to what you did two years ago."