Unbranded to Branded

Eyewear market in India rest buoyant despite recession Despite the economic crisis, the eyewear market in India as a whole displayed healthy step-up in batch gross sales in 2009, while growth in its value sales slowed marginally relative to 2008. The claim for premium lenses, frames and sunglasses slowed more than that of the low-price and parsimoniousness segments, so there was an everyplaceall slow-down of growth in value sales at the end of appraise period. Spectacles still preferred over contact lensesWhile marketers of contact lenses made an aggressive push into the Indian consumer market, in particular the young adult segment, the mass market continued to prefer eyeglasses over contact lenses. The two factors that have kept the level and growth rate of sales of contact lenses below those of spectacles are concerns just about their use and their price. The prescription market remains biased in favour of spectacles and opticians rarely prescribe contact lenses unles s the patient specifically requests them.Direct imports slip away market completely fragmented Retail shelves across the country are full of imported spectacle frames and sunglasses. These low-priced imports played an important role in sustaining demand, especially for sunglasses, whose sales enjoyed the highest growth of any subsector in 2009, as they had in 2008. These imports have also kept the spectacles market entirely fragmented, with exclusively eight companies holding even a 1% share of retail sales in Indian eyewear market. Chained specialists enjoy significant growthThe review period saw the growth of several chained specialist retailers, much(prenominal) as Titan Eye+, GKB Opticals and sight Care. Titan Eye+ has been a game changer in that it has modernised the retail sector and obligate others to follow suit. In order to remain competitive, opticians feel compelled to increase their ranges of frames, furnish eye-testing services and carry contact lenses as well. Re liances Vision Express is another large player that is likely to influence merchandising and distribution in the years to come.Chained specialists are also able to manage better deals with suppliers, undertake promotions, offer better prices to customers, and provide greater visibility for new products and launches. Demand for spectacles expected to continue driving retail sales of eyewear The prescription market is expected to continue to drive demand in the forecast period, as literacy rates increase, more children become future wearers of spectacles, and economic growth sustains the increase in purchasing power.