Over the last 30 years, we’ve come a long way from our humble beginnings in the Perkins’ spare room. Nowadays, we’re proud to offer affordable eyecare and hearing services to customers across the globe. Take a look at the Specsavers story.
1983

Specsavers founded
Specsavers founded
Doug and Mary Perkins started the business on a ping-pong table in their spare room, after a change in UK regulations allowed professionals to advertise their products and services for the first time.
1984

Opened first stores in Guernsey and the UK
Opened first stores in Guernsey and the UK
The first stores opened with the aim to provide a wide range of modern and stylish glasses at an affordable price for everyone.
1990

Opened first store in Ireland
Opened first store in Ireland
1997

Opened first international store in the Netherlands
Opened first international store in the Netherlands
1999

Opened flagship store in Tottenham Court Road, London, the 350th in the UK
Opened flagship store in Tottenham Court Road, London, the 350th in the UK
2002

Expanded into audiology in the UK
Expanded into audiology in the UK
2003

Launched Should’ve gone to Specsavers strapline in the UK
Launched Should’ve gone to Specsavers strapline in the UK
2003

Awarded Supreme Achievement Award by optical industry
Awarded Supreme Achievement Award by optical industry
2004

Opened first store in Sweden
Opened first store in Sweden
2005

Opened first store in Norway
Opened first store in Norway
2005

Acquired Louis Nielsen in Denmark
Acquired Louis Nielsen in Denmark
2006

Opened first store in Spain
Opened first store in Spain
2007

Mary Perkins made a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire
Mary Perkins made a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire
2008

Opened 100 stores in 100 days in Australia and New Zealand
Opened 100 stores in 100 days in Australia and New Zealand
2009

Celebrated 25 years in business
Celebrated 25 years in business
2011

Opened 700th store in Belfast, Northern Ireland
Opened 700th store in Belfast, Northern Ireland
2012

Became NHS-qualified hearing care providers
Became NHS-qualified hearing care providers
Specsavers is now accredited by over half of the NHS Clinical Commissioning Groups in England to provide NHS hearing services in local community setting. So people can get the assistance they need with their hearing, closer to home.
2012

The Dame Mary Perkins Optometry Training Centre opened in Zambia
The Dame Mary Perkins Optometry Training Centre opened in Zambia
2013

Launched UK home visit eyecare service
Launched UK home visit eyecare service
Providing access to our eyecare services for those who are unable to visit us in store due to physical or mental disabilities.
2016

Partnered with ophthalmology business, Newmedica
Partnered with ophthalmology business, Newmedica
Our preferred NHS-approved provider of care for those who require advanced eyecare services.
2017

Partnership with International Glaucoma Association
Partnership with International Glaucoma Association
Helping to raise awareness of glaucoma and encourage everyone to have regular eye tests.
2017

Launched first global celebrity eye wear collection with Kylie Minogue
Launched first global celebrity eye wear collection with Kylie Minogue
2018

New Frame Styler and AudioPad technology rolled out in UK and Ireland
New Frame Styler and AudioPad technology rolled out in UK and Ireland
2018

Launch of new will.i.am global brand
Launch of new will.i.am global brand
Exclusive to Specsavers
2019

Nationwide roll out of Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) equipment
Nationwide roll out of Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) equipment
Providing hospital-grade scanning technology in our stores so that we can get an even better view of our customers’ eye health.
2019

900th UK and Ireland Specsavers store opened in Dalgety Bay, Scotland
Dame Mary Perkins and radio DJ and TV presenter, Edith Bowman, unveiled Specsavers’ 900th store in Dalgety Bay, it’s the 900th to open in the UK and Ireland
900th UK and Ireland Specsavers store opened in Dalgety Bay, Scotland
Dame Mary Perkins and radio DJ and TV presenter, Edith Bowman, unveiled Specsavers’ 900th store in Dalgety Bay, it’s the 900th to open in the UK and Ireland
2020

Specsavers remains open for urgent and essential care throughout the Covid-19 pandemic
Specsavers remains open for urgent and essential care throughout the Covid-19 pandemic
2020

Logo evolves to a single colour and a change of font for the first time in 25 years
Logo evolves to a single colour and a change of font for the first time in 25 years