Unique optician eyes funding for further expansion

A Yorkshire performing arts optician has a clear view on growth, after paying off its first business loan, more than doubling in size and opening a third location.

Allegro Optical, founded in Meltham, provides bespoke optical examinations and lenses for performing artists, who often experience specialist eye problems due to their craft.

The family business – the only opticians accredited by British Association of Performing Arts Medicine (BAPAM) – was founded by Sheryl Doe and her husband Stephen Tighe, with the help of £40,000 loan from the Business Enterprise Fund (BEF) .

Now, with over 6,000 clients and a turnover of almost £600,000 a year, it has just opened its third site in Marsden.

Doe said: “We have also opened our own lab, which will be the only performing arts specialist glazing lab in the UK.

“Word of mouth has certainly spread – we have clients from as far afield as New Zealand and Japan, who have their consultations online, although most of our customers are face-to-face.”

She and her husband employ 20 staff and will be recruiting more people over the coming months.

Tighe said: “We are already in discussions around further funding with BEF, as there is a real need for musicians to have the right kind of optical care.

“We are completely unique in that we can provide that care, and that is why there is such a growing demand for our service.”

The company works with BAPAM, York University, the Royal Society of Musicians of Great Britain as well as the Royal College of Music.

BEF is a a not-for-profit lender providing much-needed support to small and micro businesses, which make up over 95% of the UK economy

Steve Waud, of BEF, said: “Allegro Optical have identified a real need in the musical community and their growing customer base proves this. The region is lucky to have them as they grow.”

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