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India’s optical retail market is undergoing a significant transformation, driven by the rapid expansion of organized eyewear franchise brands. What was once a largely unorganized, neighborhood-driven category is now evolving into a structured, technology-enabled retail segment with standardized products, transparent pricing, and professional eye-care services. Backed by strong brand recall, data-led store formats, and scalable franchise models, eyewear brands are aggressively expanding beyond metros into Tier II and Tier III cities. This shift is not only redefining how Indian consumers purchase eyewear but is also creating attractive, long-term opportunities for franchise investors across the country.
According to recent trends, young people in metropolitan cities want corrective eyewear that complements stylish glasses, sunglasses, and tech-enabled lenses. The industry’s market revenue generated was estimated to be around $5.7 billion in 2022 and is planned to grow to approximately $9.1 billion by 2028 at an 8.2 percent CAGR, as major players like Lenskart and Titan Eyeplus offer strong franchisee support, high margins, and quick breakevens, tapping into India’s huge, underserved vision correction population. With brands like Lenskart, Vision Express, and Netre expanding through omnichannel strategies, the market has opened up for branded organizations to claim their stake.
As the market remains up for grabs, top brands have started to capitalize on it by quickly expanding their retail footprint through physical stores. The outlets are being unveiled across different regions in India to cater to a diverse audience. It has been observed that around 477 million Indians need vision correction, yet only 25 percent wear glasses, indicating significant room for growth, and around 2 million pairs of glasses are sold daily in India. Below is an overview of the eyewear franchise brands that have been top-notch in this segment.
Lenskart
Founded in 2010, Lenskart, the stylish, fashion-forward eyewear brand, continued its mission of broadening its reach across India with the launch of a new outlet in Mujhiya Market, Delhi. Unveiling new stores in Delhi helps Lenskart increase its brand visibility and accessibility in a major retail center where many customers still prefer in‑store experiences. It has over 1,400 outlets in India and plans to open several stores across multiple locations over the next couple of years to bolster its position in metropolitan and emerging markets. The brand views smaller markets as an area to be capitalized upon. Eyewear remains a product category where testing before buying is crucial. The brand offers free eye testing and a try-on experience to boost its customer engagement and develop brand loyalty.
Lenskart primarily operates under a franchise-owned, franchise-operated (FOFO) model, in which an independent partner runs a retail outlet under the brand, selling eyewear and offering eye-care services. India’s eyewear market is booming due to the rising vision-related issues, growing disposable income, and increasing awareness about eye care. Lenskart’s goal is to secure a significant market share before competitors can.
Vision Express
Vision Express has been rapidly expanding in the competitive eyewear market. The brand has recently launched two new stores in Pune’s Mahalunge and Nigdi, continuing its pan-India expansion approach. The brand is actively expanding in India to capitalize on the country’s growing eyewear and eye care market. Increasing consumer awareness of eye health and demand for premium prescription glasses and sunglasses, combined with the growing preference for branded, stylish eyewear, has created a notable opportunity for organized retail chains.
Vision Express, part of the world’s leading optical retail chain, was launched in 2009. It is a joint venture between Reliance Retail Limited, a subsidiary of Reliance Industries, and Grand Vision Europe, a global leader in optical retail. The brand has over 160 exclusive stores across 30 cities. The brand has quietly built a loyal customer base thanks to its clean style and budget-friendly lens packs. It operates under a vertically integrated optical retail model that includes professional eye care services, eyewear retail (frames, lenses, sunglasses, and contact lenses), and in-store optometry and diagnostics. By adopting this model, the brand controls quality, pricing, customer experience, and clinical standards.
Netre
Netre, the idea of Parthiv Patel, has quickly carved a niche for itself in India’s competitive eyewear and vision care market. Based in Gujarat, the brand has rapidly established its presence by launching its 15th flagship store in Ahmedabad. The brand has successfully established a strong presence in the West, including Ahmedabad, Surat, and Baroda. With an ambitious roadmap ahead, Netre is poised to revolutionize how Indians perceive and experience eyewear retail by seamlessly fusing fashion, functionality, and eye health. The eye care retail franchise operates under a Franchise‑Owned, Franchise‑Operated (FOFO) model.
Netre has pursued an aggressive national rollout through franchise- and company‑led expansion, aiming to reach 100 stores across both metro and emerging Tier II and Tier III markets. The brand’s focus on curated collections, comprehensive eye care services, and premium partnerships, such as its collaboration with ZEISS Vision Center, helps differentiate it from competitors. The brand is now targeting national expansion through a franchise model. Unlike traditional franchise setups that often leave operations in the hands of local owners, Netre plans to maintain centralized oversight and control over all key functions, including hiring and training, as well as sales and operations. While the brand is ambitious about expanding pan-India, its growth strategy remains grounded and data-driven. Netre’s immediate focus will remain on Gujarat and adjoining regions, followed by Central and Western India, particularly Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra.
Titan Eye Plus
Backed by the Tata Group, Titan Eye Plus was launched in March 2007 to bring international-standard stylish eyewear and optical services to the Indian market. Since commencing its journey in India, Titan Eye Plus has emerged as the country’s leading optical chain, with over 860 stores across more than 384 cities and towns.
Titan Eye Plus offers in-house brands such as Titan, Fastrack, and Titan Glares, as well as major global labels such as Ray-Ban, Vogue, Oakley, Tommy Hilfiger, Cartier, and Dior. The brand has innovated the standard of eyewear by offering Titan SPF lenses, ClearSight and Indifit lenses, and smart eyewear. With clear-cut pricing and over 1000 eyewear options across styles and budgets, Titan Eye Plus has decoded the formula for success. Its extensive retail presence across metros and smaller cities, focus on innovation and modern technology, and emphasis on eye health have helped Titan Eye Plus build credibility, attract repeat customers, and grow steadily in India.
Specsmakers
Founded in 2007 in Chennai, Specsmakers has been delivering quality and affordable eyewear products in India. From a single store, the brand has become one of the fastest-growing eyewear brands in the country, operating over 250 stores in more than 40 cities while serving 10 million-plus customers.
The brand offers a wide selection of eyewear, including prescription eyeglasses, sunglasses, reading glasses, contact lenses, and accessories, with more than 3,000 styles available. With its range, Specsmakers can cater to a diverse audience. To expand its operations in India, Specsmakers has deployed a franchise-owned, company-operated (FOCO) model to ensure product quality remains consistent.
As awareness around eye health increases and consumers seek convenience, quality, and value, eyewear franchise brands are well-positioned to lead the next phase of growth in India’s optical retail landscape. Their ability to combine medical precision with lifestyle retail, supported by omni-channel strategies and franchise-led expansion, is setting new benchmarks for the industry. Going forward, the continued focus on accessibility, affordability, and technology adoption will further strengthen the role of organized eyewear franchises, making them a key driver of India’s evolving retail and franchise ecosystem.
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For generations of Indians, Archies has been more than a gifting store. It has been the place where friendships were celebrated with greeting cards, birthdays became memorable with handwritten notes, and festivals carried a personal touch. But the gifting business today looks very different from what it did even a decade ago. Consumers now expect personalized products, doorstep delivery within hours, and seamless shopping across online and offline channels. For a legacy brand, staying relevant is no longer just about nostalgia, it is about evolving without losing the emotional connection that built the business in the first place.
That is exactly the balance Archies has been trying to strike. While embracing quick commerce, personalization and digital convenience, the company continues to expand its physical footprint through a franchise-first strategy that has quietly remained one of its biggest strengths. In an exclusive conversation with IndianRetailer, Hanisha Gandhi, Executive Director, Archies Ltd., explains why franchising remains central to the brand's future and why local entrepreneurs are becoming increasingly important in the next phase of retail growth.
A Legacy That Continues to Evolve
Few retail brands enjoy the emotional recall that Archies does. Yet Gandhi believes the company has remained relevant for one simple reason it has never allowed its legacy to become an excuse for standing still.
Reflecting on how the gifting landscape has evolved over the decades, Gandhi noted, "The way people gift today is completely different from what it was 50 years ago. Customers now look for personalization, utility and unique experiences, but one thing has never changed: we have never compromised on quality or innovation."
That philosophy has helped the company navigate changing consumer behaviour over the decades. While greeting cards continue to define the brand's identity, the assortment has expanded to include customized gifts, premium merchandise, flowers, cakes and products designed for a younger audience. Instead of replacing its heritage, Archies has chosen to build on it.
Retail Has Changed, and So Have Customer Expectations
The rise of quick commerce has transformed how consumers shop. Convenience has become an expectation rather than a value addition, and gifting is no exception.
Recognizing this shift, Archies recently expanded into same-day delivery for fresh flowers and cakes while strengthening partnerships with Blinkit, Zepto and Swiggy. The objective is simple: make gifting as effortless as possible.
According to Hanisha, speed has become a defining factor in the customer experience. "As customers increasingly expect instant service, our focus has shifted towards combining speed with personalization. Today, it's not enough to offer the right gift, it also needs to reach the customer exactly when they need it."
For the company, technology is not replacing stores; it is making them stronger. Digital channels generate valuable customer insights, helping the brand understand buying patterns across thousands of pin codes. Those insights are then combined with local market knowledge to improve merchandising, inventory planning and customer engagement.
Franchising Remains the Backbone of Growth
While technology is reshaping retail, Gandhi is clear that Archies' expansion story has always been driven by its franchise network.
She believes the strength of the company's franchise network lies in the balance between brand expertise and local market understanding. "Franchise partners have always been our backbone. We may understand the brand, but local entrepreneurs understand their customers. That combination is what allows us to grow successfully across India."
Rather than treating every market the same, Archies believes each city has its own personality. Consumer preferences differ not only between states but often between neighbouring cities. A gifting trend that performs well in Delhi may not necessarily resonate with customers in Kanpur or Patna.
This is where franchise partners play a critical role. Their understanding of local tastes helps the company adapt product selections, festive collections and merchandising strategies to suit regional demand while maintaining a consistent brand experience.
For Gandhi, franchising is not merely about opening more stores. It is about creating partnerships where both sides contribute equally the company provides decades of retail experience, marketing support and consumer data, while franchisees contribute local intelligence that cannot be gathered from headquarters alone.
"We know what has worked for the brand over the years, but our franchise partners know what their customers want today. When those two strengths come together, the business becomes much stronger."
Why Tier II and Tier III India Matter
Much of Archies' future expansion will come from India's emerging cities.
These markets have witnessed a sharp rise in purchasing power over the last few years, yet consumers often have fewer organized retail choices than their counterparts in metro cities. Gandhi believes that creates a significant opportunity for brands willing to invest for the long term.
"Tier II and Tier III cities have tremendous potential. Consumers are willing to spend, and franchising allows us to reach these markets with partners who understand local communities far better than anyone else."
For aspiring entrepreneurs, this also creates a mutually beneficial opportunity. Franchisees receive the advantage of an established national brand, proven retail systems and ongoing marketing support, while Archies benefit from deeper market penetration without compromising on customer experience.
The Road Ahead
Alongside domestic expansion, Archies is once again exploring international opportunities after earlier plans were delayed by geopolitical challenges. Markets across Europe, Russia and the Middle East remain part of the company's long-term vision.
Closer home, however, the focus remains firmly on strengthening the franchise ecosystem, expanding same-day delivery services and making the brand more accessible through quick commerce.
Sharing her vision for the future, she noted, "Our next phase of growth is about taking Archies to more customers through stronger franchise partnerships, faster delivery and wider accessibility, while continuing to preserve the emotional value the brand has always stood for."
As India's gifting market becomes more experience-driven, Archies is proving that legacy alone does not guarantee longevity. Continuous innovation, faster retail, strong local partnerships and a franchise network built on mutual trust are shaping the company's next chapter. In a retail environment where consumer expectations are changing faster than ever, Archies believes its greatest competitive advantage is not simply the strength of its brand but the entrepreneurs who bring that brand closer to customers across the country.
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