Warby Parker Expands U.S. Experience Stores Ahead of Samsung, Google AI Glasses Launch

As the launch of Samsung Electronics and Google’s AI glasses nears, U.S. eyewear company Warby Parker, a partner retailer, is accelerating preparations for sales, the industry said on the 9th. Gentle Monster and Warby Parker will begin preorder sales for “intelligent eyewear” on the 12th, and this “intelligent eyewear” is a product jointly developed by Samsung Electronics and Google. Gentle Monster announced the preorder schedule on its official website, while Warby Parker disclosed the same timetable in its third-quarter earnings release on the 5th. Warby Parker said it plans to begin customer deliveries in mid-December.

Warby Parker is making its preparations more concrete by offering product trials at more than 360 stores in the U.S. It has invested in prescription lens processing facilities as well as related technologies.

With Meta having established an early lead in the AI glasses market, new competitors are entering the space. As a result, interest in eyewear companies’ distribution networks is growing, along with interest in lens supply capabilities.

Warby Parker has gradually unveiled a trial-focused distribution plan using its U.S. store network for AI glasses sales. The company disclosed the sales plan during its earnings conference call on the 5th and said it will begin letting customers try the new product in 65 U.S. stores this week. Next week, it will expand the trial locations to more than 360 stores and set up a separate experience space in New York’s SoHo district.

Warby Parker plans to connect the services it has already provided at many of its operating stores with sales of the new product. As of the end of the third quarter, it operated 364 stores in the U.S., and more than 90% of its U.S. stores offer vision exams. The company plans to use its existing optometry and lens consultation services for AI glasses sales.

Employee training has also been completed accordingly. Warby Parker trained about 700 people, including store managers and optometrists, at an internal event on AI glasses functions and how to handle customers. The company said the training was intended to prepare employees so consumers can try on the product in stores and see how its features work.

Dave Gilboa, Warby Parker co-CEO, said the best way to introduce the product to consumers is through a direct wearing experience. He also said the ability to offer trial opportunities at more than 360 stores is a major strength for the company.

Warby Parker is expanding investment in prescription lens supply as it prepares for the AI glasses launch and broader product lineup expansion. It is increasing the production capacity of two optical processing facilities in Sloatsburg, New York, and Las Vegas, Nevada, to respond to orders for prescription lenses for AI glasses.

In October, Warby Parker invested USD 5.6 million in an optical lens technology company. The company plans to fund the development of new lenses and related technologies over the next 2 years, and the purpose of the investment is the long-term expansion of its AI glasses lineup.

The new product was designed to support prescription lenses from the outset. Consumer options include sunglass lenses and photochromic lenses. Warby Parker expects AI glasses buyers to use its existing services, such as vision exams and contact lens purchases.

The date for the price announcement is the 12th. Warby Parker expects the AI glasses to be priced higher than regular eyeglasses. However, it has not disclosed specific prices or sales targets.

Forecasts suggest the revenue contribution from the AI glasses business this year will be limited. Warby Parker expects the new product line to contribute up to 1 percentage point to annual revenue growth. The company plans to begin customer deliveries in mid-December, and to expand production and supply over 2027.

Samsung Electronics and Google are also working with Gentle Monster in addition to Warby Parker. The collaboration combines Samsung Electronics’ hardware technology with Google’s Android XR platform and generative AI “Gemini,” while eyewear companies participate in design and product development. The first product to launch will be a voice-centered AI glasses model without a display, using a camera, microphone, and speakers.

According to Omdia, global AI glasses shipments in the first half of this year totaled 4.2 million units, up 127% from a year earlier. Of that total, Meta shipped 3.4 million units, accounting for 81.3% of the market. Meta sells AI glasses under the Ray-Ban and Oakley brands in partnership with EssilorLuxottica.

Neal Blumenthal, Warby Parker co-CEO, said during the conference call that the company’s policy is to directly manage distribution for intelligent eyewear, just as it directly manages distribution for its existing eyeglasses, contact lenses, and vision exam services.

Source: IT DAILY · Kim Byung-joo
Original: https://www.itdaily.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=242781

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