How Reading Glasses and Sunglasses Display Programs Work

Reading glasses and sunglasses are two of the most reliable front-end categories a store can carry. Shoppers forget, lose and break them all the time, the price is right for an impulse purchase, and a small display can sell a surprising number of pairs every week. The easiest way to get into eyewear is with a display program: a pre-assorted mix of styles and strengths packed with its own display.

Here’s how eyewear programs work and how to get the most from them.

What is an eyewear display program?

A display program is a complete eyewear section in one SKU. You order one item and receive the glasses plus a counter display, shipper or spinner, already assorted. There’s no guessing which styles or strengths to buy, and the display is ready to sell as soon as it’s unboxed.

Our True Gear iShield® programs come in several sizes, for example:

• iShield Assorted Readers Cube Counter Display (66 pcs): a compact countertop cube of assorted reading glasses.
• Reader with Case PDQ (25 pcs): a small countertop display of readers that each come with a case.
• Sport Sunglasses Shipper (54 pcs), Men’s Sunglasses Shipper (48 pcs) and Fashion Sunglasses Shipper (54 pcs): floor or counter shippers of popular sunglass styles.

Reading glasses: getting the strengths right

Readers are sold by strength (diopter), usually from +1.00 to +3.50. The middle strengths usually sell the most, so a good program carries more of those and fewer of the lowest and highest. Assorted programs are already balanced this way, so you don’t have to work out the mix.

A few tips for readers:

• Include a mirror or a test card. Customers want to try them on and read something before they buy.
• Offer a few specialty styles. Blue-blocking readers appeal to people who spend all day on screens, and flip-up fishing readers sell well in outdoor and bait shops.
• Readers with cases sell at a higher price. A case adds value and protects the glasses in a purse or glove box.

Sunglasses: styles that sell

Sunglasses are an impulse buy driven by style. A well-rounded assortment includes:

• Sport styles for drivers, athletes and outdoor workers.
• Fashion styles like oversized frames and mirrored lenses for trend-conscious shoppers.
• Men’s classics such as aviators and wraparounds.
• Camo and outdoor styles, like our Open Road/Pro Guide Camo sunglasses, for hunting and rural markets.
• Kids’ sunglasses for family shoppers in summer.

Look for UV400 lenses, which block UVA and UVB rays. Many of our True Gear iShield® sunglasses, like the Big Shield Collection, have UV400 lenses, and it’s a selling point worth mentioning on your signage.

Where to place eyewear in your store

• Sunglasses near the entrance or fuel desk. Drivers notice the glare on the way in and pick up a pair on the way out.
• Readers near the pharmacy or register. Customers who can’t read a label or receipt are your best reader buyers.
• Use spinners for a large assortment. A rotating display shows many styles in a small footprint.
• Keep the display neat. Put each pair back in its slot, and replace broken or tried-on frames so the display looks fresh.

Refilling by style and strength

A program is only the start. Once you see what sells, refill only those styles instead of buying a whole new display:

1. Count empty slots weekly.
2. Reorder the exact styles and strengths that sold through, using reader reorders and sunglass reorders.
3. Add a new style or two each season to keep the display interesting for repeat customers.
4. Add accessories like the Eyewear Accessories Shipper (72 pcs), with items such as cases, cords and the eyeglass screwdriver keychain, for easy add-on sales.

Plan for the seasons

Sunglasses peak from spring through late summer, so set up or refill sunglass displays in March and April. Readers sell steadily all year. Many stores carry both and use a combination program to cover the year, such as the Tech & Sunglass Category Combination Program.

Frequently asked questions

Which reading glasses strengths sell best?

The middle strengths, roughly +1.50 to +2.50, usually sell the most. Assorted programs include more of those.

Do your sunglasses offer UV protection?

Many True Gear iShield® sunglasses have UV400 lenses that block UVA and UVB rays. Each product page lists the lens details.

Can I refill a display without buying a new one?

Yes. Reorder individual styles and strengths to keep your display full.

Giving back

A portion of the proceeds from every pair of True Gear iShield® eyewear supports Madonna School in Omaha, Nebraska, which serves students and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Browse reading glasses and sunglasses, or call 866-597-0240 to find the right program for your store.