AN OPTICIAN has become Europe’s most-visited online eyewear site — with up to three million visitors a year.

Vision Direct has an optician shop in Deansgate but also a website called Eyewearbrands.com, which specialises in branded glasses.

The website is ranked among the top sites by Google with between two and three million online visitors annually.

Vision Direct was founded in 2006 and has developed into a multi-million pound business.

Its directors are optometrist Malcolm Hurst, aged 37, and Mark Barclay, aged 47, a former director of Specsavers.

Eyewearbrands.com was launched in 2008. Its range includes designer labels such as Chanel, Prada, Dior and Ray Ban.

From an initial workforce of four, the company now has more than 30 staff covering the shop, lens laboratory, website and marketing, customer orders and deliveries.

Mr Barclay grew up in the south and his first job was with the Fosters menswear chain, becoming the youngest ever branch manager in Farnborough, aged 18.

He later worked for Matalan before joining Specsavers.

Mr Barclay moved to Bolton to open a new Specsavers franchise in Market Street in 1996.

He ran the franchise until it relocated to Victoria Square 10 years later.

He said: “Specsavers grew from being a tiny shop to one of the country’s biggest with 50 staff and five opticians.

When I sold the franchise, many people thought I was insane.

However, there were other things I really wanted to do.

“I could see what was happening with online business. At that stage, optics firms were not doing much online.”

Mr Barclay added: “A huge amount of work goes into the website and marketing.

We look at what glossy magazines are doing and new trends on colours, patterns and looks.

We try to forecast what’s happening and have an online trends guide.”

Eyewearbrands.com has featured in style magazines including GQ, Vogue, Elle and Glamour.

Mr Barclay spent two years learning about websites and online retailing.

Mr Barclay said: “Despite the economic difficulties which began five years ago, our business has gone from strength to strength. And it’s all been done here in Bolton.”