Eyeglasses

Ray Ban Corporate Office

Ray-Ban was founded in 1937 by Bausch & Lomb, an American eyeglass company. The company designed and created aviation sunglasses that would reduce the glare caused by sunlight and white clouds. These sunglasses were remodeled in 1939 and offered for sale to the public as Ray-Ban Aviator sunglasses.

The company was sold to Luxottica Group in 1999 for $640 million. Today, Ray-Ban continues to be one of the most popular selling sunglass brands in the world. The popular Wayfarer model was released in 1952. In the late 1950s, the company released a more squared off style called Caravans, which were popular in the 1970s after Robert DeNiro wore this style in the movie Taxi Driver.

The black market is full of fake Ray-Ban items, with the Better Business Bureau stating that Instagram was the latest source of an advertising scam operating in October 2018.

The company has approximately 55,000 employees and has US headquarters based in Mason, Ohio.

Ray-Ban

History

The black market is full of fake Ray-Ban items, with the Better Business Bureau stating that Instagram was the latest source of an advertising scam operating in October 2018.

The company has approximately 55,000 employees and has US headquarters based in Mason, Ohio.

Maui Jim Corporate Office

Maui Jim was founded in 1980 by Jim Richards, the original “Maui Jim”, who sold his sunglasses at hotel pools and from his car. Richards invented the first polarized lens, the copyright for which he sold to Walter Hester, who remains the CEO of the Hawaii division.

Today, Maui Jim is the third largest sunglass and prescription sunglass manufacturer in the world. The company offers more than 100 styles of glasses, with more being introduced every year, in 100 countries, with an average price of $240 a pair. All Maui Jim sunglasses block 99% of the sun’s glare and 100% of the harmful UV rays. Forbes Magazine listed Maui Jim sunglasses on their list of “100 Things Worth Every Single Penny.”

The company has its main headquarters in Peoria, Illinois, but maintains its “home base” in Hawaii. Sunglasses are manufactured in Illinois for shipment around the world. All repairs are done at the Illinois plant as well. Maui Jim glasses are marketed to those who want the best in life and care about their vision.

In August 2022, a federal grand jury indicted a former employee with mail and wire fraud involving the theft of sunglass parts.

Maui Jim maintains a corporate office in Peoria, Illinois.

Maui Jim

History

In August 2022, a federal grand jury indicted a former employee with mail and wire fraud involving the theft of sunglass parts.

Maui Jim maintains a corporate office in Peoria, Illinois.

Shirokiya Corporate Office

Shirokiya was founded in what is now Tokyo, Japan, in 1662 by Hikotaro Omura. This is one of Japan’s oldest retail stores. The original name, Shirokiya Gofukuten, would last for several hundred years. The company started off as a dry goods store, but over time, it expanded and added clothing and other popular items. By 1903, the company had several locations.

The earthquake of 1923 destroyed the original store and a fire in 1932 engulfed another location. Word War II took most of the owners’ assets, however, the company began to use common Western marketing techniques to obtain more sales and this enabled the company to rebuild.

To avoid a hostile takeover, the company was sold to the seven executives of the store in Hawaii. Today, this is the only remaining store, however, this store has been extremely successful, with more than $40 million in revenue in 2007.

Shirokiya offers almost all things Japanese including beer, meals, snacks, gifts, cosmetics, jewelry, books, DVDs, cakes, fashion eyewear, and massage items.

Shirokiya

History

Shirokiya offers almost all things Japanese including beer, meals, snacks, gifts, cosmetics, jewelry, books, DVDs, cakes, fashion eyewear, and massage items.

LensCrafters Corporate Office

LensCrafters was founded in 1983 by former Procter & Gamble manager E. Dean Butler. Butler sold the company to United States Shoe Corporation in 1985 but remained as president and CEO until 1987.

The company is an international retailer of prescription glasses, prescription sunglasses and contact lenses. LensCrafters originally had just a single store in 1983 but now has more than 850 stores throughout the U.S., Canada, Hong Kong, Puerto Rico, and more than 90 locations in California alone.

LensCrafters is a subsidiary of Luxottica, which is the largest eye wear company in the world and is based out of Italy. Luxottica saw increased revenue in 2014 of more than 18%, fueled by demand for Ray Ban brand sunglasses in particular.

LensCrafters company parent, Luxottica, suffered a hacking incident in late September 2020. Websites remain unavailable at this time.

In February 2020, LensCrafters opened their first store location in Delhi, India.

LensCrafters maintains a corporate office in Mason, Ohio.

LensCrafters

LensCrafters was founded in 1983 by former Procter & Gamble manager E. Dean Butler. Butler sold the company to United States Shoe Corporation in 1985 but remained as president and CEO until 1987.

History

LensCrafters company parent, Luxottica, suffered a hacking incident in late September 2020. Websites remain unavailable at this time.

In February 2020, LensCrafters opened their first store location in Delhi, India.

LensCrafters maintains a corporate office in Mason, Ohio.

Visionworks Corporate Office

Visionworks was founded in 1984 in San Antonio, Texas. Originally called Eye Care Centers of America, the company offers designer, brand name frames for eyeglasses and sunglasses. Most locations offer eye exams on site or have a contract with a nearby ophthalmologist. Many locations have on site lens service with eyeglass service available in one hour in some cases.

Visionworks also provides contact lens exams and sells contact lenses both online and at most locations.

The company has 670 optical retail stores in 41 states as well as The District of Columbia and more than 5,500 employees. The company plans on opening an additional 95 stores in 2016, mostly in Michigan and New York.

In October 2019, Visionworks was acquired by VPS Global for an undisclosed amount.

Due to the coronavirus and subsequent quaratine, Visionworks was forced to close nearly 60% of its 700 locations and lay off approximately 4,000 employees in April 2020.

Visionworks maintains a corporate office in San Antonio, Texas.

VisionWorks

History

Visionworks also provides contact lens exams and sells contact lenses both online and at most locations.

In October 2019, Visionworks was acquired by VPS Global for an undisclosed amount.

Due to the coronavirus and subsequent quaratine, Visionworks was forced to close nearly 60% of its 700 locations and lay off approximately 4,000 employees in April 2020.

Visionworks maintains a corporate office in San Antonio, Texas.