Optiker Bode

What Optiker Bode does

Optiker Bode GmbH is a third-generation family-owned German optical and hearing-care retailer headquartered in Hamburg, operating more than 80 retail branches across nine German states (Berlin, Brandenburg, Bremen, Hamburg, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Niedersachsen, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Sachsen-Anhalt, and Schleswig-Holstein) and employing 550+ staff. The company retails prescription spectacles (single-vision, progressive/multifocal, blue-light filter), sunglasses (including with prescription), contact lenses, and hearing aids (in-ear, behind-the-ear, Bluetooth-enabled, and hearables) from a portfolio of more than 50 brands and 1,500+ models, including Ray-Ban, Gucci, Tom Ford, Cartier, Oliver Peoples, and the in-house FRAIMS label. Customers also benefit from ancillary services including free professional eye and hearing tests, personalized in-store Beratung (consultation), the Easy Lens Abo contact lens subscription, a 0% installment financing option starting at €14.90/month, and an optional Brillen-Schutz-Paket 2-year damage protection add-on.

The business model is primarily one-time retail of optically-fitted products at physical stores, complemented by subscription revenue from contact-lens reorders and transaction-fee revenue from financing and protection add-ons. Distribution runs exclusively through owned branches, with foot traffic generated via Timify online appointment booking, paid search (Google Ads, Bing Ads), social media (Instagram, Facebook), email newsletters, and proprietary events (Hausmesse trade fair, FRAME THE FUTURE smart-glasses showcases). The company has no proprietary e-commerce platform for finished eyewear but acquired online-retailer Edel-Optics out of insolvency in April 2024 jointly with ROTTLER, providing its first meaningful online distribution channel. Digital touchpoints rely on third-party vendor tooling — FittingBox for Virtual Try-On, Personio for HR, Google Analytics/Plerdy/Hotjar for web analytics — and there is no disclosed proprietary technology platform. The firm was founded in 1938 by Hans Bode and is currently managed by Carsten Bode, Sybille Bode, and Sandra Bode, with no external private-equity or venture-capital ownership indicated.

Growth and expansion have been visible through multiple new store openings and the launch of smart-eyewear categories in 2025 (Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses, Nuance Audio Hearing Glasses), an exclusive in-house Jorge González sunglasses collection launching March 2026, and successive recognition from Stiftung Warentest (2011 Testsieger), Deutsches Institut für Service-Qualität (2015, 2017, 2025 'sehr gut'), and Store of the Year 2022 (Out of Line category) for the Jungfernstieg flagship. The most recent disclosed revenue is approximately €50 million for fiscal year 2017 with ~460 employees; more recent figures are not publicly available, but headcount growth to 550+ suggests modest top-line expansion since.

Name

Optiker Bode

Legal name

Optiker Bode GmbH

Website

https://optiker-bode.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1938

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Family-owned German optical and hearing-care retailer operating 80+ branches across nine states, selling prescription eyewear, sunglasses, contact lenses, and hearing aids from 50+ brands via in-store consultation, free eye tests, and a recently acquired online channel.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Optical and Hearing Aid Retail

NAICS

Optical Goods Retailers (45613)

SIC

Ophthalmic Goods (3851)

akta.pro primary industry

Optical Dispensing & Eyewear Retail (Glasses/Frames/Lenses) (HLAKAKAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Prescription Eyewear Frames (Optical) (CRAAAKAA), Sunglasses (Non-Prescription) (CRAAAKAB), Luxury & Designer Eyewear (CRAAAKAD)

Keywords

• Prescription eyewear retail
• Hearing aid services
• Contact lens fitting
• Optical retail stores
• Sunglasses retail

Headquarters

HQ city

Hamburg

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Eyewear Retail (Spectacles & Sunglasses): One-time sale of prescription eyeglasses, sunglasses, and frames. Major revenue driver with single-vision and progressive (Gleitsicht) lenses. Revenue split 2017: ~50M EUR with ~460 employees.
2. Contact Lens Subscriptions: Recurring contact lens sales via subscription programs including Easy Lens Abo and meineLinse, with repeat purchase revenue.
3. Hearing Aids (Hörakustik): Sale and fitting of hearing aids (Im-Ohr, Hinter-dem-Ohr, Hearables, Bluetooth) along with accessories (batteries, remote controls) and audiology services.
4. Financing & Insurance: 0% installment financing for spectacles (ab 14.90 EUR/month) and optional Brillen-Schutz-Paket (insurance-like add-on) generating ancillary revenue.

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Optiker Bode is a family-owned German optical retailer operating 80+ branches across nine German federal states. It sells prescription eyeglasses, sunglasses, contact lenses and hearing aids from over 50 brands (Ray-Ban, Gucci, Tom Ford, Cartier, Oliver Peoples, Police, Marc O'Polo, Emporio Armani, etc.) and its own FRAIMS house brand. Stores also deliver free eye and hearing tests, virtual try-on (FittingBox), contact lens subscriptions, hearing-aid fitting and aftercare services conducted by qualified opticians and acousticians.

Product overview

Optiker Bode is a German optical retailer offering a comprehensive eyewear and hearing care portfolio. The core offering includes prescription eyeglasses (single-vision, progressive, blue light filter), sunglasses (with and without prescription), contact lenses (daily, bi-weekly, monthly, toric, multifocal), and hearing aids (in-ear, behind-the-ear, Bluetooth-enabled, hearables). The company carries over 1,500 models from more than 50 brands including Ray-Ban, Gucci, Tom Ford, Oliver Peoples, Police, Marc O'Polo, Emporio Armani, and Cartier. Smart product offerings include Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses and Nuance Audio hearing glasses. The house brand FRAIMS provides budget-friendly options starting at €198. Services include free eye tests, virtual try-on (FittingBox), contact lens subscriptions (Easy Lens Abo), hearing tests, and hearing aid fitting. Add-on services include the Brillen-Schutz-Paket (protection package) and 0% financing options.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Brillen (Prescription Eyeglasses) Prescription eyeglasses in single-vision (Einstärken), progressive/multifocal (Gleitsicht), reading, blue-light filter, driving and children's variants. Over 1,500 models from more than 50 brands (Ray-Ban, Gucci, Tom Ford, Cartier, Oliver Peoples, Police, Marc O'Polo, Emporio Armani, Boss, Escada, Dior, Maui Jim, Oakley and others). Lenses are fitted on-site by qualified opticians at 80+ branches across Germany.
• Sonnenbrillen (Sunglasses) Non-prescription and prescription sunglasses for women, men and children, including polarized, mirrored, UV-protective and driving-specific variants. Carries premium and lifestyle brands (Ray-Ban, Oakley, Maui Jim, Gucci, Tom Ford, Police, Emporio Armani, Oliver Peoples, Marc O'Polo, Carrera) and supports the upcoming exclusive Jorge González collection.
• Kontaktlinsen (Contact Lenses) Contact lenses in daily (Tageslinsen), bi-weekly (Zwei-Wochen-Linsen) and monthly (Monatslinsen) replacement schedules, plus spherical, toric (for astigmatism) and multifocal variants. Includes fitting, aftercare (Kontaktlinsen-Nachkontrolle) and recurring delivery via subscription programs (Easy Lens Abo, meineLinse).
• Hörgeräte (Hearing Aids) Hearing aids covering in-ear (Im-Ohr), behind-the-ear (Hinter-dem-Ohr), hearables and Bluetooth-enabled models, plus related accessories (Fernbedienungen, Hörgerätebatterien, Gehörschutz). Sold and fitted in-store with free hearing tests and trial-wear services.
• FRAIMS House Brand Eyewear Optiker Bode's own in-house FRAIMS eyeglass brand including single-vision (from EUR 198, including thin lenses) and progressive/multifocal lenses (from EUR 298), presented in trend-forward styles such as Coffee & Cream colourways.
• Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses Smart glasses with integrated camera and audio features, sold through Optiker Bode following exclusive FRAME THE FUTURE launch events co-hosted with Ray-Ban Meta and EssilorLuxottica.
• Nuance Audio Hörbrille (Smart Hearing Glasses) Smart hearing glasses combining prescription or non-prescription eyewear with hearing-aid technology (Nuance Audio), sold as part of Optiker Bode's smart wearables portfolio.
• Jorge González Sonnenbrillen (Exclusive Sunglasses Collection) First own-branded sunglasses collection by entertainer Jorge González, exclusive stationary retail partner Optiker Bode (alongside Edel-Optics online); Cuban-inspired designs with fashionable silhouettes and UV protection.
• Kostenloser Sehtest (Free Eye Test Service) Complimentary professional eye examination conducted at every branch by qualified opticians using modern measurement technology, available to all customers visiting an Optiker Bode branch.
• Kostenloser Hörtest (Free Hearing Test Service) Complimentary hearing examination service conducted in branches by hearing-aid acousticians; serves as the entry point for hearing-aid fitting and trial wearing.
• Virtuelle Anprobe (Virtual Try-On Service) Online virtual try-on for glasses using FittingBox computer-vision technology, enabling customers to see how frames look on their face via the device camera. Images are processed only during the session and are not stored.
• Kontaktlinsen-Abonnement (Easy Lens Abo / meineLinse Subscription) Recurring contact-lens subscription service with regular automated delivery and reordering, available as Easy Lens Abo and meineLinse for daily, bi-weekly and monthly lenses.

Quantifiable outcome

• Testsieger (test winner) — best rating among major optical retailers in Stiftung Warentest comparison (2011)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration13 records

AI capability2 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.

• Ray-Ban Meta / EssilorLuxotticaflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 May 2025Optiker Bode co-hosted the 'FRAME THE FUTURE' exclusive event with Ray-Ban Meta and EssilorLuxottica in Hamburg-Eppendorf. Over 500 guests experienced smart glasses including Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses and Nuance Audio Hearing Glasses. Additional FRAME THE FUTURE events held at Gütersloh (2025) and Bergedorf (2025) branches.
• Edel-OpticsflagshipChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 2 April 2024Optiker Bode (jointly with ROTTLER) acquired Edel-Optics out of insolvency in April 2024. This strategic move strengthens Optiker Bode's online market presence and expands product distribution for both online and physical store customers. Jorge González's exclusive sunglasses collection (launching March 2026) will be available at both Optiker Bode and Edel-Optics.
• Jorge González (Entertainer/Designer)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerEntertainer Jorge González launched an exclusive sunglasses collection (March 2026) with Optiker Bode as the exclusive stationary retail partner (alongside Edel-Optics online). Inspired by González's Cuban roots, the models feature fashionable silhouettes with high-quality processing, optimal fit, and reliable UV protection.
• Timify (TerminApp GmbH)coreTechnology or IntegrationTimify provides the online appointment booking system used across all Optiker Bode branches for scheduling eye tests, hearing tests, and consultations. Data is stored in secured European data centers with SSL encryption.
• FittingBox (FITTINGBOX SAS)coreTechnology or IntegrationFittingBox provides the Virtual Try-On (VTO) technology enabling customers to virtually try glasses using their device camera. Images are processed live and not stored. No personal or health data is collected.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves13 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Edel-Optics: Online eyewear retailer now owned jointly by Optiker Bode and ROTTLER following the April 2024 insolvency acquisition. Most direct online peer and increasingly a captive distribution channel for Bode's exclusive collections.
• KIND: Germany's largest hearing aid specialist with 700+ Fachgeschäfte. Directly comparable to Optiker Bode's Hörakustik vertical and a benchmark for what scaled hearing-aid retail looks like in the German market.
• Brillen.de: German online optical retailer carrying branded prescription and non-prescription eyewear. Directly comparable to Optiker Bode's multi-brand assortment but via a pure e-commerce model with no physical branches.
• Mister Spex: Leading online optical retailer in Germany with an integrated physical store network. Most direct competitor on omnichannel prescription eyewear, particularly relevant to Optiker Bode following its Edel-Optics acquisition.
• Eyes + More: German optical retail chain specializing in fashionable eyewear at fixed price points. Comparable mid-market positioning with growing branch network in the same German cities where Optiker Bode operates.
• Apollo-Optik: German optical retail chain with broad national presence, owned by EssilorLuxottica. Competes directly across prescription frames, lenses and sunglasses with a comparable multi-brand assortment strategy.
• ROTTLER: Family-owned German optical retail chain and joint acquirer of Edel-Optics together with Optiker Bode. Closest operational peer in terms of size, regional footprint, ownership structure and product mix.

Regional players

• Ace & Tate: Amsterdam-based design-led eyewear retailer with own-brand frames sold through European boutiques and online. Comparable to Optiker Bode's premium fashion offering (Cartier/Tom Ford) but with limited German retail density and no hearing-aid vertical.

Broad incumbents

• Pearle: European optical retail chain present in Germany under the Pearle and Smykker brands. Overlapping assortment and store-based retail model, although it positions more towards value and family eyewear than Optiker Bode's premium push.
• Fielmann: Europe's largest optical retailer and the dominant German chain with 700+ branches. Direct overlap in prescription eyewear, sunglasses and hearing aids, but Fielmann is several times larger and operates nationally including southern Germany.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/OptikerBode
• Instagraminstagram.com/optiker.bode

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Optiker Bode