Optometrists, practice managers and practice owners looking to find their way ahead in Australasia’s highly competitive environment may have much to learn from the UK market according to CooperVision which will host a series of CPD events in Australia and New Zealand during October.
The company is bringing optometrist and optical dispenser Indie Grewal out from England to speak about his own experiences establishing a practice from scratch, just north of London in 2001.
While the Australasian eye health market has been tough over recent years, the UK market has experienced an even higher level of competitive pressure with the added burden of an economy crushed by the GFC for several years. Offers of “glasses for 10 pounds” and free eye exams are not uncommon. Corporate retailers such as Tesco and Wal-Mart’s Asda, aggressive internet discounters and a surfeit of optometrists have created ferocious competition.
Mr. Grewal will talk to delegates about how, inspite of market pressures, it is possible to build practice business from the consulting room, by developing points of difference that can be translated into increasing sales and profits.
Reflecting on his own experience, Mr. Grewal will describe how he quickly realised he needed a business strategy that used his strengths as a clinician but didn’t require a large marketing budget, and yet was sufficiently distinct from other practices. He freely admits that the process wasn’t easy and some things he tried didn’t work out. Eventually, through researching his local market, he claims to have found approaches that proved attractive to growing numbers of patients. As a result, Mr. Grewal says, his business grew steadily through the recent multi-year economic downturn.
CooperVision will host six CPD evening meetings around Australia and New Zealand. Interested optometrists, practice managers and practice owners can find out more and register at coopervisionevent.net.au/rsvp
Event Details Program:
Sydney
Monday 12 October 2015
Hoyts Entertainment Quarters
122 Lang Road
Moore Park NSW 2021
Brisbane
Tuesday 13 October 2015
Palace Barracks
61 Petrie Terrace
Brisbane QLD 4000
Auckland
Wednesday, 14 October 2015
Crowne Plaza, Auckland
128 Albert Street
Auckland 1010 New Zealand
Melbourne
Monday, 19 October 2015
Hoyts Melbourne Central
Melbourne Central Shopping Centre
Swanston Street & La Trobe Street
Melbourne VIC 3000
Adelaide
Tuesday, 20 October 2015
Wallis Cinemas Mitcham
119 Belair Road
Torrens Park SA 5062
Perth
Wednesday, 21 October 2015
Hoyts Garden City
Almondbury Road
Booragoon WA 6154
