Meet Katie Noteboom, Retail Partner, Specsavers CF Polo Park

Our very first partner in Manitoba, Katie Noteboom, shares her Specsavers success story that brought her back home from New Zealand to start her own business at Specsavers CF Polo Park.

“My Specsavers journey began in Richmond, New Zealand. I grew up in Manitoba but moved to New Zealand in Spring 2021 after I got married. I got a job at Specsavers as an optical assistant and immediately fell in love with the optics world, having worn glasses most of my life. I spent 11 months working in the Richmond store and then was asked to move into a manager role in the Nelson location.”

“I worked as the manager for another 11 months before some partnership changes in the store. My time as manager was what piqued my interest in the idea of partnership, so after being part of Specsavers for just under two years, I was put on the Pathway Program. Pathway is a business and leadership development program for people in Specsavers who are interested in partnership.”

“During the program, I was able to really develop my skills as a leader and gain a better understanding of what it’s like to run a business. I graduated from the program in January 2024 and shortly after, my husband and I discovered that Specsavers was expanding into Manitoba. The idea of moving back home was so exciting as I’d be closer to my family again. We reached out to the recruitment team in Canada, and it wasn’t long before we were meeting about relocating and opening a Specsavers store in Manitoba!”

“We moved back to Manitoba in April 2024 and opened the first location in the province on August 19 – Specsavers CF Polo Park. My partnership journey so far has been incredible. The support office in Canada is what makes this journey possible. When I think about what makes Specsavers a great place to work, it’s the concept of having a big Specsavers family all around the world that you can rely on to support you in your business.”