As you know, fashion designers and stylists consider face shape among many other criteria when coming up with new designs. Face shape is important regardless of who your wholesale supplier of bulk sunglasses might be. Your customers want to know how your products will look on their faces. Some may ask you for advice based on what to buy.

Six Basic Face Shapes

Though people rarely have perfectly shaped faces that never change for a lifetime, there are some general categories under which different face shapes are grouped. Essentially, there are six of them. Here they are:

1. Oval.
2. Round.
3. Square.
4. Oblong/Rectangular.
5. Diamond.
6. Heart.

Face shape is a combination of face structure (jawbone and cheeks), hairline, and chin. As such, a person's face shape could change with a new hairstyle. Likewise, a man's face shape could look one way clean shaven and another way with a beard or goatee. This is why it is so important to understand basic face shapes and how they apply to sunglasses.

Measuring the Face

We don't get asked much about how to measure face shape in our capacity as a sunglasses wholesaler. But as a retailer, you might get the question from time to time. Fortunately, measuring face shape is not difficult. A consumer looking to figure out her face shape based on actual measurements would need to measure three things:

1. Face Width – First is face width. This is measured by going from cheekbone to cheekbone. Using a tailor's tape measure, one end is placed just under the eye at the top of the cheekbone. It runs across the face to the same point on the other side.
2. Face Length – Measuring face length starts with placing the tape measure at the center of the hairline on the forehead. The tape measure runs down the nose all the way to the bottom of the chin.
3. Jaw Line – Finally, measuring the jawline begins with placing the tape measure just below one ear at the very end of the jawbone. The tape measure is run underneath the chin to the same point on the other side.

With these three measurements in place, it is possible to sketch the shape of one's face on a piece of paper. Looking in the mirror and comparing what is seen against the sketch reconciles the two images and should clearly point to the shape of the person's face.

As a retailer, you might be able to separate yourself from the competition by helping customers measure their faces. Obviously, doing so would be a business decision. But helping people understand face shape could also help them make a more informed decision about their sunglasses.

Different Styles of Sunglasses for Different Face Shapes

Needless to say that there are different styles of sunglasses for different face shapes. The idea behind matching face shape with sunglasses style is to create a complementary aesthetic. Your customers don't want sunglasses that amplify flaws or even overemphasize the shape of one's face. They also do not want sunglasses that stick out because they contrast so much from natural shape.

Here at OE Sunglasses, we sell wholesale sunglasses for men, women, and children in a variety of shapes and styles. We have exactly what your customers need regardless of face shape.

As a wholesale sunglasses distributor, we look forward to spring's arrival every year. The change in seasons is obviously good for our business. But it is also good for yours. You can trust us when we say that we want you to succeed. When retail sunglasses sell, we both win!

Prime Targets for Spring Sales

We have no way of knowing your prime targets for women's wholesale sunglasses and men's wholesale sunglasses. But we do know there are certain audiences that are more easily targeted for spring sales. Near the top of the list are families with travel plans.

Spring is the ideal time to head south for a little bit of fun in the sun. And when people head south, they buy sunglasses. Spring is also an ideal time for taking shorter trips that allow families to get away without interfering with school schedules that only get tighter as the end of the year approaches. But even families who prefer shorter trips still buy sunglasses.

Additional targets for spring sales include:

• Anglers – The advent of spring invites anglers to get out on their boats.
• Athletes – Warmer weather gets athletes out of the gym and into the great outdoors.
• Landscapers – Landscapers who have had the winter off start cutting lawns and planting flowers in the spring.
• Road Crews – Spring ushers in the annual road construction season and the need for new shades among road crew workers.

There may be other groups of people you are thinking of right now. That's fine. You know your audience best. The point being made here is to think about the types of customers most likely to buy sunglasses from you in the spring. They are the ones to target with marketing efforts over the next couple of months.

We Have the Inventory

We are here to come alongside you with a complete inventory of wholesale sunglasses for men, women, and children. Olympic Eyewear carries nearly two-dozen brands as well as a selection of unbranded, logo-free products ready to accept your label.

Check out our inventory and you will see aviator, cat eye, and wayfarer sunglasses in bulk. You'll find wraparounds and sports sunglasses. You will see that we carry sunglasses in just about every size, shape, and color consumers want. Needless to say that we have the inventory.

We make it a point to stay abreast of consumer trends so that we always have the bulk sunglasses you need to keep your shelves stocked. As you prepare for spring and summer sales, be sure to check out what we have going. If you ever have questions about our inventory, do not hesitate to ask.

Don't Wait for the Season to Arrive

Spring is now on the doorstep. Summer will follow shortly thereafter. The last thing we want to encourage you with is a reminder to not wait for either season to arrive. Be proactive. Get ready for both spring and summer in the weeks leading up to each seasonal change.

With the change of seasons come opportunities to increase your revenue. Give it your best shot for spring and summer 2024. We can supply the wholesale sunglasses. You supply the drive and willingness to turn them into revenue.

The psychology of luxury is an interesting phenomenon. Psychiatrists and psychologists have been studying it for years. One thing we know from all their research is that leveraging it to drive sales is all about making an emotional connection. Here is the dirty little secret: you can make that connection whether your designer sunglasses cost $50 or $500.

How People Feel About Luxury

Understanding the basics of the psychology of luxury really boils down to understanding how people feel about luxury items. It is rooted in an emotional experience for most people, due to the fact that purchasing a luxury item can trigger the release of that feel-good hormone known as dopamine.

We have all experienced it from time to time. When we finally get our hands on something we have wanted to buy for a long time, it feels good. Most of us tend to experience those good feelings when purchasing something we consider luxurious.

In addition to the positive emotions, luxury purchases can also boost a person's self-esteem. A luxury purchase is often linked to higher quality, better craftsmanship, and even social elevation. All these things contribute to an increased level of self-satisfaction.

Belonging to an Exclusive Club

Let us not forget that luxury is often associated with exclusivity. In other words, people who can afford luxury goods feel as though they belong to an exclusive club. Such feelings are not without merit. Not everybody can afford to drop several hundred, or even thousand, dollars on a pair of designer sunglasses.

The sense of exclusivity a person experiences with luxury purchases can be enhanced by the status of their particular brand choice. Certain brands garner more respect than others. Specifically in regard to sunglasses, choosing the right brand can even heighten one's sense of exclusivity.

The Relationship to Cheap Sunglasses

At this point, you might be puzzled as to what any of this has to do with cheap sunglasses. Step back and think long and hard about your greatest advantage as a retailer: being able to offer designer sunglasses at a drastically discounted price. Use that advantage to drive sales.

We already know that the psychology of luxury is intrinsically tied to an emotional connection, a boost in self-esteem, and feelings of exclusivity and status. You can replicate the experience if you know how to market to your customer base.

For example, you can market cheap designer sunglasses as being perfect for an exclusive group of customers who know the inside secret to getting high quality eyewear without spending a small fortune. Market the idea that not everybody understands the reality that the only difference with high-end brands is the name.

Market the quality of the bulk sunglasses you purchase from us. Compare their quality to high-end brands. Your goal is to use marketing to invite customers to join that exclusive club that knows how to find value at a more affordable price.

The psychology of luxury is very real. But guess what? Luxury has little to do with price. It is perception. You can foster that perception with creative marketing that takes advantage of the fact that your sunglasses are cheaper than high-end brands, but still competitive in terms of quality.

We want to help by being your bulk supplier of sunglasses. Our goal is to be your first choice whenever you are looking to purchase stock. To that end, we encourage you to spend some time browsing the inventory here on our website. As you do, consider the following tips for elevating your selection of designer sunglasses:

1. Keep Meticulous Sales Records

Your most important source of information regarding what customers want are your customers themselves. Their shopping and purchasing habits can tell you a lot. Taking advantage of the information they supply is a matter of keeping meticulous sales records. Track every single purchase down to the brand, model, and purchase price.

We follow the same principle at the wholesale level. Whether it is men's, women's, or children's wholesale sunglasses, we track every single sale. We know exactly what goes out to customers at any given time. You should as well.

2. Research the Latest Trends

Sunglasses are as much a fashion item as they are eye protection. From the eye protection standpoint, you can expect that your customers will always want UV protection. Many of them will want polarized lenses as well. But what about the fashion aspect? What styles sell best at any given time?

You need to place your orders for bulk sunglasses well in advance of actually selling them. Therefore, elevating your selection requires paying attention to trends. It requires regular market research that reveals what customers are thinking, what they currently want, and what they might be buying 3-6 months down the road. You can never do enough research.

3. Always Be Cognizant of the Seasons

Fashion seasons coincide with meteorological seasons. The types of sunglasses people buy in the summer can vary drastically from their choices in the winter. Do your best to get a feel for seasonal trends. You might notice that traditional wayfarers and aviators are more popular during fall and winter, while bolder and more colorful styles are en vogue during spring and summer. Plan your inventory accordingly.

Fortunately, fashion magazines and websites can be a valuable source of information regarding what is coming in the next season or two. Don't put all your stock in such sources, but still consider them, nonetheless. Fashion prognosticators do get it right from time to time.

4. Survey Your Customers

You might also consider surveying your customers about their tastes and preferences. Create an online or paper survey asking about their favorite styles, whether they like colored frames, how much they are willing to pay for quality designer sunglasses, and so forth. A well-constructed survey can produce a wealth of valuable information.

You can encourage customers to complete the survey by rewarding them with a discount on their next purchase. You might also use the survey to invite them to sign up for a monthly newsletter. At any rate, customer surveys really do work.

Elevating your selection of designer sunglasses should have an impact on sales. Again, we want to help. Take a good look at our full selection of bulk sunglasses before you place your next order. Between all of our brands and their many styles, we can almost guarantee we have what your customers want.

We would like to take the occasion of this post to offer you a challenge. Before we get to it, note that success impacts both your business and ours. When you sell more of the wholesale sunglasses you buy from us, we will both make money. Fair enough?

Here is the challenge: turn your retail store into a shopping destination. We have done some research and compiled the tips below. Your main goal in completing this challenge is creating a brick-and-mortar location that your core customers view as a destination worth visiting. You want them to visit your location with purpose.

Tip #1: Upgrade the Atmosphere

Whether you are selling designer sunglasses or hardware, the atmosphere is very important. Your store's atmosphere should be conducive to the products you sell and their relationship with the customers who buy them. If you do not understand this principle, imagine any DIY home improvement center. There is a reason big box DIY stores have a warehouse atmosphere to them.

Work on ways to make your store visually appealing. Make it comfortable, easy to navigate, and stocked with items that generally work well together. If you play music, it should be appropriate to your audience rather than your employees' personal tastes.

Tip #2: Upgrade the Customer Experience

A close second to atmosphere is the experience your customers have when they visit your store. Make sure your staff members are knowledgeable to a fault. Encourage them to be friendly, warm, and welcoming. Make sure they dress the part.

If you specialize in eyewear, make sure the customer experience reflects that. Otherwise, tailor customer experience to the overall nature of your store.

Tip #3: Enhance Your Product Selection

Next, enhance your product selection with things that reach beyond just the items you stock. Maybe all you sell are designer sunglasses for men and women. Fine. Enhance your product line by hosting a trunk show. Offer educational workshops that discuss fashion trends and eye health. You might even partner with a local optometrist to offer free or discounted eye exams.

Tip #4: Curate a Selection of Unique Products

Whether you focus exclusively on sunglasses or sell other things in your store, there are unique products that do not get a lot of attention but still play a role in your industry. Curate a selection of those products and then devote some marketing time to them.

The goal is to encourage customers to get a first-hand look at said products by visiting your location. Even if they never buy something from the curated collection, you are still getting them in the door. You're still exposing them to inventory they are more likely to buy.

Tip #5: Create a Customer Community

Last but not least is creating a customer community. Use everything from social media to a monthly newsletter to keep your customers in the know about all the happenings at your store. Even though you might do this digitally and online, creating a community still encourages customers to visit your brick-and-mortar location.

Turning your store into a shopping destination gives people a reason to visit. Even when they don't necessarily need a new pair of designer sunglasses, they might stop by just to look around. Every visit represents another opportunity to make a sale. That is what you're after.

These are not just random questions tossed out for general discussion. The answers can have an impact on your bottom line as a retailer. If you are not getting your bulk sunglasses from distributors who fit the way you do business, you're only making things harder on yourself.

Do Some Independent Research

One of the first things we would recommend is doing some independent research on any distributor you are considering buying wholesale sunglasses from. There are plenty of business intelligence websites that offer at least basic information on most companies.

A little independent research could tell you how long a distributor has been in business. You might be able to learn who owns the company, who its principal officers are, and even some limited financial information. Here is the point: you are better off with wholesale distributors demonstrating a history of successful business.

Take a Good Look at Inventory

You rely on your distributors to provide an ample supply of men's and women's wholesale sunglasses. If the supply isn't there, you need to go elsewhere. What does this suggest? It suggests taking a good look at inventory before you hook up with a new distributor. Make sure the distributor carries what you want.

You can easily browse our inventory at any time. Olympic Eyewear offers dozens of brands covering hundreds of different models, styles, colors, etc. Our inventory constantly evolves to account for new products and changing seasons, so be sure to come back and check frequently.

Look Into Shipping Policies and Pricing

A big thing for eyewear retailers is shipping. So we suggest looking into shipping policies and pricing as you search for new wholesale distributors. First and foremost are distributors’ shipping policies. How quickly do they ship and with whom? Do they only ship to retailers or do they also offer dropshipping?

In terms of pricing, you will be rolling what you pay for shipping into your retail price. The concern here should be obvious. If a distributor's shipping prices are too high, they will negatively affect your margin. Either that or you will need to increase your own prices, which could ultimately drive away customers. The bottom line is that you need affordable shipping.

Look Into Contact Options

Any company you choose to supply women's and men's wholesale sunglasses ultimately becomes a business partner of sorts. You need to be able to contact your partners at any time and for any reason. So the next suggestion is to look into contact options. Can you contact a particular distributor by phone, email, and other means? If contact options are limited, you may struggle to get in touch in the midst of a problem.

Hand-in-hand with contact options is customer service. When you do make contact to inquire about setting up an account, pay close attention to the customer service you experience. If you have a poor experience right from the start, you might be looking at a distributor you really don't want to do business with.

Here at Olympic Eyewear, we understand just how much our customers rely on us for wholesale sunglasses at bulk prices. They are counting on us to do our job so that they can do theirs. If you are looking for a new wholesale distributor for designer sunglasses, we would be honored to work with you.

It is Ultimately About UV Protection

When you strip away all the designer labels, the many styles, all the trends, etc., you are ultimately left with the fact that sunglasses are really about UV protection. At least that is the primary concern. Sunglasses should protect the eyes against harmful UV rays. A secondary form of protection is found in filtering out direct sunlight to prevent sunburn.

Take two pairs of designer sunglasses rated UV400. Both products block 100% of all harmful UV rays. The price a customer would pay at retail is irrelevant to the amount of protection each pair offers. Why bring this up? Because UV protection is an angle you can pursue to market your products. You can demonstrate that UV protection is the same across multiple brands regardless of retail price.

You sell the wholesale sunglasses you purchase from us at lower prices compared to higher-end brands. But that doesn't mean your products offer less protection. They offer equal protection; make sure your customers know that.

Yes, Quality Matters

Proponents of high-end brands have a tendency to equate price with quality. There is some validity to that argument. And yes, quality is important to retail customers. We would never suggest that retailers sell cheap gas station sunglasses that are likely to fall apart in a month or two. But we do remind retailers that they still don't need to pay a small fortune for high quality wholesale sunglasses.

We offer fantastic bulk pricing on designer sunglasses that rival high-end brands in terms of quality. Our quality is just as good. Not only that, but we are also not the only wholesale sunglasses distributor offering highly competitive pricing.

This is yet another angle you can use to market designer sunglasses. You can challenge your customers to compare our quality with any of the high-end brands out there. Let them hold our sunglasses in their hands. Let them check the hinges, the temples, the lenses, and the bridge. Let them feel the weight. In a side-by-side comparison, we are confident our quality will pass the test.

Style and Good Looks

UV protection matters to retail customers. So does quality. But what about style and good looks? How do they relate to retail pricing?

Retail trends clearly prove that people care about their personal appearance. They are also willing to spend more on products that look good and meet their style requirements. But here is the thing to remember with wholesale sunglasses from Olympic Eyewear: consumers don't need to pay more to get what they want.

We offer nearly two-dozen different designer brands covering every style and color out there. If you cannot find the style and good looks your customers want in our inventory, you're probably not going to find it anywhere. And still, we keep our bulk pricing reasonable so that you can make a healthy profit.

Pricing Is Your Advantage

Although pricing isn't everything when it comes to sunglasses, it is important. And as we have reminded retailers in the past, pricing is your advantage in a crowded marketplace. Buying bulk sunglasses from us at low prices allows you to compete against high-end brands – especially among customers who want quality, style, and good looks without spending a fortune.

Just about anyone can put up a website without any coding knowledge or experience. Thanks to content management systems (CMSs) and out-of-the-box ecommerce platforms, all you need to get a website up and running is a free day and a willingness to put in the work. But again, just getting a website up will not do the trick.

Olympic Eyewear obviously thrives in the ecommerce space. We thought it would be nice to pass along some of what we have learned through experience and our web development and SEO partners by way of a few helpful tips for designing an ecommerce site for sunglasses. So here they are:

1. Make the Site Easy on the Eyes

One of the most important rules in ecommerce is to make your site easy on the eyes. Avoid loud and brash color schemes that are hard to look at. Use plain, easy-to-read fonts in black text. Ensure that your visitors do not have to strain their eyes to shop on your site or you might ultimately chase them away.

On a similar note, the photographs and other graphics you'll be publishing should be aesthetically pleasing in every respect. They should also be properly sized and compressed to promote fast page load times. Work with a professional if you don't know how to properly use images.

2. Streamline Site Navigation

If being easy on the eyes is the first rule, streamlined navigation is the second. Visitors should be able to find what they are looking for in just a few clicks. They should not have to be clicking around for 20-30 minutes to find a decent pair of sunglasses. They will not need to if you make judicious use of your menus, drop downs, and product categories.

3. Allow for Different Kinds of Searches

One of the ways to streamline navigation is to allow different kinds of searches. Let your customers browse by brand, shape, style, and color. Let them browse inventory by price and shipping options. The more options you offer on the main page, the less navigation involved in getting where a visitor wants to go.

4. Pay Attention to SEO

As you are designing your site, pay attention to common SEO principles. Educate yourself on those principles if you aren't already up to speed. At the top of the list is the practice of doing keyword research. Your site should be laden with keywords likely to perform well in organic searches. You will not know what those keywords are if you don't do the research.

We concentrate on keywords like 'wholesale sunglasses', 'bulk sunglasses', and the like. Our research has determined that they are the best keywords for reaching our target audience.

5. Be Sure to Blog

One of the biggest mistakes ecommerce operators make is not filling out their websites with informational and blog content. Blogs are especially helpful because they offer the opportunity to reach out to customers on a more personal level. A good blog also does wonders for SEO performance.

We could offer other tips on designing an ecommerce site for sunglasses, but we are out of space. Perhaps another post will be forthcoming in the future. For now, you have enough to get started as you build your new ecommerce site.

What We Do as a Wholesaler

Olympic Eyewear acts as a wholesale distributor of men's and women's sunglasses throughout the U.S. We carry nearly two-dozen brands, some of which we own. Those we don't own we distribute on behalf of their manufacturers. To whom do we sell? Retailers who sell designer sunglasses online, in stores, at mall kiosks, etc.

While it is technically true that eyewear retailers don't necessarily need to depend on wholesalers like us for obtaining inventory, there are very valid reasons for doing so. We wholesalers provide a valuable service that is not easily replaced by direct relationships with manufacturers and brands.

Direct Relationships Are Limited

Purchasing wholesale sunglasses directly from a manufacturer or brand does eliminate having to deal with an intermediary. But such relationships are limited by their nature. For starters, a manufacturer only gives you access to its brands. Any desire to sell multiple brands requires a retailer to establish separate relationships with each manufacturer.

Another consideration is the fact that not all brands manufacture their own products. Some contract manufacturing to a third party. Those third parties generally aren't allowed to sell directly to retailers. This leads to the exact same problem of limited stock. A brand will only offer access to its products.

On the other hand, sourcing men's and women's sunglasses through a wholesale distributor like Olympic Eyewear opens the door to greater access. Retailers have more products and brands to choose from in a single location. With the right relationship in place, a retailer could source all their stock from a single wholesale distributor. That is a lot more convenient than having to work with multiple brands and manufacturers.

Pricing Can Also Be an Issue

Pricing is always a concern for retailers. They want the best wholesale pricing in order to give them enough room to meet their margins. Unfortunately, pricing can be an issue when retailers buy directly from manufacturers and brands.

Manufacturers and brands tie their best pricing to volume. A retailer may have to buy larger volumes of products than is practical in order to get the best wholesale price. As a wholesale distributor, we face the same issue. But we can buy in large volumes because we sell bulk sunglasses to so many retailers. Volume is part of our business model. It is not necessarily part of a retailer's business model.

Wholesalers Offer More Flexibility

Perhaps one of the biggest reasons the wholesale-retail relationship is still alive and well is the fact that wholesalers tend to offer more flexibility. Manufacturers and brands have a more limited inventory. They are not able to move as quickly or nimbly to match retail trends. So unless a retailer has working relationships with multiple manufacturers and brands, his flexibility will also be limited.

Flexibility is generally not an issue for wholesale distributors. We constantly have the proverbial ear to the ground with the goal of anticipating the market months in advance. We are better at meeting retailer needs in a highly competitive market.

It is true that some eyewear retailers choose to buy their bulk sunglasses directly from manufacturers and brands. That's fine. But the wholesaler-retailer relationship is still alive and well. It has some advantages worth considering.

It turns out you're in luck. We ran across a Glam post that explains the secret to wearing sunglasses without smudging makeup or leaving unsightly brown or red marks behind. It is all about preparing the face before that final layer of makeup is applied.

We invite you to read the post for yourself. We will encapsulate its details here, thereby giving you some tips that you can pass onto your customers. These are the types of things that make you an eyewear hero in your customers’ eyes. While we are your go-to source for bulk designer sunglasses, you can be the go-to source whenever your customers have questions about wearing what they buy from you.

It Starts With Friction

The challenge of wearing sunglasses with makeup is related to friction. There is definitely friction where the bridge touches the wearer's nose. But in many cases, there's also friction generated when the frames make contact with the front of the face, or the temples rub on the sides of the head.

It is the friction that leaves those unsightly marks behind. Contact between sunglasses and skin actually moves the makeup around. When you throw in warm temperatures, you have an interesting combination that can leave brown, red, or black streaks on the face.

Apply a Primer

At the risk of sounding too utilitarian, the experts say that solving the problem begins with applying a primer. One of the makeup artists quoted in the Glam piece suggests a dabbing of foundation primer covering the entire face, but with an extra emphasis on the bridge of the nose and any other contact points.

Another quoted expert recommended using an eyeshadow primer instead. An eyeshadow primer not only forms a barrier between the skin and the sunglasses, but it is also "a great way to fend off the red marks" left behind by a pair of sunglasses.

There probably isn't one particular primer that works better than all the rest. Most of your customers will have to try a couple of products to find the one that works for them. You should probably avoid recommending a particular brand unless you have personal experience with it.

Follow Up With Concealer or Foundation

Next, the experts recommend following the primer with some sort of concealer or foundation. A matte foundation will work better than something more dewy. A concealer or foundation with strong absorption properties is even better.

On top of the concealer foundation goes a layer of translucent powder. A pressed powder should work well enough. This powder provides the final layer of protection between skin and sunglasses. As an extra bonus, consider putting a dash of powder on the sunglasses themselves – at primary contact points.

With the full barrier applied, your customers are good to go. They are ready to face the world in their favorite designer shades knowing that there won't be any streaks or red marks left behind. And those who would otherwise leave their sunglasses at home no longer have to.

We hope you find these tips helpful enough to pass on to your customers. As a wholesale distributor of sunglasses, we want to equip you as much as possible to be all things to your customers. The more you know about sunglasses, the more they will appreciate what you have to offer.