Co-founders of Warby Parker and a fashion historian discuss the eyewear industry, EssilorLuxottica's market dominance, Ray-Ban's luxury status, and antitrust concerns. Explore high prices, historical evolution, monopolies, and Warby Parker's disruption. Government intervention, new challengers like Warby Parker, and strategies for affordable eyeglasses are also discussed.

Warby Parker co-CEOs Neil Blumenthal and Dave Gilboa share insights on leading a public for-profit company with a social mission. They discuss the advantages of having a business partner and the benefits of brick and mortar stores. They also talk about their decision to go public and the impact of artificial intelligence on eyecare. Their long-term goals include expanding access to eyewear and scaling their contact lens business.

Some aspects of your brand will be defined by what customers tell you; others, by what you tell them. In their stories of how they scaled Warby Parker from scrappy e-commerce site to comprehensive eyewear and eye care juggernaut, co-founder and co-CEOs Neil Blumenthal and Dave Gilboa give a master class in how to articulate crystal-clear brand values while also building and iterating based on fast customer feedback. Their lesson? Branding isn’t static. It’s a conversation.Read a transcript of this episode: https://mastersofscale.comSubscribe to the Masters of Scale weekly newsletter: https://mastersofscale.com/subscribeSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In 2008, it was nearly impossible to buy a fashionable, affordable pair of glasses online. That simple frustration inspired the idea behind Warby Parker – and disrupted the eyewear industry. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Neil Blumenthal, co-founder and co-CEO of Warby Parker, shares his journey in establishing a purpose-driven eyewear brand. He discusses the innovative 'buy-a-pair, give-a-pair' model and how it revolutionizes the industry while supporting social impact. Neil stresses the importance of strong company culture and values, particularly during crises like COVID-19. He offers advice for emerging entrepreneurs on integrating purpose into business strategy and attracting mission-driven talent, all while maintaining ethical practices and community empowerment.