Thoughts on this eyewear article?

[Barry Santini]

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/21/bu...eyewear&st=cse

Barry
PS It's interesting to me to note that so much that's so wrong with today's "staid" eyewear and eyewear market is due, in VERY large part, to the products, product design, marketing, branding and retail distribution (not to mention "vision insurance") policies and practices of the *innovative* company cited in the article, Luxottica.

No amount of tilting at windmills, navigating around treadmills, or touch-screen coolness will supplant or make up for poorly trained, treated and motivated staff.


Barry

[Judy Canty]

I'm thinking they've got money to burn...

[Barry Santini]

I'm thinking they've got money to burn...

Yeah...mine!

[Judy Canty]

Only if you're buying their stuff....:shiner:

[PhotonicGuy]

How much did they pay for this store? It must be an obscene amount...

[Striderswife]

Only if you're buying their stuff....:shiner:

You're right, there. But I think Barry has a different point: people will be going there to spend their money, and not in Barry's shop.

From a retailing standpoint, it's probably a great idea. It's definitely going to get people's attention, and lead customers to think the store is really thinking about their needs, blah blah blah. I think it'll appeal to people who are shopping for glasses, not patients who are looking for professional eye care.

[Barry Santini]

You're right, there. But I think Barry has a different point: people will be going there to spend their money, and not in Barry's shop.

From a retailing standpoint, it's probably a great idea. It's definitely going to get people's attention, and lead customers to think the store is really thinking about their needs, blah blah blah. I think it'll appeal to people who are shopping for glasses, not patients who are looking for professional eye care.

Once the "novelty" wears off,and you live with the Q that's coming from that "group", we'll see.....

B

[AngeHamm]

PS It's interesting to me to note that so much that's so wrong with today's "staid" eyewear and eyewear market is due, in VERY large part, to the products, product design, marketing, branding and retail distribution (not to mention "vision insurance") policies and practices of the *innovative* company cited in the article, Luxottica.

It's troubling and disturbing that both this and last week's "Are designer sunglasses worth it" articles cite Luxottica as if they are the world's only eyeglass manufacturer. Most of this industry does just fine without Luxottica's overhyped, overpriced, underbuilt frame lines. We have addressed Luxottica's problems by avoiding their products.

[kcount]

Didn't the original founder of Lenscrafters try this idea out in the early 90's? It was a flop then as I am sure it will be this time. Its fun to play in stores like that but in the long run people want service service service.

Wow there's an idea how about a store that only has Master Opticians or ABO-AC level people. Offers great product for a good fair price, and also finds solutions and answers to concerns. Wonder how you could market that? Oh never mind skip it, it would never work. People want stuff to play with and that sales person that just came off the registers, but is just so sweet to fit their eye wear. Right?

[Barry Santini]

It's troubling and disturbing that both this and last week's "Are designer sunglasses worth it" articles cite Luxottica as if they are the world's only eyeglass manufacturer. Most of this industry does just fine without Luxottica's overhyped, overpriced, underbuilt frame lines. We have addressed Luxottica's problems by avoiding their products.

Yes, but L's complete and total domination via vertical integration of the eyewear delivery system makes the contributions of alternate sources peripheral to the main story, at best, IMHO.

B

[Striderswife]

Yes, but L's complete and total domination via vertical integration of the eyewear delivery system makes the contributions of alternate sources peripheral to the main story, at best, IMHO.

B

I'm full and sleepy now after lunch. I had to read that three times before I got it. :D

[drk]

This is a novelty, and will do what novelties do.

Let 'em have fun with it, but I wouldn't react to it.

[Barry Santini]

This is a novelty, and will do what novelties do.

Let 'em have fun with it, but I wouldn't react to it.

drk,

you'd be proud of me:

I'm much better at resisting the lure of " brite and shiny" things

B

[Yellow]

I just got back from there last night and have seen the store. 3 opticians, 6-7 optometrists, management, 2 lab techs, I think there was only about 3 staff there that were normal sales staff. Never seen anything quite like it.

[Leonazium]

This idea seems like a great one...5 years ago

Not everything should receive the iApple treatment...and not like I can't get the same gimmicks from my phone(except the wind tunnel)