Nothing’s more powerful than peer intel.

That’s why we conduct EB’s annual Frame + Sunwear Virtual Focus Group and share the results of that research here.

Here, we take a closer look at the biggest pieces of the frame and sun product puzzle—inventory mix, sun and Rx-ready sales, and some of the savvy selling strategies behind it all.

The best news? Sales are up. In fact, 61% of your peers report their sunwear sales have increased. Only 8% see a drop. And, nearly 4 out of 10 (37%) say Rx sunwear is their fastest-growing category, up from 29% a year earlier.

They also report that, excluding sunwear, a whopping 84% of total sales come from Rx-ready optical frames. That’s up from 67% a year earlier.

The Mix

How do your peers manage their inventory? On average, they work with a total of 10 frame companies to achieve their merchandise mix. Just over half of that is in the mid-price range, with women’s styles accounting for 40% of frames on display. Three-quarters also report they’ve increased their amount of mid-price eyewear during the past three years. In terms of frame board space, Rx sunwear takes up more room (20%) than any other specialty category, followed by kids’ and computer eyewear (12% each).

The Sale

Insurance coverage has been a big factor in eyewear pricing for years. This time around, however, 52% of those surveyed say it plays no role in their pricing; 39% have increased prices to compensate; and 9% report lowering prices.

In terms of sales, 25.3% more Rx-ready optical frames have been sold than in the year before. That’s a healthy increase. All told, 84% of dispensary sales come from Rx-ready optical frames. Another 18% come from sunwear, and those numbers are on the rise.