For many retailers, their career trajectory is clear: team manager, followed by store or site manager, then area, multi-site or regional manager. After that… maybe another retailer? A jump to head office? 

What you rarely see is business owner. 

But for Specsavers retail directors, owning their own business is a reality – through the Specsavers Partner in Development (PID) program. 

PID is an advancement program for top retail talent. Specsavers takes retail professionals who understand what it takes to lead and motivate their teams in the delivery of world-class customer service and prepares them to become business owners in their very own Specsavers store.

PID candidates are inspired, ambitious and committed retail professionals who have decided that running their own successful business is the next move in their lives and careers.

Through a phased learning journey over nine to 12 months, the PID program provides you with the critical business management, optical knowledge and leadership skills required to successfully lead your own Specsavers business.

Why retailers are jumping at the chance to be their own boss

For Dylan Dissanayake, a former supermarket manager, now the retail director and owner at Specsavers Parramatta, the opportunity to own his own business was a dream come true. 

“I’d progressed as far as I could go in my previous role, and there was no opportunity to grow. If a senior role did come up there would be 20 other people with the same experience wanting the same promotion. After 10 years I was ready for a new challenge and to take that next step up,” he says. 

 “For me the biggest appeal of undertaking the PID program with Specsavers was the challenge of being my own boss and running my own business – while remaining in a high-volume retail environment.

“The program gave me the tools to transform from a manager to a leader. Now I run my own business, lead my own team and I’m empowered to make my own decisions.”

Your own business at a fraction of the cost of a franchise

For Taj Saini, a career with Specsavers didn’t initially register on his radar. 

“I thought they were a clinical business – I didn’t realise it was was a thriving retail business as well.”

Taj, who is the retail director and owner at Specsavers Bacchus Marsh and Melton, says the biggest attraction was the ability to own his own business at the end of the program “with a fraction of the financial outlay I’d have to make in a more traditional franchise business”.

“The PID program is a journey that provides you with tools and then shows you how to use them to make a difference in people’s lives by facilitating exceptional eye care and audiology services. At the end of PID, you are rewarded with the opportunity to own a store, all while providing financial security,” he says. 

“Now as well as running two stores I also participate in a strategic initiatives group and a product advisory group where I advise the business and am involved in bigger business decision-making. It’s not something that I ever would have had the chance to do in a more traditional big box retail environment.” 

Take charge of your own career advancement 

A typical PID candidate has extensive retail management experience in a high volume, customer-facing retail environment and is a motivational leader committed to delivering world-class customer service, with a proven record of achieving outstanding financial results. 

If this sounds like you, find out more at www.pidanz.com or contact Sinéad Convery on 0409 325 075 or sinead.convery@specsavers.com