Well...
Here I go again. I'm thinking it, so I might as well say it.
Does anyone else see the similarities of Maui Jim and Wiley, in terms of their marketing progression?
Maui Jim was a pretty much no-name entity, and then opticians/ODs/ECPs started walking people to the window, explaining polarization, and began selling $250 sunglasses. Maui Jim was so impressed with the sales that they made enough of them to "discontinue" them to Costoco. So long Maui Jim...
Opticians/ODs/ECPs, looking for a lower end substitute (kind of sub) brought on Wiley, turning them into a player. What's the next "reasonable" step for Wiley? Sure, take them to a mass merchandiser, turning their hard earned brand into the likes of Foster Grant. Yes, I know, they'll say they're not the same styles, but they ARE the same name, and that's all the naive (forgive me but...especially the WM shopper) sees is the name.
Really, really disappointing.
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