A varied outlook

Natasha Cazin, senior research consultant, gave OT her predictions for the optical market in 2025.

Take a look back at Cazin’s reflections on the performance of the market in 2024 here.

1 A varied outlook

“The outlook for eyewear in the UK is varied. On the positive side, overall eyewear sales are expected to witness further growth over the forecast period, in both volume and value terms, supported by growing rates of myopia,” Cazin suggested.

A shift in lifestyles as consumers become increasingly health-conscious, and the ageing population, are expected to drive future demand.

However, negative factors threaten to dampen growth over the forecast period, Cazin said, primarily economic concern and the political landscape, as well as the “lingering impact of the cost-of-living crisis on consumers’ budgets.”

2 Weighing up purchases

Euromonitor International publishes its Global Consumer Trends every year, identifying the top trends expected to have the most significant impact on business in the year ahead.

Cazin highlighted two of the trends that are set to be particularly seen in the eyewear industry: ‘Wiser Wallets’ and ‘Healthspan Plans.’

Consumers who fall into the ‘Wiser Wallets’ group are “educated consumers who are weighing the worth of their purchases against their priorities,” Cazin told OT.

Optical businesses in the UK should respond to this trend in 2025 with marketing campaigns that convey “clear and tangible” benefits of their product offerings. Cazin suggested this could be highlighting messages of sustainability, durability, or high-tech features.

3 Future health

The ‘Healthspans Plans’ trend refers to consumers who are making changes now for the “betterment of their future selves.”

Cazin suggested that businesses can meet this need: “With the use of scientific evidence and proven results in their marketing materials for products designed for longevity, such as myopia control products designed for children.”

Educating consumers

Jason Kirk, CEO and founder of Kirk & Kirk Eyewear, told OT: “If the independent end of the market wants to grow, I believe that we need to focus on educating the consumer to understand what they are paying for and facilitating informed decisions rather than decisions based entirely on familiarity through omni-present marketing or price driven purchase.”

“If the geo-political situation remains stable or improves, we can hope for improved economic conditions and we can forecast growth in the independent sector in 2025 as we galvanise and look for success together as an independent movement,” he added.

Finding the opportunity

Sharing his expectations of the market in 2025, Tom Davies, founder of the eyewear company of the same name, said: “I’m pushing my Catch London brand in 2025 as hard as possible.”

Catch London, made in the Tom Davies factory in England, is company’s most affordable line, and would be classed as mid-market, Davies explained.

“My Tom Davies brand is focused on growing the top end because that’s where I see the opportunity,” he said.

Bespoke, horn, precious, and custom products have seen double digit growth in the last year of the business, he said, as optical practices look for products to differentiate themselves. This is something that Davies hopes to see continue in 2025.

Considering the market drivers identified by Euromonitor of the ageing population and health-conscious consumers, Davies told OT: “In my own stores, my best age group is 50–60 years old and [these customers] account for about 60% of my sales. On my wholesale, my customer is slightly younger at 43–49 years old. I’ve not quite worked out why.”

“I’ve had some success with the launch of my dry eye clinics in my stores and this looks like it’s going to add 10% to my turnover in 2025, so I can recommend anyone reading this consider adding this to your offer next year,” he said.