Newsome’s Notes

Chatting with visitors at 100% Optical

It’s that time of year again: the garden is showing positive signs of survival and the temperature has risen outside. I am even starting to go for some walks without a coat.

Spring always has a positive feeling to it, an optimism that literally flows through you in anticipation of the summer months ahead. It’s a stimulating and exciting time of year, and it makes sense to harness that optimism and give it a useful and developmental direction.

What happens in your practice in the spring? We are treating it as a fresh start this year, trying not to just repeat what we did last year but find different things to do, and different stock to supply. We saw at 100% Optical fine new collections of frames in all categories. Our patients are actively looking for different stock; stock with a story – from eco-friendly sustainable products to new high-tech specs with built-in earphones and cameras.

It’s an exciting time to be a member of ABDO too. The organisation is going through an evolution of member-centred working, looking actively for further member benefits for you – and not just in training and education. We are looking at the problems our members have, and what the organisation can do to help. For example, our new Tips & Tricks series that begins in Dispensing Optics this month is designed to be really useful to members in everyday practice.

So if you have any great ideas which you think other members would benefit from knowing, please do write in to the editor and tell us.

Email Dispensing Optics editor Nicky Collinson at ncollinson@abdo.org.uk