Conlons Opticians was founded in 1882 by Bernard Conlon, who opened his first practice in Mount Pleasant, Liverpool. Bernard was a sight testing optician who put customers at the heart of the business, dispensing high quality gold and tortoise shell frames. Bernard’s sons Bill and Alf joined him in the business, and Bill took over the family firm in 1909. peUnlike his father, Bill didn’t test sight. He was a dispensing optician and in 1927 became a founder member of their first professional body, the Association of Dispensing Opticians. Bill only dispensed prescriptions from ophthalmologists. Bill died in 1946 and was the last “Mr Conlon”. Having 3 daughters, meant that in the context of the business the name died out, though it still remains in the same family.
The eldest daughter, Winifred, managed Conlons from 1946 up until 1970. Mrs Harbord was at the helm when the NHS was formed and recalls; “You must remember this was just after the war in 1948. There was rationing, the country was in effect bankrupt, it was a time of austerity, but the Labour Party were swept to power in a wave of euphoria that things could only get better.” “Everyone became entitled to a free sight test and spectacles overnight, but the industry wasn’t geared up for it. It took over a year for new glasses to be made up!” Business was booming so Winifred asked her brother-in-law Tony Barton to join the company, which was expanded with new practices in Widnes, Colwyn Bay, Shotton, Garston, and Huyton. Winifred retired as managing director in 1970, when Tony’s son, Mike, joined Conlons as Managing Director having trained in contact lenses at Moorfields Eye Hospital in London. Mike embarked upon a programme of modernisation, moving Shotton from rooms into a shop, and opening Formby. He acquired businesses in Ormskirk, Barrow, and Kendal, introduced contact lenses to Conlons, and expanded the company to become the largest independent optician in the area. Mike Barton recalls the changes of the late 1980s as being his greatest challenge. Relaxation of the advertising rules, new competition, and the abolition of the NHS eye test for all, combined with deregulation of dispensing and the introduction of VAT on glasses made for challenging times.
Only the best opticians survived, and Mike recalls; “Innovation was the key! Conlons were the first to really embrace disposable contact lens technology, and easy payment by direct debit. We were first to offer home delivery for contact lenses and we introduced interest free credit for spectacles and sunglasses”. John Welsby succeeded Mike in 1997 and began an investment programme to put Conlons practices amongst the very best in terms of shop fittings and, perhaps more importantly, eye examination equipment. John Welsby remains managing director to this day and welcomed the fifth generation of the Conlon family, Peter, to the board of directors in January 2008.
Conlons has been very successful over the last 10 years, when some other opticians have struggled. John believes Conlons’ status as an Investor in People is probably the most important factor behind their success, along with better technology and a passion for customer service.
Over 125 years ago Bernard Conlon established Conlons Opticians and put customers at its heart. That was the start of our mission: we are dedicated to providing a top quality eye care service.
Each of Conlons 160 staff across its 18 practices receive training in customer service every year. In an age when anyone can sell glasses Conlons are proud to employ over 60 qualified opticians who are registered with the General Optical Council.
Today Conlons is the largest family owned opticians in your area offering the finest quality spectacles. We specialise in Carl Zeiss lenses and continually update our wide choice of stylish frames from leading fashion houses worldwide.
We believe our NHS range of spectacles is second to none with hundreds of free frames to choose from for children and entitled adults. Having been part of the NHS since the beginning we think it is important to continue to offer free eye care to those in need.
Having pioneered contact lenses in the early days we remain contact lens experts, employing only specialists to look after contact lenses and nothing else.
By choosing Conlons Hearing Care you can be assured of the very best service and care there is to offer. Their team of experienced, highly qualified Registered Hearing Aid Dispensers have the expertise and patience to guide you gently through the wholeprocess at your own pace.