Designer Sunglasses Vs. Knockoffs

**charan** · 02-14-2009, 01:14 PM

Hello Everyone!

I am in a little dilemma, at our store we carry nothing but designer sunglasses, our store is in a small mall and we are the only optical store inside, but lately other stores in mall like jewellry stores, clothing stores and dollar store are starting to carry knockoff sunglasses I'm sure it will effect our business somewhat should I start to carry knockoffs as well but on the other had I dont want to ruin my sales for designer sunglasses, what should I do?

Thanks for your input in advance.

**Now I See** · 02-14-2009, 01:34 PM

What's the quality like of the "designer" vs. the "knockoff"? Why do people come into your store now...are they looking for the original designer? If so, you may not have to worry about a thing...Most of them will continue to come to you because they want the "real" thing

IMHO, displaying a "knockoff" right next to a "designer" is a big NO-NO (and the designers might think so, too :bbg:). If you have people coming in and the designer line is a little too pricey, maybe you could offer good quality lower priced option?

**HarryChiling** · 02-14-2009, 01:40 PM

Originally Posted by Heather A

IMHO, displaying a "knockoff" right next to a "designer" is a big NO-NO (and the designers might think so, too :bbg:). If you have people coming in and the designer line is a little too pricey, maybe you could offer good quality lower priced option?

I agree with that, however we will put desiger look alike next to designers, but we don't carry knockoffs (an unauthorized copy or imitation is different than a look alike).

**charan** · 02-14-2009, 01:44 PM

Originally Posted by Heather A

What's the quality like of the "designer" vs. the "knockoff"? Why do people come into your store now...are they looking for the original designer? If so, you may not have to worry about a thing...Most of them will continue to come to you because they want the "real" thing

IMHO, displaying a "knockoff" right next to a "designer" is a big NO-NO (and the designers might think so, too :bbg:). If you have people coming in and the designer line is a little too pricey, maybe you could offer good quality lower priced option?

do you guys recommend any good real designer sunglasses with reasonable price point?

**For-Life** · 02-14-2009, 01:49 PM

In our mall, we have Zellers, a couple clothing retailers, and a dollar store. One reason (not the only reason) why we do not carry cheap sunglasses is because they do. We offer something different.

**renee1111** · 02-15-2009, 10:49 AM

For-life is right, if everyone else is offering `knock offs` than you aren`t doing yourself a favour by doing `what everyone else is doing. Another thing that other stores don`t have to worry about when selling cheap sunnies is that most likely we will have to put RX polarized sun lenses in them (which most times works out being more expensive than even the designer frame) So we have to make sure the frames that we`re offering will last the full two years without breaking.