Mary Perkins sold for £2 million in 1980, and continue to receive income from. After the sale the couple moved to Guernsey, where Mary's father had retired. Mary and Doug Perkins established Specsavers in Guernsey in 1984. In 2007 it was the largest privately owned opticians in the world, with nearly 900 stores across the UK and Europe. By 2011 the company had an annual turnover of £1.5bn and over 30,000 staff in markets in the UK, Europe and Australasia. Her current title at Specsavers is "founder". Dame Mary sits on the company board, oversees business development and has particular responsibility for
Federation of Manufacturing Opticians Federation of Manufacturing Opticians The Federation of Manufacturing Opticians is a trade body for manufacturers of ophthalmic examination technology established in 1917. It claims to be the world’s longest established optical trade body. Its members are optical companies involved in aspects of manufacturing, importing and wholesaling of spectacles. It is one of the five representative bodies that make up the Optical Confederation. FMO has two main income sources – membership subscriptions and surpluses from its trade show, Optrafair – and as a not-for-profits body it ploughs any surpluses back into the sector, supporting a wide range of activities that benefit