Whitby & Co. Optician

What Whitby & Co. Optician does

Whitby & Co. Optician is an independent optical practice founded in 1995 by Gillian Whitby, operating from a single location at 29 Fleet Street in London's historic Fleet Street Quarter. The practice provides comprehensive eye care services including eye examinations with mandatory OCT 3D retinal scanning, contact lens fittings and aftercare, emergency appointments, dry eye clinic consultations, and dispensing services. It primarily serves discerning individual consumers seeking premium eye care and curated designer eyewear, alongside a secondary corporate client segment purchasing employee eye care packages. The practice is co-located with Fleet Street Clinic, a medical practice providing on-site access to private GPs, specialist referrals, and laboratory tests under the same roof.

The product offering centres on a curated selection of designer eyewear frames and sunglasses from brands including Tom Ford, Moscot, Lindberg, Oliver Goldsmith, William Morris, Orgreen, Maui Jim, and Barton Perreira, with lenses sourced from manufacturers including Essilor, Hoya, Nikon, and Tokai. Contact lenses are supplied through partnerships with Johnson & Johnson Vision, Alcon, and CooperVision. Diagnostic capability is anchored by an OCT (Optical Coherence Tomography) 3D scanner acquired in 2023, which captures cross-sectional images of nine retinal layers and is advertised as enabling early detection of eye conditions 5-7 years before symptoms appear. An on-site glazing laboratory supports same-day repairs and adjustments.

Revenue is generated through four streams: professional eye examination services (eye exam with OCT priced at £120), eyewear sales, contact lens products and aftercare, and recurring corporate eye care contracts. Pricing follows a unit-based pay-as-you-go model for individuals, with corporate packages quoted on request. Distribution is entirely through the single Fleet Street physical practice, with online appointment booking as the only digital channel and no e-commerce for products. The business holds ISO 9001 (2019) and ISO 27001:2022 (2023) certifications, is regulated by the General Optical Council, and is privately held by Gillian Whitby Associates Limited with no external investment.

Name

Whitby & Co. Optician

Legal name

Gillian Whitby Associates Limited

Website

https://whitbyandco.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1995

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Whitby & Co. Optician is an independent London optical practice offering premium eye examinations with OCT scanning, designer eyewear, contact lens services, and corporate eye care from its Fleet Street location.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Optometry Services and Optical Retail

NAICS

Offices of Optometrists (62132), Optical Goods Retailers (45613), Diagnostic Imaging Centers (621512)

SIC

Ophthalmic Goods (3851), Services-Offices & Clinics Of Doctors Of Medicine (8011)

akta.pro primary industry

Optometry Clinics (Primary Eye Care) (HLAKAKAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Optical Dispensing & Eyewear Retail (Glasses/Frames/Lenses) (HLAKAKAL), Contact Lenses & Care Systems (Soft/RGP/Scleral Lenses; Cleaning/Disinfection Solutions) (HLAHAJAE), Ocular Imaging & Diagnostic Testing Centers (HLAKAKAN), Optical Dispensing & Eyewear Devices (Frames, Lenses, Lens Edging/Finishing Equipment) (HLAHAJAD)

Keywords

• Optical eye care
• Designer eyewear retail
• Contact lens services
• Eye health examinations
• Dry eye treatment

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Eye Examination Services: Comprehensive eye examinations including OCT scans, contact lens consultations, emergency appointments, and specialist referrals. Core revenue stream from professional services.
2. Eyewear Sales: Sale of prescription glasses, sunglasses, and reading glasses from curated designer brands including Tom Ford, Moscot, Lindberg, Oliver Goldsmith, and others. Revenue from frames and lenses.
3. Contact Lens Products and Services: Supply of daily, fortnightly and monthly disposable lenses along with speciality lenses. Revenue from contact lens fittings, aftercare, and product sales.
4. Corporate Eye Care Contracts: 企业提供员工眼科检查套餐和福利计划

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Independent optical practice providing comprehensive eye examinations (including mandatory OCT 3D retinal scanning), contact lens consultations and aftercare, emergency eye appointments, and a specialist dry eye clinic. The practice also dispenses a curated range of designer prescription glasses, sunglasses, and reading glasses, and fits contact lenses from leading manufacturers, supported by an on-site glazing laboratory for same-day service.

Product overview

Whitby & Co. Optician is an independent optical practice in London offering a comprehensive range of eye care services and premium eyewear. The core offering combines clinical eye examinations (including mandatory OCT 3D scanning) with a curated selection of designer glasses and sunglasses from brands like Tom Ford, Moscot, Orgreen, Lindberg, William Morris, Maui Jim, and Oliver Goldsmith. The practice provides contact lens services through partnerships with Johnson & Johnson, Alcon, Cooper Vision, and others. Key differentiators include same-day glazing and repairs via an on-site laboratory, a specialist Dry Eye Clinic, corporate eye care packages, and an exclusive partnership with Fleet Street Clinic for integrated medical services. Lens options are sourced from leading manufacturers including Nikon, Essilor, Hoya, and Tokai, offering single vision, progressive, and specialist lenses.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Eye Examination with OCT Scan Comprehensive eye examination including mandatory OCT 3D retinal scan (£120). Screens for glaucoma, diabetic changes, age-related macular degeneration, high blood pressure and other conditions 5-7 years before symptoms appear. For individual patients seeking premium eye health diagnostics.
• Contact Lens Consultation and Aftercare Initial contact lens fitting consultation (£175) and ongoing aftercare appointments (£75) to ensure proper fit, comfort and ocular health for contact lens wearers.
• Emergency Eye Appointments Same-day emergency appointments for unexpected eye infections, sudden vision changes, eye pain, inflammation or other worrying symptoms (from £75).
• Dry Eye Clinic Specialist assessment and personalised treatment plans for dry eye conditions, including punctal plug therapy. Consultation priced at £90.
• Styling Appointment Complimentary styling appointment with a qualified dispensing optician to help customers select frames from the curated designer collection.
• Corporate Eye Care Corporate eye care packages offering employees comprehensive eye tests and specialised computer user support at special corporate rates, supporting workplace eye health compliance.
• Same-Day Glazing and Repairs Same-day glazing, adjustments and repairs supported by an on-site laboratory; complimentary adjustment service for glasses bought at the practice.
• Designer Prescription Eyewear Curated range of prescription glasses frames from independent designer brands including Tom Ford, Moscot, Lindberg, Orgreen and William Morris, hand-finished and styled in collaboration with a dispensing optician.
• Designer Sunglasses Curated range of non-prescription and prescription sunglasses from designers including Maui Jim (PolarizedPlus2 lenses), Oliver Goldsmith, Waiting for the Sun and Barton Perreira.
• Ready-Made Reading Glasses Ready-made Izipizi reading glasses for presbyopia, available for immediate purchase and take-away from the practice.
• Contact Lens Supply Supply of daily, fortnightly and monthly disposable contact lenses as well as speciality lenses from leading manufacturers including Johnson & Johnson (Acuvue), Alcon and CooperVision.
• Prescription Lens Solutions Prescription lenses supplied through partnerships with multiple manufacturers including Essilor (Varilux progressive), Hoya, Nikon and Tokai, offering single vision, progressive and specialist lens options.
• Punctal Plugs Treatment Insertion of punctal plugs to block tear drainage and retain natural moisture for chronic dry eye relief; offered at introductory prices as part of the Dry Eye Clinic.
• OCT 3D Eye Scan Advanced Optical Coherence Tomography scan that uses light waves to capture cross-sectional images of the eye and examine 9 retinal layers in detail, detecting eye conditions 5-7 years before symptoms appear.

Quantifiable outcome

• Eye conditions detected 5-7 years before symptoms appear with OCT scanning

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core, preferred and minor.

• Fleet Street CliniccoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMedical practice co-located at 29 Fleet Street, providing on-site access to private GPs, doctors, nurses, laboratory tests, prescriptions, and specialist referrals. Enables holistic healthcare approach where eye care seamlessly connects with broader medical services.
• EssilorpreferredTechnology or IntegrationLeading lens manufacturer supplying Varilux progressive lenses and innovative lens solutions. Independent optician status allows sourcing from multiple providers including Essilor.
• HoyapreferredTechnology or IntegrationPremium lens provider known for lightweight designs and superior durability. Supplies advanced lens technology for optimal visual performance.
• NikonpreferredTechnology or IntegrationOptical excellence with precision and clarity. Based in Milton Keynes providing high performance lenses with fast-track service.
• TokaipreferredTechnology or IntegrationJapanese manufacturer known for unique designs, optical technology, and high index thinning. Ideal for complex prescriptions.
• Johnson & Johnson VisionpreferredTechnology or IntegrationMajor contact lens manufacturer supplying daily, fortnightly and monthly disposable lenses.
• AlconpreferredTechnology or IntegrationGlobal eye care company supplying contact lens products and solutions.
• CooperVisionpreferredTechnology or IntegrationContact lens manufacturer supplying daily, fortnightly, monthly and speciality lenses.
• EyespaceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for demo lens recycling initiative. Eyespace processes acrylic demo lenses that would otherwise go to landfill, supporting sustainability goals.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• David Clulow Opticians: UK chain of premium independent-feeling opticians stocking designer frames (Tom Ford, Lindberg, Oliver Goldsmith) with in-practice advanced diagnostics and dispensing. Most direct comparator to Whitby & Co.'s premium positioning and brand portfolio.
• Cubitts: Independent British premium eyewear retailer with in-house optometry services and a strong London presence. Comparable on premium designer positioning, attention to clinical care, and curated independent brand identity.
• Black & Lizars: Long-established Scottish/UK premium optician combining clinical examinations (including OCT) with designer dispensing. Closely comparable on clinical-grade diagnostics plus premium frame offering.
• Leightons Opticians: Independent UK optician group offering comprehensive eye examinations, contact lens services, and designer eyewear across multiple locations. Comparable full-service optometry-plus-retail operating model.
• Zacks Eye Clinic: Boutique London optometry practice offering comprehensive exams, OCT imaging, and bespoke dispensing. Direct local comparable on premium independent positioning within central London.
• Finelight Optometry: Central London optometry clinic providing advanced eye examinations with a clinical-plus-fashion emphasis. Comparable on boutique clinical positioning in a competing London micro-market.

Broad incumbents

• Specsavers: Dominant UK and Ireland optical retailer operating high-volume, value-positioned practices. Useful as the mass-market incumbent whose pricing and scale define the market Whitby & Co. chooses not to compete in.
• Vision Express: UK national optical chain providing eye exams, contact lenses, and designer frames. Broad incumbent with overlapping product categories and visible competitors to Whitby & Co.'s premium offering.
• Boots Opticians: Optical arm of the UK pharmacy retailer, with in-store exam services and prescription eyewear. Functions as the high-street incumbent against which independent opticians like Whitby & Co. differentiate.

Others

• Acland Bespoke Eyewear: Bespoke and luxury eyewear retailer in London stocking premium independent brands. Adjacent comparator on designer curation and high-net-worth clientele, with weaker overlap on clinical optometry services.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/whitby-co-optician
• Instagraminstagram.com/whitbyandcooptician

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Whitby & Co. Optician