"Made in America" Contributes to Success of Norman Childs Designer Eyewear

Pittsburgh-based Norman Childs Eyewear is handmade in California, taking nearly 40 hours to complete each frame. It is the best-selling line at eyetique stores and has contributed to their growth. End Quote

Pittsburgh, PA (1888PressRelease) December 13, 2012 - In the highly competitive retail eyewear industry, it's not common to find products you can call "handcrafted" and it's even more rare to be able to say that the frames are made in America, but Norman Childs Eyewear can claim both. Since 2006, 95% of their frames are handmade in a factory in California.

After learning what customers want from his successful retail eyewear chain, eyetique, Norman Childs started his own line in 1998. With over 45 custom-designed styles available in an assortment of colors, Norman Childs Eyewear is the best-selling line across the seven eyetique locations in the greater Pittsburgh area and there is even a dedicated store that features primarily Norman Childs frames. Eyetique carries over 40 national high-end brands including Theo, Ray Ban, Oakley, Gucci, Coach, and Oliver Peoples, yet more than one out of three customers choose Norman Childs Eyewear.

Childs wanted to support the same quality American principles of hard work and dedication upon which his company was founded and decided to partner with a factory in California who could make the frames on site. "It was about sustaining the economy and putting people to work and local talent made it easier to maintain the high quality of product our customers demand," said Childs.

The frames are not just made in America, they're handmade in America. It takes about 40 hours over a three- to four-week period just to create one frame. The plastic arrives in sheets from which the basic shape is cut and the components such as nose pads and hinges are added by hand. Frames are sanded several times and then sent to be tumbled for five to six days to remove any blemishes. The temples are cut and added by hand and then each frame is hand polished using four different polishing wheels to produce a perfect shine.

"I could actually feel the difference as soon as I put them on. There is passion behind every pair," said Scott Cunningham, customer. Over 6000 Norman Childs Eyewear frames are sold each year and the popularity of this line has contributed to the success and expansion of the eyetique chain, which has doubled in the last several years. The cost can run anywhere from $300 to $450, which is comparable to other designer styles, many of which don't have the man hours or custom craftsmanship behind them to justify the price.

"Our customers love the styles, but they also love what they get with an American-made product- the high quality and knowing that they're supporting our economy," said Childs. The vintage line is really taking off bringing back the best styles of various decades along with a feeling of nostalgia remembering the hard working values that made America.

Norman Childs Eyewear is available at eyetique stores throughout the Pittsburgh region, the Norman Childs Eyewear Store, and through their website, www.normanchildseyewear.com, which they are currently expanding to make it easier for customers and retailers all over the U.S. to purchase the line.

Contact: Norman Childs
1-800-422-5320
info ( @ ) normanchildseyewear dot com

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