By Jen Engevik of itsBOLD.com

We at itsBOLD.com are always on the lookout for out-of-the-box brands that are innovating in the marketplace. One such brand is Mezzmer Eyewear, a cutting-edge brand that makes high-style corrective glasses available for only $99. In today’s economy, this definitely makes sense, as finally it is possible to walk away with a hot pair of RX glasses  that don’t cost $500. Rather, they leave the fashion conscious the option of owning two or more pairs to spice up everyday life.

What inspired you to begin your eyewear line?

A few reasons:

A. We felt that the eyewear industry was still lagging behind the 21st century in terms of leveraging the convenience of shopping online. We wanted to create the “zappos of prescription eyewear” online.

B. We believed we could be the highest quality product in frame design and lenses to our customers at a fraction of the cost to be found at traditional brick and mortar vendors.

C. We wanted to demonstrate that prescription eyewear can be an extension of someone’s personality and style. In the past, the cost of eyeglasses didn’t allow people to afford multiple pairs. Now, we can offer pricing that lets people have a few that can match their outfits and personality.

Roger Lee & Michael Lee -- Brothers and Co-Founders

Why Do You Consider Mezzmer a Bold Brand?

We are taking on a large industry set in their traditional ways of marketing eyeglasses, but pushing our brand into the digital age.

What are the common challenges that consumers face when finding the right pair of glasses?

There is very little information given to help customers find frames that work best for their faces. Many factors apply from but primarily:

A. Face shape – determines the shape of the frames that best suit them. Our site provides a feature that recommends frames for one’s particular face shape.

B. Eye and skin tone – determines the best colors to complement their natural color

Here are a couple articles on our blog as examples:
http://www.mezzmer.com/blog/eyeglasses-to-complement-your-coloring/
http://www.mezzmer.com/blog/the-best-frame-for-your-shape/

How do you make the life of consumers easier/more manageable?

Mezzmer allows people to shop for eyeglasses from the comfort of their home. Our Try at Home program gives people the opportunity to order up to five frames to try at home for two weeks before making a decision. There is no cost to order trial pairs (including free shipping).

We also provide a 30-day return policy to help alleviate any worries about shopping from home.

Also, if there is any particular need for adjustment after our customers have received their order, they can take their glasses to most  eyewear retailers for free (as most companies usually make adjustments without a charge). If by chance a retailer does charge, we always reimburse our clients.

What was the first design that you developed? Where there any challenges in the creation process? If so, how did you overcome them?

We didn’t have any particular first design. We created our first line altogether. The challenges were to filter down all the possible frame designs to a select number we felt our customers would be excited about. We solved this by getting feedback from a variety of people (men and women) to help us with the decision making. We have received a strong response to our first line.

It appears that you “give back” to various charities. Was this a part of your business model from the start? Please share why giving back is “the bold” decision in today’s world.

The charity component was a critical part of our business plan. In today’s business environment, we don’t believe that business give back to their community as much as they should. So, we decided that if we started with “giving” as part of Mezzmer’s DNA from the beginning – we and our customers can feel good about our business and purchases.

What is your definition of boldness as an organization? Also, please share tips on living a bold life to readers if inspired to do so.

At Mezzmer, we believe boldness is about doing everything we can to “make a difference”, while daring to “take risks” in things we believe in. Not to be afraid of making mistakes, but ultimately learning from all decisions.

Our advice to your readers: You make decisions everyday, small and large – from what to wear, to big family matters. Try to make one bold decision a day, by taking a risk and/or trying something new. We guarantee you will be surprised with what you can accomplish and how you will feel about yourself.