History
A disruptor’s story
You Deserve Better.
stand up, fight back, and don’t settle for less than you deserve
Freshly out of school, Bruce took his first stab at the industry by opening up the Spectacle Gallery in Hamilton, Ontario. This store looked more like a conventonal optcal than the current form of Great Glasses. A 1-for-1 selling high end glasses, both name brand and independently made product. Over the next 5 years Bruce listened. He heard customer’s growing distain for the status quo and their demand for change. The first signs of modern day Great Glasses started in the late ’80s when we intenGonally changed our frame buying style to avoid companies controlled by Luxottica.
It didn’t take long until customers started to notice that we are a new breed of eyeglass store. We showed that we are here to offer the value you want, and we are willing to go against the grain to make it a reality. Behind the scenes, we knew the industry was broke and nobody was working to fix it. We took it upon ourselves to be the catalyst for change.
Following the incredible response from consumers who appreciated an innovative and superior offering, the established institutions including the College of Optometrist of Ontario and College of Opticians of Ontario who launched an all out attack to shut us down. First filing a lawsuit in 2002, they continued to press until finally disrupting the disrupter in Ontario in 2010.
Bruce Bergez has been handed more than $17 million in fines and has served 1 year in jail as punishment for standing up against the institution.
In 2012, the fight continued. Great Glasses was able to re-establish roots in British Columbia , a province less controlled by Luxottica’s influence over the colleges, where we continue to push for what is right. We stand up and fight because we know that you deserve better, and the industry has been ripping you off for too many years. We are proud to offer our 3 for 1 shopping experience and free eye tests available without appointment.
Ten years since moving to British Columbia we now have 4 locations across the Fraser Valley. We are thanked everyday by our loyal customers who appreciate a better option for eyeglasses, a purchase which often causes so much stress. We have built deep ties to the community with continued support for local sports teams, event participation and donations to fundraisers across the province. Great Glasses is here and ready to help you fight back against a broken system.
It didn’t take long until customers started to notice that we are a new breed of eyeglass store. We showed that we are here to offer the value you want, and we are willing to go against the grain to make it a reality. Behind the scenes, we knew the industry was broke and nobody was working to fix it. We took it upon ourselves to be the catalyst for change.
Following the incredible response from consumers who appreciated an innovative and superior offering, the established institutions including the College of Optometrist of Ontario and College of Opticians of Ontario who launched an all out attack to shut us down. First filing a lawsuit in 2002, they continued to press until finally disrupting the disrupter in Ontario in 2010.
Bruce Bergez has been handed more than $17 million in fines and has served 1 year in jail as punishment for standing up against the institution.
In 2012, the fight continued. Great Glasses was able to re-establish roots in British Columbia , a province less controlled by Luxottica’s influence over the colleges, where we continue to push for what is right. We stand up and fight because we know that you deserve better, and the industry has been ripping you off for too many years. We are proud to offer our 3 for 1 shopping experience and free eye tests available without appointment.
Ten years since moving to British Columbia we now have 4 locations across the Fraser Valley. We are thanked everyday by our loyal customers who appreciate a better option for eyeglasses, a purchase which often causes so much stress. We have built deep ties to the community with continued support for local sports teams, event participation and donations to fundraisers across the province. Great Glasses is here and ready to help you fight back against a broken system.