There is a famous song by a Brazilian artist that begins with the phrase: “It all started a while ago on the island of the sun.” Now, the island of the sun could well be Madeira – taking into account the favorable meteorology of the archipelago – and “the entire” history of Alberto Oculista, a brand born in the heart of Funchal that has become, over the years, last four decades, in one of the most reputable vision care labels nationwide.
In fact, it all started a while ago, more specifically 40 years ago, in 1984, the year in which Alberto Caires, a Madeiran who worked from a very young age in an optician in Funchal, decided to venture out on his own and open a small store in the number 41 of one of the busiest shopping streets in the capital of Madeira, Rua Dr. Fernão Ornelas.
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Alberto Caires’ accumulated experience and entrepreneurial ability made the business grow naturally from that small space, making it small enough to accommodate his ambitions. In an initial phase, this growth occurred within the island of Madeira. The first store outside Funchal was opened in the town of Ribeira Brava, in the early 90s, in 1991, and the following year it was the turn of Machico, on the eastern end of the island, to receive an Alberto store Oculist.
The country’s economy and infrastructure were transformed throughout the 1990s, largely due to the injection of European funds. This transformation was also visible in Madeira, with the construction of roads and tunnels that shortened distances and changed the customs of Madeirans.
At the same time, some continental routines, such as trips to shopping centers, were copied in the archipelago. Thus, in 1998, Alberto Oculista arrived at what was then the largest shopping center in Madeira, Marina Shopping. And with a store that at that time was also the largest in the group, which had already expanded to eight establishments. Three years later, in 2001, a new shopping center, Madeira Shopping, would open with a new Alberto Oculistas store.
In the early years of the new millennium, the brand’s expansion continued. This happened with the active participation of the second generation – Miguel and Cátia Caires, children of the founder – in the management of the company. Then new stores appeared throughout the island of Madeira, from Santa Cruz to Câmara de Lobos.
Miguel Caires, general director of Alberto Oculista
In the following decade, in 2011, the brand took another giant step, crossing the Atlantic stretch that separates Madeira from the mainland: it opened its first store in mainland Portugal, in the Algarve, to which a dozen more would be added in the region. , first, and others, throughout the country, during the following years. In 2012, Alberto Oculista’s coverage became truly national with its arrival in the autonomous region of the Azores.
Over the last ten years, Alberto Oculista has continued to evolve in several areas: technological innovation, store concept and brand awareness. To do this, he established alliances with several ambassadors at the national and international level, such as Fernando Santos, then national soccer coach, and the Brazilian actress Juliana Paes with whom he would develop an exclusive collection – Juliana Paes Eyewear Collection – for retail. Portugal and Brazil markets, in addition to a unique and exclusive service from the brand: 100% custom-made glasses.
Juliana Paes, 100% personalized glasses campaign
2017 was another very important year for the history of the brand: the Salamanca neighborhood, in Madrid, hosted the first Alberto Oculista store beyond borders. The ceremony that marked the internationalization of the company took place in the presence of the presidents of the Regional Government of Madeira and the City Council of Funchal.
In 2021, the Alberto Oculista Group acquired 34 Opticenter stores, further expanding its presence nationwide. More recently, in 2023, the model and actress Margarida Corceiro joined the cast of brand ambassadors.
On May 16, 2024, these 40 years of milestones and achievements of the group were celebrated in a great party, precisely in the city where it all began, Funchal.
We can only ask: what next?
Source: Observadora
