Optical chain business owners explain the value of chain support

A recognised brand, established systems and a network of fellow business owners help support the day-to-day running of an optician’s practice. In an article published in October by Finnish optical sector association Näe ry, Ulpu Hakkarainen of Instrumentarium in Tampere and Anssi Kivistö of Specsavers in Seinäjoki discuss running a business within a chain. For those interested in Finland’s franchise market, their experiences shed particular light on the balance between chain support and the owner’s own responsibilities.

An established concept does not remove the owner’s responsibility

Näe ry’s article explores business ownership opportunities within optical chains through franchise and partnership models. Both offer the opportunity to combine running your own business with a chain’s concept, brand and business support. This does not, however, mean that every chain offers owners the same package.

According to the article, owners may have access to established systems for tasks such as appointment booking and monitoring customer satisfaction. The chain may also support financial administration, pricing, promotional campaigns and practice development. These shared resources provide practical help with both customer care and day-to-day management.

Responsibility for the success of the business nevertheless remains with the owner. When the chain handles some support functions, the owner can devote more attention to developing the practice, serving customers and managing staff. Support and independent responsibility are therefore not mutually exclusive: both are part of the approach to business ownership described in the article.

This distinction also matters when comparing business opportunities. A recognised name and shared tools provide a starting point, not a guarantee of business results. In the model described by Näe ry, owners draw on collective expertise while running their own businesses in a way that builds on their individual strengths.

An existing customer base provided an important starting point in Tampere

Ulpu Hakkarainen, the Instrumentarium franchisee in Tampere’s Koilliskeskus, highlights the support provided by the chain. She describes it as a safety net: owners have access to established systems, a recognised brand and marketing resources. In Hakkarainen’s view, the owner’s freedom and the chain’s shared structures go hand in hand.

Hakkarainen took over an existing practice. Her starting point therefore included an established customer base. She regards this as a major advantage, particularly in the current economic climate. This is her own assessment and experience, rather than a promise of results that applies to all optical practices.

Taking over an existing practice is a key detail in her account. Hakkarainen is not describing building everything from scratch, but stepping into an established operation. Alongside the brand and systems, she started with customers who already had a relationship with the practice.

In Hakkarainen’s account, chain support consists of several elements. Systems, marketing and a recognised name are distinct benefits, but together they form the package available to the owner. Her experience illustrates what chain support can mean for someone taking over an established practice.

Business ownership in Seinäjoki began during the chain’s early days in Finland

Anssi Kivistö of Specsavers Seinäjoki emphasises a long journey in business with his partner. Kivistö says that he and his current business partner, Hanna Rautava, were invited to join around the time Specsavers entered Finland. They helped establish one of the country’s first Specsavers stores.

Kivistö identifies their decision to go into business together 18 years earlier as a defining moment in his career. It meant building their own business within the Specsavers chain. In his experience, joining the chain offered an opportunity to pursue his own dreams and goals as a business owner.

Kivistö and Hakkarainen started from different positions. Hakkarainen discusses the importance of an existing practice and customer base. Kivistö, by contrast, describes setting up a store when the chain was only just establishing itself in Finland. Both experiences form part of the picture of business ownership within a chain presented by Näe ry.

Their accounts should therefore not be read as descriptions of a single, uniform business model. Näe ry covers both franchising and partnerships, and the owners’ experiences relate to their respective chains and starting circumstances. The common thread is building a business within a recognised chain.

The network of fellow owners is also part of the support package

Alongside technical systems and marketing, Näe ry highlights the network of other business owners. This allows owners to share experiences and lessons learnt. Chain support is therefore not limited to centralised services: it also includes opportunities to draw on other owners’ expertise.

For those interested in Finland’s franchise market, a key takeaway from the article is the variety of support available. Everyday tools such as appointment booking systems, help with developing the practice and opportunities to exchange experiences with fellow owners can all be valuable. Näe ry’s account does not, however, mean that every form of support is included in every agreement with a chain.

For anyone considering owning an optical practice, the examples offer two points to examine: the circumstances in which the business will begin, and the practical support the chain provides. Taking over an existing practice and opening a new store represent different routes, even though both involve operating within a chain.

Practical checklist: Before making a decision, establish which systems, services and support from fellow owners are included in the specific model. Separately assess your own management responsibilities and whether you will be opening a new store or taking over an existing practice.