EyeBuyDirect
| |
Subsidiary | |
Industry | Online retail |
Founded | 2005 |
Founder | Roy Hessel |
Headquarters | Austin, Texas, U.S. |
Key people | Roy Hessel (CEO) |
Parent | Essilor (2013–present) |
Website | eyebuydirect.com |
EyeBuyDirect, Inc. is an online retailer of prescription glasses, based in Austin, Texas.[1][2][3][4] The company also sells prescription and non-prescription sunglasses, sport sunglasses, and computer glasses designed to reduce glare.[5] EyeBuyDirect was founded in 2005 by Roy Hessel, who now serves as chief executive officer.[6][7] The company has operations in the United States, China and Hong Kong, and sells its products worldwide.[6]
History
EyeBuyDirect was founded in 2005 by Roy Hessel, a former venture capitalist.[8][9][10] The company launched EyeBuyDirect.com in March 2006.[11]
In 2007, EyeBuyDirect added EyeTry, a "try-on" function, to its site.[8] The function allows users to upload photos and then superimpose EyeBuyDirect’s glasses overtop their photos to "try on" the glasses.[8][11][12] The company later launched the "Wall of Frame", a social network that allows customers to share their created pictures and interact with other site users.[11][13]
In February 2010, EyeBuyDirect began incorporating facial recognition technology to its site to give users the ability to measure their pupillary distance using user-submitted photographs.[13][14]
In 2013, French lens manufacturer Essilor purchased a majority stake in EyeBuyDirect.[6][15] Essilor had previously purchased Framesdirect.com in 2010.[6][15] Hessel was retained as EyeBuyDirect CEO.[6]
EyeBuyDirect redesigned and relaunched its website in April 2014.[16]
EyeBuyDirect introduced EyeZen digital screen protection lenses from Essilor as an option to customers in 2016. The company still sells EBD Blue lenses.[17]
Operations
EyeBuyDirect is an online-only retailer and designs and custom-makes all its glasses in-house.[13][18] It does not carry brand name frames or lenses.[6][19] According to the company, 50 percent of its revenue came from repeat customers in 2013. [16]
Customers must have a valid prescription prior to purchasing prescription eyeglasses from EyeBuyDirect.[8][20] The company sells multiple types of lenses, including bifocal, progressive, and Transitions lenses.[5]
See also
References
- ↑ Patricia Marx (March 29, 2010). "FOUR EYES; On and Off the Avenue". New Yorker.
- ↑ Charles Passy (July 2, 2009). "Home &Family -- Cranky Consumer: On the Lookout for Inexpensive Eyeglasses". The Wall Street Journal.
- ↑ Thad Rueter. "EyeBuyDirect boosts sales 200% during the holiday season". Internet Retailer. Retrieved January 2, 2014.
- ↑ Ryan Wilk. "Glasses for Less Than $50". Kiplinger. Retrieved January 2, 2014.
- 1 2 Alan Henry (July 13, 2014). "Five Best Online Glasses Stores". Lifehacker. Retrieved November 25, 2014.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Essilor Acquires Majority Stake in EyeBuyDirect.com". Vision Monday. Retrieved January 2, 2014.
- ↑ "Seeing Opportunities on The Web". Fox Business. Retrieved January 2, 2014.
- 1 2 3 4 Don Davis. "Web 2.0 feature answers the question, "How do I look in these glasses?"". Internet Retailer. Retrieved January 2, 2014.
- ↑ Cindy Waxer (June 9, 2010). "Customers in Focus". CIO. Missing or empty
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(help) - ↑ Kaihan Krippendorff. "You Can Ignore The Competition If You Offer Something Better". Fast Company. Retrieved January 2, 2014.
- 1 2 3 Don Davis. "EyeBuyDirect.com boosts traffic with new social network". EyeBuyDirect.com boosts traffic with new social network. Retrieved January 2, 2014.
- ↑ Jennifer Fong (July 1, 2008). "Clicking for specs; Website for eyewear offers virtual try-ons". The Edmonton Journal.
- 1 2 3 Thad Rueter. "EyeBuyDirect boosts sales 200% during the holiday season". Internet Retailer. Retrieved January 2, 2014.
- ↑ Natasha Singer. "Face Recognition Moves From Sci-Fi to Social Media". New York Times. Retrieved January 2, 2014.
- 1 2 Flore Fauconnier. "Essilor rachète un site e-commerce de lunettes de vue". JDN. Retrieved January 2, 2014.
- 1 2 Greg Holden (June 8, 2014). "Eyewear Seller Puts Ecommerce into Focus". Retrieved November 25, 2014.
- ↑ "EyeBuyDirect introduces EyeZen Digital Screen Protection Glasses – OpticalOwl". opticalowl.com. Retrieved April 16, 2016.
- ↑ Paul Demery. "How EyeBuyDirect focuses on the merchandise customers really want". Internet Retailer. Retrieved January 2, 2014.
- ↑ Vanessa L. Facenda. "Attention Shoppers: Online Eyeglasses, a Viable Option". Vision Monday. Retrieved January 2, 2014.
- ↑ "SURF - SHOP". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. June 9, 2008. Missing or empty
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