1,000 Jobs announced across Australian retail network

Today, global optical group, Specsavers announced plans to create 1,000 jobs across its rapidly growing Australian retail network, as the company officially opened its new multi-million dollar head office in Port Melbourne.

Defeating the economic downturn, the company is celebrating the success of the fastest rollout the company has seen in its 25-year history and is on track to beat its initial financial year forecast of $200 million in revenue by $50 million.

The privately owned optical franchise, the world’s third largest optical retailer and number two in the Australian market, has already opened 190 stores across the country since February 2008, with a further 30 scheduled to open before Christmas. The retail expansion will generate 800 jobs, with an additional 200 new jobs also being created at the 13,000 square metre manufacturing and operational facility in Melbourne.

At the opening event, attended by The Hon. Lindsay Tanner MP, Minister for Finance and Deregulation and The Hon. Martin Pakula MP, Victorian Minister for Industry and Trade, Specsavers founder Doug Perkins will unveil the company’s plans to move optometry in Australia into a new generation of eye-care.

“The investment in the new headquarters underlines a phenomenal first 20 months of trading operations for Specsavers in Australia,” said Mr. Perkins. “Within the multi-purpose facility our new Specsavers Training Academy will offer a full range of skills and career development opportunities to a new generation of optical professionals, to deliver an exceptional standard of customer service in eye care within Australia. The new facility gives us the platform we need for the next stages of growth in both our Australian and New Zealand markets.”

The head office houses three specially equipped training centres for interactive online and daily face to face training sessions for the network of stores, plus a fully functioning Specsavers store for interactive store training.

Furthermore, 27,500 pairs of spectacles are produced each week in the on-site laboratory. The company predicts the total volume will grow to 37,000 per week by February 2010.

Martin Pakula commented, “The new HQ complex will set the stage for the company’s development and growth for employment in Australia, and a prosperous future for job opportunities within Victoria.”

Lindsay Tanner further commented, “Today’s announcement is great news for Specsavers and great news for the Australian economy, with increased competition and investment in the Australian market resulting in increased productivity and thousands of new jobs across the nation.”