Article One Joins The Optical Foundry

Independence for Independents! If that isn’t a statement worthy of being published here, I don’t what is, and it came straight from The Optical Foundry founder Rob Rich. His goal, to create a platform that will house a diverse portfolio of independent optical brands that could be relied upon as a trusted partner for the independent three O’s (Opticians, Optometrists, and Ophthalmologists). The concept would allow this group to adequately fill their dispensaries with a broad portfolio of products that meet many needs.

They recently announced the addition of Article One to their already diverse portfolio of independent eyewear brands which include: l.a.Eyeworks, Fiction, OGI, OGI Kids, Seraphin, Seraphin Shimmer, Red Rose and SCOJO New York. Launched in 2016, Article One is an independent eyewear brand founded by Wes Stoody. Article One produces purpose-driven products with complete brand transparency, spotlighting the hands that craft their frames. They are proponents of supporting independent optical practices, giving back to their community and innovating with thoughtful designs. The care put into each frame results in quality you can feel.

[perfectpullquote align=”full” bordertop=”false” cite=”Wes Stoody.” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=”17″]“I am extremely excited for Article One to be joining The Optical Foundry. I have looked up to the team at OGI Eyewear and l.a.Eyeworks for a long time and cannot wait to continue building Article One with such talented people. The Optical Foundry is the perfect home for Article One as we share a similar ethos centered on independence and craftsmanship and believe in providing the best service possible to our independent optical partners.”[/perfectpullquote]

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[perfectpullquote align=”full” bordertop=”false” cite=”Rob Rich, CEO of The Optical Foundry” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=”17″]We couldn’t have asked for a better new member of the Optical Foundry, said . “Wes has done a great job of building the Article One brand with its unique voice in the market and we are looking forward to working with him as he continues to be the creative force behind Article One.

We are excited about Article One enhancing our position and our reputation in the optical community as a great asset for the independent three O’s. Our mission at The Optical Foundry is to be a valued partner with a portfolio of brands that cater to the independents. We only succeed when they succeed.[/perfectpullquote]

Article One eyewear
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About Article One

Article One exists to create heirloom eyewear that becomes part of your story. Their frames are handmade in a small village in Northern Italy at the base of the Dolomites. The family-owned factories we work with are experts at what they do. They work to give credit where credit is due by shining a light on the hands that touch each frame. The care put into AO eyewear results in quality you can feel. You can learn more about the family-owned factories we’ve partnered with through our short film, A Labor of Love.

At Article One, they don’t believe in throwaway culture as much as we don’t believe in throwaway moments. Everything we do, every way we connect, and everything we consume can all be part of something bigger. By crafting quality eyewear you’ll have the rest of your life, they’re saying beauty, craft, care and connection are as important as just about everything.

About The Optical Foundry

A dispensary needs to have many different brands, with discernable differences in price point and style that can offer many options to a broad base of patients and customers. All of this needs to be done with original, in-house design teams and with a commitment to the highest quality of production at the most economical price.

Rob’s observation of the current state of the industry is that most of the relevant companies that offer a portfolio of products to these accounts, are generally of much larger size and have segments of their business that directly compete with their customers. It’s a conflict of interest that many of the three O’s continue to ignore, but as each day passes the danger to them becomes more apparent and can no longer be ignored. He wanted to create an entity that had no other ulterior motive other than the Foundry’s customers’ success.

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