20-Minute glasses retailer eyes expansion

Fashion glasses retailer, Pop Specs, that provides customers with stylish prescription spectacles in just 20 minutes, is set to open five new stores across the UK in Newcastle, Glasgow, Milton Keynes and London.

The start-up retailer, which was formed during lockdown and opened its first store in Manchester’s Trafford Centre in May 2021, already operates seven stores, with locations in Manchester, London, Chester and Sheffield. Its most recent opening was at Lakeside Shopping Centre in April 2023.

The new stores, which are all set to open before autumn 2023, will be at the following locations:

• MK Centre, Milton Keynes
• Metro Centre, Newcastle
• Silverburn Shopping Centre, Glasgow
• Eldon Square, Newcastle
• Brixton Village, London

Founded by Daniel Barnes, who has over 20 years’ experience in the optical industry, and Lina Tejoprayitno, a former KPMG financial analyst, Pop Specs was established to change the way people look at buying glasses. With a focus on competitive pricing, speedy delivery and a high level of customer service, shoppers can walk into stores, receive attentive styling and fitting support when choosing a frame and walk away with their new single-vision glasses 20 minutes later.

Single vision glasses cost between £50-£75 depending on location and all frames come with high quality, anti-glare coated prescription lenses as standard, making them affordable and accessible to more people.

Daniel says: “Having worked as an optician for two decades, I was growing more and more frustrated with the direction the industry was going. The big high street brands seem to be focussed on dragging customers in with offers and then upselling, whilst the online retailers fall down in being able to offer bespoke advice to each customer. I had been forming an idea of where I wanted to take a new concept for about five years, and then whilst sitting at home during lockdown, I spent time researching and building my business plan.

“Prescription eyewear is expensive because of the associated operating cost incurred by the high street opticians; and you usually still have to wait at least a week from ordering to collecting. More and more people are thinking about glasses as a fashion accessory, but the industry isn’t set up to fit with that mindset. Our customers can now buy stylish glasses in the same way they would a handbag, pair of shoes or jewellery.”

“The success of our early stores in our first two years’ has encouraged us to push for growth and these new openings will help give consumers more choice and flexibility when it comes to buying glasses.”

Pop Specs uses high-tech, cutting-edge machinery on site to make and cut lenses to meet individual prescriptions and frames. Glasses can be collected 20 minutes after being ordered. With a focus on fashion, Pop Specs stores receive new designs and styles every six weeks.