Mary Perkins and her husband Doug have established themselves as pivotal figures in the retail optometry landscape, having co-founded Specsavers, a business that has earned a remarkable reputation and significant market presence. Beginning from humble origins at Cardiff University in the early 1960s, the couple’s journey commenced with a shared commitment to the optometry field. Their partnership has not only endured the test of time but also paved the way for the creation and expansion of a retail empire valued at approximately £4 billion today.
Despite their advancing age, both Perkins and Doug remain actively engaged in the family’s business operations, headquartered in Guernsey and currently managed by their son, John. While Doug emphasizes the importance of innovation and business growth, Mary dedicates her efforts to enhancing customer and employee welfare. Recognized for her distinctive approach to market research, Perkins has a history of interacting directly with consumers. “I chat with everyone: taxi drivers, fellow rail passengers, and people sitting in coffee shops,” she revealed, gathering insights about where individuals purchase their spectacles. Although her previous method of incognito store visits is less feasible today due to widespread recognition, she continues to seek direct feedback from the market.
Specsavers has remarkably weathered the volatile landscape of retail businesses, particularly during the economic boom of the mid-1980s when numerous other startups, such as Sock Shop and Tie Rack, emerged. Prior to establishing Specsavers in 1984, the Perkins had successfully operated another optical chain. The founding of Specsavers coincided with regulatory changes that allowed opticians to advertise and compete on price, setting the stage for rapid growth. In its inaugural year, revenues from just two stores located in Guernsey and Bristol reached £750,000.
Mary Perkins recalls a time when purchasing glasses was considered an undesirable expense, with private options commanding high prices and National Health Service offerings providing limited fashion designs. The liberalization of the market allowed Specsavers to engage in advertising and display trendy frames, shifting consumer attitudes toward spectacles, thus transforming their image from a necessary burden to a fashionable accessory.
The company’s innovative marketing strategies, including the introduction of the popular “2-for-1 offer” in 1990, catalyzed its expansion throughout the UK and marked its venture into international markets. The launch of the brand’s now-iconic slogan, “should have gone to Specsavers,” in 2003 further embedded the business into British culture. This phrase gained a life of its own, often cited by comedians, leading to what Mary describes as valuable “free advertising,” as its humorous context resonated with audiences and amplified brand recognition.
Mary Perkins’s personal story is woven with themes of resilience and determination. Born in 1944 and raised in a Bristol council estate, her early influences came from her father, who retrained as an optician after years as a shop assistant. Her aspiration to study optometry was nearly derailed when her physics teacher refused to teach girls, yet she persevered and eventually enrolled at Cardiff. There, she was one of only a handful of women in her optometry class, demonstrating her trailblazing spirit.
The couple’s first foray into business, Bebbington and Perkins, commenced in 1967, ultimately growing into a chain of 23 shops across the southwest of England. After navigating the economic difficulties of the 1970s, they sold this venture in 1980 for £2 million, feeling constrained in their ability to expand further. They returned to entrepreneurship four years later, launching Specsavers in a climate ripe for disruption.
As they reflect on their financial success, Mary and Doug Perkins remain grounded, with their values rooted in their everyday family backgrounds, where frugality and value for money were paramount. While they have amassed a significant fortune estimated at £1.6 billion, the couple maintains a modest lifestyle, continuing to reside in the same home they purchased in 1980.
With a notable footprint in the retail sector, Specsavers operates approximately 1,000 stores in the UK and has established itself as a market leader in ten out of eleven international markets it has entered. This substantial growth has not dulled Mary’s sense of surprise at the company’s success. “We had no idea it would be so popular,” she acknowledged, suggesting that even the visionaries behind its inception could not have predicted the empire they would build.
As Specsavers continues to innovate, focusing on evolving customer preferences and investing in staff welfare, the company’s legacy under the stewardship of the Perkins family remains a testament to their enduring partnership and commitment to quality in the optical retail segment. Through strategic development and a keen understanding of market dynamics, Specsavers exemplifies how a dedicated entrepreneurial spirit can catalyze growth and redefine consumer expectations in the realm of personal eyewear.