Warby Parker is an e-commerce, designer eyewear company that was started in 2010. The company was founded by David Gilboa and three of his business school friends. One summer one of them lost their glasses on a backpacking trip. While trying to find new glasses they found that the cost of replacing them was too high. This lead to a semester of grad school without them, squinting, straining and complaining.
The other three had experienced a similar problem and were shocked by how hard it was to find a pair of great glasses without burning a hole in their wallets. They were not sure where to go from there and decided they would produce an alternative. Warby Parker was this alternative.
Through hard work and dedication, designing glasses in-house and interacting with customers directly they are able to provide high-quality, beautiful eyewear at an affordable price. Since their birth in 2010, they have sold more than half-a-million frames.
The Warby Parker crew believes that “buying glasses should be easy and fun. It should leave you happy and good-looking, with money in your pocket.” Along with their commitment to producing affordable glasses they also believe that everyone has the right to see.
Nearly one billion people worldwide are unable to afford glasses, which means they cannot effectively learn or work. To help combat this problem they have partnered with companies like VisionSpring to guarantee that for every pair of glasses they sell a pair of glasses is donated to someone in need.
A truly remarkable company that operates under the idea that good eyewear brings good outcomes.
As an eyeglass wearer myself that has always purchased glasses through my ophthalmologist’s office, I was intrigued by the idea of an e-commerce glasses company. I checked out their site and I found their ‘virtual try-on’ where you can upload a picture of yourself and see what different frames would look like on your face to be a very creative idea. And of course, I love their 1:1 ratio of glasses sold to glasses donated.
I love this company. I cannot imagine having to live without my contacts or glasses, yet I know that many people have to everyday. At first I wasn’t sure how an e-commerce glasses company would work, though, because glasses tend to be something that people want to try on, however, as Matthew said, the “virtual try-on” could be a nice alternative. The fact that they donate a pair of glasses for every pair that they sell is great, too, first because it helps so many people, but also because it encourages people who may be wary of buying glasses from them to do so.
Warby Parker echoes companies like TOMS and Soapbox, but was born from a crucial sensory need: sight. I find it inspiring that they desire to not only provide glasses at a low price, but believe that everyone has the “right to see.” When a product transforms from merchandise to a movement it touches our humanity. Though I do not personally need glasses, I would certainly consider a company who cares about both their customers and those in need over one that simply seeks profit. Warby Parker, hats (or glasses) off to you.