Specsavers invests heavily in expansion plans

Growth in several provinces

The company hopes to open about 30 stores in the Netherlands in an attempt to improve its Dutch market position. It should result in 150 Dutch stores in total.

Specsavers believe there is plenty of room for growth in the Netherlands, backed by 2015’s numbers. It will not reveal any official numbers so far, but its “hearing” division apparently had a 35 % turnover increase. “Specsavers clearly bucks the trend within the hearing aid sector, where many stores are closing”, a press release said.

The chain has plans to open additional stores in cities with a Specsavers presence already, although it will mostly focus on new locations in the larger provincial cities. “Dutch customers usually choose a local optician because there is no alternative where they live, nowhere where they can buy high-quality, fashionable glasses for a good price. Customers will not get in their car for something like that and that is why a part of our new store openings will be in locations we already frequent, but the majority will be in the larger provincial cities, where we have no presence yet”, Specsavers director Remko Berket said.

The company chooses to combine its ear and eye care services in its new stores as that is the most efficient business model “If we split the sqm over two commercial activities, we can keep our overhead costs low and give the customer a part of that benefit.”

It will also introduce several innovations over the upcoming year, both in the fields of ear and eye care.