Sunglass makers expect to grow 250%

Manufacturers and brands of sunglasses are expecting a growth of up to 250% in sales this summer. To hook buyers bet on catalogues and certified wood frames with more than 200 different models. Entrepreneurs want to conquer part of an industry that moved $ 19.5 billion last year and should terminate 2013 with a turnover of r $ 23.3 billion.
With only 12 months of market, the Notiluca hopes to conclude its first annual sales about $ 600,000 and more than 70 shops in Brazil who buy and resell your glasses. In addition to the company and optical multibrand, with factory in São Bernardo do Campo, in the region of the greater ABC, set up an e-commerce for the final consumer. "Design and produce models with wooden frames and manufacturing manual", explains the partner and commercial Director, Fernando Rodrigues.
The company's idea was born on the banks of the Faculty of product design, in which Rao and partner Leonardo Valente studied. "We had many activities in the workshops of wood," he recalls. "One day, Leonardo decided to make gift glasses for his girlfriend and used some leftover material. The class loved it and I saw an opportunity there, "says Rao.
During the development of the project of the company, another partner, Fábio Willers, who worked with advertising, also decided to join the endeavor.
Today, the company has 12 employees and a plan of internationalization with forecast for starting from next year. There are also studies to open own sales points. Monthly production is 900 pairs, but the partners ' plans are ambitious. The goal is to double that volume until February 2014 and triple it by the end of next year. The factory offers eight different models, each with an average of three variations of drawing. Prices range from $ 350 to $ 490.
Also betting on wooden models, Yerik uses materials such as ebony and bamboo. The brand is also relatively young and was created in July 2012. Has three partners in command. Beatrice Smith and John Paul Latorre take care of the creative process and marketing, while Nicholas Kneip is p responsible for finance.
"We started selling in multibrand and arrived at magazines and blogs," says Beatriz, who studied fashion design and worked in a brand of accessories of the luxury market.
With four employees, the company grossed $ 43 million in 2012 and expected to reach R $ 600 thousand in 2013. Production of 200 pairs a month, comes from three factories in Asia, and composes a catalogue of 20 options. The idea of Beatrice, who maintains a design workshop in São Paulo, is the manufacturing volume grows 400% by 2014. Prices for glasses range from $ 420 to $ 700. "We expect an increase of 250% in sales this summer," says she. One of the novelties of the season is a model made of the same wood used in skateboards. The model was released last month and costs $ 575.
To attract fans of the dark lenses, Yerik sells more than 20 units of the same pair. Next year, the idea is to include other materials of natural origin in the products and use them in the creation of a line of accessories, also sustainable. "We're going to grow up to ten employees, in 2014," says Beatriz.
Suntech factory Supplies in Itupeva, São Paulo State, with 135 employees, 70% of the turnover is achieved with the sunglasses. all production goes to two brands of the Group: the HB-Hot Buttered and Secret. Founded 13 years ago, the company earned $ 30 million in 2012 and is expected to grow 15 percent this year, according to the commercial Director Silvio Luigi Cornaviera.
The company manufactures 40 thousand pairs a month and intends to expand this volume on 10% next year, with new features in the Windows. "We're going to have metal models from 2014," says Cornaviera. The new production line will make investments of $ 250,000.
Suntech Supplies also develops, with a partner in São José dos Campos (SP), a carbon fiber rod to be combined with aluminum frames and grilamid (plastic type Lightweight and flexible).
In addition to eight stores banner HB-Hot Buttered, in São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and Brasilia, the production, which delivers about 200 models, follows to more than 20 countries through distributors. Prices range from $ 200 to $ 400.
Second Cornaviera, one of the main obstacles of the entrepreneurs in the business is unfair competition. "The glasses are the second product more smuggled in Brazil, only behind CDs and DVDs," he says. "Without the pirates, our market could be ten times higher, generating more jobs and taxes".
According to Benedict Alcoforado, Director-President of the Brazilian Association of Optical Industry (Abióptica), of the 100 members of the entity, 95% are small and medium-sized enterprises. "To improve sales, these organizations need to modernize industrial parks and invest in design," he says. "The reduction in the use of third-party modeling, with more betting on own drawings, is a differentiator between competitors," says Alcoforado.
The Abióptica handed the federal Government a development plan for the sector, which proposes actions such as promotion of technical training, special lines of credit for the modernization of industry and tax exemption for producers. The Association estimates that there are more than 200 companies in the segment, with 78 plants in Brazil, being 24 large and medium and 54 small plants.