Specsavers & Sola

[rsandr]

Not Specsaver bashing honest!

I heard Specsavers have bought Sola's manufacturing lab in the UK

If this is true to what extent is the relationship and what does this mean to the consumer? Will Specsavers make on all Sola uncuts sold in the UK?
Maybe Darryl can answer this.

[Darryl Meister]

Darryl can answer this.

We may have sold someone one of our prescription laboratories, but we wouldn't have sold a manufacturing site to a retail optical. In any event, it's in a different region, so I'll have to look into it for you.

[Darryl Meister]

Here is the official notice from the group in the UK:

<< The merger of SOLA and ZEISS has created an opportunity to consolidate the Rx production of ZEISS, SOLA and AO products and specialist glazing activities into the Welwyn Garden City location. The Rx laboratory in Holford will therefore be transferred to the Specsavers Group to meet their growing production demands. Customers of SOLA, ZEISS and AO can rely on continuity of service on prescription lenses and specialty services via the Welwyn Garden City or Wexford facilities. >>

So, essentially, we are reducing the number of wholesale laboratories that we formerly operated as SOLA in the United Kingdom as a consequence of our recent merger with Zeiss.

[rsandr]

Here is the official notice from the group in the UK:

<< The merger of SOLA and ZEISS has created an opportunity to consolidate the Rx production of ZEISS, SOLA and AO products and specialist glazing activities into the Welwyn Garden City location. The Rx laboratory in Holford will therefore be transferred to the Specsavers Group to meet their growing production demands. Customers of SOLA, ZEISS and AO can rely on continuity of service on prescription lenses and specialty services via the Welwyn Garden City or Wexford facilities. >>

So, essentially, we are reducing the number of wholesale laboratories that we formerly operated as SOLA in the United Kingdom as a consequence of our recent merger with Zeiss.

Thanks for that Darryl.
Thar rumour doing the rounds over here is that Specsavers will be making money on any Sola uncuts sold, and that is raising the heckles of independents.

I will put this to anyone who mentions it to me in the future.

[Darryl Meister]

Thar rumour doing the rounds over here is that Specsavers will be making money on any Sola uncuts sold, and that is raising the heckles of independents.

I may not be following you entirely... If Specsavers takes over the lab, wouldn't they make money on every uncut sold? And, even if they were to get a slightly better deal on SOLA uncuts (and I wouldn't know), price negotiation is a standard practice for wholesale laboratories.

[rsandr]

I may not be following you entirely... If Specsavers takes over the lab, wouldn't they make money on every uncut sold? And, even if they were to get a slightly better deal on SOLA uncuts (and I wouldn't know), price negotiation is a standard practice for wholesale laboratories.

The way I heard it was that Specsavers were taking over the lab to produce the uncuts being ordered from Sola.
So it wouldn't be in the interests of independents to use Sola uncuts as this would be lining Specsavers pockets

[Darryl Meister]

The way I heard it was that Specsavers were taking over the lab to produce the uncuts being ordered from Sola. So it wouldn't be in the interests of independents to use Sola uncuts as this would be lining Specsavers pockets

Rick, honestly, this rumor doesn't make a great deal of sense -- even as far as rumors go.

The lab is being sold to the Specsavers Group. They will be using it to process lenses for their own growing demands, which apparently now exceed the capability of their current Rx labs. They will not be using it to service other independent eyecare professionals. Nor will they be providing Carl Zeiss Vision with an uncut Rx service. Besides, I doubt that many independent eyecare professionals would consider ordering lenses from a retail chain laboratory, even if this were a possibility.

Independent customers of SOLA will continue to be serviced from Carl Zeiss Vision owned laboratories, either from the facility in Welwyn Garden City or the facility in Wexford. Consequently, you can rest assured knowing that buying SOLA uncuts will not be "lining the pockets" of Specsavers. ;)

[rsandr]

Rick, honestly, this rumor doesn't make a great deal of sense -- even as far as rumors go.

Sorry Darryl I understand what you are saying but fear I may not be making my point clearly. Or maybe I did and you still think its a daft rumour, either case is possible.

The rumour:
Specsavers buy lab from Sola.
Customers order lenses from Sola.
Lenses are produced in Specsavers owned lab.

Thanks for clearing up that this is not the case.

Besides, I doubt that many independent eyecare professionals would consider ordering lenses from a retail chain laboratory, even if this were a possibility

Specsavers sell stock lenses under the banner LensOnline. I have to wonder how many indies order from them.

[Framebender]

I've seen their ads from time to time in some of the trade rags. Thanks for the heads up. We won't be looking at them any time soon!

[rsandr]

I've seen their ads from time to time in some of the trade rags. Thanks for the heads up. We won't be looking at them any time soon!

They are very well priced, I know a couple of folks who order, I have put them straight but they aren't concerned. I don't hassle them, it's their choice, i'm not on a crusade.

We are lucky enough not to have a Specsavers in our town yet, I fear if they did the rest of them might as well pack up.

[optispares]

from what i here specsavers bought the lab to increase production to the their own shops.

[rsandr]

from what i here specsavers bought the lab to increase production to the their own shops.

Aparrently, i'm surprised Vision Labs can't cope with all the work they used to sing its praises so much.

Didn't they shut one of their labs years ago, Vision Rx in Worcs.

[cully]

Aparrently, i'm surprised Vision Labs can't cope with all the work they used to sing its praises so much.

Didn't they shut one of their labs years ago, Vision Rx in Worcs.

no matter how good a rx house is, if the amount of stores open increases then its gonna be a struggle to keep up.
do the math

if one rx house had a capacity to serve eg 200 stores then when 400 are open 2 rx houses would be needed.

as far as im aware there are over 700 specsavers stores open so obviously there's a need for more surfacing labs

[Chris Ryser]

Not Specsaver bashing honest!
I heard Specsavers have bought Sola's manufacturing lab in the UK

In the UK a manufacturing lab is the equivalent of an RX lab thsi side of the pond. They are not manufacturing stock lenses they are making RX lenses to order.