Eyewear retailer Vision Express is seeing multiple renovations and refits in branches across the UK in a move to revamp brick-and-mortar locations to serve customers better.
One of the company’s major projects was a renovation of its flagship store on London’s Oxford Street. The new design boasts a smart, contemporary, and warm environment, making top eyewear options and cutting-edge eye care more accessible to customers. Other Vision Express branches have also undergone changes to improve their look. In 2023, their Fesheny Place Shopping Centre branch relocated their shop to ensure customers could still buy all their eyewear needs while the new location was being refitted. Vision Express has also seen remarkable growth, and directors are maintaining a positive outlook, enabling the company to invest in their physical branches and strengthen service.
A look at Vision Express
Vision Express has provided premium eyewear options and optical care since its founding in 1988. Since then, the business has expanded across the UK and globally. It sells glasses, contact lenses, and sunglasses from top brands in the eyewear and fashion industry. The company’s selection of shades alone boasts models like the Tom Ford Ansel and Ray-Ban Clubmaster Classic, as well as other frames from Gucci, Prada, Ralph by Ralph Lauren, and many more. Aside from its impressive offerings, Vision Express sells its products in physical locations and its e-commerce website. Those who may not be able to visit the new and improved Vision Express locations easily can order a pair of their choice online, with options for prescription or polarisation. Customers can also book eye exams or contact lens assessments through the website or find nearby locations.
Designed for growth
Though eyewear e-commerce has become increasingly appealing to consumers due to its convenience, many UK consumers still prefer to visit physical optical stores to buy glasses, contact lenses, or sunglasses due to the high level of personalisation and care. As such, Vision Express has made it a point to enhance the environment and services of its stores through renovations and refittings. Their flagship store on Oxford Street showcases this commitment to growth. The location now spans three floors and displays over 90 brands, with the ground and second floors dedicated to sunglasses and spectacles. Aside from eyewear, the flagship also offers comprehensive eye exams, including optical coherence tomography and a dry eye questionnaire. Cutting-edge technology ensures that consumers get the best service possible so they can find the right eyewear and eye care. At a time when an ageing population, an increase in eye conditions, and a heightened interest in fashion are all emerging in the region, these enhancements ensure that the varying needs and desires of all kinds of customers are met.
A positive outlook
These renovation and refitting efforts have come at a time of confidence for Vision Express in the UK. The company recently boasted a successful fiscal year, with a turnover of £345.3m for the year to 31 December 2022, a significant increase from £333.6m in 2021. Pre-tax losses also went from £1.7m to £173,000 over the same period. With company performance strengthening, Vision Express is sure that its resilient business model and unique value drivers will continue to boost growth in the future. Its investments in the new design of its brick-and-mortar locations serve to reflect this improvement and spell high potential for continued success in the eyewear industry.
