{"id":65798,"date":"2019-03-28T11:00:16","date_gmt":"2019-03-28T19:00:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.zennioptical.com\/blog\/?p=65798"},"modified":"2025-02-02T07:42:51","modified_gmt":"2025-02-02T15:42:51","slug":"zenni-optical-celebrates-25-million-glasses-sold-and-over-15-years-of-disrupting-industry-controlled-pricing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ca.zennioptical.com\/blog\/zenni-optical-celebrates-25-million-glasses-sold-and-over-15-years-of-disrupting-industry-controlled-pricing\/","title":{"rendered":"Zenni Optical Celebrates 25 Million Glasses Sold and Over 15 Years of Disrupting Industry-Controlled Pricing"},"content":{"rendered":"<header>\n<div>\n<div class=\"bw-release-subhead\">\n<p class=\"bwalignc\"><i>Prescription Eyewear Ecommerce Leader Continues Focus on Brand Expansion and Bridging the Retail Gap for New Online Shoppers<\/i><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"bw-release-body \">\n<div class=\"bw-release-timestamp\"><time datetime=\"2019-03-28T13:00:00Z\">March 28, 2019 09:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time<\/time><\/div>\n<div class=\"bw-release-story\">\n<p>NOVATO, Calif.\u2013(<a href=\"https:\/\/www.businesswire.com\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" aria-label=\"Visit BUSINESS WIRE Page\" target=\"_blank\">BUSINESS WIRE<\/a>)\u2013Zenni Optical,<b>\u00a0<\/b>the online optical industry leader, celebrates the company\u2019s sweet 16 birthday with more than 25 million pairs of glasses sold. Zenni continues to see strong growth year-over-year and in 2018 alone, the online retailer sold more than five million pairs of glasses. Since its founding in 2003, the company\u2019s mission has focused on providing the highest quality prescription eyewear at a fraction of the cost of traditional retailers and delivers solely direct to consumer via its online store. With a complete prescription pair starting at just $6.95, and averaging just over $40, the company has brought massive price disruption to the traditional retail model.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p id=\"pull-quote\">\u201cZenni is very proud to be collaborating with Berkeley Optometry to live out our company\u2019s mission of providing high-quality eyewear to those in need, while also empowering students through educational and professional development resources on a national scale\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Zenni\u2019s continued growth in 2018 resulted in gross revenue of more than $214 million, attributed in part to a sharp increase in sales for the company\u2019s blue light blocking and UV protective lenses called <a href=\"\/blokz-blue-light-glasses\" aria-label=\"Visit Blokz Page\">Blokz<\/a>, expanded brand marketing efforts, and specific product campaigns throughout the year focused on Festival Wear.<\/p>\n<p>Blokz sales specifically increased 50 percent year-over-year from 2017 to 2018, due in large part to a starting price point of $16.95. Due to the recent popularity of blue light-blocking technology, Zenni has expanded Blokz to include a photochromic option which darkens in sunlight, as well as Blokz sunglass lens arriving in April.<\/p>\n<p>In October of 2018, the brand forged a\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/bulls\/partners\/zenni-optical-becomes-first-ever-jersey-patch-partner-chicago-bulls\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" aria-label=\"Visit landmark partnership with the Chicago Bulls Page (opens in new tab)\">landmark partnership with the Chicago Bulls<\/a>\u00a0to serve as the iconic basketball franchise\u2019s official eyewear partner and first jersey patch sponsor. As the NBA season got underway, Zenni saw a substantial increase in sales in the Chicago market \u2013 up 33 percent in November and 53 percent for December respectively year-over-year. Zenni partnered with the Bulls to leverage the team\u2019s relevance locally, nationally and globally, as Zenni aspires to have similar domestic and international significance in the near future.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cZenni continues its growth because of our unique ability to provide high-quality lenses and frames at a fraction of competitors\u2019 prices,\u201d said Tibor Laczay, co-founder, and CEO of Zenni Optical. \u201cWe\u2019ve worked diligently through the years to create a vertically integrated business that can very successfully drive profitable margins without overpricing the product. When you buy glasses from a traditional brick-and-mortar retailer, you\u2019re not just paying for the frame and lenses; you\u2019re also paying big money to cover the retailer\u2019s hefty outsourcing costs, which usually include manufacturing, licensing fees, warehousing, and more. Zenni has its own state-of-the-art production facility with advanced prescription and edging labs. We cut out the middlemen and pass huge savings on to the consumer instead.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Bridging the traditional retail gap is a primary focus for Zenni as it continues to migrate consumers online, and as a result the company recently released a new Virtual Try On tool allowing customers to see each of their glasses selections in a 180-degree view on their face. This option offers a truer perspective of fit and aesthetics of any given style and is easily accomplished in a few simple steps.<\/p>\n<p>Zenni\u2019s brand awareness also continues to increase thanks to a national broadcast advertising campaign launched late last year featuring mythical creatures, including\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=l92BLLzFfVQ\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" aria-label=\"Visit aliens Page (opens in new tab)\">aliens<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=JVTFp0eaZFs\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" aria-label=\"Visit Yetis Page (opens in new tab)\">Yetis<\/a>\u00a0and the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ispot.tv\/ad\/d3QZ\/zenni-optical-chupacabra\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" aria-label=\"Visit Chupacabra Page (opens in new tab)\">Chupacabra<\/a>, satirizing the incredible prices for Zenni prescription glasses, titled \u201cSeeing is Believing.\u201d Zenni has also focused TV creative in the \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=4jWvnDIIJV8\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" aria-label=\"Visit Eyewear for Every You Page (opens in new tab)\">Eyewear for Every You<\/a>\u201d concept with a partnership with\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/americanbeautystar.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" aria-label=\"Visit Lifetime\u2019s American Beauty Star Page (opens in new tab)\">Lifetime\u2019s American Beauty Star<\/a>\u00a0and a complementary ad campaign.<\/p>\n<p>Supporting these efforts is Zenni\u2019s best-in-class customer service, which was recognized by\u00a0<i>Newsweek<\/i>\u00a0magazine\u2019s inaugural 2019 list of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.newsweek.com\/americas-best-customer-service-2019\/online-retailers-food-health-beauty\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" aria-label=\"Visit America\u2019s Best Companies for Customer Service Page (opens in new tab)\">America\u2019s Best Companies for Customer Service<\/a>\u00a0as the top in the online eyewear retailer category.\u00a0<i>Newsweek<\/i>\u00a0selected companies based on an independent survey of more than 20,000 U.S. customers who have either made purchases, used services, or gathered information about products or services in the past three years.\u00a0Customers were asked whether they would recommend brands to friends or family; additionally, participants assessed brands in the following areas: quality of communications, technical competence, range of services, customer focus, and accessibility.<\/p>\n<p>Cementing its influence in the eyewear industry, Zenni was invited to join an esteemed group of industry leaders and luminaries as part of the University of California Berkeley School of Optometry\u2019s\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/optometry.berkeley.edu\/giving\/partners-in-education\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" aria-label=\"Visit Partners in Education Program Page (opens in new tab)\">Partners in Education Program<\/a>. The multi-faceted partnership includes the establishment of the Zenni Free Pediatric Eyeglass Program, offering eye exams and free glasses to grade school students in need. Zenni\u2019s support also helps fund eye care appointments and glasses for uninsured pediatric patients and families at the Berkeley Optometry Pediatric Eye Clinic.<\/p>\n<p>In addition to the eyeglass program, Zenni\u2019s early investment into the partnership will provide support for student activities, projects and events, school programming, internships and training of technically proficient doctors in clinical and basic science.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cZenni is very proud to be collaborating with Berkeley Optometry to live out our company\u2019s mission of providing high-quality eyewear to those in need, while also empowering students through educational and professional development resources on a national scale,\u201d said Julia Zhen, co-founder of Zenni Optical.<\/p>\n<p><b>About Zenni<\/b><\/p>\n<p>Zenni Optical pioneered the online eyewear business in 2003 to make prescription eyewear affordable and accessible to everyone. Based in Marin County, California, Zenni offers men, women, and children the freedom to express their personal style and individuality through high-quality prescription glasses and sunglasses. With its curated collections and thousands of frames, Zenni has sold over 25 million pairs of glasses since its founding. Zenni is proud to be the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/bulls\/partners\/zenni-optical-becomes-first-ever-jersey-patch-partner-chicago-bulls\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" aria-label=\"Visit Official Eyewear Partner of the Chicago Bulls Page (opens in new tab)\">Official Eyewear Partner of the Chicago Bulls<\/a>. For more information, visit www.zenni.com<span class=\"bwuline\">\u00a0or connect on<a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/ZenniOptical\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\" shape=\"rect\" aria-label=\"Visit \u00a0Facebook Page (opens in new tab)\">\u00a0Facebook<\/a>,<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/zennioptical\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\" shape=\"rect\" aria-label=\"Visit \u00a0Twitter Page (opens in new tab)\">\u00a0Twitter<\/a>,<a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/zennioptical\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\" shape=\"rect\" aria-label=\"Visit \u00a0Instagram Page (opens in new tab)\">\u00a0Instagram<\/a>\u00a0or<a href=\"https:\/\/in.pinterest.com\/zennioptical\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\" shape=\"rect\" aria-label=\"Visit \u00a0Pinterest Page (opens in new tab)\">\u00a0Pinterest<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"bw-release-contact\">\n<h2>Contacts<\/h2>\n<p>Allison+Partners<br>\nCaitlin Coffee, 312-635-8204<br>\n<a href=\"mailto:Zenni@allisonpr.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" aria-label=\"Visit Zenni@allisonpr.com Page (opens in new tab)\">Zenni@allisonpr.com<\/a><br>\nor<br>\nZenni Optical<br>\nSean Pate, 415-226-1962 x250<br>\n<a href=\"mailto:sean.pate@zennioptical.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" aria-label=\"Visit sean.pate@zennioptical.com Page (opens in new tab)\">sean.pate@zennioptical.com<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":null,"protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":65392,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[158],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-65798","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-press-room"],"acf":[],"contentshake_article_id":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ca.zennioptical.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/65798","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ca.zennioptical.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ca.zennioptical.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ca.zennioptical.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ca.zennioptical.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=65798"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/ca.zennioptical.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/65798\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":93419,"href":"https:\/\/ca.zennioptical.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/65798\/revisions\/93419"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ca.zennioptical.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/65392"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ca.zennioptical.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=65798"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ca.zennioptical.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=65798"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ca.zennioptical.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=65798"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}