Top Page | English | 简体中文 | 繁體中文 | 한국어 | 日本語
Thursday, 7 November 2019, 20:00 HKT/SGT
Share:
    

Source: HKTDC
Three ways start-ups can disrupt global eyewear market
Research institute shares data-driven insights on latest trends

HONG KONG, Nov 7, 2019 - (ACN Newswire) - Start-ups are creating a disruptive wave in the traditional retail eyewear market according to international research institute Coresight Research, which revealed the latest trends in the global eyewear market at a seminar held yesterday as part of the 27th edition of the HKTDC Hong Kong International Optical Fair.

The 27th edition of the HKTDC Hong Kong International Optical Fair staged a seminar under the theme "Quick Take: Disruption in Eyewear" yesterday, with an expert from international research institute Coresight Research discussing the latest trends in the global eyewear market.

Albert Chan, Head of the Hong Kong Office at Coresight Research

The global eyewear market was valued at US$127 billion last year and is forecast to reach US$141 billion by 2023, according to Coresight, which specialises in delivering data-driven market insights for a range of industries globally. Bricks-and-mortar stores currently account for 87% of global retail eyewear sales because of the preference for personal services such as measurement and adjustment, while online sales - which make up the rest of the market - continue to experience steady growth.

Albert Chan, Head of the Hong Kong Office for Coresight, explained that in the essentially oligopolistic global eyewear industry - which has been long dominated by four giant players, namely EssilorLuxottica, GrandVision, Johnson & Johnson and Alcon - start-ups are beginning to disrupt both the online and offline eyewear markets in innovative ways.

Direct-to-consumer sales model cuts costs

One method of disruption is to use direct-to-consumer (D2C) sales models to bring down the retail prices by up to 90%, explained Mr Chan, which appeals to more price-conscious consumers who are looking for cheaper alternatives to speed up the replacement cycle.

He added that one way to help eyewear manufacturers cut production times significantly and bring a wider variety of eyewear products to consumers is to adopt 3D printing, which aligns with the growing trend for product customisation and personalisation.

Lithuanian start-up Dear Deer Eyewear, for example, helps consumers produce their own glasses using 3D printing technology, while another start-up, New York-based King Children, uses 3D mapping software to make unique glasses according to consumers' facial features.

Augmented reality offers an optical solution

Different technologies are also helping to open new doors for start-ups in the eyewear market, with Mr Chan recognising the growing popularity of smart eyewear that has encouraged technology providers and lens manufacturers to develop smart optical solutions for augmented reality (AR) glasses.

Mr Chan cited the example of Korean start-up LetinAR that has developed lenses that reflect the light from the microdisplay and guide it into the pupils of the eyes. This allows the glasses wearer to view the virtual image from the microdisplay at the same time as the image from the real world.

Sustainability in focus

While spectacle lenses, eyewear frames, sunglasses and contact lenses are named by Coresight as the four key product categories in the global eyewear market, sustainable eyewear is seen to have great growth potential in the future as people become increasingly motivated to live an eco-friendly life. "This has created space for start-ups to develop products that differentiate themselves from their mass-market rivals," Mr Chan said.

Ukrainian start-up Ochis has developed the world's first eyewear made from coffee grounds. The high-quality biodegradable and aromatic compound used to make the spectacle frames has gained popularity by offering a new sustainable alternative in the global eyewear market.

Another example of sustainable eyewear is from Australian company Dresden Vision which has turned empty shampoo bottles into glasses frames by using a closed-loop injection system to ensure there is no negative impact on the environment.

Please download more photos from here. http://bit.ly/33rBiOq


Contact:
Snowy Chan, Tel: +852 2584 4525, Email: snowy.sn.chan@hktdc.org
Natalie Wong, Tel: +852 2584 4472, Email: natalie.hy.wong@hktdc.org


Topic: Trade Show or Conference
Source: HKTDC

Sectors: Electronics, Science & Nanotech, BioTech, Healthcare & Pharm
http://www.acnnewswire.com
From the Asia Corporate News Network


Copyright © 2024 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. A division of Asia Corporate News Network.


HKTDC Links

http://www.hktdc.com

https://www.facebook.com/hktdc.hk

https://twitter.com/hktdc

https://www.youtube.com/user/HKTDC

https://www.linkedin.com/company/hong-kong-trade-development-council

HKTDC
Dec 17, 2024 12:44 HKT/SGT
Asian Financial Forum returns as Region's First Major International Financial Assembly in 2025
Dec 13, 2024 18:38 HKT/SGT
'Think Business, Think Hong Kong' is coming to Jakarta
Dec 12, 2024 18:17 HKT/SGT
Hong Kong's exports set for 4% growth in 2025
Dec 8, 2024 17:21 HKT/SGT
Business of IP Asia Forum and Entrepreneur Day Unlock IP and Innovation Potential
Dec 6, 2024 15:36 HKT/SGT
HKTDC and Hang Seng Bank's InnoClub Recognises and Supports Outstanding GBA Start-ups
Dec 6, 2024 00:09 HKT/SGT
BIP Asia Forum and Entrepreneur Day opens today
Dec 5, 2024 23:34 HKT/SGT
DesignInspire opens today with free access for industry professionals and the public
Dec 4, 2024 21:00 HKT/SGT
25th Hong Kong Forum concludes successfully
Nov 27, 2024 17:11 HKT/SGT
Survey: New Opportunities in Cross-border E-commerce
Nov 21, 2024 17:54 HKT/SGT
DesignInspire opens on December 5, with free admission for the public
More news >>
 News Alerts
Copyright © 2024 ACN Newswire - Asia Corporate News Network
Home | About us | Services | Partners | Events | Login | Contact us | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | RSS
US: +1 214 890 4418 | China: +86 181 2376 3721 | Hong Kong: +852 8192 4922 | Singapore: +65 6549 7068 | Tokyo: +81 3 6859 8575

Connect With us: