Jump to content

LensCrafters: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Content deleted Content added
Importing Wikidata short description: "American optician and eyewear retail chain" (Shortdesc helper)
Reverted 1 edit by HLHJ (talk): Doesn't being in the short description and already stated in the second paragraph.
Tags: Twinkle Undo Mobile edit Mobile web edit Advanced mobile edit
 
(15 intermediate revisions by 12 users not shown)
Line 5: Line 5:
| foundation = {{start date and age|1983|3}}
| foundation = {{start date and age|1983|3}}
| founders = E. Dean Butler
| founders = E. Dean Butler
| areas_served = [[Canada]]<br>[[United States]]<br>[[Puerto Rico]]<br>[[Hong Kong]]<br>[[India]]
| areas_served = [[United States]]<br>[[Canada]]<br>[[Puerto Rico]]<br>[[Hong Kong]]<br>[[India]]
| industry = Eye care
| industry = Eye care
| parent = [[United States Shoe Corporation]]<br> (1984–1995)<br> [[Luxottica]]<br>(1995–2018)<br>[[EssilorLuxottica]] (2018-present)
| parent = [[Luxottica]]
| hq_location = [[Mason, Ohio]], U.S.
| num_locations = 1,158
| num_locations = 1,158
| products = [[Eyewear]], [[glasses]], [[sunglasses]]
| products = [[Eyewear]], [[glasses]], [[sunglasses]]
| homepage = {{url|https://www.lenscrafters.com}}
| homepage = {{url|https://www.lenscrafters.com}}
}}
}}
[[Image:LensCrafters Optique store Ann Arbor.JPG|thumb|257px|right|LensCrafters Optique store, [[Ann Arbor, Michigan|Ann Arbor, MI]]]]
[[Image:LensCrafters in CF Sherway Gardens 2023.jpg|thumb|257px|right|LensCrafters Optique store in [[Sherway Gardens]], [[Toronto]], Canada]]
[[Image:LensCrafters Optique store Ann Arbor.JPG|thumb|257px|right|LensCrafters Optique store in [[Ann Arbor, Michigan|Ann Arbor, MI]]]]


'''LensCrafters''' is an international retailer of [[glasses|prescription eyewear]] and prescription [[sunglasses]]. Its stores usually host independent [[optometrist]]s on-site or in an adjacent store. The company has its corporate headquarters in [[Mason, Ohio]], a suburb of [[Cincinnati]].
'''LensCrafters''' is an international retailer of [[glasses|prescription eyewear]] and prescription [[sunglasses]]. Its stores usually host independent [[optometrist]]s on-site or in an adjacent store. The company has its corporate headquarters in [[Mason, Ohio]], a suburb of [[Cincinnati]] in the US.


LensCrafters has been a wholly owned subsidiary of [[Italy|Italy's]] [[Luxottica]], the largest eyewear company in the world, since 1995.<ref>[https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E0DE0D9163FF936A25757C0A9609C8B63 "At LensCrafters selling candor and designer frames"], ''[[New York Times]]'' (April 16, 2006).</ref><ref name="purchase2">{{cite news|url=http://articles.latimes.com/1995-04-17/business/fi-55620_1_italy-s-luxottica-group|title=U.S. Shoe Agrees to $1.3-Billion Takeover Offer|date=April 17, 1995|work=[[LA Times]]|accessdate=September 15, 2018}}</ref> At the end of 2018, Luxottica operated 1,158 LensCrafters stores, of which 1,050 are located in North America and 108 are located in China, Hong Kong and India.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.luxottica.com/sites/luxottica.com/files/luxottica_group_relazione_finanziaria_annuale_2018_eng_20190410.pdf|title=Luxottica Annual Report 2018|date=2019-04-10|website=Luxottica|access-date=2019-06-18}}</ref>
LensCrafters has been a wholly owned subsidiary of [[Luxottica]] (which has since merged with [[Essilor]] to form [[EssilorLuxottica]]),<ref>{{Cite news |date=2017-01-15 |title=Essilor to Buy Ray-Ban Maker Luxottica for About $24 Billion |language=en |work=Bloomberg.com |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-01-15/luxottica-essilor-agree-to-50-billion-euro-merger-ft-reports |access-date=2023-08-14}}</ref> the largest eyewear company in the world, since 1995.<ref>[https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E0DE0D9163FF936A25757C0A9609C8B63 "At LensCrafters selling candor and designer frames"], ''[[New York Times]]'' (April 16, 2006).</ref><ref name="purchase2">{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1995-04-17-fi-55620-story.html|title=U.S. Shoe Agrees to $1.3-Billion Takeover Offer|date=April 17, 1995|newspaper=[[LA Times]]|access-date=September 15, 2018}}</ref> At the end of 2018, Luxottica operated 1,158 LensCrafters stores, of which 1,050 are located in North America and 108 are located in China, [[Hong Kong]] and India.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.luxottica.com/sites/luxottica.com/files/luxottica_group_relazione_finanziaria_annuale_2018_eng_20190410.pdf|title=Luxottica Annual Report 2018|date=2019-04-10|website=Luxottica|access-date=2019-06-18}}</ref>


== History ==
== History ==
LensCrafters was founded in March 1983 by E. Dean Butler, who had been a manager with [[Procter & Gamble]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://natsci.msu.edu/natsci-profiles/e-dean-butler-an-alumnus-with-a-clear-vision/|title=E. Dean Butler: An alumnus with a clear vision|website=natsci.msu.edu|language=en|access-date=2019-06-18}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/news/2018/may/10/the-invisible-power-of-big-glasses-eyewear-industry-essilor-luxottica|title=The spectacular power of Big Lens {{!}} The long read|last=Knight|first=Sam|date=2018-05-10|work=The Guardian|access-date=2019-06-18|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.vox.com/the-goods/2019/3/6/18253555/eyeglasses-cost-lenscrafters-essilor-luxottica|title=Glasses can have a markup of 1,000%. Two former LensCrafters executives revealed why.|last=Lieber|first=Chavie|date=2019-03-06|website=Vox|access-date=2019-06-18}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/lenscrafters-inc-history/|title=History of LensCrafters Inc. – FundingUniverse|website=www.fundinguniverse.com|access-date=2019-06-18}}</ref> Butler first developed the idea for a "while you wait" eyeglass retailer after helping a Procter & Gamble colleague produce television commercials for a family optical business in the late 1970s.<ref name=":0" />
LensCrafters was founded in March 1983 by E. Dean Butler, who had been a manager with [[Procter & Gamble]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://natsci.msu.edu/natsci-profiles/e-dean-butler-an-alumnus-with-a-clear-vision/|title=E. Dean Butler: An alumnus with a clear vision|website=natsci.msu.edu|language=en|access-date=2019-06-18}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/news/2018/may/10/the-invisible-power-of-big-glasses-eyewear-industry-essilor-luxottica|title=The spectacular power of Big Lens {{!}} The long read|last=Knight|first=Sam|date=2018-05-10|work=The Guardian|access-date=2019-06-18|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.vox.com/the-goods/2019/3/6/18253555/eyeglasses-cost-lenscrafters-essilor-luxottica|title=Glasses can have a markup of 1,000%. Two former LensCrafters executives revealed why.|last=Lieber|first=Chavie|date=2019-03-06|website=Vox|access-date=2019-06-18}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/lenscrafters-inc-history/|title=History of LensCrafters Inc. – FundingUniverse|website=www.fundinguniverse.com|access-date=2019-06-18}}</ref> Butler first developed the idea for a "while you wait" eyeglass retailer after helping a Procter & Gamble colleague produce television commercials for a family optical business in the late 1970s.<ref name=":0" />


LensCrafters achieved sales of $2 million in its first year of operation<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|url=https://premierespeakers.com/dean_butler/bio|title=Dean Butler {{!}} Bio {{!}} Premiere Speakers Bureau|website=premierespeakers.com|access-date=2019-06-18}}</ref> before Butler sold the company to the [[United States Shoe Corporation]] in 1984.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cincinnati.com/story/money/2017/01/16/mason-based-lenscrafters-now-part-new-european-eyewear-giant/96633222/|title=Mason's LensCrafters now part of $52.5B eyewear giant|website=Cincinnati.com|language=en|access-date=2019-06-18}}</ref><ref name=":1" /> Butler remained as LensCrafters' CEO until 1988,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/research/stocks/private/person.asp?personId=748363&privcapId=378329|title=E. Dean Butler: Executive Profile & Biography - Bloomberg|website=www.bloomberg.com|access-date=2019-06-18}}</ref> at which point he departed to open a new optical franchise, [[Vision Express]].<ref name=":0" /> During Butler's tenure leading LensCrafters as a U.S. Shoe subsidiary, company revenue grew from $13.6 million to $305 million.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":1" />
LensCrafters achieved sales of $2 million in its first year of operation<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|url=https://premierespeakers.com/dean_butler/bio|title=Dean Butler {{!}} Bio {{!}} Premiere Speakers Bureau|website=premierespeakers.com|access-date=2019-06-18}}</ref> before Butler sold the company to the [[United States Shoe Corporation]] in 1984.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cincinnati.com/story/money/2017/01/16/mason-based-lenscrafters-now-part-new-european-eyewear-giant/96633222/|title=Mason's LensCrafters now part of $52.5B eyewear giant|website=Cincinnati.com|language=en|access-date=2019-06-18}}</ref><ref name=":1" /> Butler remained as LensCrafters' CEO until 1988.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/research/stocks/private/person.asp?personId=748363&privcapId=378329|title=E. Dean Butler: Executive Profile & Biography - Bloomberg|website=www.bloomberg.com|access-date=2019-06-18}}</ref>


LensCrafters had just three locations when U.S. Shoe purchased it; by 1989, there were 350 locations, and LensCrafters was generating 40% of U.S. Shoe's operating income.<ref name="lens crafters">{{cite web | url= http://www.encyclopedia.com/social-sciences-and-law/economics-business-and-labor/businesses-and-occupations/lenscrafters-inc | title= LensCrafters Inc. | work=Encyclopedia.com | accessdate=January 3, 2018}}</ref>
LensCrafters had just three locations when U.S. Shoe purchased it; by 1989, there were 350 locations, and LensCrafters was generating 40% of U.S. Shoe's operating income.<ref name="lens crafters">{{cite encyclopedia | url= http://www.encyclopedia.com/social-sciences-and-law/economics-business-and-labor/businesses-and-occupations/lenscrafters-inc | title= LensCrafters Inc. | encyclopedia=Encyclopedia.com | accessdate=January 3, 2018}}</ref>


In 1992, LensCrafters surpassed [[Pearle Vision]] to become the largest chain of eyeglass retailers in the United States, with roughly $660 million in annual revenue.<ref name=":1" />
In 1992, LensCrafters surpassed [[Pearle Vision]] to become the largest chain of eyeglass retailers in the United States, with roughly $660 million in annual revenue.<ref name=":1" />


In 1995, Luxottica launched a hostile takeover attempt of U.S. Shoe, with the goal of acquiring LensCrafters.<ref name="hostile">{{cite news | url=http://articles.courant.com/1995-03-31/business/9503310001_1_shoe-shareholders-footwear-division-shoe-corp | title= U.S. Shoe, Luxottica Courting Shareholders In Takeover Battle |work=[[Hartford Courant]] | date= March 31, 1995 | accessdate=January 3, 2018}}</ref> Luxottica announced in April 1995 that it had reached an agreement to purchase U.S. Shoe for $1.4 billion.<ref name="purchase">{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/1995/04/18/business/luxottica-to-acquire-us-shoe-for-1.4-billion.html | title= Luxottica to Acquire U.S. Shoe for $1.4 Billion |work=[[The New York Times]] | date= April 18, 1995 | accessdate=September 15, 2018}}</ref>
In 1995, Luxottica launched a hostile takeover attempt of [[United States Shoe CorporationU.S. Shoe]], with the goal of acquiring LensCrafters.<ref name="hostile">{{cite news | url=https://www.courant.com/1995/03/31/us-shoe-luxottica-courting-shareholders-in-takeover-battle/ | title= U.S. Shoe, Luxottica Courting Shareholders In Takeover Battle |work=[[Hartford Courant]] | date= March 31, 1995 | access-date=January 3, 2018}}</ref> Luxottica announced in April 1995, that it had reached an agreement to purchase U.S. Shoe for $1.4 billion.<ref name="purchase">{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/1995/04/18/business/luxottica-to-acquire-us-shoe-for-1.4-billion.html | title= Luxottica to Acquire U.S. Shoe for $1.4 Billion |work=[[The New York Times]] | date= April 18, 1995 | accessdate=September 15, 2018}}</ref>


Luxottica acquired Pearle Vision in 2004, combining the country's two largest eyewear retailers.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB107510259331511463|title=Italy's Luxottica Agrees to Pay $441 Million for Cole National|last1=Emsden|first1=Christopher |last2=Rohwedder |first2=Cecilie |website=[[The Wall Street Journal]] |language=en-US|access-date=2019-06-18}}</ref>
Luxottica acquired Pearle Vision in 2004, combining the country's two largest eyewear retailers.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB107510259331511463|title=Italy's Luxottica Agrees to Pay $441 Million for Cole National|last1=Emsden|first1=Christopher |last2=Rohwedder |first2=Cecilie |website=[[The Wall Street Journal]] |date=27 January 2004 |language=en-US|access-date=2019-06-18}}</ref> Though most locations can still provide glasses and frames same-day, that line of business has become de-emphasized over time for the luxury market.

LensCrafters India opened its first store at Mall of India, Noida.


==References==
==References==
Line 45: Line 45:
[[Category:Luxottica]]
[[Category:Luxottica]]
[[Category:Eyewear retailers of the United States]]
[[Category:Eyewear retailers of the United States]]
[[Category:1983 establishments in Ohio]]
[[Category:American companies established in 1983]]
[[Category:American companies established in 1983]]
[[Category:Clothing companies established in 1983]]
[[Category:Retail companies established in 1983]]
[[Category:Retail companies established in 1983]]
[[Category:Companies based in Ohio]]
[[Category:Companies based in Cincinnati]]
[[Category:Companies based in Cincinnati]]
[[Category:Eyewear retailers of Canada]]
[[Category:Eyewear retailers of Canada]]

Latest revision as of 23:02, 23 October 2024

LensCrafters
IndustryEye care
FoundedMarch 1983; 41 years ago (1983-03)
FoundersE. Dean Butler
HeadquartersMason, Ohio, U.S.
Number of locations
1,158
Areas served
United States
Canada
Puerto Rico
Hong Kong
India
ProductsEyewear, glasses, sunglasses
ParentUnited States Shoe Corporation
(1984–1995)
Luxottica
(1995–2018)
EssilorLuxottica (2018-present)
Websitewww.lenscrafters.com
LensCrafters Optique store in Sherway Gardens, Toronto, Canada
LensCrafters Optique store in Ann Arbor, MI

LensCrafters is an international retailer of prescription eyewear and prescription sunglasses. Its stores usually host independent optometrists on-site or in an adjacent store. The company has its corporate headquarters in Mason, Ohio, a suburb of Cincinnati in the US.

LensCrafters has been a wholly owned subsidiary of Luxottica (which has since merged with Essilor to form EssilorLuxottica),[1] the largest eyewear company in the world, since 1995.[2][3] At the end of 2018, Luxottica operated 1,158 LensCrafters stores, of which 1,050 are located in North America and 108 are located in China, Hong Kong and India.[4]

History

[edit]

LensCrafters was founded in March 1983 by E. Dean Butler, who had been a manager with Procter & Gamble.[5][6][7][8] Butler first developed the idea for a "while you wait" eyeglass retailer after helping a Procter & Gamble colleague produce television commercials for a family optical business in the late 1970s.[5]

LensCrafters achieved sales of $2 million in its first year of operation[9] before Butler sold the company to the United States Shoe Corporation in 1984.[10][8] Butler remained as LensCrafters' CEO until 1988.[11]

LensCrafters had just three locations when U.S. Shoe purchased it; by 1989, there were 350 locations, and LensCrafters was generating 40% of U.S. Shoe's operating income.[12]

In 1992, LensCrafters surpassed Pearle Vision to become the largest chain of eyeglass retailers in the United States, with roughly $660 million in annual revenue.[8]

In 1995, Luxottica launched a hostile takeover attempt of United States Shoe CorporationU.S. Shoe, with the goal of acquiring LensCrafters.[13] Luxottica announced in April 1995, that it had reached an agreement to purchase U.S. Shoe for $1.4 billion.[14]

Luxottica acquired Pearle Vision in 2004, combining the country's two largest eyewear retailers.[15] Though most locations can still provide glasses and frames same-day, that line of business has become de-emphasized over time for the luxury market.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Essilor to Buy Ray-Ban Maker Luxottica for About $24 Billion". Bloomberg.com. 2017-01-15. Retrieved 2023-08-14.
  2. ^ "At LensCrafters selling candor and designer frames", New York Times (April 16, 2006).
  3. ^ "U.S. Shoe Agrees to $1.3-Billion Takeover Offer". LA Times. April 17, 1995. Retrieved September 15, 2018.
  4. ^ "Luxottica Annual Report 2018" (PDF). Luxottica. 2019-04-10. Retrieved 2019-06-18.
  5. ^ a b "E. Dean Butler: An alumnus with a clear vision". natsci.msu.edu. Retrieved 2019-06-18.
  6. ^ Knight, Sam (2018-05-10). "The spectacular power of Big Lens | The long read". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2019-06-18.
  7. ^ Lieber, Chavie (2019-03-06). "Glasses can have a markup of 1,000%. Two former LensCrafters executives revealed why". Vox. Retrieved 2019-06-18.
  8. ^ a b c "History of LensCrafters Inc. – FundingUniverse". www.fundinguniverse.com. Retrieved 2019-06-18.
  9. ^ "Dean Butler | Bio | Premiere Speakers Bureau". premierespeakers.com. Retrieved 2019-06-18.
  10. ^ "Mason's LensCrafters now part of $52.5B eyewear giant". Cincinnati.com. Retrieved 2019-06-18.
  11. ^ "E. Dean Butler: Executive Profile & Biography - Bloomberg". www.bloomberg.com. Retrieved 2019-06-18.
  12. ^ "LensCrafters Inc.". Encyclopedia.com. Retrieved January 3, 2018.
  13. ^ "U.S. Shoe, Luxottica Courting Shareholders In Takeover Battle". Hartford Courant. March 31, 1995. Retrieved January 3, 2018.
  14. ^ "Luxottica to Acquire U.S. Shoe for $1.4 Billion". The New York Times. April 18, 1995. Retrieved September 15, 2018.
  15. ^ Emsden, Christopher; Rohwedder, Cecilie (27 January 2004). "Italy's Luxottica Agrees to Pay $441 Million for Cole National". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 2019-06-18.
[edit]