Spectacles in Thailand

PROSPECTS

Ongoing use of electrical devices, growing ageing population guarantee growth

Value and volume growth of spectacles remained strong and steady in Thailand in 2019, with little change over the previous year, as increasing use of electronic devices and a growing ageing population sustained demand for glasses. Ongoing eyestrain caused from constant, sometimes hours-long looking at computer, tablet and smartphone screens – not only by younger generations but by other age groups as well – continues to ensure more demand for spectacles.

Optical shops expanding to accommodate high demand for their many services

Thai consumers generally purchase their spectacles via optical shops, where they can try on different styles of frames, get product recommendations from technical salespeople and receive eye testing services from technicians. For this reason, optical shops accounted for three quarters of spectacles value sales in 2019 and their number of outlets and locations keeps expanding.

Demand for both unbranded products and customised goods are on the rise

As cheaper variants of spectacle frames and lenses are attracting mass consumers in Thailand, we expect to see greater penetration of unbranded products available nationwide. While both international and local producers of branded spectacle frames and lenses emphasise their advanced innovations and technological improvements, there is great availability of imported products from China and South Korea for both spectacle frames and lenses, which are offered as unbranded products.

COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE

Thai Hoya benefits from technological innovation

Thai Hoya continued to hold a strong lead in spectacle lenses and gained value share in the category in 2018. Thai Hoya Lens is a subsidiary of Hoya Corporation Japan.

Essilor aggressively expands its distribution and gains the highest value share

Third-ranked in spectacle lenses in 2018, Essilor Mfg Thailand saw the highest gain in value share for the fourth consecutive year. Essilor is a part of French company Essilor International SA.

Amongst popular and abundant chained optical shops, more are going online

Optical shops is still the major channel for selling spectacles and frames, because people still like to try the frames at the shops before purchasing and because there they can buy the frames and lenses and be done with the whole process within an hour. However, chained optical shops such as Better Vision and Top Charoen are starting to expand to capture online customers on their own websites.

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