Germany: opticians' sales double in December

German opticians had a strong increase in sales at end 2003, thanks especially to the health reform which abolished subsidies of between 12 and 80 euros for the purchase of ophthalmic glasses (children up to 18 and special cases excepted) starting from 2004.

This reform has been in the air for months and the boom in sales in fact began immediately after the summer: +30% in September, +40% in October, +60% in November and, in some cases, +100% in December.

Nobody had forecast the extent of the 'rush' for glasses, not even the opticians (who were concerned about it) or the producers themselves: some stores even stayed open after normal hours and companies continued to work on Christmas day. Thanks to their efforts, eyewear delivery times were maintained at an average of two weeks.

To benefit from the increase in sales were the opticians (independents and chains, such as Fielmann) and the producers (Essilor, for example).