Shamir's Veronica Petersen and Francois Cronje at Shamir's new NZ HQ

Shamir has opened a new fitting lab and service centre near Sylvia Park shopping precinct in the Mt Wellington area in Auckland.

Shamir’s business in New Zealand is steadily growing and having a local presence is a priority for Shamir, on a global scale, says Tony Egerton, Shamir’s national sales manager. “To do this efficiently, with recommendations from our existing client base, our next step was to open a local lab and customer service outlet. With this we can now provide even better service and quicker turnaround times than those already currently enjoyed by our clients all over New Zealand.”

The new lab’s location is ideal for Shamir and our New Zealand customers, adds Egerton. “It offers easy access to motorways and the airport, as well as being only 10km from Auckland’s CBD, all of which is important to be able to provide first rate service and fast delivery times to our New Zealand customers. By having a local office, we can centralise all ordering and logistic services; including phone, email, fax and online ordering systems. Same day fitting will also be available.”

Shamir’s goal is to become the number one local lens supplier in the New Zealand market, says Egerton, and it’s hoping to achieve this by providing great service, professional advice and unique products offering a point of difference for independent practitioners.

Joining Shamir’s New Zealand account and sales manager, Francois Cronje, at the new Auckland-based lab, is Veronica Petersen, who previously used to work with Cronje at Gary Filer Optometrist’s. Petersen will be managing the office and supporting customers, says Cronje, adding he’s proud of their combined 34 years in the optical industry. “I believe Veronica and I are uniquely qualified to handle the specific demands of the optometric industry in New Zealand. Both of us are registered dispensing opticians and skilled spectacle technicians with many years of fitting experience. We are confident we bring a skillset to Shamir New Zealand ensuring very high standards of expertise, product knowledge and excellent customer service to every Shamir client.”