SelectSpecs
SelectSpecs is a family-run UK online optical retailer selling prescription glasses, sunglasses, contact lenses, hearing aids, and AI smart eyewear to value-conscious and premium-segment consumers, supported by an in-house lens laboratory and 400+ brand partnerships.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2005
- HeadquartersWestgate On Sea, United Kingdom
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What SelectSpecs does
SelectSpecs is a UK-based, family-run online optical retailer founded in 2005 (firmographics record year 2004) and headquartered in Westgate on Sea, Kent, with a dual online and high street presence. The company operates an e-commerce platform selling prescription glasses, sunglasses, contact lenses, hearing aids, sports and specialty eyewear, and AI-enabled smart glasses (Ray-Ban Meta, Oakley Meta) under authorized retailer relationships with more than 400 brands including Ray-Ban, Oakley, Tom Ford, Calvin Klein, Boss, and premium lens suppliers Essilor, Hoya, and Pentax. Pricing is anchored on a £6 entry-level prescription glasses offer with free basic single vision lenses included, supported by 2-for-1 promotions, tiered discount campaigns (Summer Spend & Save up to 25% off), BNPL via Klarna and Clearpay, and NHS voucher acceptance.
The underlying platform combines a virtual try-on feature, online prescription upload, phone ordering, and a state-of-the-art in-house lens fabrication laboratory in Kent, with 10,000+ prescription SKUs and 80,000+ Trustpilot reviews indicating substantial retail traction. Distribution is omnichannel: the selectspecs.com storefront as primary, supplemented by a physical high street store, 24/7 InPost locker collection, next-day express delivery, and free returns on orders over £49.
The business model is fundamentally direct-to-consumer, one-time-sale optical retail. Revenue is diversified across value and premium frames, lens upgrades, contact lens subscriptions, and an emerging audiology vertical — but no financials are publicly disclosed and the company is privately held with no institutional funding or M&A activity on record. Strategic posture emphasizes affordable, vertically integrated optical care to UK consumers, with recent diversification into hearing, sports, and AI-smart eyewear categories representing incremental vertical extension rather than a category-defining pivot.
SelectSpecs firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- SelectSpecs
- Legal name
- SelectSpecs
- Website
- https://selectspecs.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2005
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- SelectSpecs is a family-run UK online optical retailer selling prescription glasses, sunglasses, contact lenses, hearing aids, and AI smart eyewear to value-conscious and premium-segment consumers, supported by an in-house lens laboratory and 400+ brand partnerships.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
SelectSpecs industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Online Optical 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
- Sunglasses (Non-Prescription) (CRAAAKAB), Contact Lenses & Care Systems (Soft/RGP/Scleral Lenses; Cleaning/Disinfection Solutions) (HLAHAJAE)
Keywords
Where SelectSpecs is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Westgate On Sea
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
SelectSpecs business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Prescription Glasses Sales: Primary revenue stream from sale of prescription eyeglasses with frames and lenses. Products range from budget (£6) to premium designer brands. Includes free basic single vision lenses with most frames, with upgrades available.
- Sunglasses Sales: Sale of designer and prescription sunglasses including polarized, prescription, and AI/smart sunglasses (Ray-Ban Meta, Oakley Meta)
- Contact Lenses Sales: Sale of daily, weekly, monthly disposable contact lenses plus solutions and eye care products from brands including Alcon, Johnson & Johnson, Bausch & Lomb, CooperVision
- Hearing Aids Sales: Sale of hearing aids (behind-the-ear and in-the-ear) plus accessories including batteries, domes, tubes, wax guards and cleaning products
- Lens Upgrade & Add-ons: Revenue from premium lens upgrades (thinner lenses, varifocals, Transitions, anti-reflective coatings, blue light blocking) and lens add-ons
- Sports & Specialty Eyewear: Sale of sports-specific eyewear including cycling, golf, running, tennis, skiing goggles, and swimming goggles
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Budget prescription glasses from £6 |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | 2 for 1 prescription glasses from £39 |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Designer prescription glasses |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Bulk purchase discounts |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Contact lenses |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
SelectSpecs product offering
Product offeringCore offering
SelectSpecs is a UK-based online optical retailer selling prescription glasses from £6, designer and prescription sunglasses, contact lenses, and hearing aids. The company operates a dual online and high street retail model with an on-site prescription lens fabrication laboratory, virtual try-on technology, and authorized retailer partnerships with over 400 brands including Ray-Ban, Oakley, and Tom Ford.
Product overview
SelectSpecs is a UK-based online optical retailer offering a comprehensive eyewear platform with prescription glasses starting from £6.00, 2 for 1 deals from £39.00, designer sunglasses, contact lenses, hearing aids, and AI smart glasses. The core offering centers on prescription eyewear with free basic lenses, complemented by premium lens upgrades from Essilor, Hoya, and Pentax. The company has expanded into AI-enabled eyewear (Ray-Ban Meta, Oakley Meta, Nuance Audio hearing glasses), hearing products, and sports/specialty eyewear. Key differentiators include an on-site laboratory for lens production, virtual try-on technology, and next-day express delivery options.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Prescription Glasses Prescription eyewear with single vision, varifocal, and bifocal lens options. Frames start from £6.00 with free basic single vision lenses included. Available in men's, women's, and kids' ranges across multiple collections including designer, boutique, essential, and exclusive lines.
- Sunglasses Non-prescription and prescription sunglasses featuring designer brands (Ray-Ban, Oakley, Tom Ford, Calvin Klein, Boss), polarized lens options, and AI/smart sunglasses including Ray-Ban Meta and Oakley Meta.
- Contact Lenses Daily disposables, weekly reusables, monthly reusables, toric lenses for astigmatism, multifocal lenses, and coloured lenses from brands including Alcon, Johnson & Johnson, Bausch & Lomb, and CooperVision. Sold alongside contact lens solutions and eye care products.
- Hearing Aids Behind-the-ear and in-the-ear hearing aids, complemented by accessories including batteries, dome packs, hearing aid tubes, click sleeves, wax guards, and cleaning/hygiene products.
- AI Smart Glasses AI-enabled eyewear including Ray-Ban Meta and Oakley Meta smart glasses with integrated cameras, audio, and AI assistant capabilities, sold as authorized retailer.
- Nuance Audio Hearing Glasses Prescription glasses with built-in hearing assistance technology, combining eyewear with hearing amplification in a single product.
- Sports Glasses Specialized prescription and non-prescription eyewear for cycling, mountain biking, golf, running, trail, shooting, tennis, cricket, driving, fishing, football, mountaineering, and watersports.
- Goggles Skiing and snowboarding goggles plus swimming goggles for recreational and professional use.
- Lens Replacement Service Reglaze service allowing customers to send in their existing frames to be fitted with new prescription lenses, including premium lens upgrades from Essilor, Hoya, and Pentax.
Quantifiable outcome
- Up to 70% savings compared to high street and other online retailers
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use SelectSpecs
Customer profileSegments7 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
SelectSpecs technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration10 records
Feature3 records
SelectSpecs partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- EssilorcorePremium lens supplier providing high-quality optical lenses. Essilor is one of the world's leading lens manufacturers, supplying premium lens options for SelectSpecs' eyewear products.
- HoyacorePremium lens supplier providing high-quality optical lenses. Hoya is a major global lens technology company partnering with SelectSpecs for lens offerings.
- PentaxcorePremium lens supplier providing optical lens technology. Part of the premium lens options available at SelectSpecs alongside Essilor and Hoya.
- Ray-BancoreAuthorised retailer for Ray-Ban prescription glasses, sunglasses, and AI-enabled Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses.
- OakleycoreAuthorised retailer for Oakley prescription glasses, sunglasses, and AI-enabled Oakley Meta smart glasses.
- Tom FordcoreAuthorised retailer for Tom Ford designer eyewear including prescription glasses and sunglasses.
- Calvin KleincoreAuthorised retailer for Calvin Klein designer eyewear.
- BosscoreAuthorised retailer for Boss (Hugo Boss) designer eyewear.
- KlarnacoreProvides 'See Now, Pay Later' flexible payment options allowing customers to spread the cost of eyewear purchases.
- ClearpaycoreProvides installment payment options for customers to pay for eyewear in manageable installments.
- InPostminorProvides 24/7 parcel locker collection service enabling convenient self-service pickup for UK customers.
- AlconminorContact lens brand available through SelectSpecs, offering daily disposables, weekly reusables, and specialty lenses.
- Johnson & JohnsonminorContact lens brand available through SelectSpecs.
- Bausch & LombminorContact lens brand available through SelectSpecs.
- CooperVisionminorContact lens brand available through SelectSpecs.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
SelectSpecs competitors and assessment
Company assessmentMarket position
Competitive moat5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
SelectSpecs social profiles
Digital presenceSelectSpecs financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
SelectSpecs leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
SelectSpecs funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
SelectSpecs M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about SelectSpecs
What does SelectSpecs do?
SelectSpecs is a UK-based online optical retailer selling prescription glasses from £6, designer and prescription sunglasses, contact lenses, and hearing aids. The company operates a dual online and high street retail model with an on-site prescription lens fabrication laboratory, virtual try-on technology, and authorized retailer partnerships with over 400 brands including Ray-Ban, Oakley, and Tom Ford.
Is SelectSpecs a public or private company?
SelectSpecs is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was SelectSpecs founded?
SelectSpecs was founded in 2005. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is SelectSpecs based?
SelectSpecs is headquartered in Westgate On Sea, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does SelectSpecs make money?
Six revenue lines are on record. Prescription Glasses Sales are the primary driver. The others are sunglasses Sales, contact Lenses Sales, hearing Aids Sales, lens Upgrade & Add-ons and sports & Specialty Eyewear.
Does SelectSpecs have an API?
No public API is recorded for SelectSpecs.
What industry is SelectSpecs in?
SelectSpecs's product category is Online Optical Retail. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAKAKAL, Optical Dispensing & Eyewear Retail (Glasses/Frames/Lenses), with a secondary code of CRAAAKAB, Sunglasses (Non-Prescription). Its NAICS code is 45613 and its SIC code is 3851.