Posts from May 2010

Peter , 33, is strategic director at Conlons Opticians, based in Liverpool and with branches throughout the North West. He lives with his wife and two young children in Heswall

6:45 am: The new day is introduced either by alarm or, more often, by one of my children, Oliver, four, or Charlotte, one. I always get tea for my wife and milk for Oliver and Charlotte, while they come to.

7.25 am: After a quick shower, change and bowl of cereal, I am in the car listening to the news and music until I get to our head office on Mount Pleasant, Liverpool. This was our original branch, set up by my great-great- grandfather, in 1882.

8am: I almost invariably find I am beaten in by our managing director, who works tirelessly from morning to night. The dishwasher is unloaded and the coffee is created to ensure the brain engine is turned to "on".

My first jobs are getting up to date with emails and other administrative tasks. We have recently updated our website so I have lots of emails today to deal with relating to this. I open my post and some lovely photos and a thank you note arrive from some friends of Conlons who recently led a pilgrimage to Lourdes – we provided some funding which went towards helping some very ill children be able to go and for the cost of doctors to accompany them. I will speak to the team about putting the pictures on our blog.

9am: Everyone else has arrived in the office, usually they have very smiley faces, although today everyone looks a bit more tired than usual as we have just returned from our two-day annual conference in Llandudno, which was a great success. Each year, we have a gala dinner where there was lots of celebrating as several staff received awards for their staff loyalty and outstanding customer service.

I normally have a meeting at 9.30am and today it is at our meeting rooms here with one of our suppliers, Jimmy Choo, to discuss their up- and-coming ranges.

11am: Meeting with our new hearing aid manager, Graham Roberts, and marketing director Lyndsay Johnson. We are currently launching a range of hearing tests and products, and there is lots to do on the marketing side of this that we discuss.

12:30pm: A quick chicken sandwich with my father, who is chairman of Conlons, and wants to catch up on property matters and the next branch refit we will be working on. I also have a quick walk round the block to get some fresh air.

1.30pm: Meeting with our website team from Lancaster – we have just launched a new blog that we are really pleased with, and there are a few technical issues to be discussed.

3:30pm: Meeting with our branch manager Simon Moores, at our Ranelagh Street branch, Liverpool, to discuss some new designer frames we will be stocking. I also congratulate Simon and three other members of staff – Neill Hannah, Sue Judic and Marie Wood – who are celebrating 100 years of working at the Liverpool branch between them.

5.30pm: I leave for home so I’m back in time for bath and bedtime for Ollie and Lottie – tonight it is Peppa Pig and lots of splashing in the bath.

7.30pm: Dinner with my wife, Rachel – we always try to sit down together at the table to eat. Tonight it is salmon teriyaki and noodles washed down with a beer and some ice-cream for pudding – it’s my favourite and a bit of a treat.

8.30pm: Tonight we are not doing anything, so I will put in an hour or so of work to ensure I’m prepared for the next day. I also like to fit in gym, squash, meet with friends, etc, so regularly do this in the evenings, too.

9:30pm: I relax in front of the TV with Rachel before bed. It’s the election debate, so perhaps not so relaxing.

FOLLOWING a succession of personal recommendations, a Wigan worker collected a customer service excellence award.

Seema Babaladi (pictured) from Conlons Opticians in Wigan collected her customer service excellence award at the company's annual awards ceremony held at the Imperial Hotel in Llandudno.

Each year, Conlons receive a huge amount of personal recommendations from their customers about members of staff who provide exceptional levels of service.

The award is measured by the number of mentions received in the questionnaires filled in by customers.

Chairman, Mike Barton presented the award.

He said: "Seema has proved that her positive attitude and outstanding customer service skills are a winning formula for success.

"She consistently provides a top level of service and I'd like to thank her for all her loyalty, hard work and dedication."

JANICE Astley from Conlons Opticians in Shotton was overjoyed to receive her 'Long Service Award' for her time and dedication to Conlons Opticians. The award was presented at the companies Annual Awards Ceremony held at the Imperial Hotel in Llandudno by the chairman, Mike Barton.

Conlons chairman Mike Barton comments: "Janice has proved that her positive attitude and tight controls are a winning formula for success. Over the last 15 years she has consistently provided a top level of service to the company and we'd like to thank her for her loyalty, hard work and dedication over the years."

A CUMBRIAN opticians' branch has recorded impressive financial results despite the recession.

Staff at Conlons in Penrith were honoured for their achievements at the firm's annual awards ceremoney.

They received the prize for most impressive turnaround figure, which marks the highest improvement of turnover from last year. It was presented to staff by Conlons chairman Mike Barton.

He said: "Our team at Penrith consistently provide a top level of service and I'd like to thank them all for their loyalty, hard work and dedication."

CONLONS opticians is now offering hearing tests at its Liverpool store.

The 128-year-old firm has appointed Graham Roberts who has worked in the hearing aid industry for a number of years to conduct tests and advise clients at the Ranelagh Street shop.

Is is estimated that one-in-seven people in Liverpool have hearing problems and Mr Roberts said: "I look forward to meeting more of the local community and being able to provide a range of top quality products and testing services."

Branch manager Simon Moores added:"We would like to welcome Graham to our team and are really excited to be able to offer our customers this excellent service."

Founded in 1882 by Bernard Conlon, who opened his first practice in Liverpool's Mount Pleasant where the company still has its head office, the group employs 160 people and turns over about £10m specialising in a range of designer frames such as Prada and Christian Dior.

A LONG-serving employee has been honoured for her dedication at an optician's.

Stephanie Kerr has clocked up 15 years of service at Conlons Opticians in Shotton and was presented with an award at a company ceremony in Llandudno.

Conlons chairman Mike Barton said: "Stephanie has proved that her positive attitude and tight controls are a winning formula for success. Over the last 15 years, she has consistently provided a top level of service to the company and we'd like to thank her for her loyalty, hard work and dedication over the years."