Why I joined a regional Specsavers store – Rebecca Moriarty


Rebecca Moriarty is Specsavers Audiology’s 63rd partner, operating out of our Cannonvale and Mackay Canelands stores in Queensland, located about 1,000km north of Brisbane. Rebecca speaks to us about how her own vision and values drew her to Specsavers Audiology, how she’s found the customer reaction to the service offering and some helpful advice for anyone considering a regional opportunity.

1. What made you want to join Specsavers Audiology?

Every time I had ever stepped into a Specsavers store to get my eyes checked or spoken to someone in the industry who had joined Specsavers Audiology as a partner, the one consistent thing that stood out to me was how passionate everyone was.

They all seemed to love their jobs and I wanted to know why! Specsavers’ movement into the audiology sector brings some fantastic benefits to both customers and clinicians and the more I found out the more I wanted to be part of the movement.

Ultimately, I kept asking myself where I saw myself both career-wise and mentally in 5-10 years’ time, and what I kept coming back to was wanting to practice audiology in the same way that Specsavers Audiology is. I felt aligned to their vision and that I would be proud to be part of it.

2. Did you always want to join a regional Specsavers Audiology store? If so, why? If not, what convinced you?

Growing up and living in a regional area myself pre-Specsavers, I have always been set on a regional store. I think, no matter what, the dynamics of store operations and service model of the Specsavers Audiology model would work anywhere. In regional towns people really back the concept of where they get great service and value, so you get to feel the impact of your work through the community and be proud of the changes you are making in people’s lives. You also get to hear great feedback when you have a new customer come in saying that they heard about your services through a friend of theirs and how happy they are.

The other component is that from a growth perspective, regional towns are all too often underestimated. The reality is, regional stores are often a key hub point for such a vast service area and in many cases, they end up being busier than many metro locations! This is exciting because as a partner it not only gives you a potentially larger customer base to work with, and you also have a greater capability to readily spread the vision and values of Specsavers Audiology.

3. What do you see as the benefits of working in a regional location?

In regional stores I think there is a lot more connection to a customer’s life rather than just being involved in treating their hearing needs. When you see customers for their appointments it is more often an integrated discussion about their lives, and how improved hearing fits into that or what they want worked on. As a clinician I feel this just makes your days more rewarding in the service you provide.

4. What advice would you give someone who may be considering joining a regional store?

Think about the impact you want to make within the community. Regional stores are often large service hubs for a broader area – and in many cases, regional stores exceed metro stores’ net test numbers. Customers also really appreciate the one-stop shop for both their optical and audiological needs. Word spreads fast in regional towns, and the community’s response to Specsavers’ great value products and high customer service delivery is shown in their excitement when they come into a store.