A pair of glasses that change lives: Warby Parker

The beginning of Warby Parker

In 2009, four college friends were in an attic room in Philadelphia. A heated discussion was taking place. Yes, the frustration was palpable there in that attic room. Neil Blumenthal, Dave Gilboa, Andrew Hunt and Jeff Raider all had the same experience: glasses were ridiculously expensive. Why should a simple piece of plastic and glass cost so much? And why does it have to be so complicated? First you have to go to the optician, then you have to choose a frame from a limited selection and then it takes another ridiculously long time before your glasses are ready and you can pick them up. The four decided there and then, in that attic room, that they were going to do things differently. They wanted to offer glasses directly to consumers, without the expensive middlemen and ... for a reasonable price. And so the company Warby Parker was born. But the men had even more ambitions – they wanted to make the world a little better. And so the Buy a Pair, Give a Pair program was born: for every pair of glasses sold, they would donate one to someone who could not get eye care. Great! It was new, it was smart, it was effective. I will tell you more about this program later in this blog.

Innovating in customer focus

Whether you go to the store for glasses or sunglasses, it remains difficult to make the right choice from the available range. How many times have I hesitated at the optician and regretted my choice afterwards. In the store it seemed fine, but at home everything was different. I have had times when the color did not match most of my wardrobe at all! The men at Warby Parker wanted to get rid of these kinds of experiences and introduced the Home Try-On program. Customers could try out up to five glasses at home for free. A new way to buy glasses! This gave customers the opportunity to choose the glasses that suited them best at their own pace, in different outfits. A great example of customer-focused innovation. It was an immediate success. Customers were enthusiastic. Finally, they could choose calmly. But not only that, it made them feel important.

Although Warby Parker started out as an online player, they quickly opened physical stores in the United States and later in Canada. What am I saying, stores? They are true meeting places. When I read the testimonials, it is a place where you feel connected to the brand and its philosophy. It seems to be an experience that suits the modern consumer, who in addition to a good product also values ​​social responsibility and sustainability.

Global impact

Warby Parker’s impact goes much further than just selling glasses. Their Buy a Pair, Give a Pair program, which I mentioned earlier, has resulted in the distribution of more than 15 million pairs of glasses worldwide since its inception. Their mission to tackle low vision is at the heart of everything they do. They do this through two channels: empowerment and direct assistance. For example, people are trained to perform basic eye tests and sell glasses. Warby Parker also partners with cross-sector organizations to make glasses and eye care available directly to people in need.

A few examples:

• The Pupils Project (United States) focuses on school children, who often receive their first pair of glasses through this program. In Mexico, they support the Ver Bien Para Aprender Mejor program, which visits thousands of schools each year and provides millions of children with eye tests and glasses.
• One of their key partners is VisionSpring, a social enterprise that makes eyeglasses accessible to people earning less than US$4 a day. They raise awareness about visual impairment, perform eye tests, and sell highly subsidized glasses in low-income communities. Nearly 60% of their customers receive glasses for the first time.
• In India, Warby Parker works with the LV Prasad Eye Institute (LVPEI), which provides affordable or free eye care to communities in remote areas.
• Warby Parker is also expanding into communities in crisis. Together with RestoringVision, they provide free glasses to refugee camps and markets where access to eye care is minimal.

Sustainability in every fiber

In addition to social responsibility, Warby Parker has also made sustainability a core principle. The company has been carbon neutral since its inception and uses recycled materials for its eyewear. Think of glasses made from recycled plastic or biodegradable materials. From the various testimonials, I gather that customers feel good knowing that you are not only making a fashionable choice, but also a conscious one

Life-changing glasses

Warby Parker proves that commercial success and social impact can go hand in hand. Whether you sell glasses or operate in a completely different sector, the core lessons remain the same: make an impact, innovate customer-centric and build loyalty through social responsibility. With every pair of glasses sold, they bring the world one step closer to a future where everyone can see clearly and make the most of their talents.

Sources:
Website Warby Parker
Forbes: How Warby Parker Uses Giving To Build A Billion Dollar Brand
The Guardian: Warby Parker’s Vision for Social Good: ‘Buy a Pair, Give a Pair’