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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 is the largest provider of laser eye surgery in the UK.[3]

An Optical Express store on Princes Street, Edinburgh

Optical Express is part of the Optical Express Group, which aside from opticial, also operates in the cosmetic, dental and healthcare industries under the brand names The Cosmetic Clinic, The Dental Clinic and the 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] Further acquisitions in Germany, France and Croatia, added to its sizable UK and Ireland business has made Optical Express the largest laser eye surgery provider in Europe.

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.'

In 2007, DCM (Optical Holdings) Ltd became engaged in a dispute with HM Revenue and Customs over a disputed £10.9million pounds in tax. HMRC rejected their original appeal citing factual inaccuracies. In 2010, DCM (Optical Holdings) Ltd won its tribunal case on appeal granted by The Court of Session. The UK tax authorities have since contested the decision and the case remains under appeal. At the same time DCM Holdings lodged its own appeal.[13] [14][15][16] Also in 2007, Optical Express formed a partnership with Glasgow-based charity organisation, The Caring City.[17] Donated spectacles are categorised, tested and distributed free of charge via local clinics returning sight to the most at risk communities within Burundi.[18]

In 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 this and significant investment in both its Irish operation[22] and its level of advanced 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 2011, the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) upheld a complaint about television advert featuring Pádraig Harrington,[30] which was later replaced by one featuring Michael Gambon.[31]. 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 'from £395' pricing even though in 2007 ASA rejected a claim that Optical Express pricing was misleading. [32] Optical Express responded to allegations made in this programme on the BBC website.[27]

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,[33] 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.[34]

In 2012, the ASA ruled against a TV advert due to misleading content.[35] and rejected a complaint against the Optical Express website.[36]

References

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  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. ^ http://tax.uk.ey.com/UKTaxLibrary/Archive+2005+-+2008/Case+law/2007/DCM+(Optical+Holdings)+Ltd+v+HMRC+CS.htm
  14. ^ http://www.heraldscotland.com/business/company-news/optical-express-owner-offsets-24m-tax-claim.13625419
  15. ^ 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)
  16. ^ 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)
  17. ^ "Gift of sight for world's needy; Specs bring kids a vision of the future. - Free Online Library". Thefreelibrary.com. Retrieved 2 September 2011.
  18. ^ "Special Projects - Matthew's Farms". Glasgow The Caring City. 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. ^ "Optical Express TV advert "Clarified"". Lasik-eyes.co.uk. 15 May 2010. Retrieved 2 September 2011.
  31. ^ (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)
  32. ^ "ASA Adjudication on The Optical Express Group - Advertising Standards Authority". Asa.org.uk. 19 December 2007. Retrieved 2 September 2011.
  33. ^ "Glasgow Eye Students Make It A First". Science20.com. 18 January 2011. Retrieved 16 September 2012.
  34. ^ "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)
  35. ^ "Optical Express Rapped Over Laser Advert". Hanson Instruments. Retrieved 16 September 2012.
  36. ^ "ASA Adjudication on Optical Express Westfield Ltd - Advertising Standards Authority". Asa.org.uk. 22 August 2012. Retrieved 16 September 2012.
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Category:Optics manufacturing companies Category:Companies based in Glasgow Category:Companies established in 1991 Category:Eyewear retailers of the United Kingdom

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