Success Comes in Many Forms for Warby Parker

Warby Parker claims to be part of a new breed of companies that are “building a company to do good in the world,” as the web page for their “Buy a Pair, Give a Pair” program boldly explains. Almost one billion people don’t have access to glasses, and receiving corrective eyewear can increase one’s productivity by 20% -- equivalent to an extra work day a week. This is why Warby Parker sees glasses as a key component to global poverty alleviation. The company also says that it carefully avoids a classical “aid” trap, pointed out by discerning international development professionals. WP reportedly partners through funding and/or glasses with local non-profits, who in turn train low-income entrepreneurs to start their own businesses selling glasses.

They don’t just want to do good in other countries, as illustrated by their response to the Sandy storm that hit in their backyard. Stories emerged from the Red Hook housing projects in Brooklyn of rats and raccoons entering the dark hallways and residences which remained without power for weeks. A light bulb quite literally went off for Lander Bravo, and he reached out to Nokero, a designer and manufacturer of solar light bulbs and chargers. Nokero, also founded on a mission of “good business” and a name derived from “No Kerosene,” created a global effort to eliminate this dirty fuel from the developing world with a solar light bulb by Steve Katsaros, as noted in a New York Times article.

Businesses like Nokero and Warby Parker don’t want to outsource doing good to non-profits. They’ve made it part of their mission as a company to use their respective expertise around the world and right here at home. Not just an occasional act of charity, but as Warby Parker asserts, “we think it’s good business doing good.”