M&S to roll out instore opticians
M&S is rolling out its M&S Opticians service, a shop-in-shop which provides sight and hearing tests in addition to selling glasses and contact lenses, across its UK estate.
The service will launch in 55 stores over the next 18 months. Currently, the service operates across 12 UK M&S stores.
Following a trial period, M&S permanently opened services in Longbridge in Birmingham, Metro Centre in Gateshead, Hedge End & West Quay, both in Southampton, Bluewater in Dartford, and Culverhouse Cross in Cardiff. The trial received a customer satisfaction rate of 96% and a customer recommendation rate of 96%.
All 55 branches will be operated by optician and hearing provider Owl Optical. It will sell a range of M&S and third-party branded frames.
Sacha Berendji, group property, store development & IT director at M&S, said: “We know our customers trust us to deliver first-rate specialist services – whether it’s a suit-fit for a big occasion or a bra fit appointment with one of our expert colleagues – and M&S Opticians is just the latest example of this. Feedback from our trial showed that customers loved the convenience of having an Opticians within our store, and we’re really excited to be introducing the service to more stores across the UK and giving customers even more reasons to shop at M&S.”
