One of Port Elizabeth's most successful national businesses, Spec-Savers SA, have announced a sponsorship in excess of R2-million to Eastern Province cricket. The EP Cricket team will officially be known as the Spec-Savers Jumbos.

Announcing the sponsorship at St George's Park on Tuesday, Lindsay Brown, MD of Spec-Savers SA, said it has always been the Spec-Savers philosophy to re-invest with the people that helped launch the brand.

"By investing in EP cricket we invest not only in the team but in the public who gain so much out of the enjoyment that sport brings them. Sport has been an incredible tool in uniting The New South Africa and Spec-Savers believe strongly in being a part of that process.

"Spec-Savers fully embraces equity equilibrium and by sponsoring EP Cricket, we believe we will be assisting EP Cricket with their development program."

Brown said it made perfect sense for a successful national company with its roots firmly embedded in the Eastern Cape to invest in a local sporting success story.

"We took the decision seven years ago not to make the move to Johannesburg. Port Elizabeth is equidistant from all the major centres and is therefore strategically placed to perform business on a national basis. It has always been our philosophy to invest locally and therefore when possible, utilise the services of local businesses. This sponsorship is also a message to other local businesses to believe and invest in our province," said Brown.

The Spec-Savers sponsorship is multi-faceted. The value is in excess of R2-million for the first year in that Spec-Savers will be giving away by way of lucky draws by the Spec-Savers Jumbos R100 000 worth of branded sunglasses to the public at every one-day game played home and away. In addition, Spec-Savers have negotiated with the Top-Up loyalty program to give spectators the full rand value of their tickets to be redeemed against sunglasses purchased at Spec-Savers stores.

According to Bryan Dowley, CEO of FML Holdings, the holding company for Spec-Savers SA they believe that by utilising this programme, spectators will be rewarded for supporting the Spec-Savers Jumbos. "We call upon other local businesses to put their full weight behind EP Cricket."

The Spec-Savers franchise was started in May 1993 when the first store opened in Port Elizabeth. The Spec-Savers formula has proven to be successful, and this exciting and innovative approach to professional eye care has grown to 122 franchised outlets including 14 in the Medicross Family Healthcare Centre and four Occupational Vision mobile franchisees and clinics, each wholly owned by optometrists. Part of the success can be ascribed to Spec-Savers being instrumental in reducing the cost of bifocal lenses from R407 to R225 each and multifocal lenses from R790 to R400 each.

Spec-Savers SA plans to continue growing their franchise operation with good people in good locations. They aim to remain the best optical franchise in Africa, and will constantly be looking for opportunities and emerging markets to fulfil this dream.

The Spec-Savers vision for the future is to operate the most highly desirable and profitable optical franchise in Southern Africa by providing collective marketing and sourcing of products.

Released by newzwise on behalf of EP Cricket and Spec-Savers.

For more information, phone Janice Preston-Thomas at Spec-Savers on 041-585 3282 or Piet van Niekerk at newzwise on 083 299 8065.

© EPCB