James Murray Wells was so shocked by the high price he was forced to pay for a pair of spectacles, that he created his own internet optician store.
Glasses Direct now sells more than 300 pairs of glasses a day and has 8,000 customers. The 21-year-old set up Glasses Direct when he was in his final year at the University of West of England.
“I went to my optician in Harrow and I needed some glasses for reading. I wanted a pair of semi-rimless glasses. They cost £149.99. That was half a month’s rent and a hell of a lot of money for a student," he said.
Investigation
That expensive eye check-up led James to begin investigating why it costs so much to make a pair of specs. After realising how much less the glasses can be made for, James knew he had a potential business on his hands.
Boots charges £99 for its Alice C1 glasses - James says he sells the equivalent for just £15 – a fraction of the cost.