It's been just about a decade since Warby Parker's website was being overrun by traffic on their launch day. With frames starting at just $95 and a free try-on-at-home service model, Warby Parker was doing what the major players at the time wouldn't. The startup was able to offer stylish frames at such low cost and high convenience to the consumer due to their embracing of new technology, leaving their competitors scrambling to catch up. Their take was fresh, bold, and set a new industry standard over the next ten years.
While now we have many competitors emulating their business model such as Zenni Optical, Lingo Eyewear, Fetch Eyewear and more, at the time Warby Parker was one of the few brands not owned by the European giant Luxottica and the only one with virtually no retail presence. Their ability to adapt to the e-commerce model ahead of the competition meant that the startup would be able to hold its own and disrupt the near monopoly.
As The Business of Business puts it:
When Warby Parker was founded ten years ago, e-commerce was still relatively new and the idea of direct-to-consumer eyeglasses was revolutionary. By cutting out the cost of physical stores (though the company does have a few strategically placed stores) and competing with the enormous brands like Luxottica, Warby Parker was able to bring fashionable glasses to the public for less than $100 per frame.
