Ray-Ban Overview

Our Group chose to work on Ray Bans. Many people today own or have owned a pair of Ray Bans. These sunglasses are very fashionable and anyone can wear at any time. Ray Bans have been around for a while. It was founded back in 1937 by Bausch and Lomb. Ray Bans is an American brand of sunglasses. How did it all start? Well in 1936 Lieutenant John Macready, who was an American Test Pilot, had returned from an air balloon flight with a complaint that the sun had permanently damaged his eyes. So he contacted Bausch & Lomb and asked them to create a sunglass that would provide protection and also look sophisticated. Once they created their first sunglasses they started to become popular. Pilots in the United State Army Air Corps immediately adopted the sunglasses. The army wanted sunglasses that would protect the soldiers eyes from harmful light while maintaining a stylish look and thats where Ray Bans came into play. Later, in 1999 Bausch & Lomb sold the brand to an Italian group called, Luxottica for about $640 million.

Luxottica is the largest eyewear company. It includes well known brand like mentioned earlier, Ray Bans, Persol, and Oakley Inc. Luxottica doesn’t only make sunglasses it also makes prescription frames for a multitude designers brands such as Chanel and Prada. Luxottica was started by Leonardo Del Vecchio in 1961 in Agordo north of Belluno Italy, today its headquartered in Milan. In 1967 he began selling complete eyeglass frame under the Luxottica brand, which became very successful in 1971. Today Luxottica doesn’t only sell to major brand but they also sell to retail chains such as, Sunglass Hut, Pearle Vision Center, etc. In the United States, EyeMed Vision Care is owned by Luxottica.

Through the years Ray Ban became very popular. Its net sales began to increase. They were mostly being sold in North America and Europe and we so our group decided to focus our project in these two areas. Many celebrity began to use Ray Bans. In the 1950s and 1960s...