Specsavers launched in New Zealand this week with six store openings on the country’s North and South Islands.
New Zealand is Specsavers’ 10th international market and the shops – in Auckland, Christchurch, Richmond and Lower Hutt – are part of a 30-strong roll-out that is expected to be completed by the end of next year, with further branches to follow.
Guernsey-based Specsavers is investing NZ$20 million (£7.2 million) in the New Zealand push, which follows the retailer’s launch earlier this year in Australia, where it now has 140 shops after opening 100 in 100 days.
Specsavers founder Doug Perkins said that sales growth in Australia had been the retailer’s fastest to date – a reflection of the value Specsavers believes it is offering in a market where eyewear prices have traditionally been high.
He added: “New Zealand consumers have been paying too much for their eyewear for too long. They’ve really been kept in the dark when it comes to cost transparency and, as such, consider glasses as something of a grudge purchase.”
Specsavers has 1,260 stores globally and is the world’s largest optical chain. As well as Australia and New Zealand, it trades in the UK, Ireland, the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Denmark and Spain, and employs more than 26,000 people. ~
The retailer is forecast to break the£1 billion sales barrier this financial year. In the year to February 28, 2007, it posted sales of
£879 million.
Guernsey-based Specsavers is investing NZ$20 million (£7.2 million) in the New Zealand push, which follows the retailer’s launch earlier this year in Australia, where it now has 140 shops after opening 100 in 100 days.
Specsavers founder Doug Perkins said that sales growth in Australia had been the retailer’s fastest to date – a reflection of the value Specsavers believes it is offering in a market where eyewear prices have traditionally been high.
He added: “New Zealand consumers have been paying too much for their eyewear for too long. They’ve really been kept in the dark when it comes to cost transparency and, as such, consider glasses as something of a grudge purchase.”
Specsavers has 1,260 stores globally and is the world’s largest optical chain. As well as Australia and New Zealand, it trades in the UK, Ireland, the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Denmark and Spain, and employs more than 26,000 people. ~
The retailer is forecast to break the£1 billion sales barrier this financial year. In the year to February 28, 2007, it posted sales of
£879 million.
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