Visique evolves for independence

The proposed changes were put forward to Visique’s current membership, encompassing 49 practices, at its AGM last November and were fully supported, he says, with no one leaving the new group. Current Visique members can choose whether to keep or lose the Visique name, he says. “It’s completely up to them.”

The IOG will continue to be supported by a small central team, based in Auckland, comprising Human, marketing and customer experience strategist, Melissa Green, and finance and insurance administrator, Bala Prasad. They will be guided by members through the company’s board, currently comprising independent chair, Brian Rosenberg, and two member directors, Vanessa Cumming and Jagrut Lallu.

In return for an annual fee, IOG members will receive:

• Supply chain benefits for frames, lenses, contact lenses and accessories etc.
• Business Services, such as marketing and practice management tools, data analytics, SaaS benchmarking systems and mentoring/training
• Corporate contracts for insurance, Ministry of Social Development (MSD) and the cooperative sector
• Plus, other projects, still in the planning stage

Currently the group has supply contracts with nine frame suppliers, one lens company, though it’s in discussions with others, plus a number of other suppliers, all of whom will be assessed on a regular basis. “There will be choice for members and we will only select suppliers our members want to work with,” says Human. Members will be expected to support the group’s strategic suppliers, however, not exclusively, but significantly as that is where the greatest value lies for them from a cost perspective, he says.

Another membership benefit, often underestimated, is the business services the group can offer, says Human. “Most of us are time poor. Our business advisory services are directed at giving members dedicated time and a structure to work on their business as many can get stuck just working in their business.”

Human and his team hope to build awareness about the membership benefits of the new group over the next several months with the aim of doubling the group’s member base within two years.

“It is very exciting,” he says. “It’s about independents working more closely with each other to secure their future. That’s why, in Australia, ProVision and Eyecare Plus are doing very well. Independents can succeed, but they will do that best by working collectively and cooperatively.”