Sunglasses designed to be worn over prescription eyewear
Australian Fitovers® Eyewear commercial.
The lake was a mess. Consecutive days of rain had clouded lake water with dirt and sediment and had lake levels abnormally high. Visibility was horrible. Not the ideal conditions for catching fish, yet this is what over 200 teams faced at the Bass Champs Central Region season opener in February on Lake Belton in Texas.
Jack Waldrop and Hub Bechtol were able to overcome these conditions and bring in the 1st place prize of $20,000. Waldrop described his strategy for us, explaining that he was able to scout out the lake a week before hand, and found a good spot were there were plenty of fish. Unfortunately on tournament day, that area was clouded with dirt, making it tough to see.
“I had a few different Fitovers® with me, and I kept changing glasses until I found a lens color that worked. When I put on the Yellow lens, I could immediately tell that I was seeing about 4 to 5 inches further down than I was with the others. It was then when I found a small area of clear water.”
Once he found the clear water, he didn’t leave.
“The fish weren’t biting yet but I knew they were hungry. When the water gets cloudy like that, they can’t see. So they look for the clear water, where they can see their food”.
The waiting game worked, and the fish began biting. They hauled in 6 fish for the day, which was enough to win.
We’d like to congratulate the team, and wish them much more future success.
This was an article that ran in the January issue of Tackle Trade World, a international fishing magazine. The article highlights some of the key components of our new direct to dealer program, intended for dealers outside of the U.S. I thought I’d share it here for all to enjoy.
As sunglasses firms go, Jonathan Paul Eyewear is a hugely recognisable brand among US anglers. The Texas-based company has built up a reputation for high-quality sunglasses for many years in its homeland. It has also brought innovative products to the market like its Fitovers™ Eyewear sunglasses, originally designed by its Australian arm.
The company is renowned for the extra lengths it goes to, to make retailers’ lives easier and to help them sell through.
But JP Eyewear has an ambition to take its brand to the next level. International export is its target and it has some pretty unique thinking on how to make its brand more accessible to retailers around the world.
The company has come up with a ‘dealer direct programme’ through working with global shipping giant UPS. Tackle Trade World managed to speak with Josh Pearson, the man behind the programme that the company hopes will give it a stepping stone to foreign markets.
What is Fitovers™ Eyewear’s goal for doing business internationally?
Josh Pearson: We intend to have our product more readily available to businesses globally. We would like companies in countries outside of the United States to have the ability to call or e-mail us with an order and be confident that it will arrive in five to seven business days. The world is a large market with many customers who can benefit from Jonathan Paul [JP] Fitovers™ but aren’t able to discover them due to lack of availability in many countries.
What is Fitovers™ Eyewear doing to accomplish this goal?
JP: We have devised a plan to make it easy for accounts outside of the US to order JP Fitovers™. We have put together a variety of packages, including different amounts of JP Fitovers™ and a free display. The price of these packages includes all the charges for shipping, duties, and brokerage fees, so that the shipment arrives right to the customer’s door.
Due to countries having different duty and VAT [Value Added Tax] rates, we have different pricing for each one.(The package options and pricing appear in the box on the left.)
When will this programme be available?
JP: Today is the day. We sat down with UPS a few weeks ago to negotiate the shipping, duty, and tax rates to several different countries exactly, so we can offer one price per package to take it directly from our warehouse here in the US to the customer’s door without having to pay any added fees.
Why did you choose UPS?
JP: We teamed up with UPS to achieve the best possible shipping rates. UPS beat out several competitor’s rates, which really helped to make this programme lucrative for dealers outside of the US. Beyond this, UPS offers an excellent service, which ensures that a shipment will arrive safely and on time.
How can these dealers order?
JP: Simply contact me [details are at the bottom of the page]. When e-mailing, be sure to include which option you’d like and whether you’d like to pay by Visa or Mastercard. Upon receipt of e-mail, I will respond with confirmation followed by a UPS Tracking Number as soon as the package ships. The retailer can expect delivery within five to seven business days.
Why is JP™ Eyewear so adamant about dealing direct to retailers?
JP: Dealing direct to the retailer saves money, shortens delivery time, increases product selection, lowers costs and increases profit. By ordering form Jonathan Paul Eyewear™, the dealer has access to all 10 of our frame styles/sizes and all 23 selectable colours. Having a good selection for the customer to choose from is a key ingredient to success with selling Fitovers™ Eyewear. We appeal to men and women of all ages.
Contact:
Josh Pearson
T:+1.512.366.6934
E:josh@jpeyewear.com
W:www.fitovers.com
One of the best tools that we have created to help ensure that consumers are finding the right pair of Fitovers™ Eyewear product for them is our size guide. If you go into any Fitovers™ Eyewear dealer, they will have a copy of our size guide inside our catalog. They might even have some of our consumer brochures that you can take home with you, which have a size guide on the back. This simple to use tool will show you which style of Fitovers™ Eyewear will best fit your prescription frames.
We also have this tool available for download on our website here. If you print this out at home, you can use it to pick out the perfect frame for you. Unfortunately, when you go to print out the size guide, most printers will not print it out at 100% size, so the measurements that you are using to help pick out a frame are not accurate. This means that you might buy a pair of Fitovers™ Eyewear that are a different size than you thought. This is not good. So I’ve put together this little guide to printing out the size guide that will hopefully clear everything up, and help you pick out the perfect frame.
First things first. Go to our home page, click on the size guide button in the navigation panel. This will open a new window which will give you the option to download our size guide. Once you click that link, the size guide will open in a new window. The size guide shows all 10 of our different styles inside of a box with a thick border. This border acts as a boundary (more on that in a moment). Now that the size guide is up on your screen, you need to print it out in order for you to use it. For the measurements to be accurate you must print out the size guide at 100%. To do this go to File>Print (alternately you can press Control + P on the keyboard}. This will bring up the Print dialog box. In the print dialog box (unfortunately each persons print dialog box will appear differently) there should be an area where you can adjust page scaling, as demonstrated in the following image.
You will need to change this option to “none” so that there is no page scaling of any type, meaning the document will print out at 100%. Now all you have to do is hit print, and the document will print out at the correct size and you can use the size guide as intended. If you would like to make sure that everything printed at the correct size, there is an image of a quarter on the guide that you can use for scaling. If the image is the same size as an actual quarter, then you have printed out the size guide at the correct size.
Now as I mentioned earlier, each style of frame is shown withing a thick bordered box. To use the size guide you take off your glasses, fold down the temples, and place them inside of the box. If the edge of your glasses touch any part of the border, then you need to try a larger size style. It is the inside of the border that is the boundary, not the outside as this image shows.
Once you find a style of Fitovers that fit your glasses, all you have to do is pick out a frame color and a lens option that you like and your all set. I hope that this helps you find something that works for you.
There was an interesting story on NPR this morning about the rise of Myopia, or near sightedness. Apparently, since the 70’s, cases of Myopia among persons aged 15-54 have risen. In the 70’s about a quarter of those surveyed were Myopic, compared to 40.6 percent of those surveyed from 1999 to 2004, which is an increase of about 66 percent! The rise is generally linked to an increase in “near work”, things like working on the computer, reading, and watching TV. However, it appears that time spent outside as children can reduce myopia, although the exact reason why is still up for debate.
Here is a link to the study as well as a link to the article.
The year isn’t over quite yet, but it’s getting close, so we’re going to take a look back and see what (and how) we did. It’s interesting for me to look back over the years sales and see which products were the most popular for that year. You can learn a lot from looking at that data. As you most likely know, we have ten different frame styles to choose from, and each frame style is a little bit different from the next in size and shape. And within each style there are several different frame colors to choose from. So we can look and see which frame style was the most popular, and which color within that frame style sold more, and all sorts of fun stuff like that. Let’s begin.
As I said earlier, we have 10 different styles, ranging from small to large. These 10 styles are there so that you can choose a size and shape that best fits your eyeglasses. The Aviator is our largest frame size that we have, and can be worn over almost any prescription eyeglass frame that’s out on the market, but for some people that style is a bit to big. Just because it can be worn over your frames, doesn’t mean that it should. This is important to keep in mind when looking at the data. If we put the frame sizes in order of smallest to largest, it would look like this:
Some of this is debatable, the Jett is actually wider than the Rhombus or Navigator, but is thinner from top to bottom so we have it in the 7th spot. You can see all this with our handy size guide as well, but the jist of it is, if you have a small frame, with small glasses, try the glides. If you have a large frame with large glasses try our Navigator. All the other styles cover everything in between.
So looking at our sales over the course of the year we find that our top 3 styles were the Aurora, Element, and then the Aria. So our top selling style was our second smallest, followed by two medium sized styles. What this tells us is that, you the consumer are doing a great job finding the right size style of Fitovers™ Eyewear for your frame, and that you’re taking advantage of all the options available to you. The rest of our styles were pretty close in the number of sales, which again, is evidence that you are taking advantage of all the options.
Which frame sold the most overall you ask? That honor goes to the Aurora Claret. This was our most sought after frame. The size and color of this frame seemed to be the perfect fit for a lot of you, but following close behind was the Aurora Sapphire and our Matte Black Aviator. So while the flashy colored sapphire and claret were popular, the classic black Aviator was right there with them.
What all this information boils down to is that we have plenty of options available, and you all are doing a great job picking out what’s just right for you. Keep up the good work. Happy Holliday’s everybody, we’ll see you next year.
It’s been a while since our last update, but that doesn’t mean there haven’t been things to report. There is a lot of exciting news here at Fitovers™ Eyewear, so make sure to stay tuned. First on the list is that our Duality website is up and running. If you don’t remember, Duality is a new product offered by Jonathan Paul™ Eyewear. It consists of a memory metal optical frame coupled with a matching Designer Fitovers™ Eyewear product. This package is an amazing value, and covers all of your eyewear needs. The Fitovers™ Eyewear that come with this package are unique to Duality™ and cannot be found anywhere else, not even on this site! We’ve gotten a lot of great feedback about Duality™ so be sure to check it out, it is the Perfect Match Eyewear.
Coming soon, what’s new for 2010.
When the concept of Fitovers™ was first hatched over 15 yeas ago, we felt we were providing the public with a great solution to a common problem. What should people who wear prescription eye glasses use to protect their eyes from the sun? Fitovers™ Eyewear was born and the Fitovers™ were an instant hit, but the options available to the general public were limited. We had attempted to create a “one size fits all” panacea that would work for everyone, and for thousands of people it did. Over the years, however, we’ve learned that it’s not all about the utility of Fitovers™; a lot of people don’t want to compromise style when looking for a sun wear solution. In fact, in the sunglasses business, style is more often than not more important for the consumer than actual sun protection for their eyes, much to the chagrin of their eye doctors. It is for this reason that every year we tweak, add to, and sometimes overhaul our line of Fitovers™.
It’s a bit cliche to say that people come in all different shapes and sizes, but in reality, they do. And the face is no exception. Face shapes range from round to oval to square to triangular, and several variations in between. Because of this, a “one size fits all” approach to Fitovers™ wasn’t ideal. We were providing a product that people needed, but it was evident that we could do better. We now carry 10 different frame styles, each style a different size than the other. We’ve found that this way, everyone who wants a Fitover™ can find one that is unique to their face size and shape. We’ve received numerous emails from people praising our Glides collection (our smallest frame size), saying that no other sunglasses worked for them because they were all so bulky on their small frame. On the opposite end of the spectrum, people love our Aviator (which is our largest frame) because all other frames were too small and pinched the sides of their heads. Our other 8 styles conform to all the variations in between from small to large.
Now 10 frame styles to cover the many different face sizes is nice, but there’s more to it than that. Identifying the right frame for you requires looking at the frame shape as well. Sunglasses are an accessory, so it is important to find frames that compliment your face shape. People with angular faces usually choose to wear sunglasses frames that are round or curved, to balance the angles. The opposite is true as well; people with round faces want angular or rectangular frames to compliment the natural shape of their face. Fitovers™ has this covered too. We produce round, oval, angular, and rectangular frames in various sizes to ensure that you find the correct pair of Fitovers™ for your size and shape.
All this is well and good, but what gets our consumers the most excited is our 23 different color options. That’s right, 23 different colors. We range from conservative black and tortoiseshell, to the more adventurous claret and sapphire. The new Jett comes in Purple Haze, a really fun color that people have been buying up. Those are only five options we offer, but the bottom line is, we make our glasses in a color that is right for you.
So what does this all mean? It means that we’re working with you. It means we want to make what you want to wear. It means that no matter what your face size or shape is, and no matter what your style preference is, we have what you need. And best of all, we’re protecting your eyes while you look good.
Thanks for the Fitover glasses. I wore them on the beach in Mexico while sitting in the shade reading and was amazed at the clarity of the lenses. Even more amazing was wearing the glasses as I walked down the beach in full sunlight. The Polarizing gave me a clear view of the ocean and beach colors that I had never seen before with my regular sunglasses. Being able to wear my reading glasses on the beach allow me to see and find beach shells I had never noticed before. The optical quality is as good as my Serigenti sunglasses, which cost 4 time as much. Thanks again, Craig of Prescott Valley, Arizona.
This item is really cool folks…….if you have to wear glasses like I do; and you really hate buying prescription sunglasses as they do change with your eyes; and you do not like those big over glasses that the eye doctors have in plentiful supply; then you must try these; I really love them and they really look so cool. I have the leopard frames with the gray lenses; Really cool item……..I ordered them Monday and the glasses arrived today (Wednesday); such great service.
These are fantastic glasses. I’ve had many previous pairs which were crap. Those always got scratched. I can put these in the same position and they’re scratchless. Extremely light sensitive, these are great even in the brightest sunlight. It doesn’t do much good to still have to squint with sunglasses and with these I don’t have to. I like the handy little carrying case which most times I don’t use, but I still have the option of using. Only a couple times I noticed that one lense slightly popped out of position but it was easy to put back and hasn’t recurred and the lense bended rather than broke. I like pliable plastic. I love ‘em and am never without ‘em. They’re easy to clean and best of all, they stay clean and aren’t a magnet for dust. - L.B.Nobody knows you’re wearing two pairs I had my first pair for several years before they were too scratched to see out of. I love my new ones. They do not hurt behind the ears or anywhere…even you wouldn’t know you were wearing two pairs, except that you can see in the sun without prescription sunglasses…much cheaper and of course you can wear them alone, too. And I’ve had style compliments; what more could you ask for. - N.W.
have had these almost 1 month. Have always had “photogrey’ type prescription lenses. Now I can save money the next time I get new glasses! Actually I can really see better. While driving behind a truck in town on a sunny day I was lifting these up & down to compare my vision with and without them. I could actually see more detail and read the license # with the fitovers on. When I took them off, even though I did have some protection from the sun with my “photogrey” lenses, I did not have the clarity, color nor sharpness as when I had these on. I could hardly believe it, so I tried it several times with the same response each time. Now I am ordering a pair for a friend of mine. (she tried mine and likes how they worked for her.)
I just got home from a 4th of July airshow. Sporting my new Fitover sunglasses of course. These are the best sunglasses I’ve ever had!!!!! They fit over my prescription glasses perfectly. The size chart was right on they nose. I will never again get prescription sunglasses. Usually when your in the sun for any length of time your face actually hurts from squinting so much. Not today ! No tired red eyes. And they’re so stylish. I felt like a movie star! Great product. Plus love all the little extra goodies. - Suzie
In the optical industry, time is money, so finding ways to optimize your time will lead to greater profits. Having a floor stand in your store is a great way to create more time for yourself, as it gives consumers the ability to pick out what they want on their own. Fitovers™ Eyewear has recently developed a 40 piece rotating floor stand that has opticians struggling to keep it stocked.
An attractive floor stand can capture the eye of potential buyers, and generate interest among those that may be new to the product. The 40 piece stand offered by Fitovers™ Eyewear presents the glasses in a contemporary, visually appealing way. Consumer brochure holders conveniently located at the sides allow interested customers to read and learn more about the product, a task that traditionally fell to store employees. The 40 spaces available for sunglasses allow the store to stock several colors of each of the different styles that Fitovers™ Eyewear produces. Two side mirrors let the customer try out each color and style until they are confident they have found the perfect fit. A small polarized demonstration below the mirror allows the customer to immediately discover the benefits of polarized lenses. The complimentary carrying case, which contains the microfiber cleaning cloth along with the neck cord, attaches directly to the stand. All this is work that the customer is doing on their own, meaning it is work that the employee no longer has to do, saving them precious time.
The stand also has some features that make it easy for the employee to upkeep. To maintain the selling power of the stand it is important to keep it looking fully stocked. A storage container at the base can hold up to ten additional Fitovers™ allowing the employee to restock after a pair has been purchased. The stands small base, roughly one foot by one foot, maximizes store space and keeps the weight light enough to easily move from one area of the store to another.
The 40 piece stand is a selling tool that showcases, informs, and sells the product so employees don’t have to. It allows customers to find the right fit for themselves, experience the product first hand, and make an educated purchase, which translates into happy customers.
