A brother and sister team have launched a new opticians chain headquartered in Glasgow.
And the first Mika & Me store has just opened in the West End of Glasgow.
Barry Hutcheon and Wendy Bremner want to change the face of the high street with a concept unique to the UK market.
They are the first opticians 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.
The first store on Park Road follows a £200,000 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.
Wendy brings 28 years of experience as an optometrist, while Barry is an accountant by trade.
The idea was heavily inspired by businessman Barry’s time living in Asia.
Barry said: “Mika & Me offers a way to purchases glasses and sunglasses that is heavily inspired by the Japanese approach to the consumer experience – 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.
“Being a Glasgow-headquartered brand, our first shop was always going to be in the city, it’s 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.
Being a Glasgow-headquartered brand, our first shop was always going to be in the city, it’s where we call home
Barry Hutcheon
“As a result, we are delighted to be pressing ahead with plans which will see us open stores across the country.”
Mika & Me also aim to launch its own range of eyewear later this year.
Barry added: “Mika & 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.”
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.
