Posts in In the News

The assistant manager at a Barrow opticians has received an award after clocking up 20 years in the job.

Lisa Kassell, who works at Conlons Opticians in Barrow, was presented with a long service award at the company's annual awards ceremony held in Cheshire.

Mrs Kassell, who has worked at Conlons since she was 17, received her award from the company's chairman, Mike Barton.

Mr Barton said: "Lisa has proved that her positive attitude and tight controls are a winning formula for success. Over the last 20 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."

Conlons opticians was founded in 1882 by Bernard Conlon who opened his first practice in Liverpool. Today Conlons has 17 branches.

Starting 5th November 2011, Liverpool will be the host to the most magical christmas celebrations ever. Conlons, being a Liverpool based company since 1882, whole-heartedly support this bid.

4 November 2011 - 29 January 2012
Alice in Wonderland at Tate Liverpool, Albert Dock
Alice in Wonderland at Tate Liverpool is the first exhibition of its kind to explore how Lewis Carroll's stories have influenced the visual arts, inspiring generations of artists. The exhibition will provide insight into the creation of the novels and the inspiration they have provided for artists through the decades.

5 November 2011 - 24 December 2011
Christmas Grotto at Rapid, Tickets available from the 3rd Floor
Formerly of Lewis's, this famous grotto is a must for familties seeking a magical momento from Santa.

9 November 2011, 6pm
Christmas Lights Switch On at City Centre
The lights, made by people with varying disabilities, will extend into new parts of the city centre with new effects such as 3D chandeliers and 3D baubles.

9 November 2011 - 24 December 2011
Christmas in the Park at Chavasse Park, Liverpool One
A wide range of festive events are lined up that will enchant and delight the whole family, from Santa's Grotto and a real Ice Rink to the Polar Bar for the grown ups!

24 November 2011 - 22 December 2011, Every Thursday
Christmas at Metquarter
Find your favourite designer names hidden in our Alice inspired Winter Wonderland. FREE ACTIVITIES

24 November 2011 - 22 December 2011
Christmas Market at Lord Street, Church Street, Whitechapel
Travel the world this Christmas with more than 50 of the finest craft and food stalls from across five continents.

24 November 2011 - 17 December 2011, Every Thursday, Friday, Saturday
The Art Lids Wonderland at Clayton Square
The workshop by Liverpool John Moores University and inspired by the Alice in wonderland exhibition at Tate Liverpool, will offer handy arts and craft tips to those looking to put that special touch into their Christmas preparations. FREE ACTIVITIES

26 November 2011 - 8 January 2012
Winter Wonderland Simulator at Church Street. £3

1 December 2011 - 5 January 2012
The Curious Garden at Williamson Square
Step inside a world of wonder and delight where things are not quite what they seem.

1,8,15 & 22 December 2011
Live Reindeers at Queens Square. FREE

3,10,17 & 24 December 2011
Salvation Army Bands at the Tree at Church Street. FREE

3,4 December 2011
Winter Arts Market at St George's Hall
Taking place in the lead up to Christmas you'll find perfect presents at prices for all pockets including Paintings, photographs, prints, sculpture, textiles, knit wear, clothing, cards, vintage prints and photographs, ceramics, jewellery, glass, handmade beauty products, accessories and much more! - UNDER 16s FREE

3 December 2011 - 21 January 2012
Cinderella, Rock ‘n‘ Roll Panto at Liverpool Playhouse

9 December 2011 - 8 January 2012
Snow White at Royal Court
This timeless story of a beautiful princess in a fairytale land is perfect for children of all ages and the show is packed with local talent.

10 December 2011
Christmas Toy Appeal finale at Clayton Square
The Toy Appeal will be running until Christmas so there is plenty of time to hop on a bus and come into town to donate a toy in St Johns or Clayton Square. FREE ACTIVITIES

Come visit Conlons in Liverpool and indulge yourself in the christmas festivity when we put up christmas decorations.

Conlons is leading the market in Contact Lenses by offering Silicone Hydrogel Contact Lenses (Mirage Synergy) as standard. These lenses are widely considered to offer the very best in eye health, and also improved comfort for Contact lenses wearers. Mirage Synergy lenses are made from an advanced contact lens material which allows more oxygen through to the eye promoting healthier, whiter eyes.

Conlons Contact Lens Opticians and members of staff from their Wigan branch recently visited the new state of the art factory of UK Contact Lens Manufacturer Sauflon. Like Conlons, Sauflon are an independent and family-run business who pride themselves on innovation and quality. Although Sauflon have manufacturing plants and R&D based in the UK, due to recent expansion, they recently set up a new facility with state of the art machines in Budapest, Hungary as well. Conlons’ staff were delighted to visit this and see how Sauflon’s latest technology of silicone hydrogel lenses are made. What we saw was an impressive set up with a dynamic and flexible new plant which highly sophisticated robotics through-out the facility. The emphasis on quality control was staggering. Managing Director, John Welsby, said ”It’s great to be partnering a go ahead British company with quality and precision at the top of their agenda. Sauflon celebrated their own 25 year anniversary last November so the family team is well experienced in providing the very best in health and comfort for our patients”.

Ian Hechle, Branch Manager at Conlons in Barrow talks of his travels…

We are excited to announce that we have just launched a fantastic new scheme where we are hoping to send almost £150,000 worth of glasses to Africa in time for Christmas. We are doing this by teaming up with our customers and for every pair of spectacles they buy they receive two free pairs. One pair is donated to helping improve eye care in Africa and the other is for the customer to keep. Customers will fill in a card with their name and a short message which they will put in the box of the glasses that are sent to Ghana.

Eye Aid Africa is a specialist charity that has been set up by a team of medical and eye care professionals to make a difference to eye care in some of the poorer areas of Ghana.  About 2.6 million people in West Africa are blind, but about three quarters could have their sight saved with the right medical help. The provision of health care in Ghana is poor, compounded by in a lot of cases by an inability to pay for what little services are available.  

Ian says: "To help the charity further I flew out to Ghana on  Saturday 23rd October with a team of 10 which included another key member of our staff from Conlons – Alice Joyce. We took 1800 pairs of glasses that Conlons had also donated and collected, and during the one week trip our team performed more than 1,000 eye tests. On Sunday we set out the church hall with the the glasses that we had collected (old and used pairs). The patients started queuing at about 4.00 a.m. on the Monday morning and we arrived at 8.00a.m to begin work and carried on to about 5.30 p.m. with a short break for lunch at 1.00 p.m.It was fairly manic and we dispensed 227 glasses the first day. By the end of Tuesday it was clear we would run out of glasses & had to buy in a load of ready readers and low minus glasses. This exercise was repeated Thursday & Friday and by the time we finished on Friday we had prescribed and dispensed almost 1500 pairs of glasses. There were several magic moments;one student who had never had her eyes tested was prescribed by Alice as -3.25 R&,L, her face lit up with a grin from ear to ear when we gave her the exact rx. Another girl had broken her -10.00 glasses we supplied her with Conlon frames & hi-index Shamir lenses (glazed by the Conlon glazing team) to her exact Prescription">prescription, a very happy lass. There was a crane driver (with no glasses) & with uncorrected v/a of 6/36 we got him to 6/6. A taxi driver with similar uncorrected v/a’s we got to 6/5. There were countless patients who could read for the first time. A very rewarding experience. Whilst we were busy, the consultants (Mark & Patrick) and the ophthalmic nurses (Barbara & Cynthia) were performing about 20 cataract operations per day. I had the privilege to witness one operation at close quarters in the theatre.I hope this begins a long association for Conlons & Eyeaid"

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."

Beverly Penlington from Conlon's Opticians in Shotton was honoured with a long service award for her time and dedication to Conlon's Opticians. The award was presented by chairman Mike Barton at the company's annual awards ceremony held at the Imperial Hotel in Llandudno. Mike said: "Beverly 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."

Pictured is Beverly being presented with her award by Conlon's chairman Mike Barton.

Contact lens fitter Harold Anderson of Southport has retired after almost 30 years of working for Conlons Opticians.

Conlons described him as one of the finest opticians in the industry, who over the years has won a number of awards for his achievements and has provided Conlons customers with an excellent and consistent service. Anderson is one of the few members of the Conlons team to have worked in all 18 of its branches and has offered training to many dispensing opticians who are now practising.

Managing director John Welsby said: "My staff are I would like to thank Harold for all his hard work and dedication over the last 27 years."

Congratulations to this week's winner.

The lucky winner of the designer sunglasses from our friends at Conlons opticians is Sophie Broadbent, who correctly spotted the five differences between the two pictures on the Furness Cavaliers junior football team photo.

The differences were:

- The man on the right hand side of the picture.
- The bow in middle in black top has the logo removed from this front of his top.
- The man on the left hand side has stripes removed halfway down the arm on his tracksuit top.
- The football has the arrow shape turned round.
- The boy on the bottom row, second on the left, has a different logo on his football sock.

Could my winner please pop into the Evening Mail office in Barrow between 3.45pm and 4.15pm on Monday to have your picture taken?

Have a great weekend gang.

Four staff members at Conlons in Liverpool are celebrating clocking-up 100 years of service at the practice between them.

Branch manager Simon Moores, dispensing assistant Sue Judic, optometrist Maria Wood and contact lens optician Neil Hannah celebrated their milestone with a party at the store.

Managing director of Conlons, John Welsby, said: "I would like to thank Simon, Neil, Sue and Maria for all their hard work and dedication - they are a very valuable part of the team here. Our staff's loyalty, together with our passion for customer service, are the most important factors in our success."

A cockermouth man has retired after more than 40 years as an optician.

Bob Bratton, 65, of Simonscales Lane, has spent the last 10 years as a contact lens optician for Conlons Opticians in Carlisle.

He had a retirement lunch at the North Lakes Hotel this month, which was attended by 11 colleagues.

My Bratton, who was born in Dumfries and grew up in Durham, qualified as a dispensing optician in 1967 and soon developed an interest in contact lense work, which he began practising in 1972.

He has also worked for Conlons' branches in Kendal, Barrow and Penrith.

He said he really loved his work with all his patients at Conlons.

Mr Bratton, who moved to Cumbria in 1977 and is a keen acrylic painter and amateur artist, said: "I am looking forward to spending more time on my painting and also doing some travelling as well as enjoying getting to know my new grandchild.

"I would like to thank everyone at Conlons for all their enthusiam and support over the years I have worked with them and I will miss being part of such a close-knit working community."

A Wigan opticians has stepped in to provide a junoir football team with a brand new kit.

Seneley and Garswood Juniors under-eights A and B team look the part in their new maroon kit sponsored by Conlons Opticians in Leigh.

The opticians chose to sponsor the young team because their kits were worn and had been handed down from a previous under-eights team.

Clare Raynes, branch manager for Conlons in Leigh, said: "We are delighted to have been able to provide the teams with their smart new kit and would like to wish them luck."

One of Wigan's best known optometrists has retired after 32 years in the profession.

Often referred to as Mr Conlon, Malcolm Rubins has worked for Conlons Opticians since 1977.

After a brief stint at another firm in Manchester, Malcolm was re-recruited by Conlons in 1983.

Malcolm, 69, said: "I have worked for Conlons for more than 30 years and will miss being part of this family business and all my patients too.

"But I am looking forward to spending more time outdoors and walking in the hills and will make sure I keep in touch with everyone at Conlons."

Malcolm has three children and plans to spend more time with them and his friends.

Conlons managing director John Welsby said: "My staff and I would like to thank Malcolm for all his hard work and dedication over the last 32 years.

"He has provided Conlons with an excellent service and will be very much missed both by us and all his patients.

"We wish him lots of happiness in his retirement and know he will keep in touch."

Chester Evening Leader - 1st February 2010

Staff at an opticians have shown they are focused on their career after totting up 127 years' service between them.

Nine workers at Conlons opticians in Shotton will soon be overtaking the company itself, which is celebrating its own 127th anniversary this year.

Store manager Marie Aspey said: "We all really enjoy working with the local community and are very proud that between us we have worked for Conlons for 127 years.

Millom - 21st January 2010

Staff at a Millon opticians are celebrating after one of their members received an award.

Jackie Clough, branch manager of Conlons opticians, received a Long Standing Achievement Award for her dedication to the company.

The accolade was presented to her at the company's annual awards ceremony in Birmingham by Conlons chairman Mike Barton.

Mrs Clough has worked for the company for 15 years, 13 of which at the Wellington Street branch. The grandmother-of-one said: "Everyone gets an award after 15 years working at the company.

"I would like to thank everyone who made it possible for me to receive the award.

"If it weren't for the customers supporting the business it wouldn't have happened.

"It was a very lovely night. It is fantastic."

Conlons opened a store in Millom 15 years ago and is the town's only opticians.

Mr Barton said: "Jackie has proved that her positive attitude and tight controls are a winning formula for success.

"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."

Conlons was founded in Liverpool in 1882 and now has 18 branches.

North West Evening Mail (Series) - 04th January 2010

An employee of Conlons Opticians in Barrow has been praised for her long service.

Vicki Burgess, 31, has received a Long Standing Achievement Award for all her time and dedication to the opticians group.

The award was presented at the companies annual awards ceremony held at the Ramada Hotel in Birmingham by Conlons chairman Mike Barton and director of optometry Philip Owen.

Conlons Opticians in Barrow has been serving the local community for more than 35 years.

Barrow store manager Ian Hechle said: "Vicki Burgess started working at Conlons in Barrow at the age of 16 and has consistently provided a top level of service to the company.

"We'd like to thank her for her loyalty, hard work and dedication over the years."

Mrs Burgess whose leisure pastimes including keeping fit and camping in the great outdoors with her family, is an optical adviser advising customers about their specs and helping them with fittings.

She said: "I love spending time with the customers and making them feel good about themselves."

Another of her hobbies is fashion and she puts it to good use advising customers about the latest fashion in frames.

Her knowledge helps her to know what will sell and what will not and what looks good on people.

The company says one of the most important factors behind its long success is its passion for customer service given by staff like Vicki whose long service presents included a bottle of Champagne, Burgundy crystal cut glasses, and a glass plaque.

Formby Times

Conlons buck trend with award

The team at Conlons celebrated a "Branch Turnaround" prize at an awards event. The Formby opticians joined forces with Alice Joyce Opticians last year and is now bucking the credit crunch blues with a healthy turnover. Conlons Managing Director said: "This branch has had an interesting and challenging year with a huge amount of change. They have coped admirably as a newly strengthened team and are really turning on the sales."

North West Evening Mail (Series) - 26th November 2009

A budding artist has won a selection of art supplies.

Jake Cooke, who goes to Brisbane Park Infants School in Barrow, entered the colouring competition, along with his fellow pupils.

The monthly competition is organised by Conlons Opticians, which visit different schools in Barrow to invite them to take part.

Jake, 7, coloured in a picture of zoo animals, and has won a selection of art supplies, toys and sunglasses.

Eve Miles, corporate eye care advisor at the Dalton Road opticians, said: "We go to different schools every month and hand out bags so that different children can join in every month."

Jake said: "I love colouring in, I used different glitters for each part of the picture."

Runcorn & Widnes World Series - 13th February 2010

Three generations of a Widnes family celebrated the success of a long established optician this week.

Conlons marked its 63rd year in the town by donating more than £1,500 to Widnes charities.

Lesley Blackburn, aged 44, of Lindisfarne Court, her mum Marilyn Higginson, aged 63, of Spinney Avenue and her nan Dolly Higginson, aged 82, of Coronation Drive, are their longest serving customers.

Dolly, a customer for 63 years, said: "The staff are so helpful and always remember me when I walk through the door.

"It is a very personal service."

Conlons now employs seven staff and organised various events including parachute jumps and white water rafting to raise money for charity.