// M&S will be rolling out a new opticians service in 55 UK stores over the next 18 months.
// The diversification is part of the retailer’s strategy to offer an omnichannel experience.
High street retailer M&S has announced the official rollout of its M&S Opticians service, which will be launching in 55 stores over the next 18 months.
The rollout comes at a key time for the optician industry, which is worth £4 billion across the UK, with consumers prioritising their personal health and wellbeing following a year of missed appointments.
This move also forms part of the wider M&S strategy to offer customers an omnichannel experience as, in addition to the in-store experience, customers can book appointments online and even try on glasses via the innovative virtual tool.
READ MORE:
- M&S launches recruitment drive for 12000 workers this Christmas
- M&S aims to be fully net zero on emissions by 2040
Some 12 M&S stores are already home to M&S Opticians branches, which are operated by leading opticians Owl Optical, with a further 43 to follow by April 2023.
The new service is already incorporated within the M&S’s Sparks loyalty programme, and all 55 branches will have an extensive range of M&S and third-party branded frames on offer for customers to choose from.
The multiplatform strategy will allow M&S to continue diversifying its customer offer and incorporate complementary services within its existing store portfolio.
“We know our customers trust us to deliver first-rate specialist services and M&S Opticians is just the latest example of this,” group property, store development and IT director Sacha Berendji said.
“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.”
Click here to sign up to Retail Gazette’s free daily email newsletter
