Warby Parker: Changing How We See Glasses

As we have seen throughout the semester, innovation often comes at times and in places where it couldn’t be expected less. Because in all honesty, the vast majority of people on Earth never look at mundane objects or businesses and not only have a desire to improve them but have the skill and ingenuity to create a better way of doing things. One of these seemingly set in stone business was the world of eyeglasses. This innovation came when two men, Neil Blumenthal and Dave Gilboa, started their business Warby Parker, to completely flip the concept of glasses shopping on its head. Warby Parker allows customers to shop for affordable and on trend eyeglasses and sunglasses, as well as contributing in a pair-for-pair exchange in impoverished countries, all from the comfort of their own homes.

            Admittedly, as a lifelong glasses-wearer, I have more of a vested interest in this idea than the average person, but truly anyone can see the ingenuity and deep thought behind Warby Parker. The idea for the business came while the two were grad students at the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania. Gilboa, previously a bioengineering student, lost a pair of $700 glasses on a plane just before starting school. Irritably complaining to those around, he found kindred spirits in Blumenthal and the other two co-founders, Jeff Raider and Andy Hunt. The idea of creating a way to bypass the hassle of glasses shopping and the huge price tag began to form amongst them all. It wasn’t until Blumenthal came forward with the concept of making and selling glasses online that the company really began to take form. Blumenthal came up with the idea based on is past working with a nonprofit providing training in eye exams to women in the developing world.

The formation of the company is a perfect example of how the collaboration between the Blumenthal and Gilboa continues to work to this day. Sharing the unusual title of co-CEO, each brings a viewpoint entirely their own the company, shaped by their separate pasts and skill sets. This allows the company to continually grow and expand upon itself. It’s their collaboration that takes the company to the next level, and further took the company off the ground in the first place. One of them alone could never have been able to create the small innovations that set Warby Parker apart. This small idea has grown to not only include their hugely profitable online shop, but over 50 stores around the country and over 1,000 employees. Today, Blumenthal oversees the stores and marketing, while Gilboa handles customer service and technology, yet both are incredibly involved in the work the other is doing. They greatly emphasize the importance to always work alongside each other as equals, so that not only will their business continue to flourish, but more importantly so will their friendship.

The concept behind the company Warby Parker is truly revolutionary in its field. While online shopping has been around for years, and the vast majority of the world is extremely familiar with it already, there was no such thing even conceived of it for eyeglasses. Blumenthal and Gilboa carefully plotted out their company to best serve the need they saw in the market as well as fill their desire to serve the world in a big way. They came up with solutions to every need they could think up. A huge emphasis is place on providing outstanding customer service, but perhaps their biggest innovation was the home try on. Because it may seem a little too risky to purchase glasses online, Blumenthal and Gilboa before beginning anything else, started the home try on, where customers get a free shipment of five pairs to try on at their leisure.

The pure innovation and ingenuity of Warby Parker and its co-founders Neil Blumenthal and Dave Gilboa lets it stand alone in today’s business world. The innovation of a model of business that had hardly changed since its beginning most definitely places them among the most creative minds in business.