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DCM (Optical Holdings) Ltd
(parent to the Optical Express group)
Company typePrivate
IndustryHealthcare
Founded1991
FounderDavid Moulsdale (CEO)
HeadquartersGlasgow, Scotland
Area served
United Kingdom
Ireland
Germany
Netherlands
France
Croatia
USA
Key people
David Moulsdale (CEO)
ProductsSpectacles, contact lenses, refractive surgery, dentistry, surgical & non-surgical cosmetic treatments, healthcare services
RevenueIncrease £204.67m (2011) [1]
Increase £8.67m (2011) [1]
Increase £3.87m (2011) [1]
OwnerDavid Moulsdale (100%)
Number of employees
2,043 [1]
SubsidiariesOptical Express Ltd
Optical Express (Holdings) Ltd
Cruach Capital Ltd
The Frame Zone Ltd
Bridgewater Hospital (Manchester) Ltd
& others [1]
Websitehttp://www.opticalexpress.com

Optical Express is a retail optical services company in the United Kingdom.

The Optical Express group of companies, subsidiaries of DCM (Optical Holdings) Ltd, operate in a wide range of healthcare services including the optical, dental and cosmetic industries.

Optical Express is the fourth largest high street retail optician in the UK, which, combined, account for 55% of the optical goods market, of which Optical Express has a 6% share.[2] The company provides eye tests, spectacles, contact lenses and laser eye surgery and is the largest provider of laser eye surgery in the UK.[3]

Overview and history

An Optical Express store on Princes Street, Edinburgh

The Optical Express group of companies (subsidiaries of DCM (Optical Holdings) Ltd) operate in a range of healthcare services including the optical, dental and cosmetic industries under the brand names Optical Express, The Dental Clinic, The Cosmetic Clinic and Bridgewater Hospital The group was founded in 1991 by David Moulsdale[4] with one Optical Express branch based in Leith, Edinburgh.[5] The company grew steadily following its establishment, acquiring the 11 stores of Remocker Shapiro in 1995,[6] and the 65 stores of Specialeyes PLC in 1997.[7] These were followed in 2001 by 34 stores from Co-op Eyecare,[8] and 14 more Scottish stores from Specdeals in 2002.[9]

In 2004, Optical Express acquired two Free Vision Euro Eyes laser vision correction clinics in Amsterdam and The Hague,[10][11] marking the first large-scale UK optical chain to extend its laser vision correction business in Holland.[12]

Optical Express acquired the dentistry and laser eye surgery services of Alliance Boots in 2005 - the dental services now trade under the name `The Dental Clinic'.[13]

In 2007 Optical Express became engaged in a dispute with HM Revenue and Customs over a disputed £10.9 million pounds in tax. Optical Express lost the case and were initially not given leave to appeal due to factual inaccuracies in their provided information. At review they were given leave to appeal.[14][15][16][17] and its store at Cross Street in Manchester was fined £25,000 for city centre fly tipping by Manchester City council after rubbish was dumped behind the store. The company did not attend the court case. An Optical Express spokesperson said "This is a ludicrous case. We were never served a summons so it's hardly surprising we weren't in court. Our lawyers are lodging an immediate appeal".[18]

Since 2008

Optical Express became the first corporate provider to reveal its working practices to its refractive surgery competitors in the Journal of Refractive Surgery[19][20] the first of its kind by a corporate provider.[21] However, despite significant investment in both its Irish operation[22] and its level of technology [23][24][25][26] Optical Express has been criticised by Which? and BBC Watchdog.[27]

Which? criticized Optical Express, along with fellow laser eye surgery providers Optimax and Ultralase, focusing on the concern that laser councillors consistently downplayed the risks of surgery[28] In a separate 2011 undercover investigation Which? rated Optical Express as the worst performing optical chain.[29]

In May 2011, the BBC Watchdog programme ran a feature on Optical Express including hidden camera footage of laser eye surgery consultations in ten different Optical Express clinic locations.[27] The programme was critical of Optical Express. Optical Express totally refuted the allegations made in the programme.[27]

In 2012, DCM (Optical Holdings) Ltd complained to the domain name registry Nominet that the gripe site opticalexpressruinedmylife.co.uk was an abusive registration[30] The claim was denied [31]

In October 2012, Optical Express Group announced the closure of 40 stores, after a subsidiary went into administration. The Group was quoted as staying that staff would be redeployed and fewer than 100 people would lose their jobs.[32]

In October 2012, an Optical Express spokesperson responded to criticism from the British Property Federation regarding their plans to buy back 40 of the 80 stores placed under administration.[33]

Advertising

In 2007, the Advertising Standards Authority rejected a complaint that the claim "from only £395 per eye" featured in an Optical Express TV and leaflet campaign was misleading,[34] and in 2011, the authority upheld a complaint about television advert featuring Pádraig Harrington,[35] which was later replaced by one featuring Michael Gambon.[36]

In 2012 another TV advert was removed due to misleading content.[37] and a complaint was partially upheld against the Optical Express website.[38]

Charity

In 2007, Optical Express formed a partnership with Glasgow-based charity organisation, The Caring City.[39] Donated spectacles are categorised, tested and distributed free of charge via local clinics returning sight to the most at risk communities within Burundi.[40]

In 2011 Optical Express donated an Oculus Pentacam (worth £45,000) to optometry and dispensing optician students in Glasgow Caledonian University, which was the first of its kind in Scotland and allows students to use the technology as part of their optometry degree,[41] and also donated the use of their customer contact centre to support the STV Appeal to collect public donations in support of children in Scotland affected by poverty.[42]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e DCM (Optical Holdings) Limited and subsidiaries, Financial statements for the year ended 1 January 2011, approved 6/5/11.
  2. ^ Page 11 MINTEL Market Intelligence, February 2010.
  3. ^ "BBC - Watchdog: We've been keeping an eye on Optical Express". bbc.co.uk. 2012 [last update]. Retrieved 19 September 2012. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |year= (help)CS1 maint: year (link)
  4. ^ . "David Moulsdale". TimesOnline. London: News Intl. ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 6 October 2011.
  5. ^ Conroy, Harry (17 June 1996). "INSIDE BUSINESS Clear vision from Optical Express - Herald Scotland | Sport | SPL | Aberdeen". Herald Scotland. Retrieved 2 September 2011.
  6. ^ Harry Conroy (27 May 1996). "Angel who put pop group among the stars - Herald Scotland | Sport | SPL | Aberdeen". Herald Scotland. Retrieved 2 September 2011.
  7. ^ "Optical Express (Southern) Ltd v Birmingham City Council, Court of Appeal - Lands Tribunal, April 11, 2005, [2005] EWLands ACQ_109_2002 - ACQ/109/2002 - England and Wales". Case-law.vlex.co.uk. Retrieved 2 September 2011.
  8. ^ "Optical Express owner turns Blind Eye to slump in Profits". Lasik-eyes.co.uk. 29 March 2003. Retrieved 2 September 2011.
  9. ^ "BUSINESS IN BRIEF - Scotsman.com Business". Business.scotsman.com. Retrieved 2 September 2011.
  10. ^ "Optical Express goes Dutch in bid to conquer Europe | Sunday Herald, The Newspaper | Find Articles at BNET". Findarticles.com. Retrieved 2 September 2011.
  11. ^ "Optical Express Announce Expansion into Europe - Optical Express Group". Group.opticalexpress.com. Retrieved 16 September 2012.
  12. ^ "Optical Express - Europe Expansion | Laser Vision Correction Clinics". Lasik-eyes.co.uk. 16 August 2009. Retrieved 2 September 2011.
  13. ^ "The Dental Clinic - Optical Express Group". Group.opticalexpress.com. Retrieved 16 September 2012.
  14. ^ http://tax.uk.ey.com/UKTaxLibrary/Archive+2005+-+2008/Case+law/2007/DCM+(Optical+Holdings)+Ltd+v+HMRC+CS.htm
  15. ^ http://www.heraldscotland.com/business/company-news/optical-express-owner-offsets-24m-tax-claim.13625419
  16. ^ Friday 13 April 2007 (13 April 2007). "DCM embroiled in £10.9m tax dispute". Herald Scotland. Retrieved 16 September 2012.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  17. ^ Published on Tuesday 31 March 2009 21:15 (31 March 2009). "Optical Express has sights set on growth as turnover rises - Business - Scotsman.com". Business.scotsman.com. Retrieved 16 September 2012.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  18. ^ "Optometry and Eye Health Care News from Optician Online - Magistrates fine multiple £25k". Optician Online. 21 September 2007. Retrieved 2 September 2011.
  19. ^ "Optometry and Eye Health Care News from Optician Online - OE shares clinical data with laser eye sector". Optician Online. 26 August 2009. Retrieved 2 September 2011.
  20. ^ http://www.opticalexpress.co.uk/docs/journal_of_refractive_surgery.pdf
  21. ^ April 13, 2010 (13 April 2010). "Optical Express Provides Strong Presence at ASCRS Annual Meeting — Health and Fitness Times". Healthandfitnesstimes.com. Retrieved 2 September 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  22. ^ Advertiser.ie (23 October 2008). "Optical Express open eyes with news of three new Irish start-ups". Advertiser.ie. Retrieved 2 September 2011.
  23. ^ "Huge sum is invested in Optical Express clinics". Optometry.co.uk. 4 June 2010. Retrieved 2 September 2011.
  24. ^ "Optical Express invests $12 million to enhance patient care". ClickPress. Retrieved 2 September 2011.
  25. ^ "Next generation laser eye surgery". Glasses display. 5 June 2010. Retrieved 2 September 2011.
  26. ^ "UK Technology - Optical Express: Optical Express invests $12 million to enhance..." Mynewsdesk. 8 June 2010. Retrieved 2 September 2011.
  27. ^ a b c Elham Rizi (3 May 2011). "Watchdog: We've been keeping an eye on Optical Express". BBC. Retrieved 2 September 2011.
  28. ^ "Microsoft PowerPoint - Laser eye surgery" (PDF). Retrieved 2 September 2011.
  29. ^ "Optometry and Eye Health Care News from Optician Online - Multiples respond to Which? mystery shop". opticianonline.net. 2011 [last update]. Retrieved 13 September 2011. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |year= (help)CS1 maint: year (link)
  30. ^ http://www.nominet.org.uk/disputes/drs/decisions/decisionssearch/?searchText=D00011271&x=35&y=6
  31. ^ http://www.theregister.co.uk/2012/08/16/optical_express_gripe_site_still_up/
  32. ^ http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/01e95346-0bd2-11e2-8e06-00144feabdc0.html#axzz288YuOKAO
  33. ^ http://www.opticianonline.net/Articles/2012/10/12/30147/Optical+Express+defends+buyback+of+optical+practices.htm
  34. ^ "ASA Adjudication on The Optical Express Group - Advertising Standards Authority". Asa.org.uk. 19 December 2007. Retrieved 2 September 2011.
  35. ^ "Optical Express TV advert "Clarified"". Lasik-eyes.co.uk. 15 May 2010. Retrieved 2 September 2011.
  36. ^ (2011 [last update]). "Optical Express launches new ad campaign - Retail Gazette". retailgazette.co.uk. Retrieved 7 September 2011. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |year= (help)CS1 maint: year (link)
  37. ^ "Optical Express Rapped Over Laser Advert". Hanson Instruments. Retrieved 16 September 2012.
  38. ^ "ASA Adjudication on Optical Express Westfield Ltd - Advertising Standards Authority". Asa.org.uk. 22 August 2012. Retrieved 16 September 2012.
  39. ^ "Gift of sight for world's needy; Specs bring kids a vision of the future. - Free Online Library". Thefreelibrary.com. Retrieved 2 September 2011.
  40. ^ "Special Projects - Matthew's Farms". Glasgow The Caring City. Retrieved 2 September 2011.
  41. ^ "Glasgow Eye Students Make It A First". Science20.com. 18 January 2011. Retrieved 16 September 2012.
  42. ^ "Optical Express | Business Supporters | Our Supporters | STV Appeal | STV Campaigns". campaigns.stv.tv. 2012 [last update]. Retrieved 18 September 2012. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |year= (help)CS1 maint: year (link)

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