Succeed in the Succeed in the Digital Age Digital Age
Built by eyecare providers, for eyecare providers
The Current Story
“The 7 best places to buy prescription eyeglasses online in 2024 and save.”-CBS
Best overall prescription eyeglasses: Warby Parker
Best budget prescription eyeglasses: GlassesUSA
Best no-frills prescription eyeglasses: Zenni Optical
Best prescription eyeglasses with luxury frames: Vint & York
Best everyday prescription eyeglasses: Roka
Best for designer frames: LensCrafters
Best for indestructible prescription eyewear: Ombraz
“It's easy, saves money and gives you a much larger selection than what's typically available from your optometrist's office.”
Check the Stats
U.S. retail e-commerce sales for 2024 are expected to reach $1.37 trillion, up 10.6% from 2023 ($1.24 trillion).
As of 2024, approximately 15% of eyeglass purchases in the United States are made online, reflecting a steady increase in online shopping for eyewear.
The online eyewear industry is expected to continue growing, with a projected compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of around 9%.
How can independent opticals succeed?
The Draw
Why do people shop online for eyewear instead of using their eye care provider?
Convenience - Can purchase and “try on” eyewear anytime, anywhere.
Variety - E-commerce sites often have more frame options.
Pricing? - Warby Parker, Zenni, and Eyeglasses USA, etc. have captured the market as “price effective” solutions, often creating an illusion that well priced eyewear isn’t available in an independent optical.
Optical owners must have an effective online solution to succeed in the digital age.
A Tool to Compete
What if your practice had...
An online tool that matches the perks of today’s popular E-commerce sites.
Branded, so that it can be marketed to and recognized by patients.
Built to compete with other online eyewear companies with one major difference……YOU, the Eye Care Provider, are in control.
Made Simple. No frames or lenses to buy. We provide the logistics. You make the profit.
Introducing
Branded, Custom eCommerce for your Optical.
24/7 E-commerce site directly integrated to your regular commerce system.
Expanded inventory of exclusive frame lines + custom frames.
A customizable catalogue selected by YOU.
High-quality VTO and frame selection system for patients to browse with ease.
An extension of your eyecare practice online, with a marketable front.
A centralized brand representing the expertise of eyecare providers.
An answer to patients that prefer to buy glasses online, and a way to supplement your current optical income.
Launch Your Practice
Into the new age of eyewear shopping
Patients can...
Save time and effort and can shop when your optical is closed.
Browse a wider range of styles, brands, and price points from the comfort of the patient’s home.
Use virtual try-on features with augmented reality to see how different frames look on their face.
Utilize filters to narrow down choices based on size, color, shape, and material.
Ship free to your optical, or pay to ship to their home.
How Can Work for you?
Built By Optometrists
Our founders understand the landscape and challenges of the modern independent optical when it comes to selling eyewear in a rapidly growing online market because they live it every day. It is becoming increasingly difficult to compete with online eyewear outlets, but Optical Launch can even the playing field.
Optical Launch is the eyecare provider’s response to the patient lost to the online eyewear market. It combines the trusted expertise of you and your staff with a convenient, cost effective, and optometrist-backed online eyewear resource. Optical Launch gives you the tools to give your patients the best of both worlds, while ensuring a product curated to their visual needs.
Patient #1
Sally Walker
“I need my PD so I can buy my glasses online”
Sally has been a loyal patient for eye exams for over 10 years but has never purchased eyeglasses from your optical. They are convinced your optical is too expensive, and that online eyewear is the most cost effective route.
Let’s flip the script...
“Well actually I might have a better online option for you”
With Optical Launch as an online extension of your optical, you can give Sally an easier method for online shopping combined with the expertise of your optical that competes with the cheap online outlets.
Patient #2
Joe Fashion
“Eh, I can’t really find anything I like here, thanks though!”
Joe has a certain look in mind and nothing in your in-store inventory fits the mold. They’ve searched online prior to coming in and figure there’s a much better chance of finding that perfect pair online.
Let’s flip the script...
“No problem! If you’d like to look at more frames, we have Optical Launch.”
Optical Launch gives Joe more options to find exactly what they are looking for and increases the chances of them purchasing eyewear directly from you.
Other great O.L. patients
Phil Contact
Phil purchased their contact lenses from your office, but has not replaced his eyeglasses in over ten years.
Gotta Go Gary
Gary has a meeting and will “Come back later” to look at eyeglasses.
Larry Lasik
Larry just had Lasik and can’t wait to buy non prescription sunglasses.
Emma Executive
Emma just purchased eyeglasses but does not have computer eyeglasses or prescription sunglasses.
Utilize the OL Brand
Improve customer engagement and let Optical Launch market frames for you.
You can take advantage of a centralized, trusted brand in Optical Launch to help you sell frames online and broaden your e-commerce presence.
With a cost-effective online platform like OL that features a broad array of frames by style and cost, you can supplement your current optical to expand your reach and competitive edge selling frames.
As a partner, you can utilize Optical Launch’s resources, marketing collateral, featured frames, exclusive frame lines, and brand messaging.
Price Comparison
With the rise of online price comparison tools, customers can easily check the prices of frames across multiple platforms. This price transparency puts pressure on wholesalers to keep their prices competitive, often eroding profit margins. Frame wholesalers must find a balance between offering competitive pricing and maintaining profitability in a more transparent digital marketplace.
Lets Compare...
Nike 7038 Frames
Fashion Eyewear: $86
CoolFrames: $108
EyeOns: $123
SmartBuyGlasses: $128
Eyeglasses.com: $108
Designer Frames Outlet: $89
EyeSpecs: $123
Optify User: $185
Frame Vendors
With the rise in online sales, traditional wholesale frame vendors face many new challenges.
· Increased competition from Direct-to-Consumer (D2C) brands that bypass traditional wholesale channels puts pressure on vendors to adapt or face the possibility of declining orders.
· If frame manufacturers adapt their business model to include D2C options, they risk damaging their long-standing relationships with traditional brick-and-mortar opticals.
· If frame manufacturers allow their frames to be listed on individual retail websites, they risk margin erosion due to price transparency and potential “Race to the Bottom” pricing. Even if manufacturers require Minimum Advertised Pricing (MAP), they must then dedicate manpower to police websites to make sure that MAP pricing is maintained.
Why Optical Launch
Optical Launch is positioned to solve many of the challenges facing our valued frame vendors.
· Through its potential for marketing to an engaged audience, Optical Launch can effectively increase the brand awareness of our Select Vendor Partners
· Optical Launch offers one ecommerce site that is used by all Optical Launch eyecare providers. All frames are listed at an MSRP price that is agreed upon by the manufacturer. Therefore, manufacturers do not have to “police” numerous websites.
· No discounts are offered on the Optical Launch website itself unless agreed upon by the manufacturer. Eye Care Providers may discount pricing by way of discount “Launch Codes” that are entered during the check out process. This strategy maintains the value of the frames and eliminates the possibility of “Race to the Bottom” pricing.
Our Frame Partners
Sea2See Eyewear - Sustainable, modern Italian-made frames from recycled marine plastic.
Bird Eyewear - Trendy, quality frames with a naturecentric, environmentally conscious creed.
Custom Frameline by Your Brand - Custom, handcrafted frames tailored to your optical brand.
Modern Optical Frames - Affordable, trusted frame manufacturer with a modern flair.
More unique brands coming soon...
Sea2See Eyewear
Sea2See Eyewear - Sustainable, modern Italian-made frames from recycled marine plastic.
Bird Eyewear
Trendy, quality frames with a nature-centric, environmentally conscious creed.
Your Brand Eyewear
Create a Custom Frame Line to Flagship Your Optical Launch Frames.
About Your Brand Eyewear
Your Brand is an Optical Launch frame partner that gives you the ability to select frames and create a unique brand for your optical through the Optical Launch interface.
You choose the name of the frame line, providing an exclusivity to your practice. This frameline will be displayed on Optical Launch with an option to house in store as well, giving you more marketing power and brand presence.
Modern Optical
Fashionable, affordable eyewear for everyone.
Optical Launch is an e-commerce platform designed to expand your optical inventory and increase optical sales through seamless technology. Opticals can use Optical Launch’s features and frame lines as an additional selling tool before, during and after eye examinations. We offer select frame lines and lenses, centralized marketing, smart pricing and logistics. Optical Launch creates a new way for opticals to combine the convenience of online eyewear shopping with the expertise of a professional brick-and-mortar optical. Most importantly, Optical Launch brings the world of e-commerce eyewear back into the hands of independently owned opticals and eyecare practices.
Let us show your patients the right way to purchase eyewear online, with you at the center
We envision a brighter future together