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company update Polarview Gets U.S. Patent POLARVIEW, A sunglasses lens developed by Sunglass Manufacturing Group, has been awarded a U.S. technology patent. “Getting a patent is an accomplishment, and it proves there is something different about our lenses,” states Bill Fisher, COO. “The U.S. Patent and Trademark office doesn’t issue a patent unless the product is significant enough to warrant one.” Polarview lenses are unique in that they block horizontal, or high frequency, wavelengths, yet allow low frequency wavelengths to come through, he explains. High frequency wavelengths are the brighter ones, such as the sun’s reflection off water, and lower wavelengths, for example, are colors on a digital instrumentation screen. “Polarized lenses were invented in 1912, and there weren’t too many digital screens then,” he jests. “Today, everyone brings their digital devices, like a Kindle and a
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May 2013 | INDEPENDENT RETAILER
by Gloria Mellinger
cell phone, outdoors. Most recently, the complaint was from fishermen. They liked the fact that polarized lenses enabled them to see the fish through glare on the water, but then they had to take off their glasses to see their instrumentation.” Fisher, along with David Zeuner, CEO of Sunglass Manufacturing Group, set out to change that and developed Polarview. The technology is beneficial in a variety of settings, including biking, skiing and running, and it is not expensive. “Polarview costs less than a polarized lens, so we are able to offer our sunglasses at relatively the same price as standard sunglasses,” Fisher stresses. “This means, for the first time, retailers are able to increase their sales margin without increasing their wholesale cost.” Presently, a dozen pair of Polarview sunglasses wholesales for $24 to $36, and retails for $12.99 to $19.99 per pair. Sunglass Manufacturing Group is expanding into a line that will