News/Press
Jan Lasnon
PR Consultant
Lasnon PR
Tel: 023 9236 7329 or 07971 669606
www.lasnonpr.co.uk
Click here for our latest Newsletter: Newsletter
Click here for the first issue of our Focus on You Newsletter: tinyurl.com/focus-on-you-newsletter
FOCUS ON YOU JOINS EYECARE VOUCHER SCHEME
Focus On You, the country’s only home-based prescription eyewear franchise, continues to go from strength to strength.
The latest development for the company is that its franchisees can now accept Eyecare vouchers in full or part payment for new eyewear.
This broadens enormously the potential corporate customer base for Focus On You business owners as many companies throughout the UK offer their employees eyewear vouchers as part of their employment package.
Employers save time as franchisees take their range into the workplace setting up in a canteen or rest area. Staff can then pop in at their convenience and enjoy trying on new frames at their leisure, often with the help of friends or colleagues.
Employees find they get a lot more for their money as Focus On You top quality frames are glazed to individual prescriptions from a full range of lens options, at prices up to 40% lower than on the high street.
For further information about Focus On You, please contact Peter Bartholomew on 01202 475035, email enquiries@focus-on-you.net or visit the website www.focus-on-you.net where you can also see our latest newsletter.
THERE'S A WHOLE NEW LIFE PLAN IN THE FRAME
AS LIZ FOCUSES ON EXCITING NEW CAREER
Liz Cain of New Milton, Hampshire, is one of a growing number of modern, independent women chomping at the bit to get back into work. However, having enjoyed a baby break and the luxury of being able to organise her time around the family, she wants to retain that control and work at something in her own time, at her own speed, doing something that will benefit her. In short, Liz has chosen to take on a fabulous new designer eyewear lifestyle franchise, Focus On You.
Lifestyle franchises are ideal for women such as Liz as they can be built up by working either part or full-time, depending on individual circumstances. They are perfect for women that want to create their own business, and usually include a full support network which includes training, mentoring, and initial help with marketing and PR.
Liz looked at various opportunities but couldn't find anything to get excited about. Then she found Focus On You, a unique franchise that has only recently been launched.
"The eyewear market is huge in this country", Liz explained, "and yet there is hardly any choice of supplier. It's the high street optician or buying online - I couldn't do that as I like to try my eyewear on for size!"
"I don't know many people that enjoy going to the optician", she continued. "You are surrounded by frames and usually end up choosing a pair in confusion as you have looked at so many. The idea behind Focus On You is to choose eyewear at your convenience, usually in the company of friends, family or colleagues, so you get great feedback on your choices."
"The range is fantastic as well. We hold more than a hundred designer frames which we supply complete with a full range of prescription lenses. This includes varifocals and transitions - in fact, anything that can be supplied by an optician can be supplied by us - and for less money."
She concluded: "For people that wear prescription eyewear throughout the day, it's really important that they feel confident and look good. And with Focus On You, not only is the purchase more comfortable, we provide top quality lenses manufactured in optical laboratories here in the UK at a price that's up to 40% less than you'd pay from a high street optician."
"It was really important for me to find a franchise that has a huge potential for growth and that's definitely what I'm focusing on!"
For more information about holding a Focus On You event please call Liz on 01425 206109. For further information about the Focus On You franchise, please visit www.focus-on-you.net/franchise or call Peter Bartholomew on 01202 475035.
FOCUS ON YOU
AN IDEA SO SIMPLE IT WORKS
Every now and again someone comes up with a new idea that is so simple, it just works. Being lucky enough to be there at the time, and in a position to capitalise on it is extremely rare. However, that is exactly the case with 'Focus On You', a brand new franchise that revolutionises the way we purchase our prescription eyewear.
The Focus On You franchise is designed with one major goal in mind - to transform the experience of purchasing eyewear, making it something to look forward to.
Franchisees will have a selection of around 120 designer frames that have been carefully selected for their style, elegance, and shape. There is something for everyone.
The perfect franchisee is a people lover. Supported by the Focus on You comprehensive Franchise Package (www.focus-on-you.net/franchise) they will network and set up events - perhaps in people's homes, in the workplace, at the gym, in hotels - where guests are invited to try on the frames in the company of friends, family or colleagues. Franchisees can even arrange a one to one consultation if required.
For many, this will be a revelation as they find a trip to the optician only marginally better than a trip to the dentist. Traditionally the eye examination comes first and then, more often than not, the hunt to try to find the 'right' pair of glasses begins.
Nine times out of ten the new eyewear is chosen immediately after the eye test. Buyers are often on their own, uncertain of their choices, feel self-conscious about trying on new styles in front of people that don't even know them and often rush into making a less than satisfactory decision.
Consider the difference when you purchase a new outfit. How many ladies take their husbands, partners, best friends, sisters etc along with them to help them choose - particularly if it is for a special occasion? And then there are the finishing touches - shoes, handbag, hat, gloves and/or jewellery. That outfit is usually bought for just one special occasion.
Eyewear, by contrast, might be worn every day for two years.
Previous events have shown that people absolutely love the 'Focus On You' concept. In the company of friends and people they have great fun trying on styles that they may never previously have considered. With the input and affirmation of those around them buying decisions are made with absolute confidence. And this has led to many buying more than one pair!
Clients start to see the eyewear more and more as a fashion accessory - it's nice to have different styles to wear at different times. And with prices on average 40% below high street opticians, they are also confident that they are getting an absolute bargain.
In recent years there has been a movement in optical trends with some spectacle wearers now purchasing direct from the internet. This has begun to educate the public to realise that they are under absolutely no obligation to purchase their new frames at the same time as their test. They have paid for a test so they simply need to ask for a copy of it. It's free.
All the client needs to do to order the eyewear is chose the frame(s) which works for them, give a copy of the prescription (this needs to have been carried out within the last 18 months) to their Focus on You Franchisee. That's it, the Focus on You team do the rest. The client's new eyewear is glazed in UK-based state of the art optical facilities and usually returned within five working days. A full range of lenses including varifocals and Transitions is available.
For further information on the Focus On You franchise call Peter Bartholomew or Debbie Shepherd on 01202 475035
An innovative south coast optical company is setting its sights on expansion with its first franchise in Southampton. Click here to find out more: Daily Echo 12th October 2009
THAMES VALLEY FRANCHISE SHOW
Focus on You is showcasing its unique retail approach to designer eyewear at the Thames Valley Franchise Show, on September 10 and 11.
Focus is offering franchise opportunities across the UK, and is joining some 40 other exhibitors at the high profile show which is being held at the Madejski Stadium in Reading.
The exhibitions have been running to great acclaim within the franchise industry for the last two years, with events so far in 2009 held in Leicester, Leeds and Southampton.
For more details visit www.thamesvalleyfranchiseshow.co.uk
FOCUS ON FRANCHISE EXPANSION
AN INNOVATIVE south coast optical company is setting it sights on expansion with its first franchise in Southampton.
Focus on You has appointed Christine Etheridge from Marchwood to run the Southampton city central franchise, as far as Hythe and Lyndhurst.
This is the Christchurch-based firm's first franchise but discussions are ongoing for a second covering other parts of the New Forest, and the company is actively seeking franchisees across the region.
Franfare
New Focus on You Southampton franchisee Christine Etheridge is already making her presence known in the world of female business. Read more
Christine, who has more than 20 years experience in retail and sales, says she will be mainly targeting businesses across the city and already has interest from a range of industries including accountancy and the legal profession.
"Women currently make up more than a third of new recruits entering franchising because of the skills and business knowledge we have to offer," she said.
"Organisations such as Business Link and the British Franchise Association are also pushing to get more women into business because not enough take the opportunity because of family commitments."
Focus on You is a fresh concept in selecting and buying eyewear by taking the traditional process away from the high street into people's workplaces, homes and clubs.
"Our USP is that we can offer designer spectacles up to 40 per cent cheaper and still give outstanding eye care support," said Christine, who has signed a five-year franchise agreement with the option to renew.
"Buying glasses can be fun. Our selling environment is very tactile and our customers come away completely happy with their purchases - not just making do. It's a new and satisfying experience for them."
Focus' managing director, Peter Bartholomew, said: "We've proven there is a much-needed niche in the market for our approach and the Southampton franchise is pivotal in our expansion plans."
To find out more contact Christine on 0845 003 9946 or visit www.focus-on-you.net
Editor's Note: Focus on You stocks more than 100 designer frames and spectacle accessories, but presented to consumers at venues of their choice with family members, friends or colleagues providing feedback to enhance consumer satisfaction. Focus also supports the charity Vision Aid.
Peter Bartholomew started Focus on You following nearly three decades experience in the eyewear industry as MD and principal shareholder at Bolle UK Ltd in Verwood, Dorset. As the distribution arm of French parent company Bolle, during his time at the helm Peter boosted the firm's annual British turnover from £65,000 to more than £5 million.
Focus franchise opportunities are being offered across the south. For full details visit www.focus-on-you.net. The UK's ophthalmic industry is worth £2.75b to the economy. For more information: For more details contact Louise Isaacs, PR Account Director, Deep South Media 01202 534487 or 07827 806400.
FOCUS ON YOU IS NOW ATTRACTING FANS ON FACEBOOK
Check out Focus' dedicated page at http://tinyurl.com/oazck4.
You don't have to be registered with Facebook to see Focus' page.
FOCUS THROWS A SUCCESSFUL CURVE BALL
An event held at Curves women-only gym in Christchurch in partnership with House of Colour, saw more than 40 guests discover the Focus on You experience.
Guests learnt first hand about the innovative approach to spectacle choosing and buying, and eagerly tried on frames with feedback from friends.
Photo shows Sue Morton and Sarah Copestick enjoying the tactile process.
EYEWEAR REVOLUTION IN FOCUS
AN ENTREPRENEUR is set to challenge the traditional approach of the UK’s biggest eyewear retailers, with a revolutionary way to buy spectacles.
Focus On You is taking eyewear selection and purchase into people’s homes, leisure clubs and work places, in a deliberate move away from the high street and online.
Focus MD Peter Bartholomew says consumers are disillusioned with the traditional retail experience and are calling out for this new approach.
“Yes some people may see this as a David & Goliath battle but we believe we have the vision to remove the stress and impersonality from eyewear selection, and make this business a success,” he said.
“Our research shows some consumers feel pressured or rushed into buying spectacles. What better way therefore than to have friends and family helping you, in a relaxed, fun and familiar environment?”
Peter’s credentials are excellent, following nearly three decades experience in the eyewear industry as MD and principal shareholder at Bolle UK Ltd in Verwood.
As the distribution arm of French parent company Bolle, during his time at the helm Peter boosted the firm’s annual British turnover from £65,000 to more than £5 million.
He also expanded the company to include ownership of its own manufacturing laboratory.
Christchurch-based Focus offers more than 100 designer frames and spectacle accessories, but presented to consumers at venues of their choice with family members, friends or colleagues providing feedback to enhance consumer satisfaction.
The UK’s ophthalmic industry is worth £2.75b to the economy.
Following a Competition Commission investigation and legislative changes, consumers own their eyewear prescriptions and are under no legal obligation to buy in the shop where their eyes were tested.
Peter says his Eureka moment for Focus occurred when choosing his own spectacles.
“It was a disappointing process,” he said.
Focus employs specialists to give eyewear support.