ASPIRE Independent from ClearVision Optical
From top: KONISHI KA5773 from Clariti Eyewear;VIA SPIGA Simonetta from Zyloware
From top: BEBE Lush 7137 from Altair Eyewear; TOM FORD Sedgewick 402 from Marcolin; SEVEN POOLS from Maui Jim
From left: M3072 from Menizzi Eyewear; TAKUMI 972 from Aspex Eyewear; TEKA 436 from Teka Eyewear; ARGYLECULTURE BY RUSSELL SIMMONS Calloway from The McGee Group
From top: HELIUM PARIS 4254 from Match Eyewear; CAZAL 7046 from Eastern States Eyewear and Ultra Palm Optical
Decisions… Decisions… Divisions
So you think you have your own “brand” allegiance all worked out. You’re totally committed to the rapidly emerging trend toward heritage eyewear coined as Our Eyewear in 20/20. OR… You’re strictly devoted to lush and lucrative independent eyewear aficionados lapping in luxury. And then there are those of you dedicated to the global consumer, bent toward designer and lifestyle brands as delivered quite profusely in the eyewear arena.
Well… Guess what? What you really need to concentrate on is how you will approach what is likely to be the biggest issue facing the dispensing of eyewear now and well into the next few years. We’re talking GenEYE, the core millennial generation that is likely the most fixated eyewear demographic EVER in the history of retailing glasses.
GenEYE loves eyewear. It’s hip. It’s hot and it is in their sights as a must-have object for seeing clearly into anything they look at AND their future assessment of their very identities. This new GenEYE demographic is huge and growing. If you don’t “get” them, you might think about getting out of optical. They are looking for a spec-feast, and you need to be ready for them.
What about those baby boomers? Don’t worry. They’re here since THEY are the biggest GenEYE wannabes on the planet. And if a GenEYE thinks its hip to get spec’d, you can be sure there’s a boomer out there wanting that same guise.
So… pick, choose and mix your brand identities and simply GO FOR IT.
— James J. Spina
