Independent marks 10 years in business

Independent opticians The Specs Factory is celebrating 10 years since opening its doors in Norwich.

Over the last decade the family-run business has expanded to three practices across East Anglia, with branches in Norwich, Ipswich and Chelmsford today. It has also grown its number of employees from three to 11.

Since opening in April 2007, the opticians revealed that it has sold more than 76,000 spectacles and also seen 30,000 patients.

The Specs Factory was established by Duncan Hockney and his father John, with the aim of “bringing the manufacturing and dispensing of glasses closer together; providing a more complete and cost efficient service to customers,” they explained.

Speaking about developing the business model, Mr Hockney shared: “Having already developed skills in the production and manufacturing of frames and lenses by working at my father’s former wholesale optics business, I wanted to take a different approach when setting up The Specs Factory. I believed we could deliver a great service, product and price to local customers by effectively cutting out the middle man and passing the savings in time and money onto our customers.”

As well as increasing its number of practices over the years, The Specs Factory has also expanded the services that it provides. While initially the business specialised in dispensing, it added sight testing to its Norwich and Ipswich practices in 2012.