Success with large frame glasses (large width)?

[OpticalSLA]

For those that carry large frame glasses, what has been your sales successes. Those that I've talked to have had very hit-or-miss success and it doesn't depend strictly on the size of their practice or of their inventory. What large width glasses have you found to be the best selling in your experience? Which lines do you carry?

[chip anderson]

Should depend on the size of the patients. Not the size of the practice.

[cocoisland58]

You aren't going to sell through your big head frame line(mine is A&A's XXL)more than once a year if that. It's a niche line. You have to have some for the occasional large headed patient. Better to blow the dust off and say "of course we can fit you" than "we don't have anything in stock but I can order one in for you to see". So don't know who you've talked to but unless you are in an area where everyone has a huge head and no one is buying your frames you probably are within normal sales for the product.

[KStraker]

XXL from A&A is very nice. I had a recent patient who was willing to just cram his melon in to a 56 eye frame that we had on hand. I wouldn't let him and ordered a nice titanium frame from the XXL line. Now he has style and a proper fit. It's probably the first time in his adult life that he has worn a frame that does not put a groove in the side of his head. I ordered a 58 eye with a slightly swooped out temple. For women I recommend some of the Cover Girl frames from Marcolin.

[Jedi]

I'm going to presume you are taking about fashionable large frames rather than functional (for large heads). We have had a lot of success with plastic vintage lines, Cutler and Gross, etc. My biggest issue is most progressive lens blanks are too small, so be very thorough when dispensing.

[Chris Ryser]

My biggest issue is most progressive lens blanks are too small, so be very thorough when dispensing.

I have seen this once before, in the early 1970s when sunglasses became large quickly followed by Rx frames.

Lens blanks were too small but then we got hold of oversize blanks, in 71 and 75mm, and every job was charged for oversize until 71mm became a standard size.

[OpticalSLA]

well, actually, i did mean frames for larger heads. the aviator styles are coming back too though. XXL has been the favorite brand so far.

[chip anderson]

You start putting much Rx in an aviator and you will soon learn why you shouldn't have.

chip

[DragonLensmanWV]

We also use the XXL line, but Modern Optical just launched some competing styles.