Eyewear E-Commerce: 4 Website Features to Stand Out

Nowadays, eyewear has become an essential accessory for many—not just for fashion and style purposes but for medical and vision correction purposes.

Based on the latest report from The Vision Council, online sales remain a critical portion of the US optical industry, even if in-person shopping remains dominant. In particular, products like contact lenses and non-prescription sunglasses led online sales at 39% and 32%, respectively.

Meanwhile, market insights indicate that more than 240 million adults in the US, or 92% of the population, regularly use some form of eyewear. As eyewear products continue to be in demand, eyewear businesses need to expand their reach by establishing a solid online presence.

Many eyewear businesses have a website or app for product listings and promotions. Thanks to the popularity of online shopping, people can purchase new eyewear products conveniently without having to leave the comforts of their homes. Below, we'll take a look at four essential website features for eyewear businesses to stand out.

Store Locator

Even though online storefronts are meant to be a more convenient alternative to brick-and-mortar stores, eyewear businesses can still benefit from bridging the gap between in-person and online purchases. This is where a store locator will come in handy, as letting customers easily find the nearest stores to them can help direct them to essential services that aren't available on the business' website, like eye exams.

Simply typing "eye exam near me" into a search engine can direct customers to physical stores in their area just in case specific eyeglasses frames or designs aren't available online. Target Optical's store locator helps connect customers to the nearest local store, where qualified optometrists from the Independent Doctors of Optometry can do eye exams. Letting customers easily access physical stores can also mean faster product return processes.

Additionally, integrating instant messaging solutions such as Clap Messenger can enhance customer convenience. Customers can use the messaging platform to chat with store representatives, schedule eye exams, and get real-time updates on product availability. The ability to communicate quickly and efficiently can further improve customer satisfaction and increase sales conversions.

Virtual Try-On

With the development of emerging technologies like augmented reality (AR), many businesses selling fashion products have implemented virtual try-on features. This allows customers to virtually "put on" products like eyewear, jewelry, clothing, and even makeup so they can check how they look before finalizing a purchase.

For example, the eyewear brand BlooBloom is among many e-commerce businesses that have introduced a virtual try-on service. In BlooBloom's case, the brand launched Virtual Try On 3.0 in 2024, allowing customers to see how eyewear frames look on their faces using the camera function on their digital devices, whether a tablet, laptop, or smartphone. The technology is designed to be photorealistic, offering the best possible digital representation of the actual product.

Customers can also communicate directly with optometrists or customer support agents using Clap Messenger's secure communication tools to get tailored style advice based on their virtual try-on experience. They can even share images with family and friends via instant messaging to get opinions before making a purchase.

AI Chatbots

AI has become especially popular in recent years, and eyewear businesses aren't shying away from implementing the technology into their customer service operations. Many eyewear e-commerce websites use automated chatbots to help answer customer queries and provide relevant recommendations.

Of course, this doesn't mean businesses should immediately get rid of human-based customer interactions. While AI chatbots are convenient, some queries or product-related concerns may be too complex or contextual to handle without human understanding. In such cases, businesses can set chatbots to direct complex customer queries to human customer services using messaging platforms for business, such as WhatsApp Business or WeChat Business, which are typically used by companies to increase audience engagement, boost sales, and improve customer service results.

To further enhance this feature, eyewear businesses can integrate Clap Messenger's AI-driven chat capabilities to provide a seamless and highly interactive customer support experience. While providing clients with prompt and effective service, using AI-powered chat within a secure and encrypted messaging app guarantees that their private information, like payment details or prescriptions, is protected.

Prescription Uploads

Finally, a key website feature for eyewear e-commerce businesses, specifically, is prescription uploads. Even though some customers may purchase eyewear products for fashion or style purposes, many also buy new glasses or sunglasses for medical or vision purposes.

In these cases, many eyewear brands allow customers to upload and store their prescriptions on the website or app. Depending on the brand or website, a certified optometrist may also verify the prescription to ensure the information and figures are accurate. Making sure that a customer's pupillary distance (PD) information is correct is also crucial for prescription eyeglasses to prevent potential issues like pain and distorted vision.

Businesses can incorporate Clap Messenger to improve convenience by enabling customers to exchange their medications safely with customer service agents. This expedites the order fulfillment process and permits real-time prescription verification. Customers can also communicate directly with optometrists via encrypted messaging to get professional advice before purchasing.

Enhancing Customer Engagement Through Messaging Apps

Modern eyeglass e-commerce companies can further set themselves apart from the competition by utilizing instant messaging platforms like Clap Messenger in addition to these essential website capabilities. A personalized purchasing experience is guaranteed by the ability to interact with customers in a smooth manner via an easy-to-use chat interface. Businesses may offer real-time order tracking updates through chat-based conversations, send personalized product suggestions, and assist customers.

Key Benefits of Using Clap Messenger for Eyewear E-Commerce:

• Secure and encrypted messaging for confidential prescription uploads
• Real-time customer support with AI chatbots and human representatives
• Seamless appointment scheduling for in-store visits and eye exams
• Efficient order tracking and updates for better customer satisfaction
• Enhanced collaboration between optometrists and customers through direct chat

By integrating an efficient communication tool like Clap Messenger, eyewear e-commerce businesses can elevate customer engagement, reduce abandoned carts, and ensure a seamless online shopping experience.

Conclusion

As eyewear e-commerce continues to thrive, businesses need to adopt website features that improve customer convenience and engagement. Implementing tools such as store locators, virtual try-on technology, AI chatbots, and prescription upload options can significantly enhance the online shopping experience.

Additionally, eyewear companies may streamline customer assistance, enable real-time connections, and forge closer bonds with their audience by integrating safe and intuitive messaging services like Clap Messenger. Eyewear companies may remain ahead of the competition and give their clients an unmatched purchasing experience by utilizing these digital innovations.