A Glasgow optician is out to change the face of the high street using a concept unique to the UK market, that is currently hugely popular in Japan.<\/p>\n
Mika & Me is the first optician in Britain to offer Japanese aspheric lenses as standard; these lenses dominate the market in Asia because they are thinner, flatter and lighter. Mika & Me digitally fit these lenses and customers can walk out the store with their brand-new glasses in under an hour.<\/p>\n
The Glasgow-headquartered brand has opened its first store on Park Road, in Glasgow\u2019s West End, following a \u00a3200,000 investment that will create 10 jobs. Plans are in place to create a further 20 jobs with the opening of another two shops by the end of 2021.<\/p>\n
Mika & Me is to open a total of 10 stores over the next two years, as it targets new sites throughout the UK as part of ambitious expansion plans.<\/p>\n
The brainchild of businessman Barry Hutcheon and his sister Wendy Bremner, Mika & Me is heavily inspired by Mr Hutcheon\u2019s time living in Asia. Wendy brings 28 years of experience as an optometrist, while Barry is an accountant by trade.<\/p>\n
Barry said: \u201cMika & Me offers a way to purchases glasses and sunglasses that is heavily inspired by the Japanese approach to the consumer experience \u2013 and is currently unique to the market in the UK. It is our belief that Mika & Me will revolutionise the approach to purchasing glasses here in Britain.<\/p>\n
\u201cBeing a Glasgow-headquartered brand, our first shop was always going to be in the city, it\u2019s where we call home. But we firmly believe that Japanese aesthetic lenses, which allows a rapid turnaround in the process of selecting, fitting and walking out of a store with new glasses, will take off. As a result, we are delighted to be pressing ahead with plans which will see us open stores across the country.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mika & Me also aim to launch its own range of eyewear later this year. Barry added: \u201cMika & Me prides itself on championing the work of up-and-coming UK eyewear designers, as we strive to offer our customers unique designs from homegrown talent such as Caron, Black Label and Finlay & Co. We are also looking forward to launching our very own brand.\u201d<\/p>\n
The unique, artisan store is brought to life by a stunning painting of a geisha by Glasgow artist Michelle Campbell, a freelance painter based at The Briggait Studios.<\/p>\n
Located near Kelvinbridge Underground and Kelvingrove Park, Mika & Me is now open for online bookings on mikaandme.com and walk-in appointments. Mika & Me is open seven days, from 10am. Evening appointments are available upon request.<\/p>\n
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