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| Fabio Capello's lucky red glasses | Fabio Capello's lucky red glasses |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| By Ian Pollock Personal finance reporter, BBC News Working the crowd in the cause of fancy specs | By Ian Pollock Personal finance reporter, BBC News Working the crowd in the cause of fancy specs |
| While he ponders who to pick for the England football team, Fabio Capello has also been busy in his other job - promoting the spectacles of the Italian brand Zerorh+. | |
| The company decided his appointment last December was a golden opportunity to promote the snazzy specs in the UK for the first time. | |
| Now, one of the UK's biggest chains of opticians, Boots, will start selling them in more than 200 of its stores by early next year. | |
| "Since Fabio Capello's appointment as England manager last December the volcano of media and retail attention has just exploded and we sold everything in the UK," says Les Johnson. | "Since Fabio Capello's appointment as England manager last December the volcano of media and retail attention has just exploded and we sold everything in the UK," says Les Johnson. |
| He and his wife Sarah are in charge of importing the frames for the Italian group Allison, which owns the Zerorh+ brand. | He and his wife Sarah are in charge of importing the frames for the Italian group Allison, which owns the Zerorh+ brand. |
| And they are having to step up production especially to deal with current and expected demand. | And they are having to step up production especially to deal with current and expected demand. |
| "They are styled and finished in Italy, they have a lead time of between 60 and 90 days and we can't immediately stock 250 Boots stores overnight," says Mr Johnson. | "They are styled and finished in Italy, they have a lead time of between 60 and 90 days and we can't immediately stock 250 Boots stores overnight," says Mr Johnson. |
| "It's a bespoke industry at this level," he points out. | "It's a bespoke industry at this level," he points out. |
| Too flash? | Too flash? |
| Boots seem to be drooling at the prospect of Fabio's face adorning the posters and promotional material in their outlets. | Boots seem to be drooling at the prospect of Fabio's face adorning the posters and promotional material in their outlets. |
| Jackie Gibson, the frame buyer for Boots, reckons the glasses should sell very well, especially with Fabio's endorsement. | Jackie Gibson, the frame buyer for Boots, reckons the glasses should sell very well, especially with Fabio's endorsement. |
| "The unusual styling, and the fact that they stand out from other rather samey brands, is something that works very well," she says. | "The unusual styling, and the fact that they stand out from other rather samey brands, is something that works very well," she says. |
| But are the glasses not just a bit too Italian and, well, a bit too flash? | But are the glasses not just a bit too Italian and, well, a bit too flash? |
| "No, 10 years ago that would have been true," she replies. | "No, 10 years ago that would have been true," she replies. |
| "But actually people are really looking for significantly better styling in their glasses, they are looking to stand out more and men are prepared to take a bit of a risk with them." | "But actually people are really looking for significantly better styling in their glasses, they are looking to stand out more and men are prepared to take a bit of a risk with them." |
| Red is a lucky colour | Red is a lucky colour |
| In fact, eight Boots stores, along with more than 20 other independent opticians, are already selling the frames. | In fact, eight Boots stores, along with more than 20 other independent opticians, are already selling the frames. |
| Sarah and Les Johnson seem pleased with business so far | Sarah and Les Johnson seem pleased with business so far |
| So what does Fabio think? | So what does Fabio think? |
| His spoken English is not yet very fluent. | His spoken English is not yet very fluent. |
| But chatting briefly to a few journalists at a publicity event for the optical trade, he offered a few thoughts. | But chatting briefly to a few journalists at a publicity event for the optical trade, he offered a few thoughts. |
| He likes living in central London, where he can walk around without being bothered, compared to Madrid where he had only been able to leave his flat twice in two years. | He likes living in central London, where he can walk around without being bothered, compared to Madrid where he had only been able to leave his flat twice in two years. |
| He is looking forward to spending some time at museums and art galleries. | He is looking forward to spending some time at museums and art galleries. |
| And he finds his new job more relaxed than it had been in either Italy or Spain, where he said it was impossible for a manager to relax after a match. | And he finds his new job more relaxed than it had been in either Italy or Spain, where he said it was impossible for a manager to relax after a match. |
| Yes, but what about his glasses? | Yes, but what about his glasses? |
| Well, he reckons that red frames are a symbol of good luck. | Well, he reckons that red frames are a symbol of good luck. |
| So it is lucky the company makes them in that colour. | So it is lucky the company makes them in that colour. |