Newsome’s Notes

Daryl Newsome FBDO R CL SMC (Tech)
ABDO president

What are you doing the last weekend of February? This is an exciting time to be involved in the optical industry – and it’s an exciting time to be a member of ABDO.

Change these days is not only guaranteed but it is happening at a faster rate than for any generation that has gone before us. Trade shows, not just optical trade shows, are often the place our suppliers announce and unveil new products – and as dispensing opticians we have a duty of care to our patients to be well informed of new and existing products that may benefit them.

So, come along to 100% Optical at the ExCeL in London (25- 27 February) and meet the ABDO team. We have a dedicated stand to support you, where you can catch up with staff from different departments and discuss what we do, how we do it, and make any suggestions as to how things might evolve.

Come and meet the exhibitors: they want to talk to you, so introduce yourselves. See new products and have them explained to you. Seek out all the new gadgets and gizmos, discover what they are for, how they work, why they are useful, how much they cost, and how they could make your practice more profitable.

The stands you visit might not have a specific product you want right now, but the team may be able to support your practice requirements down the line. A pre-existing contact can be highly advantageous, because you never know when your needs might change.

Trade shows are a great place to bump into old friends, people you studied with, people who taught you, as well as former and existing colleagues. There will be plenty of people you will know at the show, and there is value in keeping those relationships alive.

Do all of the above and please come and talk to the ABDO team, it is a weekend of networking and friendship making. The ABDO stand is your base while you are at the show, where you can pull up a chair and rest your feet. I will be on the stand from 2-4pm on both the Saturday and Sunday to welcome you and offer any support I can.