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<\/a><\/p>\nRider driven development helps launches Coast Optics at full speed<\/p>\n
Three years in, the founding pair is now able to call Coast Optics their primary, and only source of employment. That comes after three years of hustling hard, pulling full time shifts at Evolution, then going home and putting in as many hours developing their own business. While not relying on a hug outside investment made the double days a necessity, Sam says it was also instrumental to the success they\u2019ve found in a relatively short period since launching. The pair used their work at Evolution as a source of guerrilla market research. On top of being riders themselves, Sam and Alex learned what riders wanted better than the competition by, well, asking them what they wanted.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe had tons of customers coming in daily for goggles. So we\u2019d ask them a lot of questions, like, to the point it almost got kind of weird,\u201d Sam says with a laugh. \u201cSo we\u2019d have to tell them after what we were doing.\u201d<\/p>\n
That tactic paid off as Coast Optics released a line of goggles, and later glasses, that immediately resonated as a quality performance option, not \u201cjust\u201d a green alternative. It also taught that them that price was often a more motivating factor than, perhaps, some major brands have realized. While Coastal Optics driving motivation is a greener vision of eyewear, Sam says they\u2019re fine if price ends up being the main reason why someone takes the greener option. The end result is, still, a greener market.<\/p>\n
Coast Optics is, in the slow-moving world of eyewear, an early pioneer helping develop the green approach to products and packaging. I asked Sam whether he had any concerns that, in proving that a more environmentally sustainable approach to production was possible as a small start up, he had any concerns that the major brands might follow suit. And, in doing so, cut into the niche Coast Optics had carved out so successfully.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019d lead to a really negative mindset,\u201d Sam says, immediately reframing the question in a more positive direction. \u201cIf we inspired them to change their processes and materials, then we\u2019d feel pretty good about the whole mission statement.\u201d<\/p>\n Plus, Sam adds, Coast Optics is already working on the next steps, not waiting for the competition to catch up. He cites Patagonia, and its move away from PFC coatings before the current regulations forced the competition to follow, as an example the pair follow. And they\u2019re already working on moving their own practices forward.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re far from perfect. We don\u2019t have a load of resources, so we do what we can,\u201d Sam says, \u201cSo it\u2019s a balance.\u201d<\/p>\n One aspect of that balance was learning what is possible currently. Coast Optics has moved from recycled frame materials to biobased. \u201cWe can get way better durability out of biobased,\u201d Sam explains, adding \u201cAnd durability is an aspect of sustainability.\u201d After years of searching, lenses remain the one component that Coast Optics still uses new materials for, for similar reasons.<\/p>\n They\u2019re also chasing long term goals that Sam thinks will continue to set the brand apart from the competition, like a recycling program.<\/p>\n \u201cThat stuff is going to take time. you need copious amount of product just to recycle and regrind,\u201d Sam explains, adding that he\u2019s happy they still don\u2019t have many goggles coming back to them broken yet. \u201cBut that\u2019s also different to what those big companies might care about, and roll out if they just looked at their margins.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/a>Green eyewear and local beans at the Coast Optics Whistler pop-up
\nLeading the competition<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n