Mister Spex opens its fifth own apprentice workshop in Cologne and welcomes a total of over 40 new apprentices in optics this year
- 03. Aug. 2023
- On 1 August 2023, the fifth training workshop was opened directly above the flagship store in the centre of Cologne
- This year, the prospective opticians will begin their training at Mister Spex in Berlin, Cologne, Münster, Reutlingen and Mannheim
- Around 140 trainees have already started an apprenticeship in the optics sector at Mister Spex since 2016
Since 2016, Mister Spex, Europe’s leading digitally driven omnichannel optician, has been a training company for opticians. In order to create the best possible conditions for future opticians at as many locations as possible, the fifth training workshop was opened on 1 August 2023. This is located directly above the new flagship store in the centre of Cologne, which opened at the end of last year. Mister Spex thus offers the ideal combination of manual work in the workshop, customer advice in one of the most modern optician’s shops in Germany and a direct link to the European e-commerce business.
More than 40 young people are starting their training in optics at Mister Spex this year
The first apprenticeship workshop was opened by Mister Spex in Berlin seven years ago in order to be able to train junior staff and make a contribution to combating the current shortage of skilled workers. This is because, according to the 2022/2023 industry report by the Central Association of Opticians and Optometrists (ZVA), 42 per cent of the opticians’ businesses surveyed were looking for specialist staff at the last count and 68 per cent of vacancies could not be filled in the end. Since 2016, a total of around 140 young people have started their training in the field of ophthalmic optics at Mister Spex, and this year there will be a good 40 prospective specialists. This number could be increased by 30 % from 2022 to 2023 alone. In addition to Berlin and Cologne, there are also training workshops in Münster, Reutlingen and Mannheim. The managers of the workshops support the trainees on site with all questions regarding topics in vocational school and the exams, and attach importance to high-quality training with a focus on craftsmanship and counselling.
Learning in the „Store of the Year 2023“
The Mister Spex flagship store in the middle of Cologne’s city centre opened last December. On two floors and a total of 400 square metres, the Berlin-based company presents a new concept in the centre of Cologne. It is based on the proven omnichannel strategy of Mister Spex, which seamlessly links the online and offline customer journey at all touchpoints. On the ground floor of the flagship store, visitors can choose from a comprehensive range of eyewear and sunglasses from the own-brand collections and popular brands. On the first floor, the first “Mister Spex BOUTIQUE” focuses exclusively on the presentation of luxury brands and independent labels. In April 2023, the company was named “Store of the Year 2023” by the German Retail Association (HDE) for its shop concept. Nils Vortmann, Chief Retail Officer at Mister Spex, says: “From my point of view, there are only a few locations as attractive as our training workshop in Cologne for future opticians. There, they can regularly learn on state-of-the-art equipment and at the same time experience in a young, dynamic team how a store offers its customers the best of the online and offline world and presents one of the most fashionable ranges.”
And even after the apprenticeship, there are various opportunities to be taken on at Mister Spex. In addition to a job in one of the more than 70 stores, there are jobs in the logistics centre, in customer service or at the headquarters of the international e-commerce company, depending on preference and suitability.
Starting in autumn, Mister Spex will again be looking for trainees in the areas of dialogue marketing, office management and e-commerce, in addition to optics. More information is available at: https://corporate.misterspex.com/en/departments/internships-apprenticeships-students/.
Contact details for journalists:
Mister Spex Corporate Communication
press@misterspex.de
About Mister Spex:
Founded in 2007, Mister Spex SE (together with its subsidiaries, “Mister Spex”) is a multi-award-winning company that has become the leading digitally native omnichannel optician in Europe. Mister Spex has been at the forefront of the industry’s transformational shift, growing from a pure online player into a successful omnichannel optician with more than 7.1 million customers, 10 online shops across Europe and physical retail stores. A digital native, technology and innovation have always been an integral part of the company’s evolution, from 2D to 3D digital frame fitting tools to intelligent browsing functionalities. The focus of Mister Spex is to make eyewear purchase for customers an easy, transparent and fun shopping experience by combining a comprehensive and varied range of high-quality products with optician expertise and services through its customer service, own stores and an extensive network of partner opticians.
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