Specsavers has taken its audiology business to New Zealand after its successful roll out to more than 100 Australian stores.
First launched on the Gold Coast in August 2017, Specsavers Audiology businesses are hosted in the company’s existing optical practices and operate under a franchise partnership model, but run as a separate entity.
Following rapid expansion of the concept across Australia, Specsavers representatives travelled to Queenstown to announce its entry to the New Zealand market at the New Zealand Audiological Society Conference.
Spescavers Audiology ANZ head of professional services Mr Nick Taylor said the conference was an ideal platform to mark Specsavers’ arrival and inform local audiologists about the business model.
“We are now operating out of more than 100 locations across Australia and are excited to replicate the same success in New Zealand, with the ultimate aim of providing audiology services in all of our North and South Island locations,” he said.
“More than 200 delegates visited our stand and the reaction to our presence at the conference and the launch of our offering was very positive. Local audiologists were keen to find out more about our customer-centric business model.”
Taylor said Specsavers Audiology staff would return to New Zealand next week to meet with local audiologists face-to-face, and begin interviewing candidates for the inaugural stores.
“With around 20-25 opportunities for partnership we are encouraging interested audiologists to get in touch now, to ensure their preferred location is not taken,” he said.
Specsavers Audiology claims to pay its franchise partners market-rate salaries. Audiologists are paid a base salary of $100,000, in addition to the profits generated by the business. Under the terms of the agreement, franchise partners are required to invest a $10,000 shareholder loan into the business, which is paid back once cashflow allows.
Currently, every Specsavers optical store in Australia that hosts audiology services also offers customers aged over 40 a free screening as part of their pre-test for optics.
This is said to be helping raise the profile of overall hearing health. After first noticing hearing loss it is believed that people can wait 7-10 years before seeking hearing tests.
“For us this is not about selling hearing aids; this is about normalising behaviours around overall hearing health,” Taylor said.
“The screener forms part of an unrivalled awareness-building campaign, ensuring ear health becomes front of mind across our large established optical customer database and beyond.”
IMAGE CAPTION: Bundaberg Sugarland QLD Lisa Pratt.
