Boots set to sell contact lenses

Marketing 07-Sep-05

Boots is to trial sales of contact lenses through its high-street chain, following amendments to the Opticians Act, which no longer prevents non-opticians from selling the products.

The changes to the law, which were confirmed in July, mean retailers
that can offer regular eye-test services can now sell contact
lenses.

In Boots' case, after-care will be managed via its chain of 300

opticians.

The trial will run in stores in the Nottingham area over the next three
months.

It comes as Boots seeks to emphasise its health-and-beauty
expertise.

Its chain of 300 opticians is one of the few areas outside its core
offering to have survived a recent cull of its offshoots, including
dentistry and laser hair-removal services.