Jump to content

Warby Parker

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Warby Parker Inc.
FormerlyJAND Inc.
TypePublic
IndustryRetail
FoundedFebruary 2010 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Founders
  • Jeffrey Raider
  • Andrew Hunt
  • Neil Blumenthal
  • David Gilboa
Headquarters
New York City
,
U.S.
Number of locations
323 (2025)
Key people
RevenueIncrease US$871.9 million (2025)
Negative increase US$−5.3 million (2025)
Negative increase US$−1.6 million (2025)
Total assetsIncrease US$720 million (2025)
Total equityIncrease US$367 million (2025)
Number of employees
4,036 (2025)
Websitewarbyparker.com
Footnotes
[1]

Warby Parker Inc. is an American eyewear brand and retailer of prescription glasses, contact lenses, and sunglasses, headquartered in New York City. It also offers eye exams.[2][3] Originally founded in 2010 as an online-only retailer, the company now generates most of its revenue from its physical retail stores.[3][4]

The interior of a Warby Parker retail store at Washington Union Station

The name "Warby Parker" derives from two characters that appear in a journal written by Jack Kerouac.[5]

Warby Parker designs its products in-house and sells them directly to consumers through its website and stores. The company orders its own materials and works directly with partners in Italy, Vietnam, Japan, and China to manufacture their frames, often in the same factories as competitors such as Luxottica.[3][6]

History

[edit]

The company was founded in 2010 in Philadelphia by Neil Blumenthal, Andrew Hunt, David Gilboa, and Jeffrey Raider while they were MBA students at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.[7][8] Blumenthal, Hunt, Gilboa, and Raider received a $2,500 seed investment through the Venture Initiation Program and launched the company in February 2010.[9][10] That month, shortly after launching, the company was covered by Vogue and GQ.[11][12]

In May 2011, Warby Parker raised its first round of funding totaling $2.5 million. In September 2011, the company raised a Series A round of $12.5 million.[13] In September 2012, it raised a $37 million Series B round.[14] It raised an additional $4 million in February 2013 from American Express and Mickey Drexler.[15] In 2011, Warby Parker shipped more than 100,000 pairs of glasses and had 60 employees.[16] By the end of 2012, the company had grown to around 100 employees. In April 2015, the company raised $100 million in a funding round led by T. Rowe Price, valuing it at $1.2 billion.[17]

In 2017, the company opened a 34,000-square-foot, $16 million optical lab in Rockland County, New York, to oversee a portion of the lens manufacturing process.[18][19]

Warby Parker began offering virtual prescription check tests in 2017.[20] The company released its first-ever kids’ line of glasses in January 2018.[21]

In the early years of the company, in addition to eyeglasses, sunglasses, and contact lenses, Warby Parker sold monocles with prescription lenses as a way to reflect the brand’s emphasis on fun and whimsy.[22][23]

In March 2018, Warby Parker raised $75 million in Series E funding, bringing its total funding to about $300 million.[24]

In February 2019, Warby Parker released a Virtual Try-On feature that uses augmented reality and the iPhone's facial-mapping technology to display frames at realistic scale and placement on a user's face.[25]

In November 2019, Warby Parker released its first brand of daily contacts, Scout by Warby Parker.[26][27]

In August 2020, Warby Parker raised $245 million in a funding round that valued the company at $3 billion. The $245 million was a combination of a Series F round and a Series G round.[28][29]

In July 2021, Warby Parker introduced the Virtual Vision Test app, a successor to its 2017 virtual prescription check, that allows iPhone users to update eyeglass and contact lens prescriptions.[30]

On September 29, 2021, the company became a public company via direct listing on the New York Stock Exchange.[31][32] Warby Parker was the first public benefit corporation to go public through a direct listing.[33]

In November 2021, Warby Parker opened its second U.S. laboratory, in Summerlin, Nevada, near Las Vegas. The 69,000-square-foot lab was built to primarily serve customers living west of Texas.[34][35]

In October 2023, a federal appeals court ruled that the company's use of keyword 1-800 Contacts in search engine optimization to redirect search engine users to its website was not in violation of U.S. trademark law.[36]

From April 1 to 8, 2024, Warby Parker made free solar eclipse glasses available at its U.S. retail stores to provide safe viewing of the Great North American Eclipse.[37][38]

Retail model

[edit]
Vintage-style Warby Parker sign at a retail store on 82nd and Lexington Ave. in NYC

The company sells eyewear online and through its retail locations in the United States and Canada. Warby Parker's "Home-Try-On program" was a strategy used by the company in which its customers selected five frames from the website, which they received and tried on at home within a five-day period, free of charge, but that program ended at the end of 2025. The company has programs where customers upload a photo and try on frames virtually through their mobile app.[39]

Warby Parker began operating online exclusively in 2010.[40] As Warby Parker's revenue started to grow, the company tested several different retail models, including opening brick-and-mortar showrooms in boutiques across the country.[41]

In 2012, Warby Parker launched the Class Trip, an outfitted yellow school bus that they turned into a store and toured across the country.[42] The company opened its first brick-and-mortar store in April 2013 in New York City.[43] Later, the company announced its plan to build its own point of sale system,[44] which was implemented by 2015.[45]

By January 2017, the company operated around 41 stores in 28 U.S. states along with two stores in Toronto and one in Vancouver.[46]

In 2025, the company opened 47 new stores, the most it has added in one year.[47] By the end of 2025, it operated 323 stores and grew its customer base to 2.69 million, a 7% increase from 2024.[48] Also in 2025, the company opened locations in Target stores.[49]

Corporate social responsibility

[edit]

Warby Parker uses a social entrepreneurship model, called Buy a Pair, Give a Pair.[50] For each pair of glasses purchased, the company pays for the production of another pair of eyeglasses with nonprofit organizations like VisionSpring and Restoring Vision.[51][52][53] In June 2014, Warby Parker announced it had distributed one million pairs of eyeglasses to people in need.[54] Through Buy a Pair, Give a Pair, the company has distributed over 25 million pairs of glasses in more than 80 countries as of May 2026.[50] The company also claims to be 100% carbon neutral across its operations.[55][56]

In 2015, Warby Parker launched Pupils Project, which works to provide free vision screenings, eye exams, and glasses to U.S. public school students.[57]

The company received B Corp certification in 2010 soon after its founding but let the status lapse, choosing not to reincorporate as a Benefit corporation.[58] Warby Parker became a public benefit corporation and re-incorporated as a B Corp in mid-2021 prior to their direct listing.[59][60][61][62] To coincide with the direct listing, the company launched the Warby Parker Impact Foundation and authorized up to 1% of the company’s outstanding shares for future grants to the foundation.[63]

Partnerships

[edit]

In 2015, Warby Parker established a partnership with Nordstrom, the brand's first national retail partnership, which led the company to establish six pop-up shops nationwide.[64]

Google announced its partnership with Warby Parker at Google I/O 2025 to develop AI-powered smart glasses based on the Android XR platform, supported by the Gemini AI assistant, investing up to $150 million in the initiative. At Google I/O 2026, Google unveiled the first Warby Parker-branded Android XR intelligent eyewear, announcing that the models would launch in fall 2026 with support for both prescription and non-prescription lenses.[65][66][67]

In 2025, Warby Parker launched Book Report, a public event series at its flagship store in New York City that hosts conversations with authors. Participants have included Lena Dunham and Gloria Steinem.[68][69]

References

[edit]
  1. ↑ "Warby Parker Inc. 2025 Form 10-K". U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. February 26, 2026. Retrieved September 29, 2026.
  2. ↑ "Warby Parker Brick-and-Mortar Store Expansion Update". Review of Optometric Business. July 2, 2024. Retrieved September 29, 2026.
  3. 1 2 3 "Warby Parker Inc. 2025 Form 10-K". U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. February 26, 2026. Retrieved September 29, 2026.
  4. ↑ "Warby Parker Brick-and-Mortar Store Expansion Update". Review of Optometric Business. July 2, 2024. Retrieved March 26, 2025.
  5. ↑ O'Connell, Vanessa (July 18, 2012). "Warby Parker Co-Founder Says Initial Vision Was All About Price". The Wall Street Journal.
  6. ↑ "Why 4 B-School Students Decided To Found Warby Parker". Disruption. May 17, 2016. Retrieved March 26, 2025.
  7. ↑ Selipsky, Nina (January 25, 2017). "Warby Parker comes home to Philadelphia". The Daily Pennsylvanian.
  8. ↑ Denning, Steve (March 23, 2016). "What's Behind Warby Parker's Success?". Forbes.
  9. ↑ Lamare, Amy (October 6, 2020). "How Warby Parker disrupted the eyewear industry". www.businessofbusiness.com. Retrieved March 26, 2025.
  10. ↑ "Neil Blumenthal Shares the Warby Parker Story". Wharton Magazine. Retrieved March 26, 2025.
  11. ↑ Bahrenburg, Genevieve (February 22, 2010). "In Focus: Warby Parker Eyewear". Vogue.
  12. ↑ gq.com (March 1, 2010). "Get Framed! A GQ Guide to Glasses". GQ. Retrieved October 3, 2026.
  13. ↑ McMhana, Ty (September 22, 2011). "Stylish Eyewear Maker Warby Parker Tries on $12M In Funding". The Wall Street Journal.
  14. ↑ Primack, Dan (September 9, 2012). "Warby Parker raises $37 million". Fortune.
  15. ↑ de la Merced, Michael J. (February 24, 2012). "J.Crew Chief and American Express Invest in Warby Parker". The New York Times.
  16. ↑ "Warby Parker: A brand born out of the founder's plight". Hindustan Times. April 4, 2023.
  17. ↑ MacMillan, Douglas (April 20, 2015). "Eyeglass Retailer Warby Parker Valued at $1.2 Billion". The Wall Street Journal.
  18. ↑ Juang, Mike (June 6, 2017). "Sloatsburg, NY, town of around 3,000, offers a peek at the future of eyeglasses". CNBC.
  19. ↑ Segran, Elizabeth (June 27, 2016). "Warby Parker is opening an enormous new optical lab in Rockland County". Fast Company.
  20. ↑ "Glasses retailer Warby Parker working on smartphone-based eye exam | MobiHealthNews". www.mobihealthnews.com. May 4, 2015. Retrieved September 29, 2026.
  21. ↑ Wolper, Caitlin (February 1, 2018). "Parent In Profile: Warby Parker CEO Neil Blumenthal – New York Family". www.newyorkfamily.com. Retrieved September 29, 2026.
  22. ↑ Blumenthal, Neil. "Why We Sell a Monocle". Inc. Retrieved October 3, 2026.
  23. ↑ "Warby Parker's co-CEOs explain how they manage their successful partnership". Fortune. Retrieved October 3, 2026.
  24. ↑ Thomas, Lauren (March 14, 2018). "Warby Parker raises $75 million in latest round of funding". CNBC.
  25. ↑ "Warby Parker launches AR tool for virtual try-on | Retail Dive". www.retaildive.com. Retrieved September 29, 2026.
  26. ↑ "Warby Parker makes contact lenses now". PhillyVoice. Retrieved September 29, 2026.
  27. ↑ Bursztynsky, Jessica (November 19, 2019). "Warby Parker is launching Scout, its own line of contact lenses". CNBC. Retrieved September 29, 2026.
  28. ↑ Glover, Ellen. "Warby Parker Raises $245M, Reaches $3B Valuation | Built In NYC". www.builtinnyc.com. Retrieved September 29, 2026.
  29. ↑ Shen, Lucinda (August 27, 2020). "Warby Parker raises $245 million for a $3 billion valuation". Fortune.
  30. ↑ Staff, INVISION (July 25, 2021). "Warby Parker Rolls Out 'Virtual Vision Test' App". INVISIONMAG.COM. Retrieved October 3, 2026.
  31. ↑ Hirsch, Lauren (September 29, 2021). "With sales soaring, Warby Parker prepares for its market debut". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331.
  32. ↑ Thomas, Lauren (September 29, 2021). "Warby Parker opens at $54.05 per share in public debut on NYSE, soaring more than 30% above reference price". CNBC.
  33. ↑ Staff. "Warby Parker Shares Hit the NYSE and Get Off to a Flying Start, as Offering Values the Company at Almost $6 Billion". www.visionmonday.com. Retrieved September 29, 2026.
  34. ↑ "Warby Parker Opens Vegas Lab". PentaVision. Retrieved October 3, 2026.
  35. ↑ Hudson, Subrina (November 17, 2021). "Warby Parker opens optical lab in southwest Las Vegas". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved October 3, 2026.
  36. ↑ Brittain, Blake (October 8, 2024). "Warby Parker fends off 1–800 Contacts' keyword ad case at US appeals court". Reuters.
  37. ↑ Rodriguez, Katherine (March 14, 2024). "Warby Parker is giving away free solar eclipse glasses to safely watch the 2024 total solar eclipse". nj. Retrieved October 3, 2026.
  38. ↑ read, Emmanuel Camarillo (March 31, 2024). "Warby Parker offering free solar eclipse-viewing glasses". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved October 3, 2026.
  39. ↑ Mitroff, Sarah (September 12, 2012). "With $37M, Warby Parker Sets Its Sights on More Than Just Eyeglasses". Wired.
  40. ↑ Sebra, Matt (April 15, 2013). "Store Spotlight: Warby Parker's First Flagship Store". GQ.
  41. ↑ White, Abby (November 5, 2012). "Got Glasses? Warby Parker Comes to Imogene + Willie". Nashville Scene. Retrieved March 26, 2025.
  42. ↑ Sebra, Matt (October 11, 2012). "Last Night... Class Trippin' with Warby Parker". GQ. Retrieved March 26, 2025.
  43. ↑ MacMillan, Douglas (November 17, 2014). "Warby Parker Adds Storefronts to Its Sales Strategy". Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved September 29, 2026.
  44. ↑ Del Rey, Jason (June 24, 2013). "An Unlikely Startup Enters the Point-of-Sale Business: Warby Parker". All Things Digital.
  45. ↑ McDowell, Maghan (December 14, 2015). "Warby Parker Opens Store in San Jose". Women's Wear Daily.
  46. ↑ Howland, Daphne (January 24, 2017). "Warby Parker to open at least 25 physical stores in 2017". Industry Dive.
  47. ↑ "Warby Parker posts first full year of net income profit; plans 50 stores in 2026". Chain Store Age. February 26, 2026. Retrieved September 29, 2026.
  48. ↑ "Warby Parker posts first annual net income | Retail Dive". www.retaildive.com. Retrieved May 21, 2026.
  49. ↑ Hartzog, Carson (August 4, 2025). "Warby Parker locations now open in Targets, including Bloomington". Archived from the original on September 12, 2025. Retrieved May 21, 2026.
  50. 1 2 Lee, Bruce Y. (September 28, 2025). "A Billion People Need Vision Care. What a New Bloomberg Effort Will Do". Forbes. Retrieved September 29, 2026.
  51. ↑ Fitzgerald, Michael (February 10, 2015). "For Warby Parker, Free Glasses Equals Clear Company Vision". Entrepreneur.
  52. ↑ Gerber, Monica (December 22, 2011). "Warby Parker may have a better 'buy one, give one' model". Christian Science Monitor.
  53. ↑ "Neil Blumenthal And Warby Parker Bring Vision To Those In Need". HuffPost. August 29, 2011. Retrieved March 26, 2025.
  54. ↑ "Warby Parker Has Now Distributed 1 Million Pairs of Glasses". Fashionista. June 26, 2014. Retrieved September 29, 2026.
  55. ↑ Zelman, Josh (February 24, 2012). "In Focus: Warby Parker Eyewear". TechCrunch.
  56. ↑ Staff. "Warby Parker Highlights Carbon Footprint Management in 2025 Impact Report". www.visionmonday.com. Retrieved September 29, 2026.
  57. ↑ "Warby Parker unveils pilot program for kids in New York City". www.bizjournals.com. Retrieved September 29, 2026.
  58. ↑ Marquis, Christopher (2020). Better Business: How the B Corp Movement Is Remaking Capitalism. Yale University Press. p. 191. ISBN 978-0-300-25615-4.
  59. ↑ Thomas, Lauren (September 29, 2021). "Warby Parker opens at $54.05 per share in public debut on NYSE, soaring more than 30% above reference price". CNBC. Retrieved March 26, 2025.
  60. ↑ Deffenbaugh, Ryan (August 26, 2021). "Warby Parker public offering brings test for companies promising societal good". Crain Communications.
  61. ↑ "The Tao of Being the Warby Parker of Eyeglasses". Yahoo Life. August 22, 2023. Retrieved March 26, 2025.
  62. ↑ Wilhelm, Alex (August 25, 2021). "D2C specs purveyor Warby Parker files to go public". TechCrunch.
  63. ↑ Tosh, Marge Axelrad and Mark. "Snapshots of Optical's 10 Largest U.S. Retail Players". mobile.visionmonday.com. Retrieved September 29, 2026.
  64. ↑ Staff, INVISION (July 25, 2021). "Warby Parker Rolls Out 'Virtual Vision Test' App". INVISIONMAG.COM. Retrieved October 3, 2026.
  65. ↑ PYMNTS (May 20, 2026). "Warby Parker Offers Glimpse of Google-Powered Smart Glasses | PYMNTS.com". PYMNTS.com. Retrieved October 3, 2026.
  66. ↑ Schwarz, Hunter (May 19, 2026). "Warby Parker and Google take on Meta with new AI smart glasses". Fast Company. Retrieved October 3, 2026.
  67. ↑ Rogers, James (May 20, 2025). "Warby Parker partners with Google as they take on Meta with AI-powered glasses". MarketWatch. Retrieved October 3, 2026.
  68. ↑ Naer, Danielle (May 1, 2026). "Gloria Steinem Hosted a Book Party at Her Historic Home for Lena Dunham". Vogue. Retrieved October 3, 2026.
  69. ↑ "AA Brands Book Culture: Warby Parker, Jimmy John's and Book Clubs". Ad Age. Retrieved October 3, 2026.
[edit]
  • Official website
  • Business data for Warby Parker, Inc.:
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Warby_Parker&oldid=1378262482"