Luxottica to buy Maui Jim?

[kdavenport]

I have been hearing that Luxottica is buying Maui Jim and they are working hard to prevent the kind of backlash they received when they bought Oakley. Even my Costa Del Mar rep has been hearing this. Has anyone else heard this?

KD

[Fezz]

Welcome to Optiboard!

:cheers::cheers::cheers:

[cocoisland58]

I swear I thought they had already done so. I loved Maui Jim but when they started selling to Costco our owner called and told them to come get their s**t. Same with RayBan though we do keep an open Lux account for occasional purchases. What I would really like to know is if Lux is going to get hold of Gucci so that I can plan ahead.

[For-Life]

Lux is buying so much, it is going to be very hard for the company to manage everything.

[Craig]

I swear I thought they had already done so. I loved Maui Jim but when they started selling to Costco our owner called and told them to come get their s**t. Same with RayBan though we do keep an open Lux account for occasional purchases. What I would really like to know is if Lux is going to get hold of Gucci so that I can plan ahead.

They send all discontinued product to the Armed Forces and Costco; the deal is designed to keep Costco from selling current product and it works as far as I know. We have never had someone tell me they saw the same frames at Costco.

Walter from Maui Jim is having fun and has no reason to sell yet! He is approached by Lux every year, they are the largest frame vendor they use and don't own. He discusses this with his company at every sales meeting to dispel any rumors.

I am sure he will sell at some point, but wait until you see who is bought next. It might surprise no one to see the Essilors and Lux's get bigger before Expo; watch for posting to follow.





Craig

[Fezz]

Craig,

Curse you to Hell you tease!

;):cheers::D

[Craig]

Craig,

Curse you to Hell you tease!

;):cheers::D

At this point we all need to do is realize that VSP, Essilor and Lux are too big to stop. Interesting they are each in a unique market segment and are on the same mission; buy the world with cash in hand.

Each is going down the tracks with no end in sight!

I wish someone would buy my stores! Lux are you listening!!!

When I worker for the original Essilor lab in the US-Omega- they were the largest optical lab group and had 3 locations. They have too many to count now.

Craig
Technology broker in a shrinking world

[Johns]

They send all discontinued product to the Armed Forces and Costco; the deal is designed to keep Costco from selling current product and it works as far as I know.

I wish that the car manufacturers would do that...

Sure! We're only going to let Costco sell the brand new 2007 Camrys! (at 40% off) Dealers: You can still sell all the 2008s you can.

Go to your dealer, test drive this year's model, wait 6 months, buy it at Costco.

Yeah...it's working great!:cheers:

[ken_h_lin]

I have been hearing that Luxottica is buying Maui Jim and they are working hard to prevent the kind of backlash they received when they bought Oakley. Even my Costa Del Mar rep has been hearing this. Has anyone else heard this?

KD

My #1 choice sunwear
Get them from Costco, their retail price cost lot less then the wholesale price from Maui Jim. :angry:

[Happylady]

I think Maui Jims are wonderful sunglasses but it's hard to compete with the prices at Costco, which is right across the highway from us. They might be discontinued but people don't care.

I got my husband some for Christmas and I bought them at Costco, I couldn't buy any of the current styles for as cheap even at cost.

[Johns]

I got my husband some for Christmas and I bought them at Costco, I couldn't buy any of the current styles for as cheap even at cost.

And they're still making their profit on them...

Yes, it's working- for Maui Jim.:angry:

[Crazy-bout-Optics]

From what I hear, and I may be wrong, but Lux offered up a good sum to buy Maui a year or so ago. Maui declined, and thats when Lux set its eyes on Oakley.

You know what happened next :-):cheers:

[Barry Santini]

From what I hear, and I may be wrong, but Lux offered up a good sum to buy Maui a year or so ago. Maui declined, and thats when Lux set its eyes on Oakley.

You know what happened next :-):cheers:

This whole "Lux takes over the world" scenario reminds me of my favorite Sci-fi movie...(let's see if you can guess the title from this snippet of dialogue).

"Those dials record the power consumed. Each is 10 times ithe preceeeding one. 10 time 10 times 10 times 10, and so on and so on - literally into infinity...
"...this machine will supply what ever power the unconcious mind requires..."

Machine = "us"
Unconcious mind = "Luxottica"

Barry

[Crazy-bout-Optics]

Barry, you got me there! Very appropriate analogy though

[Johns]

From what I hear, and I may be wrong, but Lux offered up a good sum to buy Maui a year or so ago. Maui declined, and thats when Lux set its eyes on Oakley.

You know what happened next :-):cheers:

Now there's a real practice builder- Oakely!

My cousin who lives down the street from obxeyeguy called this morning with some questions about Oakley. He said he knows I'm not hot on Oakley but....

Well, it turns out that if you order from their website, you have the option of having your name engraved on the lens. And, you don't have to pay shipping. He wanted to give me the business, but I told him that if he wants to buy toys, the internet is the best place to do it.

[Barry Santini]

Barry, you got me there! Very appropriate analogy though

Movie: Forbidden Planet - 1956 - Leslie Nielsen-Walter Pigeon-Anne Francis

THE BEST!!!

B

[William Walker]

I love all the threads that involve Costco. I get to just sit back and watch!

BTW - Craig, nice to see you here. I was in your office right before your last Cartier (I think it was Cartier) show. Have you introduced any new lines recently? I'm looking for someone local who carries David Eden.

[nantucket girl]

I do not understand the whole Costo uproar as most companies sell their close outs on line which end up on EBay.. Does Maui Jim not buy back the product from us as I receive a letter from them and I send these styles back, sounds fair to me..

And they're still making their profit on them...

Yes, it's working- for Maui Jim.:angry:

[cocoisland58]

Now why would someone revive an 18 month old thread that is no longer relvant?

[Judy Canty]

Because they can.

[Johns]

Because they can.

...and because it's her first post, and maybe, just maybe, like most of us, she didn't see the little date in the corner.

Now, I'd like to reply to her most relevant;) question:

It matters because not everry company sells their closeouts to deep discounters that are your local competition. Many take them overseas and sell them, or sell them to you at a discount.

Ever have an offer from MJ to buy some closeouts? Why not? Aren't you the one that invested initially to carry and promote their brand? Wouldn't YOU be the logical person to sell them, and not a deep discount clerk?

The reason is, is because they are closeouts in name only, and they don't really make their money until Costco gets them. It's your job to educate the consumer(at your expense). It's Costco's job to move them and make a nice profit on them.

[AWTECH]

...and because it's her first post, and maybe, just maybe, like most of us, she didn't see the little date in the corner.

Now, I'd like to reply to her most relevant;) question:

It matters because not everry company sells their closeouts to deep discounters that are your local competition. Many take them overseas and sell them, or sell them to you at a discount.

Ever have an offer from MJ to buy some closeouts? Why not? Aren't you the one that invested initially to carry and promote their brand? Wouldn't YOU be the logical person to sell them, and not a deep discount clerk?

The reason is, is because they are closeouts in name only, and they don't really make their money until Costco gets them. It's your job to educate the consumer(at your expense). It's Costco's job to move them and make a nice profit on them.

I agree, but I am sure MJ will see it as lost additional sales to their regular customer, but is the trade off worth it? That is the question, and no one will ever know the answer, because if or when they do sell the company, would they have been able to get 10% or 20% more by not selling to the big box stores? or will they get 10% to 20% more because they did sell to the big box stores?

[Judy Canty]

...and because it's her first post, and maybe, just maybe, like most of us, she didn't see the little date in the corner.

Ouch!

[Johns]

Ouch!

Not a slam..just something I've done, and I'm almost certain Coco's done as well.

Just trying to cut some slack for the newbie...:cheers:

[the hitman]

I had the opportunity of helping with the Maui Jim launch into India and met Walter Hester and his managemnt team. Really nice guys and they even wired me up to take the stage for 16 minutes. Having been one of the first to start stocking Maui Jim in UK, I would be very upset if it was sold to Luxottica as then the brand would change for sure with the mass production systems they utilise. There would be no more passion for me to sell them then.
I think someone should suggest to the company that they should offer us the shares rather then sell to other giants in our industry. I'm sure that they would make a lot more money this way and then still keep the company in its current course. I would be up for a slice of this company if available.