The business idea

An online spectacle and contact lens retailer supplies glasses and contact lenses directly to consumers via the Internet. They may stock both designer brand frames as well as prescription sunglasses. Customers will need an up to date prescription from their optician, which an online spectacle and contact lens retailer will use to provide them with the correct eyewear.

Trading issues

• Research from Mintel in February 2010 shows that spending on optical goods in 2009 fell by 2% compared with the previous year, but modest growth is predicted to return over the next five years. More than 30 million, or 6 in 10 adults, currently wear spectacles. There are also four million contact lens wearers in the UK. Glasses account for 63% of the optical goods market, while contact lenses account for 19%. For more information go to www.mintel.com/press-centre/press-releases/508/its-all-a-blur-one-in-five-brits-cant-see-the-benefit-of-eye-examinations.
• Optical goods are dominated by an ageing market, as nearly 90% of people over 60 require some form of vision correction. Go to www.brandrepublic.com/InDepth/Analysis/470346/Superbrands-case-studies-Specsavers/ for further information.
• One in five, or 19%, of people rarely or never have an eye examination. Also, 9% of British people have never had their eyes tested. This suggests there may be scope for the optical goods market to grow. Go to www.mintel.com/press-centre/press-releases/508/its-all-a-blur-one-in-five-brits-cant-see-the-benefit-of-eye-examinations for more information.
• Nearly 21 million adults buy their optical goods from the optician where they have their eye examination, which could affect demand for an online retailer. (academic.mintel.com/sinatra/oxygen/display/id=479951.
• Specsavers is currently the optician with the largest market share, providing 39% of all optician transactions (www.superbrands.uk.com/specsavers). There is also competition from major online spectacle retailers, such as Glasses Frames & Lenses (www.glassesframesandlenses.com) or Glasses Direct (www.glassesdirect.co.uk).
• Online spectacle and contact lens retailers often sell products at a significantly lower cost than many high street retailers. For example, Contact Lenses Express is a leading online contact lens retailer that sells contact lenses up to 70% cheaper than the high street. Go to www.contactlensesexpress.co.uk for more information.
• Under the Opticians Act 1989, all spectacles (apart from exemptions) must be sold by, or under the supervision of a registered optometrist, dispensing optician or medical practitioners. The General Optical Council has produced guidelines on the sale and supply of optical appliances, which can be found at www.optical.org/goc/filemanager/root/site_assets/legislation/2006-10-30_statement_on_sale_and_supply.pdf.
• Under the Sale of Optical Appliances Order of 1984, prescriptions given to retailers must be less than two years old. For more information go to www.optical.org/en/about_us/legislation/rules_and_regulations.cfm.
• The Consumer Protection (Distance Selling) Regulations 2000 (DSRs) apply to businesses that sell to consumers by mail order, phone, fax or over the Internet. However, only some of the requirements under the DSRs apply to online spectacle retailers, as the right to cancel a sale does not apply to the provision of custom-made goods (such as prescription glasses). Go to www.oft.gov.uk/advice_and_resources/resource_base/legal/distance-selling-regulations for more information on the DSRs.

Sources of further information

The General Optical Council (GOC) is the regulatory body for optometrists and dispensing opticians. It provides advice and guidelines on legislation relating to the optical industry.
www.optical.org/en/index.cfm

The Association of British Dispensing Opticians (ABDO) is a body providing qualifications for dispensing opticians. It also provides details of events and sources of professional development.
www.abdo.org.uk

OPTICIAN Journal is a publication that provides news, features and a directory of suppliers.
www.opticianonline.net

Optometry Today is an online and print magazine that provides news, analysis and details of events.
www.optometry.co.uk