The College of Optometrists

Thankyou to the 150+ indies who have e-mailed me your details and wish to join the group. Just to update you on matters which are developing at quite a pace as i expected.

I must state that this buying group is in no way a profit centre and as such all savings will be expected to be applied to the members own accounts. Thankyou to all members who have offered to help in the running of the group and particularly Nigel Burnett Hodd.

I have touched base with all the c/l suppliers and meetings have been arranged over the next 2 weeks, results of which will be posted to member currently on the mailing list.

i have also taken the liberty to wake up the frame and spectacle lens suppliers too and the response has been very positive with Safilo being the first to react.

I need a few c/l specialists to evaluate a new manufacturer of c/l's who is prepared to make lenses to our spec and of the material we want. They make all modalities of lenses including colours and the hottly contested Daily disp. So if proven worthy, then we will be able to buy our own brand with our own unique fitting parameters at about half the current price of Focus dailies lens. So your rx will only be applicable to this make of lens. End of worries.

We still need the option of fitting any of the other brands that is suitable for the patient but with the confidence that we are making a suitable margin on it.

I will require your help in collating our collective spends with each company and would appreciate a prompt reply when i send out the request over the next couple of weeks.

The logistics of our group is to enable members to keep their individual account numbers and order what they want and when they want, yet the collective spends to be seen as one. There will be rewards for proactive practices whose increased spends will be rewarded even more with retrospective discounts.

Please accept my appologies if any indie hasn't yet received a reply to their response, its just that i have been busy with my practices too.

If there are anymore who wish to join the group, then please send me an e-mail at 'ukindependants@aol.com'.

i would also appreciate any help in spreading the groups name to indies who may not know. The more the merrier.

Be in touch soon.

regards

tash