21 May '10

Five places to be won to Independents Night & Day 2010

In conjunction with Johnson & Johnson Visioncare, Proven Track Record is offering 5 independent practitioners the opportunity to experience its annual meeting, held on Tues 6th July, for the first time. The draw is free-to-enter and the prize includes attendance at the inaugural Independents Night being held on the evening preceding the symposium - Monday 5th July.

The prize provides an opportunity for the winners to arrive the evening before Independents Day and attend a networking dinner with ‘surprise’ after-dinner speaker. The dinner, bed & breakfast and delegate fee package is worth as much as £269 for a new delegate and any independent, who has never attended the event before, can enter.

To enter simply got to our contact page by Friday 4th June, enter your details and add ‘Johnson & Johnson prize draw’ into the comments box.

17 May '10

Final Programme Release

After some fine tuning Nick & I are pleased to present this years programme.

We all know that the new government is going to put some tough financial measures in place so we are even more pleased to have a programme that is designed to help you steer a course to success whatever gets thrown at you.

Don't forget the deadline for the "early bird" reduced fee places is 31st May so if you haven't already BOOK NOW.

To download the programme for this years event, please click here.

31 Mar '10

Independents Day 2010 - Oh What a Night!

Not satisfied with running the largest ‘independent’ event for independent practices we continue to innovate and expand Independents Day. Last year saw the introduction of a track for Optical Assistants run by Sarah Morgan and following its success last year a similar track will be run by Sarah again at this years meeting on Tues 6th July.

As exciting, 2010 will include the inaugural Independents Night being held on the evening preceding the symposium - Monday 5th July. Independents Night is overnight stay package that provides an opportunity for delegates to arrive the evening before Independents Day and attend a networking dinner with after-dinner speaker. This provides with an ideal opportunity to interact with other like-minded independent practitioners, as well sponsors and exhibitors.

The Independents Night dinner, bed and breakfast package adds just £100 to the delegate fee for Independents Day which means a Night and Day package starts at just £209.

With some of you travelling from as far a field as Ireland and the Isle of Man, many have requested we consider an overnight package. And recognising that many of the best ideas are shared and much business is done outside of the formality of the conferences and exhibitions we embarked on developing Independents Night. It will provide professional and industry alike a great networking opportunity as well as the opportunity for sponsors and exhibitors to offer their customers hospitality by being their guests for the night.

So why not join us for just £100 arrive the night before Independents Day, splitting the journey, laying-in in the morning, avoiding the rush-hour traffic to arrive fresh and ready for action – it makes sense to me!”

The meeting is being held at its usual venue, the National Motorcycle Museum, Birmingham.

26 Feb '10

PTR office is busy planning and organising

Much is happening in the PTR offices with regard to Independents Day 2010.

As you will know the theme of the day is “getting and retaining patients”, particularly important in these continuingly straightened times. Not a very catchy title I’m afraid, both Nick and I have been struggling to think of a great title. We thought of various film title word plays, which although clever didn’t fit the bill, so ideas on an email please, with a small prize to be presented on “the day” for the best answer.

The programme is coming together to create a high impact day with far reaching beneficial consequences for your practice. We are extremely pleased that as well as sharing his expertise with us Andrew McMillan will also be “hosting” the day for us.

Andrew is John Lewis’s past customer services director. For most of us JL is a byword in customer service and client loyalty proven by strong performance in difficult markets.

Trusit Dave will be talking about the use of technology in differentiation and patient loyalty whilst Ian Cameron will be telling us of his experiences running a completely private practice north of the border where every one is entitled to an eye examination paid for by the state.

Imran Hakim, optometrist and entrepreneur will use his unique business insight to brief us on the economy and how we can expect it to affect us.

These are just some of the talents joining us on the podium but lets not forget a full workshop programme with CET points available, a separate assistants track (with a free signed copy of Sarah Morgan’s excellent book) and of course a fantastic exhibition.

This year we are also making some behind the scenes organisational changes to cope with the events increasing size thus ensuring a more enjoyable day for all and finally definitely no aircon problems.

More news to follow soon.

17 Dec '09

Independents Day 2010 Takes Shape.

This years theme of Getting and Retaining Patients caused Nick and I to consider who is the gold standard in Customer Service and Retail. The name John Lewis Partnership sprang simultaneously from our lips.

In the news recently on 2 counts, releasing figures for record sales and performance, despite the recession, and being held as a role model by the Brown Government (I’m not sure if the later is a good or a bad thing). Thus Nick and I are really thrilled to announce that Andrew MacMillan has agreed to be our Keynote speaker for ID2010.

With John Lewis for 25 years Andrew started on the shop floor and worked his way up to be customers services director. He has a unique insight and played no small part in making John Lewis what it is today, a company that is successful because it shares the same core values that we do as independent opticians. The fact that all employees are effectively partners in the business is tantamount to making it the biggest independent around.

Success breeds success so don’t miss the opportunity of learning from one of the most successful retailers in the UK. Put July 6th in your diary and book a place today.

19 Oct '09

This year we will be looking at where your patients come from, acquiring and retaining patients being fundamental to the success of any business. We will be drawing on expertise from big multi national business and I hope you will find the line up of speakers fresh, innovative and above all helpful to your business.

19 Oct '09

Our new look website is launched. We have incorporated some new sections such as the gallery, and we hope that the new look will help visitors find their way around the site that much more easily.

As ever, we are always keen to improve so if you have any suggestions then please do let us know.