REVIEW FROM THE REGIONS
2016 / 17 has been a memorable year , with a vast array of twists and turns in the global political landscape punctuating ongoing economic uncertainties . But as ever , our 31,000 + talented colleagues around the globe have responded , delivering incredible performance in each of our regions with passion and excellence , day after day . The highlights within this review provide the briefest of snapshots of that activity and hard work .
But our job in Specsavers is about far more than just facts , figures and spreadsheets . Every day , customers write to us explaining how their local Specsavers has changed their lives – sometimes even saved their life . Making this difference and helping people live a better quality of life for less is why we do what we do – it is the epitome of ‘ Specsavers green blood ’.
We do it for Heidi , a six-year-old whose sparkling blue eyes hid a potentially deadly tumour that was only a millimetre away from entering her lens . Without the quick action of optom Vincent in our Castletown store in Australia , she wouldn ’ t have seen her seventh birthday . young girl – until she met our apprentice Amelia , who put her at ease by transforming the test room into a princess ’ s palace from Frozen .
We do it for an elderly Norwegian woman , aged 69 , who could not see properly with her right eye . Thanks to optom Kjetil in our Finnsnes store , her retinal detachment was discovered in time and she was quickly sent to the hospital , where her vision was saved .
Our legacy in Specsavers – why we do what we do – is not about making Specsavers bigger . It is not even simply about making it better . It is about making it matter . And it ’ s an ethos we deliver through tens of millions of customer experiences each year . A huge thank you to our teams , wherever you are .
Next year we write the 35th chapter in the Specsavers history book and I can honestly say that the partnership has never been stronger or better placed to face the next decade as we shape ‘ the brave new world ’. And , as I start my 20th year in Specsavers , I have never felt more excited by the opportunities that lie ahead .
We do it for a young mum and her autistic 12-year-old daughter , who walked into our Chorley store in the UK . Visiting an optician was a traumatic experience for the
John Perkins Joint Group CEO
2016 / 17 has been an incredible year thanks to our committed teams on both sides of the world working hard to deliver some fantastic results .
Australia and New Zealand
Ten years ago , I was part of the team writing the opening chapters of the Specsavers success story in Australia and New Zealand ( ANZ ). When Specsavers came into the market in ANZ , we promised to ‘ change the face of optometry ’: customers were having their eyes tested on average every five-and-a-half years , and a decent pair of glasses could easily cost $ 500- $ 1,000 .
Ten short years later and eyecare in both markets has been revolutionised . Our business now is as large as the whole market was back then . Customers are now having their eyes tested every two-and-a-half years , and they are now able to take home two pairs of glasses from Specsavers for a fraction of what they used to pay .
2016 / 17 has been no less transformative . As we continue to transform eye health in the region , we announced a collaboration with the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists , bringing ophthalmologists and optometrists together to provide more seamless patient care . We launched CREATE , our most impactful development programme in the region ever , equipping our store teams with the tools needed to create exceptional customer experiences . And our focus on style , including our hugely successful partnership with Australian fashion designer Kym Ellery , along with value and customer experience , resulted in a staggering