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5 Questions for…

Recently, Kieran Hardy purchased Live Eyewear, Inc., an OveRx eyewear manufacturer that has been under his direction since its 2001 inception. Here, Hardy discusses his thoughts on optical and hopes for his company.

EB With the current market challenges, what inspired you to buy Live Eyewear?

KH I didn't give a second thought when the opportunity arose for me to buy the company. The economic climate is bad and may even get worse, but for Live Eyewear we perform as well, if not better, during hard times. Cocoons become even more appealing in comparison to more expensive solutions.

EB How do you plan to prosper in the coming year?

KH We will continue to remain focused on our core competency. We intend to continue to innovate, improve, and lead the OveRx category by example. The introduction of our Low Vision Cocoons and Cocoons Sidekick delivers our flagship brand to low vision practices. I expect this section of our business to bloom.

EB What are your plans for Live Eyewear?

KH Most of the new ideas we are going to implement as we move forward are orientated toward making the experience better for the eyecare professional and the patient.

EB What can eyecare professionals do to stay productive?

KH So many practices still leave money on the table. A second pair sale of prescription sunglasses is great…but how many patients ultimately buy?

The overwhelming majority of patients don't buy because the second pair is price prohibitive. If the patient declines a more expensive solution, don't let the patient walk out without optical grade sunwear. For around $50, a pair of OveRx sunglasses deliver protection, performance, and durability. And in tough times, $50 is a great deal more palatable than $250.

EB What positives do you see in the optical industry today?

KH The next few years are going to be tough. But, there is going to be a positive for well-managed practices. They will use the down time to improve their business from the service side, the experience for the patient, and their profitability.

When the industry emerges on the other side of the recession, the practices that took the initiative to improve and enhance will not only still be around; they'll be more profitable and much stronger. EB