Find a job 
Featured Companies 
Featured Universities 
For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Co-own and lead your own IOLLA showroom, managing a retail team and driving local success.
- Company: IOLLA, an independent, design-led optical brand with a community focus.
- Benefits: Proven business model, founder-led support, and potential for long-term equity.
- Why this job: Step into true ownership with structured support and make a real impact in your community.
- Qualifications: Experience in optics, strong leadership skills, and a passion for customer service.
- Other info: Join a growing brand in a stable market with excellent growth opportunities.
The predicted salary is between 30000 - 40000 £ per year.
Own and Lead Your Own IOLLA Showroom
Exeter is ready. The question is, are you? You’re experienced in optics. You understand the industry. Now you’re ready for more than employment. We are looking for a Joint Venture Partner in Exeter to open a new IOLLA showroom in the near future, building a stable, community-led optical business in a high-affluence regional centre.
IOLLA is offering a limited number of Joint Venture Partnerships to ambitious optical professionals who want to step into true business ownership with the backing of an independent, founder-led brand. This is an opportunity to co-own and operate your own IOLLA showroom in a priority UK location. Unlike many franchise or independent start-up opportunities, IOLLA's Joint Venture model is designed to be more accessible. With structured support and external funding options, personal capital investment can start from as little as £20,000, depending on location and funding structure.
About IOLLA
Founded in Scotland, IOLLA designs and manufactures its own frames and lenses, selling directly to customers at transparent, honest prices. We operate seven award-winning showrooms and have served hundreds of thousands of customers. We are independent, design-led and people-first - not corporate, not volume-driven, and not built like traditional multiples. We also run our own manufacturing facility, dispatching every single pair ourselves from our Scottish workshop. We are now expanding across the UK with carefully selected Joint Venture Partners.
The Opportunity
- Co-own and lead your own IOLLA showroom
- Build and manage your own retail team
- Take responsibility for local performance and profitability
- Embed the brand in your community
- Deliver exceptional customer experience, the IOLLA way
You bring the leadership, optical knowledge and ambition. We bring the product, supply chain, systems, brand, marketing and operational support. This is ownership with infrastructure. Not a cold start independent, and not a corporate franchise model.
What’s On Offer
- A proven, vertically integrated business model
- Founder-led support and partnership
- Full retail, operational and marketing playbook
- Access to our product design and manufacturing advantage
- Ongoing strategic and commercial support
- The opportunity to build long-term equity in your region
Optical retail remains one of the most stable, repeat-purchase categories in UK retail, with predictable demand and strong gross margins. This is a genuine entrepreneurial opportunity for professionals ready to move from employed to owner.
Who We’re Looking For
- Experienced optical professionals (Optometrists, Dispensing Opticians, Retail Managers, Optical Assistants ready to step up)
- Individuals with strong leadership capability
- Commercially minded and motivated by ownership
- Community-focused and customer-first
- Ready to take accountability for performance, people and growth
You do not need previous business ownership experience but you do need drive, resilience and ambition.
Why Exeter
Exeter combines affluence with a slower pace. Strong independent retail culture, strong family base, and solid disposable income. Customers are considered buyers; not impulse-driven. They value service and trust. For a Joint Venture Partner, Exeter represents stable, predictable growth in a loyal market.
Investment & Commitment
This is a capital-backed partnership opportunity requiring personal investment and external funding. We are looking for serious candidates who are ready to explore ownership properly review financials, sign an NDA and enter structured discussions. We have selected specific priority locations with strong commercial potential. When they are filled, they are filled.
Why IOLLA?
Because optics can be better. Better for customers. Better for teams. Better for the professionals who actually run the business. If you’re ready to stop building someone else’s brand and start building your own, with the right support behind you, we’d love to speak. Apply to arrange a no-obligation conversation and explore whether Joint Venture Partnership with IOLLA is right for you.
Joint Venture Partner at IOLLA in Exeter employer: IOLLA
Contact Detail:
IOLLA Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Joint Venture Partner at IOLLA in Exeter
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with other optical professionals in your area. Attend industry events, join local business groups, and don’t be shy about sharing your ambitions. The more people know you’re looking to become a Joint Venture Partner, the better your chances of finding the right opportunity.
✨Tip Number 2
Show your passion for optics! When you meet potential partners or mentors, let your enthusiasm shine through. Share your vision for an IOLLA showroom and how you plan to embed the brand in the community. People love working with those who are genuinely excited about what they do.
✨Tip Number 3
Do your homework on IOLLA! Familiarise yourself with their products, values, and the unique selling points that set them apart from competitors. This knowledge will not only help you in conversations but also show that you’re serious about becoming a Joint Venture Partner.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to get your foot in the door. Make sure to highlight your leadership skills and optical experience in your application. We’re looking for ambitious individuals ready to take the leap into ownership, so let us see what you’ve got!
We think you need these skills to ace Joint Venture Partner at IOLLA in Exeter
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Optics: When you're writing your application, let your love for the optics industry shine through! We want to see your enthusiasm and how your experience aligns with our vision at IOLLA. Make it personal and relatable.
Highlight Your Leadership Skills: As a Joint Venture Partner, you'll be leading your own showroom. So, don’t forget to showcase your leadership experience in your application. Share examples of how you've motivated teams or driven performance in previous roles.
Be Community-Focused: We’re all about embedding our brand in the community. In your application, mention any past experiences where you’ve engaged with local customers or contributed to community initiatives. It shows us you understand the importance of building relationships.
Apply Through Our Website: Ready to take the plunge? Make sure you apply through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your application and get the ball rolling on this exciting opportunity. We can’t wait to hear from you!
How to prepare for a job interview at IOLLA
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your optical knowledge and industry trends. Being able to discuss the latest advancements in optics or customer service strategies will show that you're not just experienced, but also passionate about the field.
✨Show Your Leadership Skills
Prepare examples of how you've successfully led teams or projects in the past. IOLLA is looking for someone who can build and manage a retail team, so demonstrating your leadership capability will be key.
✨Understand the Community
Research Exeter and its retail culture. Be ready to discuss how you would embed the IOLLA brand in the community and deliver exceptional customer experiences tailored to local preferences.
✨Be Ready to Discuss Financials
Since this role involves a capital-backed partnership, be prepared to talk about financials and your understanding of profitability. Showing that you can take accountability for performance will set you apart from other candidates.