Sunglass Hut

Early History

Sunglass Hut was started in 1971 by an enterprising optometrist who felt that people in Miami could benefit from eyewear that would protect them from the blazing Florida sun. Since he was also savvy enough to see the rising trend in making sunglasses a fashion accessory, this was an excellent opportunity for a man with entrepreneurial spirit and specialized knowledge. This optometrist, Sanford Ziff, opened a kiosk in Dadeland Mall, and stocked sunglasses which he sold for $20 and more. This first kiosk was wildly successful, and Ziff opened additional kiosks in Miami. Originally a family business, with human resources handled by Ziff's wife and corporate expansion directed by his son, the company grew to 100 Sunglass Hut stores by 1986. The stores were open in various markets throughout the United States, and annual sales had exceeded $24 million.

Worldwide Expansion

Ziff wasn't satisfied, however. He wanted to expand his company's reach to the entire world, and for that dream to become reality, he needed capital. So, in 1988, he sold Kidd Kamm and Co. a 75 percent share in the business, using the money from that deal to add new stores, upgrade old stores, and increase the variety of the company's product line. By the company's 20-year anniversary, annual sales were well in excess of $100 million and there were some 450 stores in various locations worldwide. It was at this time that the Ziff family sold their remaining interests in the business. It was also around this time that the market for high-priced sunglasses began to fall -- possibly due to economic pressures throughout the world at the beginning of the 1990s. However, despite falling sales, the retailer continued to expand, acquiring two of its competitors -- Sun Mark, Inc., and Sunglass Marketing, Inc., in 1989.

Sunglass Hut Goes Public

Sunglass Hut International went public in 1993, and used the proceeds to reorganize and retire some debt, as well as to finance further worldwide expansion. It also purchased yet another competitor: Wallis Arnold Enterprises. It was in the following year that the company moved into the Land Down Under, agreeing to a joint venture with Sunglass World to open 80 stores in Australia. Sunglass Hut also began to put resources into its mail-order division, as it had noticed that the average sale in a brick-and-mortar store was $80, while mail-orders averaged $110. The wider customer base achieved through the mail-order business was advantageous to the company's reputation and, of course, its bottom line. The company introduced its private label, SunGear, in 1995, with Steve Young as spokesman. It also introduced a line of prescription sunglasses in 1995 -- a product line that would last only three years. The chain continued to acquire its competitors, and, by 1996, had sales in excess of $500 billion, with more than 1700 stores in North America, Europe, Australia, and Mexico. The company moved into Asia in 1996, with a joint venture agreement between it and Royal Sporting House.

Streamlining and Refining

In the late 1990s, the luxury sunglass business was struggling, and the company took stringent measures to streamline operations, closing 250 stores, halving its vendor list, eliminating its prescription sunglasses line, and reducing brand and style selection by 90 percent. The company expanded its watch interests, however, acquiring Watch World in 2000, and changing some Sunglass Hut stores to combination watch and sunglasses outlets. It was in the early 00s that Luxotica Group, an Italian eyewear company with an eye to global marketing, bought the company, acquiring more than 1300 Sunglass Hut stores, 430 of the combination stores, and 228 of the watch stores. Today, the Sunglass Hut chain has 1806 locations in North America, Europe, Singapore, Australia and New Zealand, and the Carribean.

Brands Available at Sunglass Hut

Among the many high-quality brands available are:

• Adrienne Vittadini
• Bolle
• Bvlgari
• Chanel
• DKNY
• Dolce & Gabbana
• Maui Jim
• Oakley
• Polo - Ralph Lauren
• Prada
• Ray-Ban
• Revo
• Salvatore Ferragamo
• Serengeti
• Versace
• Vogue

Prices

Make no mistake. The sunglasses available here are not your $10 Wal-Mart specials. These are performance eyewear with a definite fashion focus. The brands available are seldom priced at less than $30, and most are $100 or more. However, the range of styles, colors, and types of sunglasses available (including polarized sunglasses), plus the outstanding customer service standards, make the products worth consideration. The website also promotes free shipping, a 30-day return policy, and a breakage protection policy. If you are in the market for either the perfect fashion accessory or high-quality, performance eyewear, this is definitely a retailer to consider.

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