The Eyewear market covers unmounted Spectacle Lenses, Sunglasses, frames for spectacles, and Contact Lenses for private end consumers, excluding protective eyewear and safety glasses. The most important brands, especially when it comes to sunglasses, are Ray-Ban, Dior, Gucci, Boss, and Prada. The Eyewear market relies heavily on imports from Asia (China, Thailand), while a significant production exists in only a few European countries (Italy, France, and Great Britian). With regard to distribution, there are two major types of brick-and-mortar retail businesses: specialist opticians (Fielmann, Apollo) and stores that are not specialized in selling eyewear (drugstores, supermarkets, fashion stores). This especially applies to the Sunglasses segment. In addition to brick-and-mortar retail stores, online stores for optical goods (Mister Spex, Brille 24) have secured a firm foothold in the market, too, although half of their revenue is generated from the sale of contact lenses and care products.
