The College of Optometrists

thankyou to the 138 indies who have e-mailed me your details so far. please be advised that we are currently having talks and meetings with suppliers and the signs are promising. Ciba have not yet made them selves available. So Howard Barnes if you want to make peace then get in touch as the indies group is growing.

The intention is to make the suppliers look at our collective spends with them.

Buying groups have not taken off in the UK and thats why you guys haven't had any bargaining power. Well now you have a chance and please don't let it pass. Our voice has to be heard and backed with a strong financial clout.

So if you haven't yet sent your details, then please do it asap to be included in the group and start enjoying a more profittable contact lens business. The next stage once the numbers are at the right levels, will be to seek the same dialogue with the frame and lens suppliers. With Luxottica now a retail competitor and hoya and pentax soundly in bed with the multiples, its only a matter of time before we get shunted.

So lets put this Section 60 rubbish to bed and start trading on a more profitable and FAIR level.

The initial target for the group should be atleast 500 accounts to get some serious attention. We should be able to fit whatever lens that is suitable for the patient and with the confidence that our margin is safe. I don't think the flavour should be fitting the lens which has the most profit, which may be happening at the moment. Forgive me if my assumption is incorrect.

So i lookforward to receiving more indies details and please spread the news to other colleagues.

E-Mail to ukindependants@aol.com

regards

thehitman

ps: any indies who would like to participate in organising and negotiating with suppliers, please let me know. we have 3 people at the moment.

like the sound of it sending you an e-mail.!

How are you going to make it different from sight care? who i am not with, but was thinking about a buying group ....