Virtual Try-On Tool Helps Discount Glasses Reduce Returns

Discount Glasses is an online eyewear retailer that prides itself on the ability to provide affordable prices, unbeatable customer service, and top-quality eyewear. The company's prices allow products to be accessible to a wide audience while also giving customers a way to express their style with a large variety of trendy glasses.

Challenge

As an e-commerce brand, Discount Glasses allows customers to browse thousands of products and order eyewear without leaving the comfort of their own home. However, the problem arises when the customer isn’t satisfied with the look or fit of their glasses once they arrive. Then they need to go through the hassle of returning the product. Even though Discount Glasses offers free 365-day returns, customers still prefer to avoid sending products back when possible.

“In addition to correcting vision and protecting the eyes, glasses are a fashion accessory," says Discount Glasses’ Product Manager Scott Rhodes. "The main disadvantage to selling eyeglasses online is that customers can't physically try on frames until they receive their order. With our virtual try-on feature, they can see how the frames will look and fit before they make a purchase, which allows them to make a better decision.”

Solution

Discount Glasses implemented eyewear virtual try-on platform Ditto in November 2017. Ditto's platform allows Discount Glasses' shoppers to see themselves in the glasses before purchasing them.

“The augmented reality used on our site requires our frames to be precisely measured and photographed from all angles," notes Rhodes. "The photographs and dimensions are then used to render 3D models of the glasses. When a user creates a virtual try-on, their face is scanned as they turn their head 180 degrees from side to side. This allows key points of the face to be mapped, such as the position of the eyes, nose and ears, which will be used to ensure the virtual glasses are lined up properly. If the user completes the optional step of taking a photo with an ID card held to their forehead, Ditto will be able to calculate the user's facial dimensions and display the virtual frames at the correct scale.”

There are also some new try-on features that Discount Glasses is planning to implement in the future.

“Once the user creates a virtual try-on, their facial dimensions and other information, such as gender, age and prescription, can be used to recommend frames that will work best for them," Rhodes explains. "There will also be an optional step during the creation where the user holds a magnetic stripe ID card up to their forehead and takes a photo. Since the ID card is a standard size, their pupillary distance (PD) and face width can be calculated.”

With these new updates, the virtual try-on feature on DiscountGlasses.com will continue to improve and become even more accurate for users.

Results

Over 70 percent of Discount Glasses’ eyeglasses and sunglasses can now be tried on virtually. The user can toggle between the faces and frames so that they can see how they’ll look in several different styles to compare. See how it works for yourself by creating your own virtual try-on today.

Amanda Schafer is the marketing specialist for Discount Glasses, an online eyewear retailer that prides itself on the ability to provide affordable prices, unbeatable customer service, and top-quality eyewear.