From meeter and greeter to Retail Manager: Craig Wollaston celebrates two decades at Specsavers Macclesfield
Specsavers in Macclesfield is marking a special milestone as retail manager Craig Wollaston celebrates 20 years of service with the store, a journey that has taken him from welcoming customers at the door to leading the team that serves them every day.
Craig first joined Specsavers Macclesfield in March 2006, having previously worked briefly for the locally owned and run business in 2001. Originally from Yorkshire, he moved to Macclesfield at aged 18 and came to Specsavers without a background in optics or retail, having left school to join the Army, where he trained as a chef before a brief stint in telesales.
His entry level role as meeter and greeter proved to be the start of something far more enduring. Over the years, Craig progressed steadily through the business, taking on roles as dispensing consultant, in-store trainer and retail supervisor before stepping into his current position as retail manager, a role he has grown into and made his own.
During Craig’s two decades at the store, the Macclesfield business has undergone significant transformation. What was once a practice with three test rooms has grown into a modern, spacious store with seven, following a major relocation into larger premises. The business has also expanded its services to include audiology services, undergone multiple refits and embraced new technology and retail practices to meet changing customer expectations.
Away from the day-to-day running of the store, Craig has thrown himself into fundraising for causes close to his heart, completing a skydive for the Alzheimer’s Society and taking part in the Brave the Shave event for Macmillan Cancer Support, on which occasion he shaved off his then shoulder length hair. He estimates thousands of pounds have been raised through the charity events he has organised or been involved in over the past 20 years.
Craig said:
“Honestly, reaching 20 years feels a bit surreal as it’s a long time to be anywhere voluntarily! On a serious note, I’m genuinely proud of it. I’ve served several generations of some families and it always amazes me to see people who I helped choose glasses as children, all the way through to adulthood.”
“What I love most about being a retail manager is the variety and the people. No two days are the same and I really enjoy balancing the commercial side of the business with supporting customers and helping to develop the team. It always comes back to people, both colleagues and customers. Get that right and the rest tends to follow. And if you still enjoy what you do after 20 years, you’re probably doing something right.”
Angharad Butler, store director at Specsavers Macclesfield, said:
“Craig is one of those people who genuinely makes a store what it is. Twenty years of leading from the front and caring about the people around him doesn’t go unnoticed.”
“What stands out most is how far Craig has come. He arrived as a meeter and greeter with no background in retail or optics and has built a career through sheer dedication, hard work and a real commitment to doing things properly. Watching him grow into the retail manager he is today has been a privilege. We’re incredibly lucky to have him and proud to be celebrating this milestone together.”
Craig joins colleagues Kelly Webster and Nicola Hughes, who each recently celebrated their own 20-year milestones, making 2026 a landmark year for long service at the Macclesfield store.
Specsavers Macclesfield is located at Unit 2/3, Mill Street Mall, Grosvenor Centre, Macclesfield, Cheshire, SK11 6AJ and is open Monday to Saturday from 8.30am to 5.30pm and on Sundays from 9am to 5pm.
To book an appointment or speak to a member of the team at Specsavers Macclesfield, visit www.specsavers.co.uk/stores/macclesfield or call 01625 501111.