Oban opticians branch gets £50,000 makeover

The investment comes after new directors took over the branch in George Street.

Specsavers stores are owned and run by its opticians, audiologists, and The Oban store’s new retail director Ryan Turner has just taken on the business, joining Fiona Cannon who took the lead there last year.

Ryan is a qualified dispensing optician and former practice manager who worked previously in Kirkintilloch, while Fiona is a qualified optometrist and independent prescriber who previously worked in Greenock and Newton Mearns.

Both of them moved to Oban with their families after deciding the opportunity to run an opticians in such an iconic West Coast location was too good to miss.

The pair invested the five-figure sum in a raft of renovation and modernisation work, redecorating and  refreshing the examination rooms and retail space, fitting illuminated shelving and mirrors, and replacing poster frames with new digital screens.

Ryan said: ‘I am so excited to run the Oban store alongside Fiona. We know we have big shoes to fill as Specsavers Oban was previously run by Ken Macdonald, now retired, who was a true pillar of the community and showed huge commitment to the town and to charitable causes.

"He passed the mantle to Fiona, who moved here from Glasgow along with her husband and two daughters last year, and I recently followed suit, moving with my wife and daughter. My commute has gone from 15 miles of grey concrete to a drive with lochs and bays that make me want to stop and admire the view every five minutes!

"It’s a completely different pace of life here and a strong community spirit, and we both feel extremely privileged to take the helm of a store in the heart of this beautiful town with its amazing people and its rich history and heritage."