Warby Parker on Thursday announced that its finance chief, Steve Miller, will be stepping down in October after 14 years in the role. Dave Gilboa, the company’s co-founder and co-chief executive, will step in as interim principal financial and accounting officer until a successor is named.
The company also said it will discontinue its longstanding at-home try-on program — where shoppers could order five glasses to try before purchasing — at the end of the year as more consumers use its virtual try-on feature and visit its nearly 300 stores. The brand will funnel the costs of that program, which is part of its marketing budget, into brand awareness and customer acquisition.
“The vast majority of recent home try-on customers live within 30 minutes of a Warby Parker store,” Neil Blumenthal, the brand’s co-founder and chief executive, said on the earnings call.
Both news came during the eyewear maker’s second quarter earnings call, where it reported a 14 percent year-over-year sales increase to $214 million, above its expectations, as it opened 11 new stores and its number of active customers — who shopped in the last 12 months — grew 9 percent. Its net losses for the quarter dropped 74 percent to $1.7 million, and it generated $1.7 million in net profits in the first six months of the year.
Warby Parker raised its full-year revenue guidance to $880 million, against an original projection of $869 million — a notable change as companies lower their expectations amid tariff uncertainty. The company is reducing its exposure to China and has already raised its prices, Miller said on the earnings call. Part of that optimism also comes from a $150 million investment it received from Google in May to develop smart glasses that will integrate the tech giant’s Android XR technology.
Warby Parker’s stock jumped as much as 6 percent following its earnings release.
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Eyewear Is Booming, But It’s Not Just About Tech
Once an afterthought, the category is now growing faster than handbags and apparel thanks to accessible pricing, distinct aesthetics and glasses brands that prioritise identity over gimmicks.
