A few years ago, long-time FOFriends, Gayle Mills and Patti Lee-Hoffmann realized eyewear companies were not seeing eye-to-eye with their customers. They knew this, because both Patti, owner of a multi-million dollar earning, San Francisco healthcare consulting company and Gayle, who worked in Northern California’s biotech industry, are eyeglass wearers themselves. “Sometime after I turned 50, I stopped having perfect vision. I went to CVS and was turning the carousel with readers, and kept turning and turning. Everything looked like my grandmother’s glasses,” says Patti. She began looking online for her perfect pair, but again, became frustrated. “Everything was so small. I felt I needed a pair of glasses to shop for glasses.”
Gayle, who Patti describes as her “style icon,” combed the display cases at local boutiques and Nordstrom for her perfect pair. She had luck finding stylish readers, yet, none of them seemed to fit properly, or if they did, they weren’t available in the right power.
That’s when the two had a vision–an online eyewear company that would be a “delightful shopping experience” for someone like themselves who had never worn glasses. They wanted elegant styles, options for every face size and shape, and a wide ranges of powers available for each pair.
The two got to work on an e-commerce website and glasses line, which they ultimately decided to call “Flutter Eyewear,” a name they felt evoked the fashion-y, unique feel that their collection would embody. Although Patti and Gayle had no experience in the eyewear and fashion world–the two saw this as a fun challenge, hiring experts where they lacked knowledge.
When they had fifty prototypes ready–they assembled a committee of friends and co-workers to road test them at “fit parties.” From there, they were able to narrow down their collection to 21 styles of reading glasses. All of the glasses are manufactured in a factory in China, that Patti and Gayle have visited to make sure it meets fair work standards. Patti named the pairs after her favorite literary characters.
They launched their e-commerce site last year. FlutterEyewear.com is getting attention from magazine editors and customers for the apps they have integrated to ensure women are purchasing a “perfect fit.” These include a “high-tech” tool that allows you to upload a picture and virtually “try on” glasses, and a “low tech” paper doll tool that allows you to print, cut and try on any pair you see on the site. They also offer free shipping and returns.
“We wanted to ensure our shopper feels confident being able to buy something online that they may normally have bought in a store,” says Patti. As a result they’ve seen a low return rate and high customer satisfaction.
Patti and Gayle are continuously working on new styles and starting to introduce accessories to their line. We’re developing “beautiful necklaces that you happen to be able to clip your glasses to,” and “an attractive ‘Flutter red’ trifold case,” says Gayle.
The target demographic for Flutter Eyewear is stylish women in the 40-60 year old range, although Gayle and Patti have noticed traction from younger women too, they believe it’s because all their glasses are under $100.
“I’m 57 and I still care about the way I look,” says Patti. “It wouldn’t make sense to take care in how I dress and then put on granny glasses.”
2 FOFs will win a pair of Flutter reading glasses or reading sunglasses. Visit their site here, use their interactive tools to try on a few pairs, and leave a comment below, telling us which pair is your favorite.
For an extra entry: Using their virtual try on tool, download a picture of yourself in your favorite pair, and post it to FabOverFifty’s Facebook page.
Two FOFs will win. (See all our past winners, here.) (See official rules, here.) Contest closes April 4, 2013 at midnight E.S.T. Contest limited to residents of the continental U.S.
0 Responses to “{Giveaway} Win a pair of Flutter readers or reading sunglasses!”
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abbygabbie says:
So Beautiful , Fingers Crossed to win a pair of these glasses
proud_mary53 says:
I really like the Olan Indigo Tortoise. They look so elegant. I would love to win a pair!!!
Sue M. says:
They’re all nice…but I like the Willa Green Tea. Thanks for the opportunity to win a pair. 🙂
Toni says:
Willa in green tea or Elphaba in Mint or Cognac
Rakaz says:
Very nice! I’ve just started having to use readings glasses. I love the green framed readers.. Their all nice! I would love to see using Flutter Eyewear.
Pamela Lloyd says:
I love the stronger frames
Neila Gallagher says:
Love the Mandarin Ribbon pair, all are beautiful though!
Judy Brenner says:
Too many favorites to choose from!
cdmtx65 says:
found my perfect pair 🙂 Elphaba / Gradient Tortoise Coal
shawn says:
I lost very similar glasses at a Joe Sample concert. I would love to own a pair of the sage wasabi readers. I promise I won’t lose these… 🙂
amber says:
willa blue ombre…that would go with so many outfits
kithara says:
Elphaba in green
Margarida says:
I love the Mandarin Orange pair- such a vibrant pair of Flutter eye glasses. Wonderful idea that they actually fit one’s face, match our face shape and sales contribute to service dogs!
linda says:
I really, really like Ayn in Glacier Blue. Perfect for me!
Diane says:
Having worn glasses since I was five years old, I have worn many, many different styles. I will soon be 71 so glasses have been a part of my life for 66 years. I try to stay in style with different frames and if I win these I would choose Ayla/Cognac Kyoto…………..very nice. Thanks for considering me.~
Beth O'Donnell says:
Elphaba is the perfect blend of cat-eye style and larger size. Love them!
lindawwww says:
I love their choice of colours and styles. My favourite is Clare in Glacier Blue.
donnarp1 says:
I like the latest style called Willa. A good fitting pair of glasses is important to me as I do a lot of different crafts and I hate it when I have to fix slipping glasses.
Carolyn Hubatka says:
My favorite pair would be the Emma Starry Night Onyx which would look good on me. Thank you.
AJB says:
I think Holly worked best for my face shape.
fran says:
I love the Ayla in Cognac Kyoto. It’s a classic that I could just fall in love with.
Phoenix says:
Emma Almost Red Onyx.
Kerry Jones says:
I love the Ayn glasses in edgy black!
Gail Johnson says:
I love the Olan Indigo Tortoise & also the red lipstick. These are really great styles!
katti waller says:
I would love to win a pair of your glasses . Changing the way I look with something as simply changing my glasses can make my whole appearance striking and bold to other, or soft and gentle when reading a book to a child. Thank You for this opportunity.
Susan Dove says:
I loved the sunglasses Ayla!! Would be fab to be able to read outside while my kids play this summer!!
Barbara Horrigan says:
I forgot to add this to my previous comment. I now know what PDF means. lol
Barbara Horrigan says:
Its about time that fashionable reading glasses got here. I had a blast trying on the glasses but my husband got aggravated at me cause I kept making him get up and down from his chair to look at my picture with the different glasses on. lol Thanks for the chance to let me win a pair.
Kathy Russell says:
Love the scout gradient tortoise sunglasses +2.00!
Cheryl says:
I love the Scarlett in indigo tortoise!
lesliebee says:
I like the Angela -Mars Rising style!
latinpheonix says:
I loved the Willa Espresso & the Ayala Cognac Kyoto
Athens85 says:
Flavia Rocky Road Sapphire is the pair for me! So cute and stylish in a great color. Definitely adds a flair to donning a pair of readers. I wouldn’t be self conscious at all of my need for glasses.
Flybabymom says:
The Scout Cognac Kyoto. I like them all!
Linda says:
Your frames make having to wear glasses fun.
The Willa style caught my eye…so to speak!
chrisskins says:
The Ayla Cognac Kyoto absolutely rocks! I hate “farty” glasses. These are gorgeous.
Sherri says:
I love the exotic look of the Ayla Cognac Kyoto.
S Kay DeGroot says:
This is a really nice website, the style of glasses are lovely. My favorite is the sunglasses in the Ayla style!
Judi Tafoya says:
Definitely Olan in the Indigo/Tortoise color. Perfect shape and color for me! Though there are several more I like.
lisa b. says:
LOVE the Willa in Expresso. GREAT website. Super user-friendly. AND you love dogs!! What more can a girl ask for!
velder dixon says:
i love them all 200 readers
liliMarlene says:
Had such a hard time trying to choose. The assistor check
boxes in the margins made it so much easier–I get
overwhelmed when I have too many choices. Hint–take
me to a restaurant with a limited menu, or we may be there for hours before I choose. Anyhoo back on subject,
I love the shape the the Smilla Frame, and the Mars Rising
color is one I would definitely wear.
AnnaLeaf says:
I think their Smilla look best on me
Margee says:
What chic glasses! I would love the “Clarice – Havana Saffron” readers, in 1.25. They look like they’d be a nice, springy addition to my round face!
Louise says:
Smilla in Mars Rising 1.50.
mandradany says:
In need of a new eyeglasses make over, these are fresh, colorful and youthful. It would look great and fabulous. I’m loving the styles, most of all the trying out to piece your wish to all put together challenge of a “perfect. perfect & perfect” eyeglasses.
joyce says:
Willa blue ombre
tksinclair says:
I was LOST until I used your “shop by” assister on the side of the page…one click later and: BAM Up popped the perfect glasses!
Flavia
Cognac Kyoto
Deborah says:
I like Ayla in the Tortoise coloring. Great for my square face!
Deb says:
Wow, I had so much fun trying on virtual glasses, and without a doubt Elpheba in Cognac is my favorite. I may be a little partial, because Wicked is first on my list of fantastic shows and she is my favorite character. Love these!!
Dorothy Campbell says:
Beautiful styles, would love to win a pair.