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MASON, Ohio—Pearle Vision said this week that, even as the world grappled with an unprecedented health and economic crisis, the eyecare franchising company, a division of Luxottica Retail N.A., “remained steadfastly focused on growth in 2020.” Overall, Pearle Vision said that in 2020 it saw the opening of 16 new eyecare centers, including 14 since the pandemic began in March, plus several “Ignite” conversions. Launched in 2018, Ignite allows independent optometry practice owners to retain control of their business while gaining infrastructure from Pearle Vision to help strengthen their operations.

Because Ignite involves converting an existing practice, the capital requirements are lower and the center can open sooner than would be possible with a new location and new construction. Additionally, the Ignite program features reduced franchise fees and royalties.

The Ignite program gained significant traction in 2020, as eight independent practices converted to Pearle Vision franchise locations, with four more conversions in process and expected to be completed in early 2021, the company noted. Pearle Vision operates more than 500 eyecare centers throughout the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico.

“Traditionally, we hear that an economic downturn brings increased interest in franchising, because people want to control their own destiny,” Alex Wilkes, general manager of Pearle Vision, said in a post on the Pearle Vision franchising website. “When you couple that with our operating in the health care industry and being an essential business, it made the Pearle Vision franchise opportunity very attractive to investors.”

One strong area for Pearle Vision in 2020 was evident in the growing interest in area development agreements. Since the fourth quarter of 2019, Pearle Vision has signed several area developments, including Colorado Springs, Colo., and Irvine, Sacramento and the East Bay area in California. Colorado Springs, Sacramento and East Bay are new markets for Pearle Vision with eyecare centers owned and operated by new licensed owners.

A Pearle Vision licensed owner with an area development agreement is granted exclusive territory rights and pays a reduced franchise fee and lower royalty fees in exchange for signing a contract to open a certain number of units in a particular market within a defined time frame.

Wilkes noted, “The pandemic helped investors and prospective licensed owners identify which businesses they feel are truly essential, and that gave them confidence in businesses like Pearle Vision. We provide a service that customers and patients want and need, even during a health crisis and economic downturn.”

In March, as the coronavirus pandemic accelerated, Pearle Vision was designated an essential business and almost all eyecare centers stayed open throughout the pandemic. Priorities and resources were redirected as the brand pivoted to help ensure the health of its licensed owners, associates and patients and also to provide licensed owners with the guidance they needed to operate safely.

After March, area development agreements continued to move forward, and several new deals were signed. Although some prospects stepped back initially, the interest in Pearle Vision as a business opportunity remained very high.

“The challenges that Pearle Vision faced in 2020 have given me confidence in the future of our brand and our industry,” Wilkes said. “I am proud of our organization and how we have handled a truly unprecedented year. I think we will continue to grow and become stronger and better for what we have learned in 2020.”