In the age of digital lenses, labs have become both manufacturers and distributors, and many offer their own private label lens brands that compete effectively with brand name offerings. This is helping both labs and their customers—independent eyecare professionals—differentiate themselves and create new revenue streams. In doing so, it has strengthened the partnership between wholesale laboratories and independent ECPs, which has always been fundamental for both.
Our annual 20/20’s Wholesale Lab Watch Survey takes a deeper look into the lab-ECP relationship. The following sample of the survey data reveals much about the labs’ products and services that ECPs find most valuable. In particular, the data provides a window on how some of the latest lens technologies are taking hold in the market.
To get the complete results of the 2015 Wholesale Lab Watch Survey, contact Jobson Research at jobsonresearch.com.
—Andrew Karp
Wholesale Lab Watch Survey 2015
Wholesale Lab Watch Survey 2015
Wholesale Lab Watch Survey 2015
Wholesale Lab Watch Survey 2015
Wholesale Lab Watch Survey 2015
Wholesale Lab Watch Survey 2015
Wholesale Lab Watch Survey 2015
Wholesale Lab Watch Survey 2015
Wholesale Lab Watch Survey 2015
Wholesale Lab Watch Survey 2015
Wholesale Lab Watch Survey 2015
Topline Analysis
- Forty-three percent of respondents expect to do more business with wholesale labs in the coming year.
- Online is the method used most to order products followed closely by telephone.
- The factors that were rated “very important” in selecting a wholesale lab are based on the quality of services more so than the characteristics of the labs themselves (i.e., ownership). The factors in selecting a lab considered very important by most are lens surfacing quality (92 percent), lens finishing quality (92 percent) and lens coating quality (88 percent), followed by product turnaround time (86 percent).
- The majority of locations purchase surfaced lenses (92 percent) and safety glasses (76 percent) from their primary lab.
- The services provided most often by the respondent’s primary lab were lens product information (99 percent), technical support (99 percent) and online ordering (95 percent).
- The most important concern when dealing with a wholesale optical laboratory:
- Turnaround time (19 percent)
- Price (15 percent)
- Customer service (11 percent)
- Accuracy (2 percent)
- Warranty Policies (2 percent)
- Communication (1 percent)
- Knowledgeable staff (1 percent)
- Ease of doing business (1 percent)
METHODOLOGY
20/20’s Wholesale Lab Watch Survey 2015 was conducted during June 2015 by Jobson Optical Research’s in-house research staff. The sample of 278 respondents was derived from the proprietary Jobson Optical Research Database.
The 2015 survey was conducted online, and only eyecare professionals at independent locations (one, two or three affiliated practices) who use a wholesale lab for processing lenses or providing other eyewear products and services were qualified to complete the survey.
Respondents to the survey were entered in a sweepstakes to win a $200 Amazon.com gift card.
Three years of data is shown for trending purposes.
The 2013 survey was conducted online in July 2013. 152 respondents at optical retail locations completed the survey and were offered a chance to win a $200 American Express gift card as an incentive.
The 2014 survey was conducted online in July 2014. 142 respondents at optical retail locations completed the survey and were offered a chance to win a $200 American Express gift card as an incentive.
—Jennifer Waller
Jobson Optical Research
