Why Hannah Finch Chose Independence — Finch Optical

Some things you can’t put a price on. Owning your frame wall, knowing your patients, and building something that is genuinely yours. Hannah Finch, practice owner at Finch Optical in Nailsworth, has done exactly that — and what she has to say about it is worth every independent’s time.

1. Why did you choose to stay/go independent?

As an experienced dispensing optician, I always dreamed of one day owning my own practice, where I could hand-pick fantastic, high-quality frames from independent suppliers and provide my patients with spectacles and contact lenses that were perfect for them, without being constrained by having to stock only certain brands. Having worked at an independent practice before, I realised the value of seeing patients year on year and enjoyed being able to look after them holistically and compassionately.

2. What does your practice offer that a corporate chain simply can’t?

A genuine personal approach. Time to really get to know the patients, their lifestyles, and preferences.

3. What’s one thing you’d tell another optician thinking about going independent?

Make sure you’ve got a good team behind you! Having to think about everything — from practice name and logo to practice layout and design, marketing and promotion, and working within optical guidelines and protocol — all take time. You need to trust other people to be on your side and promote the great stuff that you do.

Three questions. Three answers that cut straight to it. The clinical freedom to dispense properly. The time to build real patient relationships. And the honesty to admit that going independent is a team effort, not a solo act. That is what independence actually looks like — not a leap into the unknown, but a deliberate choice to build something worth building.

If that choice is one you’re ready to make, this is where it starts. Book a Free 20-Minute Independence Call