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Our History
In 2021 we celebrated 30 years of providing the best possible eye care and customer care to the communities of Newark, Leicester and Loughborough. Sometimes it seems like a long time, yet a short time all at once!
Here’s how we got to where we are today – keep an eye out for your local practice!
1991
The beginning…
Founders and directors Paresh Patel & Shaishav Shah met while studying Optometry together at Cardiff University – with a dream of going into business together in order to provide the highest standard of eye care with a real focus on individual needs.
After trying to a few different names, we settled on Opticare. This was one of our earliest logos for the shop front – all done without computers in those days!
1991
Flagship Newark Practice Opened
We settled on Newark as the place to open our first practice, due to its family-friendly environment.
The first few years for a business are always difficult, but with a lot of hard work and, thankfully plenty of positive word of mouth from our happy patients, we soon became well established.
1993
First Anstey Practice Opened
In the spot that used to be a cobblers and dry cleaner, our first Anstey practice on Cropston Road was very small and basic with only a showroom at the front and a small consulting room – not even a staff toilet! After a slow first few weeks, the practice soon picked up and we have been proud to serve the patients of Anstey ever since.
1996
First Birstall Practice Opened
Another local practice added to our growing business, in what used to be a hairdressers, at the roundabout end of Sibson Road.
Although we moved premises in the next decade, we have never stopped serving the patients of Birstall.
1999
Anstey Practice moves to its current location
Six short years after opening the Anstey Practice, we outgrew our premises on Cropston Road. We moved to where the Alliance and Leicester building society used to be, and with this double unit made it far easier to see our growing number of patients. And on the plus side, this one had a toilet too!
2001 – Ten Years!
Newark Practice Refurbishment
Our first big milestone – 10 years serving the people of Newark was celebrated with a major refit and refurbishment of the Newark practice.
This includes further investment in (for that time) cutting-edge eye health screening equipment.
2005
Birstall Practice moves to its current location on Loughborough Road
2013
Newark Practice Expanded
We made a number of improvements to the Newark Practice to help us better meet our patients’ needs. We added a third consulting room to offer more capacity, and we installed a glazing lab downstairs with state-of-the-art glazing machinery.
2016
Chernobyl Children Charity
We are a proud supporter of Chernobyl Children’s Lifeline charity, based in Newark. Starting in 2016, every year we help out by giving free eye tests and glasses to the children who visit.
Read More2016 – 25 Years!
Our Silver Anniversary
We’d been in business for a quarter of a century! To celebrate, we held an open day, where patients and friends alike could come in, see the facilities, meet the staff, and have a slice of cake while doing so. We also had balloons and prizes to give away, to help celebrate this milestone with our patients in Newark, who, of course, had made this all possible.
2017
Newest Practice in Sileby Opened
We added another practice in 2017, acquiring an existing optician in Sileby, due to the retirement of the existing opticians (AG&D Richards). Sileby, near Loughborough, is a great location for us as it fits perfectly in between our Leicester practices in Anstey & Birstall and our Newark practice in Nottinghamshire.
2018
Opticare Green Initiative Launched
We are committed to becoming one of the greenest businesses in Anstey, Birstall, Newark and Sileby. We started harnessing solar energy, recycling water, offering a contact lens recycling service, and more…
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2019
Major Refurbishment of Sileby Practice
We undertook a major modernisation of the reception and treatment rooms for a purpose-built environment, as well as invested in new technology.
Read More2019
Featured on the Cover of Optometry Today
Our Directors Shaimil Shah & Shaishav Shah were interviewed and photographed for the magazine. They gave their views on how education, training and working in a family business has developed over time.
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2020
Became Silver Members of the Beaumond House Business Club
We signed up to the Beaumond House Business Club as part of a long-term commitment to supporting the local Newark hospice.
Read More2020
Customer Care Award Winners
We were very pleased to have been awarded the Customer Care Award at the Newark Business Awards. We were also highly commended in the Best Independent Retailer category.
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2022
Newark Practice Refurbishment
Newark’s front of house and patient areas underwent a complete transformation, with a brand new reception, new showroom and frame browsing area.