Eyebar: A niche concept that flourishes in a crisis

In today’s trying times, innovation is a “must-do” for entrepreneurs in order to survive and this has triggered a Cebuano retailer to come up with an unconventional way of providing customers’ eye care and eye wear needs through Eyebar.

At a glance, one may think Eyebar is just another restobar in Cebu, but this shop is actually a complete optical clinic but presented in a lifestyle concept with an ambiance that is cool, refreshing and one-of-a-kind.

Eyebar Optical Boutique located at the second floor of The Walk in Asiatown IT Park has just opened last month but with its unique concept, it was able to capture the interests of discerning Cebuano consumer that invitations from mall operators in Cebu and Manila started to come in, said Chris Tio, president of Eyepad Vision Corp.

Tio said that unlike typical eye clinics, Eyebar provides a trendy approach in eye care which at the same time makes sure that their clientele will feel and look good with their eye wear.

“It’s a lifestyle store because it’s an optical clinic but it feels like a bar. It’s where young people can feel good because they get the right eye care and can choose the right eyewear which suits their own personal styles,” said Tio.

With its tagline “See it your way,” Eyebar provides the younger segment of the market a wide range of eyewear options from sunglasses, eye glasses to contact lenses may it be for the sake of fashion or for eye care.

Eyebar carries a wide collection of branded glasses from the likes of Christian Dior, Fendi, Hugo Boss, Nike, Elizabeth Arden, Bolle, Serengeti, among other which prices could reach to as high as P30, 000 for sunglasses and P15, 000 for eye glasses.

But Eyebar also carry house brands which offer the same quality from branded glasses but at a more affordable rate and they have a package of P1, 500 for a piece.

“Unlike traditional eye clinics, we try to serve everybody’s needs so we have a wide collection of different styles and designs. Our prices are subject to what you can afford or what you want and what will make you feel and look good,” said Tio.

He said that their company will be going into niche concepts in the optical industry and they will soon be opening three more optical shops with different concepts and markets and they are also eyeing operations in the national level.

“We try to improve different customer experiences and provide a friendly customer environment so that we can provide not just eye care but also emphasize on the eye wear and the lifestyle factor,” said Tio.

This week, the company will be opening Eyes Candy, an optical boutique catered for children and this will be located in the third level of the Ayala Center Cebu.

Another concept eyed for 2009 will be an upscale optical shop that will showcase latest high-end eyewear that will complement the current trend of high fashion and right now, the company is still negotiating with mall operators for a store space.

They are also looking at opening another optical shop that will showcase sports performance optics and lenses that will help improve performance level.

“These are very niche concepts targeted to specified market segments. In a limited economy, you would strive to be noticed so it is necessary to be unique and to stand out right now because if you don’t innovate and you stick to what you have always been doing, it will be difficult to survive. We have to add value and focus on making the market feel better,” said Tio.