Online Eyewear Retail Trends to Look Out For
Over the years, e-commerce has become a prominent channel for eyewear businesses to reach customers. Research from Market Research Future shows that the eyewear e-commerce market is expected to grow from $34.6 billion in 2023 to $60.5 billion by 2032. As smartphone and Internet usage continues to rise, more and more consumers are using the convenience of online shopping.
Nowadays, eyewear brands that make the most of emerging technologies can significantly improve customer experience. Features such as virtual try-ons, augmented reality, and personalized recommendations have helped make online shopping for eyewear easier and more engaging. Alongside the rise of technology, there is also a market shift towards niche demographics like buyers interested in sustainability and eco-friendly eyewear options.
In this post, we’ll take a look at some of the key online eyewear retail trends to look out for:
Virtual try on
One of today’s hottest online eyewear retail trends is using augmented reality (AR) technology to facilitate virtual try-ons. For customers who may not be sure of what specific eyewear to get, virtual try-on uses a customer’s camera — on a smartphone, tablet, or computer webcam — to augment a realistic 3D render of specific eyewear onto the customer’s face.
For example, glasses and eyewear retailer promotes its website’s virtual try-on feature as a “virtual mirror”. For instance, customers torn between the half-rimmed Ray-Ban Clubmaster Optics and the rectangular Oakley Overhead can use the AR-powered feature to see which frames suit a buyer’s specific face shape, preferences, and more. By now, virtual try-ons are a popular and innovative feature in the online eyewear retail sector and in other fashion markets, such as clothing and makeup.
Personalized recommendations
Where virtual try-on allows customers to see which eyewear product looks best on them, AI-powered personalization features provide recommendations based on a customer’s needs and preferences. For many eyewear retailer websites, personalization comes in the form of automated chatbots that customers can interact with and ask queries to.
Aside from AI chatbots, personalization can also take the form of algorithmic suggestions on specific website pages. For example, customers looking at a particular pair of sunglasses on a brand’s website may scroll down and see other sunglasses recommendations from the same brand, style, colorway, or lens upgrade and coating suggestions that may be useful. Other personalization options may include eyewear accessories that go well with a product page a customer is spending time on.
Eco-friendly eyewear
Finally, there has been a significant market shift in recent years. As consumers become more eco-conscious and concerned about the environment, eyewear brands and manufacturers adopt increasingly sustainable practices to cater to this growing demand.
For example, sunglasses and goggles brand MessyWeekend recently announced its eco-friendly and bio-acetate sunglasses for the travel retail demography — specifically, Gen Z travelers. By narrowing down its target demographic, the Copenhagen-based eyewear brand aims to appeal to eco-conscious travelers looking for greener eyewear alternatives. Aside from offering eco-friendly products, eyewear brands promote sustainability by implementing eco-conscious manufacturing, packaging, and delivery methods to reduce emissions and environmental impact.
As technological improvements continue to impact the sector, it’ll be interesting to see how these trends develop and influence customers. Of course, aside from integrating the latest technologies and retail trends, online eyewear retail sites should also ensure website security to protect business data and customer privacy. While technological advancements are undoubtedly helpful, it’s essential to remember that cyber threats are also becoming more sophisticated.
