Spectacle frame sales have declined in both volume and value in the first quarter of 2011 in comparison to the year before, according to data compiled by market research company GfK.
In its review of the UK optical market during the quarter, GfK stated that volume dropped by 3 per cent against the same quarter last year and value by 2 per cent, resulting in a slight increase in average price in the market.
It revealed that total sales of frames by volume through opticians in quarter one of 2011 amounted to 3.16 million pairs. The company stated that sales of men's spectacles in the UK market did actually grow by 0.8 per cent year on year however, the women's category decreased by 1.1 per cent in volume and 2.9 per cent in value in the same period.
According to GfK, men's frames now account for 35.2 per cent of all spectacle frames sold in value, up from 34.2 per cent in the first quarter 2010, while the women's category dropped to 44 per cent from 44.3 per cent in quarter one 2010.
In the first quarter of 2011 there was also a shift from lower price points towards the mid and high-end. The price point of under £75 accounted for 45.1 per cent of the market in the first quarter of 2010 in value but decreased to 42.1 per cent in quarter one of 2011. At the same time, the value of frames sold at over £150 grew from 14.8 in quarter one 2010 to 16.9 per cent in quarter one 2011 in value.
The luxury segment of the market, over £220, now accounts for nearly 5 per cent of all sales in value.