Pressing reset at SightCare Conference
John French with Kriss Akabusi MBE
This year’s SightCare Conference, held on 29|30 January at the Telford International Centre, welcomed 200 delegates and 38 optical supplier exhibitors – along with guest speaker, Kriss Akabusi MBE.
The theme of the conference was ‘The future is now’ – focusing on how independent optical practices “must adapt to survive in a volatile and uncertain business environment”.
Kriss talked about how independent optical practice owners could deliver peak performance in a VUCA (Volatile, Uncertain, Complex and Ambiguous) World. He shared his approach to dealing with the, “Hey, it’s crazy out there” feeling in the small business world.
“Kriss did this with energy and humour, reflecting on his own difficult upbringing and how at the 1991 World Championships in Tokyo, he won a gold medal as a member of the four by 400 relay team beating the world champions USA,” said SightCare CEO, John French. “Kriss shared his mantra – ‘The past is for reference, not residence’.”
Entrepreneur, founder and CEO of the Hakim Group, Imran Hakim was in conversation with SightCare chair Martin White, discussing what the future looks like for the optical High Street, the hazards to look out for and what independent optical practices need to do, not just to survive but thrive.
Sid Madge discussed how “organisations don’t change, people do”. He encouraged delegates to recognise that new ways to deliver even greater value to patients, customers and staff were required – especially in light of online competition, rising prices and the cost of living crisis.
“This year’s conference helped us understand how, ultimately, all business is about ‘people’,” John French explained. “No business succeeds without them. The better we understand ourselves, each other and our customers – the better we can serve them, sell more and build trusted business relationships over the long term.”
The SightCare Awards celebrated the ‘independent spirit’ after which comedian with eyes on optometry, Sarah Louise Keegan, entertained delegates and exhibitors with her latest stand-up material.
Summing up, John said: “There is no going back. The fundamental changes in our ways of working caused by Covid-19, require independent optical practices to change too. Innovative approaches to agility and inclusion, which helped practice owners and their teams through the crisis, are at the core of re-setting practices for long-term resilience.”
Abi Page, dispensing optician and owner of Page & Small Opticians, commented: “This was my first conference since 2019 and ‘wow’ it was so good to be back. The chance to network, learn and share experience with like-minded professionals is truly invaluable and cannot be replicated virtually.”
To find out more, visit the SightCare website.