Francesca is our pierced and tattooed Practice Manager and as well as being responsible for all of the behind-the-scenes management of both practices, she takes care of all of our online output, looks after the reception desks, answers the phones, books the appointments and takes care of most of the dispensing of spectacles or contact lenses to our patients.
Francesca’s optical career started over twenty years ago as an optical receptionist and she enjoyed a wide variety of roles in several practices before setting the Pentwyn practice up in 2012. Back then, Francesca was keen to become a qualified Dispensing Optician but soon after becoming a practice owner, she realised that she enjoys being a businesswoman much more than she would enjoy working as a DO.
In 2019, Francesca was asked to lead a six month social media pilot scheme for Optometry Wales after their Chief Executive saw the work that Francesca put into the Pearce & Blackmore Opticians social media platforms. The pilot scheme was a great success, inspiring Francesca to help other practices with their social media output. Francesca’s very own social media management company began successfully trading in 2021 and now counts several large optical groups as clients.
In 2023, Francesca wrote an article for Optician Magazine about the role and importance of non-registered staff in optometric practices and feedback on the article was so positive that she has now joined the team as a regular columnist.
Francesca was a finalist in the first ever Optometry Wales Awards in the Innovator of the Year category after being nominated for her efforts in using social media for the benefit of our practice and the whole profession in Wales. Francesca’s hard work on our online output also saw us named Social Media Practice of the Year 2023 at the prestigious UK wide Optician Awards with the trophy now proudly sitting on Francesca’s desk at our Llanishen practice.
Francesca has a nineteen year old son and a sixteen year old daughter as well as a husband, three dogs, a cat and more houseplants than she can count at home. She attends pilates classes five times a week and also enjoys hiking, mountain walking, reading and listening to (mainly 80s!) music on vinyl.
A long term plant based vegan with a passion for organic health foods and toxin free living, Francesca spends as much time as possible at her Hideaway in the Brecon Beacons, and likes to turn her phone off and relax with a puzzle or a book and a hot cup of tea whilst she’s there!
Francesca is certified with Marie Curie UK as a Dementia Friend. She has also studied up to level two in British Sign Language and continues to practice when she can.