Expert eyecare entrepreneurs bring 15 jobs to Merry Hill with focus on community support

A new independent eyecare brand which has created 15 new jobs after its founders ploughed their savings into the community-focused venture is set to be unveiled at Merry Hill shopping centre.

EyeCare Merry Hill will open on Wednesday, July 17 and directors say it’s the first of its kind in a major shopping outlet throughout the West Midlands.

Some 2,500 people applied for the new roles available and 400 potential staff were interviewed.

The almost 5,000 square-foot facility, formerly a HSBC bank, has undergone a major refurbishment after business partners Raven Padda, 26, and Gobind Dubb, 28, saved ‘every penny’ from former senior roles alongside commercial funding.

Now, the eyewear practice has already forged links with Black Country hospitals Stourside and Russel’s Hall, to ensure smooth and speedy referrals for patients, as well as supporting the local community through sponsorship of Dudley Town’s Under 11s team and local corporate packages.

Directors Raven, of Wednesfield and Gobind, of Handsworth Wood, are both experienced senior experts in eyecare, with Raven a practice manager at 21 and Gobind a specialist independent prescriber at 25.

State of the art technology at EyeCare Merry Hill includes an on-site lab to manufacture lenses in as little as 30 minutes and pioneering lens tables allowing customers to immediately grasp how new prescriptions will work for them.

Raven and Gobind have also invested in industry leading equipment for eye testing to support diabetic patients as well as spotting the signs of myopia in children.

Raven said: “We were blown away by the interest in working with us and we have been able to choose the very best candidates with the right expertise. We have committed to serious training and development and clinical support staff as well as ‘meeters and greeters’ so that people experience a warm welcome.

“Alongside Birmingham-based providers Newmedica and Optegra The new practice will include eight consultation rooms, refreshments bar and boutique style dispensing stations allowing patients to experience the best in class eyecare.

“Having experienced the level of care, choice and service in major opticians chains, we want to make sure our patients and customers experience the very best.

“We pledge to provide the best eye care journey available. Our expert Optometrists and amazing team will be on hand to help and are very much committed to being an independent, neighbourhood eyecare provider.

“We include comprehensive tests for children as part of a general consultation and these are free until the age of 16. Our technology allows us to manage a growing condition of Myopia in the general population and help with slowing its progression.

“This is one of a number of unique services we can offer to put our patients first. As Gobind is a Qualified Independent Prescriber, this makes a real difference as our service is much quicker and more tailored than having to make a doctor’s appointment or get stuck in a lengthier process at a chain of opticians. This also means we can also offer a lot more choice frames and other products across various ranges rather than being limited to one chain’s suppliers.

“We also have a dedicated on-site call centre so that we can support our customers in offering unrivalled service.

“We have the largest collection of children’s frames in the region and more than 300 options for sunglasses, with or without a prescription.

“We are also the largest outlet for Cartier in the West Midlands, alongside  extensive frame ranges in further exclusive brands; Hublot, Tag Heuer and Celine.

“Our frames can suit every budget starting at just £59 up to £3,000 for an 18 carat gold plated pair of Cartier specs.

“We are proud to aim to truly serve the community as an independent practitioner but also have a real touch of luxury for those who want the most premium accessories.”

The new store’s opening comes five years after Raven first met Gobind, at the time they were still studying. Raven opted to pursue a career in entrepreneurship and joined forces with Gobind’s s vast qualifications in optics-related Medical Retina and Glaucoma.

Months on they decided to focus on eyecare and dreamt of opening their own facility, saving all their earnings to work towards their goal.

*Mayor of Dudley, Hilary Bils, will officially open EyeCare Merry Hill at 10.30am on Wednesday, July 17.

The practice is next to Superdrug within the centre, on the ground floor close to the Car Park One entrance.

For more information see: https://eyecaremerryhill.com/