If there’s one thing you can count on every morning, it’s that the sun will rise. With that said, the need for sunglasses will always be around, making it a great industry to tap into. If you’re looking to start an eCommerce store or add new products to your existing store, this guide can help.

Below, we’ll walk you through the steps on how to find sunglasses manufacturers to create custom designs that match your brand.

1. Choose a Manufacturing Process

When searching for sunglasses manufacturers, you first need to choose a manufacturing process. Not every custom sunglasses manufacturer offers the same production process, which means you need to find one that can create the types of sunglasses you’re looking for. The two most common types of manufacturing processes include:

  • OEM Manufacturing: Through OEM manufacturing, you can create custom sunglasses using your own designs.
  • ODM Manufacturing: Through ODM manufacturing, you can choose from a manufacturer’s pre-made designs and add your logo and branding.

At Pietra, you can use our platform to find some of the largest sunglass manufacturers who offer both OEM and ODM manufacturing, so you can choose a process that best aligns with your brand.

2. Consider Types of Sunglasses

There are endless types of sunglasses you can create to sell to your customers. As you sit down and think about your brand and products, think about the types and styles of sunglasses your customers may want. Some classic styles include:

  • Aviator sunglasses
  • Rimless sunglasses
  • Wayfarer sunglasses
  • Logo sunglasses
  • Round sunglasses
  • Retro sunglasses

These are just some of the many design options you can have your manufacturer make. However, you can also find manufacturers who can create custom sunglasses for you, too.

3. Assess Customization Options

The sunglasses industry can be extremely competitive, especially with the number of brands big and small selling their own type of shades. In order to compete, you need to find a sunglasses manufacturer who can make custom sunglasses with your branding and logo to help you stick out.

At Pietra, you can work with freelance designers who can help you design your logo, branding, and sunglass designs for you to send to your manufacturer. Additionally, Pietra makes it easy to find a wide range of manufacturers, such as American-made sunglasses manufacturers and bamboo sunglasses manufacturers.

4. Test Quality

One of the key characteristics you should look for in sunglasses manufacturers is quality. The last thing you want is to order a bulk of custom sunglasses that are low quality and break easily, scratch easily, or don’t block the sun.

To ensure quality, it’s important to order samples. At Pietra, you can order samples from any of our partnered manufacturers to review quality, durability, and design to ensure they meet your expectations before committing.

5. Consider Costs

To run a successful business, you need to make a profit. To make this happen, you need to take several factors into consideration when creating sunglasses. One of these factors is the cost to manufacture sunglasses. Not only do you need to find custom glasses that are within your budget, but you need to ensure all of the costs associated with producing your glasses remain low so you can make a profit.

6. Review Features and Specifications

As stated, there is a wide range of sunglasses to choose from. However, there are several features and specs that can make your sunglasses more appealing to your customers. Some features you may want to consider when designing sunglasses include:

  • Polarized lenses
  • Amber lenses
  • Anti-reflective coating
  • Mirror coating
  • Titanium rims
  • Bamboo rims

At Pietra, you can find polarized sunglasses manufacturers, bamboo sunglasses manufacturers, and more specialty manufacturers who can help create one-of-a-kind sunglasses that stand out.

7. Determine Production Turnaround Times

In today’s fast-paced world, customers expect to receive products they buy online as soon as possible. With eCommerce giants like Amazon, customers can get items they buy within one or two days or even the same day they order. To compete, you need to ensure fast shipping and production times.

At Pietra, you can offer your customers 2-day shipping on most products. Through our platform, you can communicate directly with sunglasses manufacturers to inquire about their production turnaround times to assess their quickness. This way, you can maintain a competitive edge with fast shipping while having peace of mind knowing you’re selling high-quality sunglasses.

8. Factor In Customer Service

The final step in finding a sunglasses manufacturer is assessing their customer service. When working with a manufacturer, it’s important to assess their customer service, such as how willing they are to answer questions, their process for implementing feedback, and how they address quality assurance issues.

Steps to Take After Finding a Sunglasses Manufacturer

Now that you know how to find a sunglasses manufacturer, let’s explore the next steps. Once you’ve found a manufacturer to partner with through Pietra, you can then start chatting with them and asking questions, such as what their manufacturing process looks like, their prices, and customization process.

Then, you can start sampling to test the products you’re going to put out into the world. Once you’ve finalized your designs, you can then order inventory and store your products in one of our low-cost warehouses. With Pietra’s Fulfillment Services, our team can help manage your inventory and ship products straight to your customers’ doorsteps, so you can spend more time managing other areas of your company, such as marketing and scaling your business.

Find a Sunglasses Manufacturer with Pietra

Ready to find a sunglasses manufacturer? Through Pietra, you can find thousands of custom sunglasses manufacturers who can create unique designs that will make your brand stand out amongst your competitors.

Learn more about how Pietra works and the process of searching for manufacturers through our platform. We can pair you with professional sunglasses manufacturers who produce high-quality lenses your customers will love. Review Pietra’s pricing to find a plan that works for you.