Musical duo set sights on success with pioneering optical venture

An entrepreneurial duo inspired by a love of music are hoping to hit the high note after developing a unique range of glasses and spectacle lenses dedicated to prolonging musical careers.

With funding from the Business Enterprise Fund (BEF), Sheryl Doe and Stephen Tighe’s optical ambition was brought into focus when they opened Allegro Optical in Meltham near Huddersfield.

Tighe said: “Eyesight changes with age and everyday tasks can become difficult. As a musician I began to struggle focusing on the music in front of me and the conductor, who is several metres away. It can become very challenging for musicians and sometimes ends their careers.”

A start-up loan from BEF, a social enterprise offering funding and business advice, helped fit the shop with the advanced equipment needed and contributed to website development ahead of the store’s opening in March.

Tighe, a trombonist and conductor, met Doe, a cornet and cello playing optician, as she treated his eye condition in 2013.

Together they took the opportunity to create and develop specialist glasses to allow Tighe’s passion for music to continue.

Doe said: “The technology behind our innovation is a closely guarded secret. It involves complex mathematical formulae and every case we see is unique.

“Thanks to support from BEF, we now have the technology on site to deal with customers from a distance. Word of mouth has travelled widely in the last few months – we’re heading to Switzerland to run dispensing clinics and, hot on the heels of the Whit Friday brass band contests, we are now planning to visit Norway, Switzerland and Belgium.”

BEF investment manager Julie Micklethwaite said: “We love supporting innovative and exciting start-up businesses. Sheryl and Stephen could clearly see a business within their idea, all they needed was the finance to get things started.

“Allegro Optical’s offering has immediately gained traction all over the world, with a high volume of interest and sales. In the first two months, the shop had more than 120 customers and has already served more than 25 musicians. I’m really excited about this business because of its potential for growth and innovative offering. We helped get Stephen and Sheryl started and will be here to support them as they progress.”