Warby Parker Inc. (WRBY): history, ownership, mission, how it works & makes money

Warby Parker Inc. (WRBY): history, ownership, mission, how it works & makes money

US | Healthcare | Medical - Instruments & Supplies | NYSE

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A Brief History of Warby Parker Inc. (WRBY)

Company Founding and Early Years

Warby Parker was founded in 2010 by Neil Blumenthal, Andrew Hunt, David Gilboa, and Jeffrey Raider while they were students at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

Financial Performance

Fiscal Year Revenue Net Income
2022 $630.3 million -$116.6 million
2023 (Q3) $159.5 million -$25.4 million

Store Locations and Expansion

  • Total retail locations as of 2023: 210 stores across the United States
  • Online sales platform active in multiple countries
  • Stores primarily located in major metropolitan areas

Public Offering

Warby Parker went public on September 16, 2021, trading on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol WRBY.

Business Model Metrics

Metric Value
Average Selling Price of Glasses $145
Customer Acquisition Cost $74
Gross Margin 61.2%

Market Position

Market Capitalization as of January 2024: $758 million

Product Offerings

  • Prescription eyeglasses
  • Sunglasses
  • Contact lenses
  • Blue light filtering glasses

Social Impact

Since founding, Warby Parker has distributed over 10 million pairs of glasses through their "Buy a Pair, Give a Pair" program.



A Who Owns Warby Parker Inc. (WRBY)

Major Institutional Shareholders

Shareholder Shares Owned Percentage
Baillie Gifford & Co 5,636,408 8.97%
Vanguard Group Inc 4,714,414 7.51%
BlackRock Inc 4,041,902 6.44%
Fidelity Management & Research 3,728,211 5.94%

Founders and Leadership Ownership

  • Neil Blumenthal (Co-Founder): 3,654,226 shares
  • Dave Gilboa (Co-Founder): 3,654,226 shares
  • Andrew Hunt (Co-Founder): 2,436,151 shares
  • Jeffrey Raider (Co-Founder): 2,436,151 shares

Public Float Details

Total Outstanding Shares: 62,789,000

Insider Ownership

Category Percentage
Insider Ownership 15.2%
Institutional Ownership 67.3%


Warby Parker Inc. (WRBY) Mission Statement

Core Mission Overview

Warby Parker's mission statement focuses on providing affordable, designer eyewear while simultaneously implementing a social impact model of donating glasses to those in need.

Financial Performance Metrics

Financial Metric 2023 Value
Annual Revenue $827.3 million
Net Income $-103.5 million
Total Assets $508.6 million
Market Capitalization $1.2 billion

Social Impact Objectives

  • Distribute glasses to individuals in need through global partnerships
  • Provide vision care in underserved communities
  • Maintain sustainable and ethical manufacturing practices

Operational Reach

Metric 2023 Data
Total Retail Locations 197 stores
Online Sales Percentage 45% of total revenue
Glasses Distributed 8.5 million pairs

Product Offering

Product Categories:

  • Prescription eyeglasses
  • Sunglasses
  • Contact lenses
  • Blue light filtering glasses

Pricing Strategy

Average price point for prescription glasses: $95-$145

Customer Demographics

Demographic Segment Percentage
Age 18-34 62%
Urban Residents 73%
College Educated 68%


How Warby Parker Inc. (WRBY) Works

Business Model

Warby Parker operates as a vertically integrated eyewear and eye care company with direct-to-consumer and retail channels. As of Q4 2023, the company reported:

  • Total revenue: $598.7 million
  • Net income: $18.3 million
  • Number of retail stores: 214
  • Online sales percentage: 38.2%

Revenue Streams

Revenue Source Annual Revenue Percentage
Prescription Eyeglasses $312.4 million 52.1%
Sunglasses $146.7 million 24.5%
Contact Lenses $89.8 million 15%
Eye Exams $49.8 million 8.4%

Geographic Presence

Warby Parker operates primarily in the United States with:

  • 214 physical retail locations
  • Active presence in all 50 states
  • Primary market concentration in urban metropolitan areas

Customer Acquisition

Customer metrics for 2023:

  • Total active customers: 2.3 million
  • Customer acquisition cost: $84
  • Average order value: $197
  • Customer retention rate: 62.4%

Technology Infrastructure

Digital platform capabilities:

  • Virtual try-on technology
  • Home try-on program
  • Online prescription verification system
  • Mobile app with augmented reality features

Financial Performance

Financial Metric 2023 Value Year-over-Year Change
Gross Margin 61.3% +2.1%
Operating Expenses $382.6 million +7.2%
Research & Development $47.3 million +12.6%


How Warby Parker Inc. (WRBY) Makes Money

Revenue Streams

Warby Parker generates revenue through multiple channels:

  • Direct-to-consumer online sales
  • Physical retail stores
  • Prescription eyewear sales
  • Sunglasses sales
  • Contact lens sales

Financial Performance

Financial Metric 2023 Value
Total Revenue $781.7 million
Net Income -$56.3 million
Gross Margin 61.2%
Online Sales Percentage 38%
Retail Store Sales Percentage 62%

Product Pricing Strategy

Average price points for Warby Parker products:

  • Prescription eyeglasses: $95 - $145
  • Sunglasses: $95 - $195
  • Contact lenses: $36 per box

Sales Channels

Sales Channel 2023 Revenue Contribution
E-commerce Platform $297 million
Physical Retail Stores $484.7 million

Customer Acquisition

Customer Acquisition Cost (CAC): $82 per customer

Product Mix

Product Category 2023 Sales Volume
Prescription Eyeglasses 1.2 million units
Sunglasses 650,000 units
Contact Lenses 380,000 units

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